Special Sub-Topic: Attack on Pearl Harbor Click Here To Play: Attack on Pearl Harbor

What was the name of the commander of the Japanese Combined Fleet?

Admiral Yamamoto. Yamamoto was against plans to go to war with the United States. But once the decision to go was settled amongst the Japanese leaders, he gave all of his efforts in conducting a successful operation.

How many carriers did the Japanese use in the attack?

six. SIX-Akagi,Kaga,Hiryu,Soryu,Zuikaku, and Shokaku.

Who was the commander of this attack force?

Admiral Nagumo. Nagumo-Not all Japanese militarists agreed with the choice. Some thought that he should have called for a third strike, some even suggested he should have invaded the islands.

When Admiral Yamamoto decided to go ahead with plans for this attack who was the main person to implement these plans.?

Commander Genda. The man that theorized the mass carrier strike force.

Who was the U.S. Army commander of Hawaii area at the time of the attack?

General Short. General Walter C. Short.

Who was the U.S. Navy Commander in Chief Pacific Fleet at the time of the attack?

Admiral Kimmel. Admiral Kimmel and General Short were blamed for what happened,but were exonerated a few years later.

This battleship had 1,177 deaths more than any other ship that day.

U.S.S. Arizona. Most of them are still entombed in the ship which is now a U.S. Historical Landmark. Although the repair ship Vestal was moored next to her the draft of the Vestal was not deep enough to stop the Arizona from receiving torpedo hits. But it was not torpedo hits that spelled her doom,instead dive bombers did most of the damage scoring a hit next to her number 2 turret which penetrated the deck and exploded in her magazine. Bits and pieces of the ship and its crew were scattered throughout Ford Island and the harbor itself.The captain lay dying on the deck still giving orders to save his crew. Captain Van Valkenburgh along with Rear Admiral Isaac Kidd were posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. The graduating class ring that belonged to Admiral Kidd was found. The United States Naval Academy graduate's class ring had fused with a part of the ship's bridge. Probably as a result of the heat generated by the explosion of the forward magazine.

This battleship was the only battleship to get underway and to try and escape the carnage.

U.S.S. Nevada. Nevada with her brave crew tried to exit the harbor into open sea. Upon seeing what she was trying to do the Japanese swarmed all over the ship,trying to sink her and thus blocking the entrance into Pearl Harbor. Although there was death and destruction throughout the harbor,the Nevada was a great inspiration to those still fighting the Japanese. Ultimately she did not make it out of the harbor,the commander decided to beach the ship at a place called Hospital Point. He did not want to risk being sunk in the vicinity of the harbor entrance.

There were forty-eight civilian deaths. How did most of them perish?

Friendly fire. Most were killed by friendly fire.In the rush to fire back at the attacking planes some of the fuses on the ammunition used by the anti-aircraft guns were not set. