THE DEADLY ATTACK THAT DRAGGED THE USA INTO WAR seaepuus ATS Cal bu‘THE STORY OF PEARL HARBOR ' morning broke in Hawaii on 7 December 1943, the water was calm. Tho US Navy's ships stood proud in the harbour, and thelr crews were looking forwaed ta a ‘Sunday of. ut these would be the last moments of calm before the United States was draged into a war that was consuming the Word In The Story of Peat Harbor, uncover what really happened that fateful December day and explore the extensive Japanese planning in the months leading upto the attack. Find out how the Americans got @Mcky break, and follow the troops from both sides ‘around the Pacific as they fought viciously ang tielessy for glory, thelr nation and, most ofall, eurvival4 L FUTURE 1 rHISTORYND THE ARMS JAN ROOSEVELT ALOU TORS OYANi2,V WIAA Gs) FUNCT 34 JAPAN'S FIRST STRIKE eee 42 KEY PLAYER: ISOROKU YAMAMOTO Tm APM AOS) GET IMMEDIATELY pe ame UL IONE ye MCC) Naat EAS 7 naa SS Peat tt 58 THE USA'S CALL TO ARMS ALONG HISTORY 60 THE ‘DAY OF INFAMY’ [SIV oO) WoL 62 BEYOND HAWAIIJAPAN VS AMERICA CON NLY LOOKING BACK 70 PURPLE: CRACKING JAPAN’S ENIGMA CC Sn aed CMe LSS} 84 INNOCENT SUSPECTS 90 PROJECT Z: TAKING THE Naa Oy aslo 7 Mea em (an (010) a PN ee WIND OF DEATH 114 TURNING DEFEAT INTO VICTORY 120 HOLLYWOOD GOES TO WAR eee VE eee HAD NOT STRUCK PEARL HARBOR?TROUBLE RISING pC eB eI A STATE OF WAR 18 WHY DIDN'T THE US eM Tan el 4 PMNs as pee W330) 24 HARBOURING \ VNR Ceg SOL aSona NyRol Teasley AE La OF WAR, INTOXICATED BY VISIONS OF IMPERTAL CONQUEST, JAPAN’S FANATICAL MILITARISTS LAUNCHED A GENOCIDAL CAMPAIGN TO SUBDUE CHINA AND PLUNDER ITS RESOURCES Een ee eS ote See a ce tere ene ata Page rare St een ety rn eet: ‘2s imperative to create thelr and Hideyoshi ied Soon ater his last debacle. Shermer ee eeo nt nT eres ote) er mae Cee ane ee Cr en eee eee ere kerr ace) peo eeeent nT roy eee tener net Ot ee ey et ee eee meer a one er eer perenne) Se SN i eee cs ere ee nes ea erat res cee Cente peer rer tte te cana a aS Rear (eke cre ee gece Meer eis Eerie Cee eer foo oc Pager te eens Dye Ea Toe TE 3 a oa eee erence ee una ee tM ee aa Bees a teense a ert een tr meee en a Cre eee Ene eae ne O affairs brought about at the ast minuto as rec eee eee ey Poe metry setter meee eee ces ei et ee ce omy 10Biol ease} Evy See as Pa ener crete Pores ee URC iss Perec reir reetren ea ee ae ae ae eee ea eee cis ete es Pepeaenr vba en reo ames ernst ee eee omic easy ee ee eee renters) ec ened Peres neon eees eee rte ye ee ena ae eaeeTo Perera eeetenin sre) peer reed cnr) generous tothe Empire of Japan. Made up of ere ee Porter em es ete b ees Industrousness created a population boom corre trey Eee eee Ly pene een err ores neers ete ee ete) ohne eet eet eae een penton Eee tenes eee i racy ee eer een ere Ser ee te nt base for cheap labour. This was not enough nore ena eee aan oor tele DS UVa ay erorecrae rem ry) Pe ee ee tay ee eer eer) tere ec) Cee erro Seer a eer rennet Pere etre er) renee ere eterna fon meo kine necen pees Peatrrenreeenentes ere Seen en eee trea Perera ey ReneS ec tice aaNet Ne 7 Wa emo So -IEU eeRelc- acre Re) maior (ce Asia, the continent witnessed carnage on a scale that had Nealon o1Cekd Cee ee Crees Erie rer res penne eed peered one ey Tee ceer ue) eee nan erat tn core Perea te ce mead Peer ae comics Seas Caer tian eee eed SVU EST SE SIND Ua Peo OUT AS aTig See cos poets ier ener ay See et nea ee eee eae eae Re oe es Peete n i eer) Sar pare erento Panesar Cree ery Sire en terpenes Poti eerie ae eer Come teeny ere ee ner ana ee ee) ore ae ee ore a Perotti Pen eee itor Chinese seniesallegadly Pred rs rere ts eee) ey ee roe enca eS) eters Perieconeeetenaa ees) ey enc) re ey perenne id ret ars ec Crea tt tn Tomer oral eter Cen Petter er peer Conti feet ie) enters “THE BATTLE WOULD BE THE MOST SAVAGE ag SOT 2JAPAN 1937: A STATE OF WAR SUPPORT FOR CHINA A conflict between two hegemonic Asian giants, the war's intensity inspired an outpouring of propaganda ee ala Ireerent Sire Neer Perr rormrrrt cy Sere crs es AA ce rece) ieeceatn =e = GE eS eS aT BREA Ea TCHS Aa ate CaCO Ta “Buen CiaBiol ease} vy See tear rere rs ore res Cette ms ee ea ‘According to Louis Livingston Seaman, MD and veteran ofthe Spanish-American War and {he Boxer Rebelo, Japan's arzval In mainland Cee ene een) tetris Pe en avy were models of efficiency. Perens eer eee eee) ee eee rere recon arronaneny eterna cord See eco uaa ag eee Pee er re ee hope of security against tis les in a complete Reser ieee ra eo See eer Ts Prone en eterna eee eng perio eo Peer eee erent teed Se ee Lee Tere. a ere) Prete ic or for tho intogity ofthis great unwieldy empire, ee emesis) es Pete co Peeters Coe ee rer ee a eter ee es Ce eee ree erent er A coed Cet eee ss eee en ee nears oem eT ens eee ten an {pronounced chon san, afnancal institution cnn ss ors Cerri mel Se ee Perna eevee ny en reer og rete Tatty eee One ninety re Cog ei eee eens the sole provider of Japanese banknotes in Cee gree ee ees Perec sea tee FROM COLONIALS BO) Tea) porta t ssa ry ete t try eeare eer re Po eee ein Perr tT ets THE RISE OF HIDEKI TOJO Taciturn, single-minded and a ile en mele eam Ce) OE) foleTolal te BS) ACEO RUM ita oe architect of Japan’s humiliation ee ee ce ero Con eee eee Cre ea oer reer Pere eee ne nary ec ete ce) Cea ata worker wit simple tastes. Serving as mila attaché ener ear acre impression on him and ne was smitten bythe eee are ee eee ee) ee enor es Se ee eas eee rt Cun een es Coe ea rc aos ee ee tees crore eres Pee seco peter neennc eee eer et) Pores are nee ecnetTIts contol of the rgion grew exponential, $0 rer te ant oreo be ores the dangerous strains that paved the way forts peer er ag ee ett creas Peet eee ec ee rene erecta noe aera the benef of hindsight and historical records, erect ta eee ees ee Ce ar eee cece ccs Cero eed Pree ETL Pm eed Reread Porromamorinreretieca, The folloing month, a bomb blast onthe Se ere eee rar ey ree Ey peer rc as eae) ee ees ete eer en nts eee ene a disappointment. By te 1920s the Kuomintang Pee eres nen cece ern Perrier emt rae eo amas Pom pret irecetccr te ered eee errr CRI arid eee ety per uence ran ee erm oe eae eae eee ess THE TWO SIDES PREPARE Dube enemies eer es Cel ee Beery rt aoe ened en eat ens ee ote ee roe ven when annofvonistic concent Ike Peete ee See one er re erent cot Seen Sere enon ST TAT EAT REALISING AN UNASSAILABLE JAPANESE EMPIRE WAS SEIZING FT TA ERR Ta TAC SS ee ee ee eT AT as Se WR TAISEN ie JAPAN 1937: A STATE OF WAR USS re 3 Doomed by its own incompetence, the Kuomintang, military compensated with sheer numbers equipped with a vast selection of European arms aC Bina Pee De Re here Cen ke Cnet ad he a ere ret ene en eres Cerca eee neared aerrtoay Petar ernie Micmac cents Ee erate ea ey rer ocr peers eros corres Petey Peseta RO et mre eet ne ee ceric roman errr cree Patra Cans irae eer cern” ee peeraer hT Peace ray ec oc oer ae ees eroded l Ce ea cue eae eee ue Chen Ri cite ene) oo i Ce car aka de tern cee eee meses Se cece ea Che eer ea aur eC eed Ce ar Sr eer nenee taney ert a) Cee re ek Cee rt ee cr ea Cee ie ee beer tanceroreeneonranct ey Perhenmantoeetierti ce peso pect ee pear Een Poeeerainn cosa Peers treptetec teal preci sere pelo rea cine tere ee The Us Ar Sorc had thousands of aned Pere Se ans nna Eecesieniiay ee eens a be S beeen veel aire ote eo eeeeecanect ete Eobemararecircteeetec mat ee ae) eerie H Breer ree a Pee ret ee (eserves papery pic eeeinercnrecer int rt aEC See frenade cischargor for intermeciate ranges as Corer ee mere Neen er eran ea eee eee epee rs rane sary eae tr Dera ecg ea oe errr ‘questionable shape. Ever since Chiang Kat Serco eer ad Percents Poems eie See eee ter eee oth efforts were a success, encouraging the Pranrecn rrr e ry ee eee eee ar een re eres ere ear re ere Connery Centon arenes nyt ra eee ern ea eat oe Peron erenecern Po nerre n LT ag Pe eon e os reais enten toate) AS ay A aaa Ua Sea a eee es ch penetra} pe re ean ea Pee 2 eats eee cena nena rer ta ee Sa et ees perernen warererined Le ee ones Cee er Pee Ten eer ear eee See eee es eee ary een Penne A STUMBLE INTO HELL a reenerecnt ert Seer erm eee es Cena er Rone Ere td es In duly 1937, uit of the Kwantung Army Pre ee eta ec) remeron ncen ei ee aes to be speculation that NRA General Zhang aren een cs ener mics eee cmreamn ig eer cera Reema eer euy es Peererset ete ech Pyrenean neneen ns pare Pee eee eee eee) ee eee mare Eee eee eee) ea ae oy Bie see rd Paneer trot ns ener “Te Kuomintang an its military had the CMa it) een ate eee eke Sei ar ei) ete eens Co eee oa er Coenen eo Pine Taner Pe aa Kuomintang abandoned its capital Naning, nee cra to Chongaing The NRA genera lft behind rea eae Crit enter Se nett marr e Ce eet rd eects THE RAPE OF NANKING From 13 December unt the end of January erm ere eT ee eesti rere eto eee terse pee nenetemie peti Sean etary ea ere nr) feet tsSoon the killing began. What has astounded ernie sees en retry eer eee eee ee Peer rats ce eee ear Puce creer Magee and George Fitch, the head ofthe inca Seema eC y Ore a coe eed eee ater eer ee es ror! Teeter ey emery eee een eae rateneerrentry Terrain eee tan eae TN stormed the city, mass rapes were routinely eect en ert eee ema Ct menrnrenn ey aainn Set ray er eee eee eens eee eee rece ienetee nary Preece t ee ey teenie eters Petcare ‘There was no strategy tothe slaughter. eee eee te trans Suerte Pee ee ae ti ar ieee renee Pelee ere ees ‘red to save, “He was one of @ garg of some Piemonte ny Pee rer tris coos ee es ould break into homes, steal anything of value oe eee eee Pee eee ce eer tee er ees eater ee en near iet y errr Se ere et eerie Tn rem tats Pee ene cas Poneto rererins re rere ti Se eae eee Sree Lent reer erency Seer ee ee ego poe are rea ee ay pone one nety een aris ‘Thora are no exact figures of cian deaths in oer tenets te eos ce een cee reo have endured ae large estimated static, ere een ere hetero es eer enn eee ees Pete nr ee eee at ee ea eae Pere een err Peer erm et eee ay eae es coe mer Cee Le eee) eerie eee enemy emer ret ee eed etree es eres eee ce Re agg eee t3 pee JAPAN 1937: A STATE OF WAR bias) lacey Reeds eee een) penne een rem eee ee erat eee sn ety ere eee feet erty Enns ere eee es oer eL renner eee ey Pret Cees SS eee errr canted Se Peer toeennneed ora ey Per ener eaten a fate was sealed on 9 August 1948 when two ee errr coer bros However 1997 remains the year when the Case an cae ee eee eta peer ren arate y See aren) tea ce)US GET INVOLVED IMMEDIATELY? R TWO YEARS, WHILE SWATHES OF EUROPE FELL 10 THE NAZIS LATIONIST AMERICA FOLL' A POLICY OF NEUTRALITYWHY DIDN'T THE US GET INVOLVED IMMEDIATELY? REMEMBER, PUNKink TH WOT RAISE MY BOY TH DIE FoR. (BRITAIN = ! “IN MAY AND JUNE 1940 THE SITUATION TURNED ON ITS HEAD AS THE GERMANS GAINED MORE SPEEDY VICTORIES” sufficient protection: surely teror would not land on their doorstep, 8 why get moive? In order to make it clear thatthe United States would not entangle sel ance more in foreign conflicts a series of Neutrality ‘ts wore signed into iw trom the mid 1930s, The acts would prevent arms and war ‘materials being traded with counties involved in confit, extend to loans and credits and Brohbit American ships from sending tems or Passengers to any ofthe beligerents ven s0, President Franklin D Roosevelt ‘was of the opinion that the US should come tothe aid of ts ales should they require help. The waters had already been tested in duly 4937 when Japan invaded China and invoked the Second Sino Japanese War. SInce ‘there had been no formal declaration of wa, Roosevelt had positoned America onthe Side ofthe Chinese ang, in rot making uso of ‘the Neutrality Aets, allowed Brtish ships to ‘ansport American arms to China, “This caused alarm and angor among the Isolationists, who believed would be better for the US to bull up its own defences. also angered the Japanese. But twas clear which Side the US woula favour shoul it enter the ‘war Reosevelt ha already publicly condemned the Nazi Government and opnesed Japanese, Italian and German aggression. The president no would reter to ieoatonits as "shrimps caustaceans possessing @ nerve cord but no brain ~ also felt sympathy with those who fet the United States should intervene Nevertheless, on 3 September 1899, two days after Hitler's forces nvaded Poland rom the airand on land fand on the day Britain declared war on Germany), Rooseve gave 2 speech. “This nation wil remain a neutral hatlon, But cannot ask that every American remain neutral in thoughts aa well” He added that confits elsewhere did affect, America’s future. Britain sought to encourage the US to get Inuolves ints on subse way, but ‘asst easy. The country stil ned the US ‘money folowing Word War and Briish actty ‘broad was not always viewed favourably ‘heavy-handed approach - gven some 'solationistebiamed Britain fr dragging the US into Wor War could have backed, but there was a gradual thawing attitude. ‘By 21 September 1939 Roosevelt was staking the case fora revision of US neutrality Jaw ied toa serie of heated debates and an ‘agreement on 4 November —In the fais ofthe Neutrality Act of 1939 that ales could buy American ‘armaments and mantis in cash ‘and anspor them on non S ‘hips. n May and June 1940 the situation tuned on fs neat as the Germans gained more ‘Speody vietores, causing Serious tconcem that a Noa Europe woul ‘become an eventual treat. ‘Stil, many remained ertcat ofntervention, among them American aviator Charis Lindbergh, who was pantculary veeal advocate for pan intervention. On 19 May 440, ne took tothe rac to ‘make the case for isolation, ‘saying the US would only be Invaded if “American people bring it on”. He was certain ‘there would not be an iwasion by foreign aircraft and that foreign navies would also stay aay trom US shores. "Then, on 26 May 1940, Roosevelt delivered a fireside chat tothe nation. He said Dmerea needed to bolster its defence but wth an election Yooming, he stil pledged “A pTEAR Down] nous a seo | MOTHERY janet CRUSADER America would nat become directly involved Inthe war Britain, meanwhile, continued to fener some pressure, granting US foreign correspondents access to raw photos ofthe fects ofthe war, fr instance, ina bid to gala ‘sympathy among the American people. Following his victory atthe pois, Roosevelt was better placed to ac, and he looked to Supply the UK, France and China with food, ot ‘and mitaty meter! without arect payment stil neutral bt leaning to one sce. That policy manifested itself as the Lend-Lease Act Of March 1941, and the US Navy would come. Gown even further onthe side ofthe Alles by bombing Ais war vessels six months later. The iterventionsts had won, but the US woula ‘soon be in even greater conflict. i ii i a9TROUBLE RISING ENTER THE} ALTHOUGH IT WOULD TAKE THE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR TO PRECIPITATE WAR, THE US NAVY AND KRIEGSMARINE CLASHED THROUGHOUT 1941 ] rNENTER THE AMERICANSTROUBLE RISING German and italian assets within the United States. Several other American merchant Ships Mw paren em te hate ie Lbery wore sunk over the wooks that flowed, while il Supe amenes Sepeer ioe ‘itary confrontations escalated ‘On 20 June, Kepitanlevnant Ref Mitzebure ‘aboard U.208 sighted a ngzadging darkened battleship within the declared Uboat ree ‘re’ zone between iceland and Greenlan. ‘Mer identiyng the ship, MGtzeburg moved to imoroopt while radoing BAU: Have sighted US batlesnip Texas in blockage ares, Request permission to fire For 46 hours, he staked the warshi, = betore Deniz responded: “By over of the mtteoodedinoeconrewees unr MLM AC) Los) eae eA UN Ce Omen ce battleships, cusers, and aircraft carers ‘unless identified as hostile, Warships era Steaming t night without lights are not eer er Pecessariy hostile er ee en ee Tee eet ay The order from Berin frustrated Ddnitz as eee nee set ene Seen arene oe ey well as his U-boat commanders. Ata time cee eeennee ae ee ieasanpermabe iorrienanereynellonteny MEMEO. sunchos corns Ausuct 194% Inpirod bythe renews that ret patil tiring demand Gne Dower against the Atlante trade routes, they eee ee neering See tn ES ecies eam ate: Sree pean tee angerous opponent, the convoy escort, ale cana Unless certain of nationality. Simutanesushy, eee ‘tte American forces relieved British ‘ceupaton troops in leland —an important ‘onoy escor staging pont —n July 1943, the frequency of encountering US Navy vessels ctamatialy increased THE UNDECLARED WAR r , ent Peart ren During September 1941, USS Greer, enroute [ress ciemebe repnnnenmeriey ists ‘tom Argentina to Reykiavk with mail received Ra Errevathoppovnerr moment venient Brish aircraft warnings of a nearby U-boat bape reneaieert yy fh paren teopa rier having established sonar contac, the US eos renin: ‘estroyer Began to pursue U-6S2 rom close RAMAN eae esti range. The prowling Bish bomber dropped eee eee mnie four depth charges on the estmeted ioction iA peers TINSEL oe Cf Oberleutnant zur See Georg Werner Fratz’s aaa boat who, inthe mistaken belief thatthe strove had fred and misidentiying her ‘3 one of 80 ot American destroyers that hag been ransfered to Allee contol, fred 3 Single torpedo, Though it missed, the ensuing Catand mouse bat laste for wo hours, whieh USS Greer dropped 19 depth charges ‘and U852 fre a second torpedo that also missed, Tis inconclusive duel eliminated all ‘oubt thatthe US Navy and Kriegsmarine were ‘on opposing sie. Prasicent Roosevelt publicly Geclared thatthe Uboat attack onthe Greer Was an act of ‘racy ard issued orders that the US Navy would ‘snact.on-sight any German (ot talian ships found wityn the Pan-American Safety Zane adacent tothe easter seaboard ‘of North and Central Ameriea that he had eclared in 1939, The folowing month, on 17 October, USS Keary was torpedoed by Kapitinleutnant Joachim Prevss's U-568, Kearny and tree ‘other US Navy destroyers had been summoned {o assit the hard pressed Canadian escort force of consay SC-48 under attack by U-boats and already having lost ton merchant ships. ‘Wan Kearny nit onthe starboard side, 11. men were klled and 22 wounded, including the Captain; the sip reached lesand under escort by USS Grae for tomporary repair 22“ROOSEVELT PUBLICLY DECLARED THAT THE U-BOAT ATTACK ON THE GREER WAS AN ACT OF PIRACY” Though this tested diplomatic relations yet further, they da not break. Even the next Aisasterfllod to bring about open warfare. Based in Iceland, destroyer USS Reunen James sailed with four other escorts to loin eastbound Conway HX156. On the lst day of Octaber, Kaptanieutnant Erich Topp in U552 slanted ‘the convoy and closed to attack. Positioned between an ammunition ship and the faint dection finder trace ofthe nearby U-boat, ‘the American destroyer was hit inthe forwara ‘magazine by atorpede meant fr the merchant: ‘the bow blown off an sinking immediatly, the stem going down five minutes later. Of seven officers and 136 men aboard oly 44 men Survived In every real sense, the US Navy and Kriegsmarine were at war. DRUMBEAT ON THE AMERICAN COAST Following the day ofnfany’ at Pear Harbor, 7 December 1941, took ory four days for Hitler to dectare war onthe United States in accord with the spt of the Ass Triple Allance, Gormany was now in confit wth ane of tho ‘words svongest Inaustalised nations, While ‘the Wehrmacht woul! be bled dry nthe expanse ofthe Soviet Union, it now faced te vitally Untapped resources of the Unite States in Intercontinental war ‘Al restrictions an U-boat operations within the Pan-American Safety Zone were removed ‘and Donitz enisoned a rly spectacular bio” ‘mounted by 12 longrango Type ik U-boat. However, Kregsmarine command in Beri fauthorsed the use of only sx, much to his {chagin. Inthe event, with U-128 in need of lrgent repairs, oly five boats U'65, U108, 1U523, U426 ang L130 — sailed from France {or Operation Paukenschlag (Drumbeat, \whicn stationes attacking U-boats between ‘Nova Seotia and North Carlina. A secanary ‘supporting assault by smaller Type VIC Uboats ‘aginst Conada was also schedule, butt was Paukenschlag that harvested a tric tll Within American waters after U-123 opened the ‘offensive by sinking S$ Cylops on 11 January. ‘Win U:123 having pre-empted the scheduled opening ofthe planned offensive, it was W130 Korvettenkapitan EmstKals who made what he called “an attack on the frst rumba” and torpedoed Norwegian freighter $5 Frisco atthe ‘mouth ofthe Gu of St Lawrence on 13 January 11942. Paukonschlag had begun ‘By the beginning af February, te fst ve Ldboats to operate against the North American ‘ast were low on Tuo! and Neading home. (TER THE AMERICANS They had sunk 25 ships totaling 156,938 merchant tons The greatest successes had been achieved in United States coastal waters where merchant ships saling indvualy at ight were frequently sinoveted against he Undienmed lights ofthe east coast. For U-boat ‘ommenders accustomed to hunting darkened comwoys, twas a vertable Bonanza of eas) targets. Those allocated Canadian waters found the going more dieu against a county that had been ona war footing since 1929, However, when combined with the wave of Type ils that Joined the Canadian fay, by the beginning of Fbruary, 41 ships nad been sunk in North American waters, Dantz cous only wonder what he could have achieved If he nag been gen the 12 boats that he Rad wanted for Paukeonsching TORPEDOES AMID THE PALM TREES The opening of ar ast re United States dio aug Uaioe Croan Sea ond Gut nec, ating or oltarters. Uoots er heOpersuon Neen ous reothwa es Choon: Kaptan Aree sees runing spot es on dwn eboartan canara von bretoras Tots io Prt Sp hasnt ne gh SStesrary ee ne wrpseed we tors toro coop suraced war tore ot Shore ations and fant ate ih revgrn igre bsog ob sent fae Sie se omaged our nae bor Cuohont rata tate weet wos Sautrted nT Foto Pot ot Spa 1 be eno the Nason groups carbon cosh ya okt sie, 18 of Somtattrs: Cone w Pseashig. he Cabo ons deste over 10000 tc nee more shbpre The see Seam however nut st asi Sreugino US Hay wes undo Sto onto ln emus ocig antl Gest Ie the ny cape coarder ‘ha Ura Seats oot ne on euapokon Angin Hs poeta dae ere Bion crn ues seco tsa tocrpt ence fem i oy Ny su ta be ratnon ot bun agar on oust serkeun range tal moras: Howe ack of eee esos Oletonsiene Nass tres wer ares tenchos ean se teense Marte Ts Shiny and uaa ard wore send ered to porn AoW mse moses 0s" tou proto et ost commanders brushed tm of Not May 942 8 Kng Fttas meat sowoye ore eet Sous end te oa sng toe he aa ations eee wesolelinoridonaneetrcnenee ff metoltesonceottneonted Stace cose ft bbe brought to bear against it. Though many a win the Unted States faltine Pacitewar off ee | Sever Goramtict andsccnAmorcan iE facoroswore poche tues wants! coopers orrepaay ereaeg itary eres, f toe Ses teprou procc owen part evan,TROUBLE RISING HARBOURING A LONG HISTORY PEARL HARBOR’S INTRIGUING PAST IS NOT LIMITED TO THE EVENT THAT SPARKED THE UNITED STATES’ ows ro crocus att Harbor will aways be FLARE remembered forthe events of 941, butts history stretches bback many decades before that fateful and devastating turning Point. Indeed, you could go back te Captain James Cook, who was tho fest Westerner to sot ‘ea on the island of Oahu, Hewal, when he ‘sited the region in 1778. But way before his ‘explorations, native Havallans know tne area ‘55 Pu'uoe, wnien means ‘ong nil and the {area was steeped in legend. (Oahu, andthe bay especialy, was said to have been home to two protective sharks: a'ahupshaw ana er bother Kaka They ‘sought to protect the island, with Puulos belived to be the scene af one of the most fierce battles. It involved heroe Ka ahupahau tuming herset into net capture a school cof advancing man-eating sharks. The story ‘suggests these predators vere brought ashore fndet to die, alowing the islanders to Ive in ace once more ENTRY INTO WAR Luckly Cook, who named the island chain the Sondvih islands, sufered no such fate, but unertunately his work eventually brought invaders’ ofa ctferent kind. Although the area was suited to fishing and diving and hd become popular for both, outsider attention would Tater be drawn to the area's potential Fihos since the shallow bay and its lochs were known fr tre abundance of pear producing ofstrs that ay ypon the bed a situation that Would lad locas to eal the area Wal Mom (or Waters of Pear, Anyone we came by ship, however, would ‘moor at Honolulu Harbor, discovered by Captain Wir Brown of Great Brain n 11794, Puuoa’s entrance was obstructed by 8 coral eet and the waters were aio shallow 50 American ships would head to Honelul, particular in the 1820s, as interest n the Hawaiian Islands grow thanks to grator shipping, trading and whaing acti. ‘Asa result, he town of Honolul reply ‘expanded at iis time as businesses and shops opened in support of whaling became {focal point for merenart ships that ravelid between North America and Asia and it not only But the settlement wot on is way to becoming, Hawai largest ety, but aso led to John Coftn Jones Jr being appointed an agent of the Unites States for Commerce and Seamen 09 19 September 1820 a= Ameria sought to Detter represent and protect its businesses. ‘ones Jr was an advocate for commercial Inferests but he didnt enjoy much suppor from ashington, DC, and his werk often clashed vith the efforts of Cristian missionaries. Butt ‘was during his time on the islands thatthe US Navy vsted Hawai forthe frst time, with the “THETOWN OF HONOLULU RAPIDLY EXPANDED ATTHIS TIME AS BUSINESSES AND SHOPS OPENED IN SUPPORT OF WHALING”ee ai ‘schooner USS Dolphin seeking to assist men fof the wrecked US ship London during a erica Globe. That was in August 1826 —the year the US signed a treaty o recognise Hawaiian Independence ~ although wasn't unt 1840 that Pu'lea was identiied as a potential ‘naval base by the US (along with Britain and France) following geodetic survey by US Navy Llsutenant Charis Wilkes, By now, anaval presence was deemed to be Important around Havel in elping to protect US interests inthe whaling industry But. in 1843, America, Britain and France agreed they ‘would net compete over the islands. That dint prevent the US from exerting greater infuence, though. Ameriean misionery Gent P Judd would go onto be appointed into Hawal's most powerful position by King Kamehameha i ‘ssuming the role of the minister of nance in 42846 after spells as minister fr foreign affairs {and minster of intro. though the British and French also held positions, tes between Hawa and the US government were becoming ever ‘Stronger and it was et that annexation bythe Unites States would eventually happen, “rade with Asia was now inteniying and it was prudent ofthe US to foster goad relations with Hawai to better facitate ts ships saling toand from China, The US would establish dlolomatc relations in 4853 when David L ‘Gregg was appointed commissioner tothe ‘Kingdom of Hawai and, whe there were Unsuccessful discussions about annexation, HARBOURING A LONG HISTORY itwasn't fr want of tying Indeed, President ‘Abraham Lincoln was ambitious. He appointed James Merde os minster tothe Kingsom of await in 1863 and he kikstarted negotiations with Russia to purchase Aska, This move Increases Amerean trade with East Asi, 2d Hawaii was becoming over more crucial The 1860s saw an increase in naval ati. The Nortn Pace Squadron was augmented in 2806 under the commanc ef Rear Admiral HK Thatcher, with the Hawaiian islands forming art ofthe ara of operations. Meanwhile, USS {Lackawanna was assigned tothe isiands for an Ineite period and it ed tothe formal aking of Midway Island by Captain Wiliam Reynolés the fst Pocfi island to be annexed by the United States, The idea was to Bolster Midway Island's harbour but it was also envisaged that Pu'uoa could be put to boter use, to. ‘Come 1873 and King Lunallo was elected as the Kingdom of Hawai sixth monarch ‘and was duly eowned "The Peope's King: His reign lasted just over a year but he ha already explored offering PU uoa to the United States ‘8.a way of puling Hawall out of economic ‘epression an idea floated by Hawalan minister of foreign afate Charles Reed Bishop, who onned a nearby country home. “This was deemed necessary since the once prosperous whaling industry was waning fad suger was seen as the lands’ potetia!. Seviour. Lunallo was therefore urged to draw ipa teaty that would allow Hawal's sugar ‘and other products to enter the United StatesTROUBLE RISING without duty banishing the high taxes that were in pace at the tie. The population, owever, was not quite taken bythe idea of the lagoon being handed to the US, fearing it would only ead to al ofthe land being eventually lost and so the idea was dropped, albet on 3 temporary basis. For, in 1875 and folowing pressure from the US government, a fee trade deal was signed and ratifeg between the United States and {the Kingdom of Hawail under te watch of the new monarch Kalakaua. This manifested sett fe the Recpronty Treaty of 175 and it built ‘Upon the talk Lunalilo had in place, notably the bly fo freely sel sugar and other home-grown products taxtee to the American market. With fenouth land given in tun, the US gained the Fights to Peat Harbor for seven years andi gained an extension thereafter ‘Ay egreement was struck on 6 December 4884, when the United States and the Kingom Cf Hawai signod the Reciprecity Convention, vwhien was ratied thee years late. allowed “the Government ofthe US the exclusive right {to entor tho harbor of Pear River, nthe Island (of Oahu, and to establish and maintain here 8 Coaling and repair station forthe use of vessel fof the US and to that end the US may improve the entrance to sa harbor and do al things Useful to the purpose aforesai And yet ea Harbor dd ot inmedtely come io baie woud tke 0 coanyea's Sete oni ston wes gen ene) opering upto eivnce acing scr ‘oc and edge chal char lang I dopa forge sie Bua cme 1901 6 esto to Une Sater ong avaltedannexaton of anal in 1886 ara Wllovedo coup ety sje of the Mavaton Kinga US ene a ogh reid ta had temporary fomed Romeo Hora The wae ois leon ston became arnt rhe re Sparen War ‘at same en Haig coun tone tage Tecate alowed te UStovecame evar Sou mation a nears ‘ratings fet arg covet Bren suo USS Potro entered ta habour fn 1008 took unt 2008 forPer Hao totaly econe arse sain, aa Syria me Ushey aaa red lett enous ane Ane of VSN Duges Oe hc tha Sen ord hose oction =THE FIRST ATTACK ONE i) ‘reentry Deck fatoung case of wok HARBOURING A LONG HISTORY SWZ pers “THE US NAVY GREW ITS MILITARY PRESENCE IN THE PACIFIC WITH MORE LOCHS DEEPENED AND LARGER SHIPS COMING THROUGH” Pearl Haroor became its main port nthe Pacific fellonng a continued spel! out in Honolulu. Millons of dollars had been poured Into eating woreclass faites at Pear Harbor. wit a ndock completed in 1919 after ten years of work, during which ime locals beloved a shark god was angered ~ a situation accounting, they said, for why itcotapsed ‘uring construction, setting the project back Even £0, the US Navy grew is miliary presence inthe Pacife with more channels and lochs deepened and everlarger ships coming tvough. A decision to buy Ford Istana — an islet for @newiy formed aviation dvsion, the 6th ‘ro Squadron (taken over by the US Navy in 1939), Meanwhile, housing ana major hangars wore completed by 1918 together wih a ‘supply warehouse, photo lab, powerhouse and ‘machine shop. The flowing yer the Feld was rhamed Luke Fel The 1930s also saw much construction, with ne bases added for submarines and planes, ‘nd improvements made tothe harbours repae facies. Indoed, more than $1.5 millon was Spent in 1940 on further dredging so that larger flet caries and battships could enter By now, the US Pacife feet Nad two main homes ~ San Diego in California and Peart Harbor ~and the United States frmly sam the latter as crucial wanted to make sure twas wall equipped and road fra vontuaiios. As such, in 2940, President Roosevelt moved the Pac Feet from California to Peat Harbor tbat Japan saw tis a6 a treat AS history wll rear, Pear Harbo's defensive capabitties would soon be putt the test.PMNS NAVAL BASE Flee See eer ered pe id eee ternary Peer ay ss —— SS aTROUBLE RISING STATE OF PLAY: 1941 JAPANESE IMPERIALISM CONTINUES ITS MARCH, CULMINATING IN THE DEVASTATING ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR gaging the lato 0th and oar : BAUM 2otsconsres,treisionaraton = MON GQ LTA of Japan uncergoes a swift twanstormation from a feudal society to an industrialised mmiltary and economie power ts Bee Preeoning ambitions to achieve hegemony in Asia andthe Paci, ‘uelie in part by the need to obtain natural resources for ts military machine and arable land to feed a growing population, place the country ‘ona colision course with American and European interests in the Far East ‘Sporaicaly at war with China since 193, the Japanese Army eontras the province of Manchura ana other Chinese lands. By 1941, France captulates to Naxi Germany, and Japanese ‘to0ps occupy French Indochina, placing them perlously close tothe ol lids and oer natural ‘esources ofthe Dutch East Indias. Present Frankiin Roosevelt orders an embargo ofa, sorap ion, machinery, and other commodities to Japan ‘and toezes Japanese assets inthe Unted States. ‘Nong with tie embargo comes an ulimatum fom S the United States to withdraw al ofthe Japanese MARIANAS 15. {10095 fom the Asian continent. (Sep basa) > ‘By the auturnn of 1942, Japan stands at «2 paitical and miltary crossroads. Prime GUAM, Minister Hidek Tj, also a mitarst genera s leads the nation to war rather than acquiesce ears to American demands while losing honour and BG substantia tertoral gains. In November, plans is.” fora preemptive naval airstrike against he US Pacific Feet at Pear Harbor and other military installations in Hawai, are eet in motion, and Japanese planes attack wtnout warning on 7 seta CAROLINE 1S ‘aap fared December, plunging the United States into World War LeSOR es ese pertained ant hi perc eesic eee emcee Perce pepe renin) Perr SMARCK ARCH] GuAoALcANat ® Sy We asd) JAPANESE PUPPET STATE roeresnneyenyneny teense Eoereny [seereeeeraueartry erties Pope ett eat Pena reeet) en ‘TSANTA CRUZ IS. JOHNSTON 1... ao STATE OF PLAY: 1944, TROPIC OF MARSHALL IS. een Corer, Pau RA. own CHRISTMAS |. _Wnasrchian tea SNR Panini is : ms ferent I MARQUESAS IS. ~ coals | SAMOA IS. | NeW HEORIDES Tee, AMERICAN, SAMOA gc ral Sea rar FS As “AP HIP ago Pago, pa 7 -TUAMOTU Low ‘ ‘ sub ores 11 ARCHIPELAGO » g TONGA Is, COOK IS>. = od EW CALEDONIA oe ara) ~ Ss NORFOLK 1. ‘ase TUBUAI AusTRALIS. OUCETS ITCAIRN I “eS 34cry Sy ana aS} a a PARE OUCH Lice Cao ISOROKU YAMAMOTO CT ee cP Ae AUC} ECM aus xe WOU ana Eaa NEU} WORK-FIGHT-SACRIFICETENS Sa aa DIN ate WILL DO HIS DUTY TO THE UTMOST” See Ucn ese ie cate hataJAPAN ATTACKS lust before sunrise on Sunday 7 December 1941, sx areratt carers ofthe Imperial Japanese anys Pst A Fleet under the command of Vee Adria Chichi Nagumo turned into the eady to launch a powerful ‘Setking force of 353 aera NNagueno's flagship, Akagi, and her consorts, aga, Son, Hin, Shokaks and 2ukan, Set in motion the marauding strike force that would plunge the Paci into Wor War I Is Target was the US Navy's Pact Feet, which was anchored at Peat Harbor onthe land of (aha in the tortory ef Hawai. Other US Navy ‘and Ay intalations on the island, Hickam Field, Wneeler Fel, Bolo Flea, Ewa Morine Corp Air Station, and the naval ar stations ‘at Kaneohe ard an Ford Istana in the heart of Pearl Harbor ners tobe ht 35 wel. “The opening blow was intended fo cripple the American milter presence in the Pace allow the Japanese armed forces to seize and Consolidate strategie gains thoughout the reglon; and bring the United States government to the negotiating table where Japan would etal favourabe terms ofan aeistiee. To that end, the Peal Harbor raid was coordinates with attacks onthe Philpines, Wake Island Midway Atal and Malay, The gambit was al or nating for Japan. ‘though senior Jepanese commanders were confident of swift victory, atleast some of them acknowledged that a prolonged war wit the Unted States was a daunting prospec, considering the industrial mignt and resources atthe disposal of toi adversary. Years of rising miltarism and imperialism in Japan had placed the island nation on a collision course with the United States, roominent power inthe Pacife since the Spanish-American War. Japan's provocative rmltary moves on the Asian mainian, Partularly the occupation ofthe Chinese region of Manehuria and ater of French Indochine, haa brought the two nations to loggemeads. While negotiations were continuing, most observers on elther side of the Pacife believed war was inevitable THE BRITISH INFLUENCE At 9pm on the evening prior tothe Peat Harbor attack, Nagumo ordered al ands aboaré the “YEARS OF RISING MILITARISM AND IMPERIALISM IN JAPAN HAD PLACED THE ISLAND NATION ON A COLLISION COURSE WITH THE UNITED STATES, A PREEMINENT POWER IN THE PACIFIC” JAPANESE RAIDER ROUTE “The six knperialJpanese Naw acral carers and ther escorting shios of the First Ar et devarted the ‘ont waters of te Kure lends on 26 Novenber 1941, sang @rerthem rote wel ana om standard ‘merchant shipping lanes and maintaining sitet co stencs. Rug sens and rtemitert hea a cloned {he warships at tines as the ened southeast towards a pont 370 klometres north of Gah to lune theSENSU IMPERIAL WAR aught = BP seat Bota) Ciena lca oly EY Mn eure ata AW CR lau Mita We SE) ras Ce ay eaeoruieeinn meted ieee ener te et Rice ay eer ee ere Pree rtm Ecianegiieete eee) create ENGINE MIDGET SUBMARINE pasieerroeriiney Steere, ao Bs aay SUBMARINES WERE LOST” = ~ =< einen PN te Nate ait coer etry eee mere Penner eerie irs enema irra) HANGAR DECKS: 37JAPAN ATTACKS ‘kag’ to attention. He solemnly read.a message ‘rom Admiral soroku Yamamoto, commander inchie of the Combined Flet: "The rise ofall ‘ofthe empire depends on this battle. Everyone Wil do his duty tothe utmost. "Yamamoto meant the communication no only as an encouragement tothe Japanese ‘Sallors and amen, but also as homage to. ‘aval esprit de corps. During the decades preeoding World War Il, the Imperial Japanese ‘Navy had embarked on a lengthy program of expansion, mederising and modeling set fn the finest naval tradition in the world ne Brin Royal Navy. The message fom YYemamete echoed one simi flashed by ‘amital Horatio Neon, one ofthe greatest heroes in the history ofthe Royal Navy, prio to the epic Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, Japanese respect for the Royal Navy ran ceeep. Since the tum ofthe 20tn century, some vessels ofthe imperil feet nad actually bee structed in British and French shivers, while Japanese taining. operational standards, Uniforms and rani insignia wore ima to those of the Betish Following the outbreak of war in Europe, the Royal Navy again served as role model forthe ese, On the night of 11 Novernber 1940, Fairey Sworish torpedo bombers ofthe Fleet Air drm Now fom th dock of te aera carrier soars cond 2 ntHis tustious inthe Mediterranean Sea and attacked the Italian naval anchorage at Taranto, ‘The 21 obsolescent British biplanes sank one haan patesnip and damaged two others For the Japanese, the idea of 8 preemptive raid on Pearl Harbor had been discussed, tested during war games and shelved several times during te years between the world wars, However, bolstered by the Bish success, the Staff a the Combined Float bogan, in January 11941, to plan for just such a bola stoke. Lieutenant Commander Minoru Gend, one of the best known and most respected aviators Inthe Japanese armed forces, had observed [American earirs operating in a united, single ‘tke foree and attonded war games in 1936, during which an offensive scenario against Pear Harter nad ended in simulated disaster TIVE RAID ON PEARL f for the attacker. Stil, Genda remained one of a relative few Japanese oficers wo believed it was possible fora cater taskforce to ‘suecesstuly delver 9 stunning blow against an ‘enemy fleet at anchor ‘hs Japanese acrat carrier strength reached sufficient levels to support a Pear! Harbor Onishi chat of staff ofthe 4th Ar Fee, to order Genda to evaluate te potent for ‘success wih “special attention tothe feasolity fof the operation, metnod of execution and the {oroes to be used”. Yamamoto was reluctant to 0 ta war ith the US, bute strongly beteved that a substantial and successful het strike ‘atthe Pail Fleet was the ony option to bring such a confit toa rp an favourable Conclusion fer Japan. JAPAN'S FIRST STRIKE Yamamoto's assertion that Pea! Harbor should be Japan's target actually reversed traditional thinking at the highest command levels within the Imperial Navy. although the ‘amy had been active onthe Asian continent, aval doctrine had previously assumed 3 Gefensive posture. Inthe autumn of 1940, YYamamote's assertion became an utimat, Ho evertualy threatened to resign if senior ‘commanders within the Combined Flect refused to support the proposal By the folowing August, the basc plan forthe Peart Harbor attack nad been approved. The six ‘areratt carers of te Ast Air Fleet were tobe ‘accompanied by an armada of two battleships, two heavy cruisers, aight cruiser, nine estroyers, three submarines and eight tankers =a total of 31 vessels ~ saling rom their Tendezvous point at Hitokappu Bay Inthe Kull Islands. The fleet was to sll on 26 November take @ northerly course, inorder to avoid Te bates USS Aone Benes Meck seeke iesipermctre bce oar a ost ‘tls gt Pot Harbor tackJAPAN ATTACKS at ate tb a Protoeapes tn dae ster cashes curing th Pal be ‘ack Zar of Paty Oe rigor Maal es eet 40 the busy Pacific trade routes and merchant shipping that pied the ocean: maintain strict ‘adie silence; and auch ts aera in two waves ftom a postion 370 kilometres north ‘f Oahu, The tentative dat forthe attack was ‘designated as 7 Deemer 1941, ‘cordon of fest submarines was positioned ‘around Oahu to provide early warning of any Jmercan ship movements ana atack any American nal vessels that might beat 300 near the arbour Five midget submarines were to be launched from thele mother submarines hours before te aerial attack, with the hope that they might infitzate Pearl Harbor anc launch torpedoes at anchored vessels ofthe Paci Feet. Eaty in September, senior Japanese officers ‘convened atthe Naval War College in Tokyo ‘nd finalized the plans for the attack, One month ater, senior plots who would assume Command of ar groups were informed of the targot against which thoy had boon waining so ngoreusly. They already had some lea of ts nature, since the torpedo groups had ‘worked to perfect their uns against capitalships anchored In shalow waters. Combined Fleet Top Secret Operational Orcer No 1 was Issued on § November, folowed 48 hours lator by Order No 2, authorising the leet to weigh anchor athe end ofa month and to execute the attack on Peart Harbor. ‘hen the tect set sal, Admiral Kihisaburo Nomura ana Special Envoy Saburo Kurasu ‘were in Washington, DC, conducting lastteh Negotiations with Secretary of State Cordell Halland President Frantin D Roosevel These negotiations were exoected to fal and when the impasse was reached, specific frders to launch the attack would be issued to Nagume at sea, At the same time, the envoys, oblivious to the detals ofthe Peat Harbor tac, were instructed to deliver a message {othe US government, oflealy terminating, ‘the negotiations. The government in Toky® considored tis diplomatic stop essentially a declaration of war, timed fora half nou before ‘the Japanese aircraft appeared in the sky above Peat Harbor. ‘AN NAVAL VESSELS LUeutenant Commander Mitsuo Fuchs, leader ofthe ar groups ofthe 1st Ar Foe, was assigned the task of allocating ara to Specific targets, organising the two waves of lanes to coordinate ther atacks and ating fighter protection against any American planes ‘at might make into the sky and attomt to feht back. Fuchida assigned 185 avcratt to the fist wave. I consisted of 49 Nakajima BSN "Kate" bombers caning armour piercing bombs, 40 Kates with aera torpedoes, 52 Aichi DSA "Val dive bombers with general purpose bombs and 45 superb Mitsubishi [AGM Zero igters to provide escort and strate targets of opportunity While the Kates hit the warships anchored In Poar Harbor, 25 Vals wore designated to blast the primary American fighter base ft Wheeler Field. 47 Vals were assigned to destroy Ford Islan’ patrol piano and ‘ighter base and rine wore to strike American bombers based at Hickam Feld. The sacona wave included 54 ates armed with 550 and JAPAN'S FIRST STRIKE 1125.pound bombs to demolish installations ‘and crater runways atthe aires, 80 Vals with 550-pound bombs to renew the attacks ‘on the warships in the harbour and 36 ‘marauding Zeroes. Fuchida received an intligence message {tom a Japanese spy an Oahu the day betare the attack was launched, ft as tinge oth ‘ith optimism that the element of surprise ‘would be achieved and disappointment ‘thatthe three American aieraft carers, Enterprise, Lexington and Saratoga were ‘ot present atthe anchorage. It read: “No balloons, no torpedo defence nets deployed ‘around battleships in Pear Harbor. Al btteships ae in. No indeations from enemy rac activity that ocean patrol fights being ‘made in Hawaiian area. Lexington left harbour yesterday. Enterprise also thought to be operating at sea.” ‘The USS Saratoga was steaming into the harbour at San Diego, California, when the Japanese attackers arrved above Pat! Hatbor on 7 Decomber. Although the ficraft carriers were absent, here was no turing back. The attack had to proceed a ‘ordered and the Japanese rationalised that ‘the remaining targets, particularly the US battleships, were high value enough to justity the risk being undertake. anJAPAN ATTACKS 42 KEY PLAYER: ISOROKU YAMAMOTO MORE THAN ANY OTHER INDIVIDUAL, YAMAMOTO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR SHAPING THE PRE-EMPTIVE STRIKE ON PEARL HARBOR soroku Yamamoto was bom as Takano Teoroku on 4 Ape 1884 in Nagao, nthe Nigata Prefecture onthe west coast of Honshu. An above average student, Isoroku entered the Japanese Naval Acadeny in 11900 and, ster gracunting, went to Sea dung the RuseeJapanese War “The folloing decade, hs ie began @ steep upward trajectory wnen in 1913 he entered the Japanese Naval Staff College. Afterwards, Isak was ‘adopted by the Yamamoto family, and subsequently ‘hanged his name to Iscoku Yamamoto. The adoption was a reutine occurence in Japanese cutture by families that lacked a male het Before the close ofthe decade, Yamamoto made the ‘rst of two extended visits ta the Unite States. During is frst tour rom 1919 to 1923 he studied English at avvard University He then returned to his homeland to teach bity at the Naval Staff College before returning to the Unite States fortwo years beginning i 1926. The Pighlight was a stint 2 Japan's naval attaché ‘Yamamot's tim in America ad a profound infuenco fon hie. Walle rubbing elbows with US naval officers, he ‘was able to see what most interested them and how they ‘Sent their eereational time, He thought that they were rather fvoious 88 they seemed to spend an inordinate ‘amount of time playing golf and bridge. ‘But what dd impress the young commander was the Industral might ofthe Unted States. He realised from his sits that a prtracted war wih the United States would be aitcut if pot impossible, for Japan to win. When he returned to Japan, his career soared to new heights. He nad the good fortune over the next tn years to land a steng of assignments, each of which would bring greater responsibilty and prestige. Throughout this cle up the naval lade, Yamamoto would have '2 chance fo apply hs sharp and vsionay intellect. He began in 1926 by commanding the largest alrrat carer inthe Imperial Japanese Navy's fet, Akagl. Ho was bromoted to rear admiral the folowing year and essigned fo lead the dvision ofthe Naval Air Corps responsible for ‘upgrading and feiing new weapons and equipment In the 19308, he was catapulted Int the stratosphere cof naval command, He led the Fst Carrer Dion n 41934. Upon receiving a promotion to vce admiral in 41936, ne was assigned to sorve asthe vice ministor ‘ofthe imperial Japanese Navy. Two years later, he was {Bven command ofthe Fiat Fleet. These aseignments ‘wore invaluable onthe job training. On 30 August 1936, he was appointed to serve as commander iene ofthe ‘Combined Flt. The postion was the highest command in the Imperial Japanese Navy ‘Yamamato was a realist. He opposed the invasion of northem Crina in 1937, the subsequent Tripartite Pact of 41940 and at least at fst - contet with the US, largely because he believed it would be unwinnable. At the same time he was convinced that became necessary Japan must take al of the steps necessary to ensure it ‘would prevail Indeed, once Japan had invaded Indochina, ‘Yamamoto argued for war withthe US, white realising that Japan's ony chance of itary lay ina surprise attack ‘When sent to attend the London Naval Conference in 1935, Yamamoto had extracted Japan ‘tom a series of treaties by which Grest Britain anc tne US restricted how mary large ships ‘the Japanese Navy coud build The restrictions, fst imposed after World War', had elegated Japan toa second-rate naval power. In the late 1990s, the ‘ld school Japanese admiral of ‘the Naval General Staff imested heavily n building and launching ‘wo ofthe largest and most heavily gunned battleships ever Dui, he Yamato and Musas ‘These 65,000 ton behemoths ‘dwarfed the 45,000-ton US lowa-class battleships In their minds, the admirals envisioned @ ‘ecisive battle between the big ships ofthe rival fleets clashing inthe western Pace, peshans near the Marana Islands or Marshall sands, Yamamoto fought a war of words with the imperial Navy's {ap admirals the year preceding Loner Sicha - xthe Peart Harbor attack in which he sought to persuade ‘them to aliseard the so-called big ships Gactrne In favour of a now strategy centred on aera carer tactics and capabilities. By using his sharp intellect, extensive experience and formidable connections, Yamamoto was ultimately able to get the empire's Naval General Staf to approve his plan for a preemptive strke on Peart Harbor with a formidable armada of aval aircraft that included dve, torpedo and horizontal bombers, that would all protected by a large umbrella of fighter atcratt. "Yamamoto remained aboard his fagship in Japan's Inland Sea during the Peet Harbor attack. From that location, he woud issue a coded attack order. as well a5 final words of inepration that ware read tthe feet. As the masterming behing the Peart Harbor attack, Yamamoto exhibited to the word his tactical and satoge genius. The subsequent campaigns that he rected da not ‘025 wel, Inthe attack on Midway Island in 1942, he sought 0 destroy American ships not caught at KEY PLAYER: ISOROKU YAMAMOTO Feet Admical Isoreku Yamamoto YEARS OF SERVICE: 19011943; POSITION: Commander in Chiet ofthe Combined Feet ‘SERVICE: Imperial Japanese Naw Peart Harbor, including the US Navy's aera carriers However, the Battle of Midway was lst, n lage part because Yamamete's plan, which had multe objectives that stretched his military assets, was too complicated ‘After that, the Imperial Japanese Navy was onthe defensive in 1943 in the Guadeleanal and Soloman Islands campaigns Yamamoto commited his units piecemeal, never winning deciive victory. Even 80, convince thet they had to eliminate ther most gifted adversary, US Navy officais used intelligence to ciscem his location in sping 41943, On 18 Apri the Mitsubishi G4M bomber in whien the admiral was being shuttled onan inspection tour of Island bases in the Solomon Islands was shot down by @ pack of US P.38 Lightning arran. was given an elaborate state funeral on 8 June 3943. In recognition a his service and achievemenis, Yamamoto postrumousy received te title of marshal. His ashes ‘were cvide, th hal going toa pubic cometary in Tokyo and the other half to his hometown of Nagaoka Rectan ce ‘rng he Bote of shinsJAPAN ATTACKS of 7 December 1941 5 an inauspicious one forthe ‘hy hung over Pear Harbor, broken only witha few smc of elouds. Among the ine battleships, seven of which were concentrated along Batieship Row, on ‘spoczng atop stil waters “These wore tense times, with vague umbings of an imminent Japanese attack, that aivays seemed but afew steps aay, ‘Though the Japanese appeared to lack the capacity ora direct asseut. sabotage by the island's local Japanese resents was a dist Dossiblly, ana Amercans had arranged their ircrft In groups across the Kaneohe Bay, Hickam, Wheeler and Bellows aired, Lite they know, 260 miles north a storm was brewing: a gargantuan Jepanes (01 33 ships approached. As dawn cracked ‘108s the sky the Zero fighters departed from their carers ami hal of bravado and began orcing overhead, Standing an the Akagh cari, Commander Msuo Fuchida wrappe & hachimali band around his heed emblazoned with “Certain Victory” and readied to lead 183 Dianes in V formation towards Hawai. The crew were enraptured. Tis was their moment; the Empire of Japan was crossing the Rubicon 'N 6.45am, USS Ward spotted the conning tower of an unidentified two-man submarine ‘making its way towards Pearl Harbor and sank itwith dopth charges and gure. 15 mioutes later, when a radar operator picked up plane ‘movements coming in from the north, superiors Cdsmissed it asa fleet of fendly bombers Despite the iegulanes, mast men were apply tucked in bed, This was a Sunday, which for mary meant a day away from the base and chapel Sori Rosng across the horizon, Fuchide's bomber, marked with aredandyellow-stines tal, desconded upon Oahu wales bya stream of lanes, decoratec witn the Japanese rising un, thei white belies blending with the ‘ouds, “One hour and 40 minutes after leaving THE ATTACK5 = & 2 =JAPAN ATTACKS 46 the carters, | know that wo should be nearing ‘ur goal Fuchida refecte, “Small openings Inthe tick cloud cover afforded occasional mses ofthe ocvan as strained my eyes for fhe frst slgnt of ond. Sudden a ong white line of breaking sur appeared directly beneath ny ane. ie was the norte shore of Oahu." 'As the battleships of Peat Harbor revealed themselves through Fuchica's binoculars, to his disappointment he realises the coveted ‘ira carers were absent, Regardless, he had his rao man tap out the attack code: “TO, 10, 10", and red a fare to signal the ‘Americans had been caught competay off tard, Having achieved the element of suprise, ‘ria to ther shallow-anged attacks, the torpedo-bombers were to lead the charge, Howover whon the Zero fghtrs fale to got Into position, Fuchisa launched a second flare, which the cve-bombers mistook for a shit 0 thei contingency plan, meaning that {hey Instead should ead the ateack ane draw ‘aay anteaicrft fire. As the dive-bombers ‘Nichi D3A "Vals rose upwards and out of sight LUeutenant Commander Snigeharu Murata ‘shed his torpedo-bombers towards their target as fast as possible Just after 7.50am, the Vals unleashed a hil of bombs on Wher Aitied foiowed by the Zeros, who ccd the field and builaings tearing up planes, quarters, bulngs and leven the got course with theit 20mm cannons {and 7.7mm machine guns. Bullets puncture fel tanks, setting pools of gasoline aight, Immolating the parked planes, which explodes, setting off chain reactions all down the line, ‘mic the bonfire, Fuchida radioed his task force: "Tra, tora, tora", the “ightring attack” ‘As they reached the sland, the high level ‘and Nakajima BENZ "kate torpedo bombers ‘Swooped around the western coast. While the higlevel bombers arched around the ‘ean, the torpedoes spin two over the Ce ey ee f yh ee southwestem Eva each, wih leutenants Takashi Negal and Heita Matsumura leading 26 planes around the westside of Peal Harbor, Wile leutonants Murata and eno Kiajna flew 24 bombers over Hickam Fil towards Battleship Row. ht 7:35am, Commander Logan Ramsey as looking out of Fed sland Command Cerire when he spotted a single aeroplane diving towards tho Island. He had a mind tO report the plot for ‘atnatting or reckless fing. However, as the plane pulled up from Its daredevil ave, an exlosion burst out om beneath it and the truth sunk in. Ramey hurties towards the radio room shouting, “Air Raid, Pear Harbor. Ths is no dil.” Having reached Pear Harbor st, the ‘ve bombers unieashed a barrage over the southern tp of Ford Island. Logan's eardrums Seemed ft to burst with each explosion: “The natrowing noise ofthe destruction wrought by ‘the torpedo-planes and bombers pounding cur fleet was almost more than we could bear” ‘As they hit the harbour, eutenant Nagar's torpedo-bombers dropped their payloads at {teat sped, skimming through the water and Focking the Utah and neigmbourng Raleigh vith enormous expiosions. Blinded by the Sun Nagai mistook te Helena light cruiser anc Oglala minelayer fora battieship, cropping 2 torpedo that hit the Helena's engine room, damaging bath vessels. As others began toDuring te second wove Jeon he ant ie Satan ae suing Simeon mogaee target the Helena, felow bomber Mor uzo few on, refusing to “waste” his torpedo “on such a smal target. ager to destroy the American battleships, at 17.5tam a wave of torpedobombers approached Batlild Row n singe fle, ee attacks concentrated on USS Oklahoma and West Virginia, American officers yelled expletives 50 thelr men were sue this was no dil, The ‘West Virginia buckled under seven torpedoes ‘and began gulping a water. Tapped beneath @ flooded deck, Ensign Archie Kelley sealeg the ‘watertight dor between the conta station fand the next compartment, which was taking in water. Tot horor, four men approached the other side ofthe door soreaming and esperatly trying to open it. However, he had '40 men an his sie ofthe door. He looked at ‘Commander Herper, asking the “unspoken {question” of whether to open the door o not “his face indicated he did't want me to” ‘Tey would spend an hour in water up to thelr shoulders before climbing pan escape tube, When the erew of the Vesta, outboard of the Azone, began fring atthe bombers, the ‘commotion stirred Ensign Ed Farley trom his ‘sleep aboara the PT 23, Dogging himset to the eck, he watched a Japanese plane masterfully ‘ing to the west and stiko tho California, ‘wagering an explosion. Two of his erewmates leaped onto the -S0-cal machine guns, Diastng ‘one ofthe Japanese planes out ofthe sh. oar the Oldahoma, 2s fresh graduate Joseph Spite ran past the rier offers" ‘quarters, where many were sl asleep, 2 torpedo ripped through the roam earng his comrases apart. The ship was reckad by nine suecesshve torpedoes, each so powerful that the Ship umped. Te Olahoma began spewing out thik back emone bore finaly eapszng with 400 men tapped within her bowels, Japanese fighters ruthlessly picked off survivors as they tried to swim to say Ensign John Landreth had intially beloved thatthe alarm was aol a “ow blow” for ‘8 Sunday moring. However, he emerged from USS Nevads ust in time to see the ‘ticken Oklahoma keel over, His commander Sefied regulations, ordering his men to Keep ‘ammunition boxes fll and guns ready. Mary tf them displayed amazing courage: gunner JK Toussig Jr cofusod to stand down, even after being it in the tigh. One of te planes they shot apart was able to aunch a torpedo before ping down, tearing hoe inthe ship. aTJAPAN ATTACKS Amid the chaos, Fuchida’s 49 highevel ‘bombers arrived onthe ecene at &.05am, hoping to destoy the inboard battleships ‘eked behind the autboars targets already iby the torpedoes. The commander himself ‘made a narrow escape as “dark grey Putts" of ‘ntvaieaft Nak exploded around hin, punching ' hole inthe fuselage and damaging his ueder Wire. His men were persistent, some swooDin ‘round thee times before landing 2 it ‘One of theiroms, an B00-Klogram beast, ripped through the Arizona's magazine, ‘rggering an enormous explosion that ‘scattered her erew in advection. The ensuing, bast was so powerful that it extinguished the flames atop the Vestal and blew the nails out ofthe celing of nearby barracks Fuchida fet it shake his plane mies away. Hunks of metal ‘and buring flesh rained down in al directions {2s the Arizona dragged 1,200 doomed Crewmen ta their raves, Stay bombs and rounds reached as far 2a Honolulu. Urwin a group of planes fain rom the Aenean maitiand fw ito @ maelstrom, picked apart by paricked fendi fre rele the Japanese Zeros. On the ground, the Zeros target the B-7s, ring 77mm Dulets down on them while Americans desperately ted to an thom to sot. As the vieencoIntensiiod funers at Fort Kamenamen setup ther machine guns ona tennis court and took out the Zor leader's wingman ‘As Admiral Husband Kimmel looked out of his orfice window, a spent machine gun all Burst trough and ecole off his chest, Staggering back, ne looked down and mumbled, "R would have'been more merc had tiled me. Back in the Middle Loch, a Japanese plane burst into lames, Miraculous spl \restied with nis conto, crashing it head On inte the USS Curtis. Sti intact, the Cutis potted the only Japanese submarine to make Iino the harbour and blew Its conning tower up. Sensing all in bombardment at &.39am, ‘the Monaghan made is way south southwest ‘towards the open sea, ramming into the Submarine and dropping a depth charge for 00 measure By 55am, Lietenant Commander Shigekazu Shimazaliartved with 2 second wave of planes, including 54 high evel Dombers, 78 Vals and 36 Zero fenters, A tachment of 18 highievelbombers and 37Ree Parca tor eee) bsererentaass ‘THE ATTACK Zeros attacked the hangars and planes at Kaneohe before eghtfigiters moved on to Bells Field to mow down stationary planes ‘and those tying to take of. ‘Against the odds, four dating American plots ‘managed to takeoff in their P36s and took the flght tothe Japanese at Wheeler Aid. The American defences were naw in ul swing, and none bore the brunt quite lke Lieutenant Commander Takashige Egusa'save-bombers, with thelr 250-klogram pombs. Tasked with ‘mopping up the rest ofthe batlleships at Peat Harbor, they nad i contend not ony with thick ‘oud of smoke but an unening hal of tak LLeutenant zenj Abe recalled geting “the shivers” as the at avcraft barrages began With ne harbour in onaos, Egusa's planes Simply scattered and decided to take out whatever targets they could “They threw ther planes downwards, 60 egrees trom 3,000 metres high, heatist {rough smog and flak, cropping ther payloads land swooping back heavenwards, Ike condors, fearless inthe face of camage. With photos of thelr wives and children tucke in their pockets, the Japanese bombers prirtised honour over practical, punting the largest ships rather than tne most vulnerable, Egusa mse hit the New Orleans frst while his wingmen bombed the Cassin and Downes destroyers, setting them alight. The Shaw, 100, was set aflame, and 18 people were killed when a bomb hit the fnarmaus Pennsyvania. ‘A 9.300m, the Helana began to topple cover, and soon ater the Shaw was engufed bya massive exposion As the torpedo svuck Nevada desperately made her way ou oF the harbour picking up survivors en rout, spe was singled out and staked, Scores of bombs. battred her so badly she had to beach herself to avoid clogeng the harbour. Charles Mercinger, ‘an ensign who had gredusted from the naval ‘academy earlier that year, was stuck atthe bottom ofthe ship on fre contol duty with no ect and ite oxen. As men were mowed ‘down onthe top others ran up to replace them 'n the antaeraf guns. “The poop who were ong. up thought they were gong get shot, and the ones who stayed thougt they were tong to get crowed, he recalled. gus’ squacron mace for Hiker, Wheeler and Eva to further decimate the afield and bulldings. However leutenants George Welch ‘and Kenneth Tylor managed to take off in 8 pair of P.40s, shooting down four planes, refueling and then taking out another twee. Fer almost to anda half hours of cama, with thet weapons spent the japanese began to return to base. The last among them was Fuchida, who at 11am lew over Oahu assessing the damage. Ships” carcasses ittered the harbour alongside hunarees of bobbing bodies, Stained blak rom the spilled i ‘nen all was said and done, the Americans had lost 2,388 men, 18 ships were sunk or ‘damaged, 169 averaft had been destroyed and a further 150 damaged. The Japanese, fn the other hand, nad only ist 185 men and 29 planes. Despite their best effort, the ‘Americans could never have prepared for an attack tis egregious, this bold. Tough the future was unclear, one thing was for certain: lke Tor not, war had ome to Amica 49Bra tareJAPAN 3 ATTACKS =~ HOW THE IMPE JAPANESE NAVY LAUNCHED ONE OF HISTORY'S MOST DEVASTATING RAIDS PIOKED UP BY RADAR ‘THE SECOND WAVE ‘THE FIRST WAVE OF ATTACKING AIRCRAFT De tt USS SHAW EXPLODES Ti overs sk Teer of tera cag ts HALEIWA FIELD PEARL HARBOR BELLOWS FIELD USS Arizona mae sage ES Coedts USS OKLAHOMA, CAPSIZES USS NEVADA TORPEDOED ATTACK MAP xx SHIP KEY xxx a Suk (0) Heavily damaged Moderately damaged HEB Not damagedEYEWITNESS EYEWITNESS ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII, USA, 7 DECEMBER 1941 Wee OUR pOMLCHAK (erry ‘nthe moming of 7 December 41941, Walter Charles Ebel and 2 fiend were getting ready to go suring at Waiki Beach, totaly ‘blvaue ofthe homor that wa ‘heading their way My buday and | were learing to sur aid Ebel, “We'd ride these [3.6 mete] 120ot bores and sometimes you'd be on one wave and your board would be ‘on another, So you're just tying to catch it ‘And then, inte Bink ofan eye, everything changed. “Iwas looking out the hatch (aboard the USS Curtiss and I heard ths roar, and | Just saw a plane drop a bomb right onto that oor island whore the planes were. And then he came back bythe Naten | was stanaing in, 0 he was side on, and he had this big smile {ons Taco), Me went up the channel ~ no was looking for another target, | guess ~ and that ‘was the start of. From then on you knew was [going tobe] tough” “4 We expected them to come hack. | thought would take over Pearl and probably the States 77 the Japanese Ebel sprung to action. Once al hel had broken lose, his captain told him to head to the main deck to see i there was anything he {ould da. There was one machine un on the ‘eck, which was unmanned. “In one flowing ‘moment I jumped onto and fed that for a ivi sad Ebel “there was any goa it was to sty alive What had started as ust another day for Exel in the idle setting of Honolulu in Hawai tumed out tobe the scene forthe greatest loss coffe on American sol at foreign hands unt {9/11 60 years later. Around 2.400 Americans were klled and 1,200 wounded. In the months prior to Pear Harbor, Ebel hag been on cruisers inthe Scuth Pace. On 6 December his ship, the USS Curtiss, had cropped gas off at Wake Ista north ofthe ‘Marshal Islands, A lastminute decision Saw ‘the Curtiss ead for Honolul. Upon ata ‘nother ship had taken the Curtis's bering int near Peart Harbor, so the captain ordered 55JAPAN ATTACKS the ship to ving around behind Ford Islan. On ‘the way the Curtis picked up 378,540 itres (100,000 gallons) of gasoline, before berthing at rignt on 6 December 1541, When the attack broke out, the Curtiss was somewhat fortunate with ts poston. Is berthing point was far enaugh away trom Peart Hor that avoided the majonty ofthe Japanese onslaught, but the horrors the crew ‘witnesses were anything but fortunate. [As Ebel explains though, they weren't completely removed from the action. "Our hip {got creat for shooting down tree planes and Baral credit fora submaine," he said. "When ‘ne were in battle this submarine popped up Dehind us, and s0 we red over the top ofthe sul. F wont down but when it came back Up let goof a torpedo and it went right by ou ship about [3.6 metres) 12 feet out. fet ike it was {oser, but thy alnays look closer in your min ‘The torpedo went up the channel | don't know there itended up, but there was 3 destroyer in the channel and the submarine ran atthe sight ‘fim, ft went down and never came back up ‘gain, That was the start of everything bg” ‘As mentioned, the Curis had just picked un thousands of gallons of gasoline, and Ebel was lito aware ofthe fat that he was essentially Standing on top a massive bomb: “There was 2 joke Falnays remember | sai to ny buddy Tsked im whore ne was going and he sai to gota ife jacket. | sai, ‘See if you can fnd me a parachute — that ie jacket isn't going tobe much halp wien that gas goes off Fortunately, the gasoline never ignited and the Ccuriss survived. Ebel saw alot of his friends perish on the ‘cutis: in total 19 would de onthe ship, with many more wounded. At the time, though, he as forced to hide any nerves he might have “We were all azeustomed to the dil,” Ee explained, “but when you get the ral thing, fnything can happen. | was always composed pretty wel was onl a tiny bit nervous. I's Dart ofthe batte, | guess. You just get going ‘3nd do your ob, that's al. What else are you eoing todo ‘The attack itself lgited an almost psychotic fury within some ofthe American solders, highend bya eisly moment aboard the (Curtiss. When a Japanese ave-bomber hit a crane on the Curtiss and crashed onto the ‘ek, Ebel witnessed firsthand the extent of his fellow compatriots’ anger. "When the plane hit the crane [the plot's] head came off and ‘skated aoross the deck,” states Ebel. “Our ‘ys wore vicious and they started tying to pull fut his teeth with apa of pers. That always Store Frt ae a ase Sandan pone mecha capured rom a ope sic tin mage show seer! ‘retom teas panes Azan) 6 ivan} 7 0250) "2000 F030) F saamstood out because I was just 20 turning 21 and Stuff ike that bothered me. After awe you realise [the enemy is ust another person.” ‘With the attack uly underway, the Curtiss was doalta stroke of fortune. A bomb had Shattered the mooring onthe back ofthe ship and, accorcing to Ebe}, "We wore swinging around, and that helped us because [the planes] passed us once then when they came back fon an attack un] we might have 2 different positon.” But while they were soared ‘the ful runt ofthe Japanese assault, Ebel had an unwanted vantage point of what was happening around the rest ofthe harbour “The sky was full of them — they were Ike noes” reals Ebel. "Thee were planes evecyuere, Ths torpedo plane went right by us fand sunk the USS Utah and saw when they dropped a bomb an the USS Arizona: went right own the smokestack and flew right fut ofthe water” The surprise nature of the rad as the main eason so mary ofthe ships would be sunk, accoréngto Ebel “The Japanese {otto our ships withthe watertight dors al open ~ that’s wry they sunk them, otherwise OU coulen. They could shoot he whole tp ot 8 ship away and ft stil would’ sink because ‘they've got watertgnt doors ke ar pockets, and ‘that's what heeps them ato.” But as suddenly asthe attack had begun that ‘morning around an hour later “they stopped al ftonce’, Ebel and his erew, however, as you's expect, remained on high alert. Some, neluding Eel, even anticipated that Pear Harbor was nly a procursor to an invasion of the American mainland “We expected them to come back,” Said Ebel “I thought the Japanese woul take ‘ver Pear (Haroor] and probably the States, “I always fgured they could take tho US over easy because they had the most aerat carers of anywhere in the word, and a they ha todo was send one to Seatte and one 1a San Diego and nobody could stop them because [the US miltay was most in Hawa or other places. We never had much protection Tin the United States during Word War Il. They ‘ade a big mista in rot coming back to take Pear: they lost the war right there. They might have won don't knaw i they coud have kept Hawai or not, but i they'd gone to the States it 3 10a) would have been a diferent story. 'm glad they dit For many ofthe Pear Harbor survivors, the ‘eventual Aled wetory inthe war four years later brought litle consolation for what had happened on that tragle day. "just fool sory for al those people that got led,” Ebel teis Ls, “There was cemetery up ona il there in Hawai. They used to dig these big long EYEWITNESS twenches and all these bodles sewn up in canvas bags would just get eropped in and theyd put up eros They didn't know who they were. It went for a8 far a8 ou could see. [remember that~itnever goes ay Inthe back of your ming, it's always there wish didnt see but dia" The attack took place over seven decades ‘ago, and thus many of the survivors have since assed away. Those remaining hove, Ike Ebel, are stil strugging to come to terms wih It *t-doesn't prey on my ming al the time ike Iused to," he sad. used to walk down the Steet and somebody would slam a car door {and jump. Not any more. | dont have any hightmares about ke | used to, But you never et overt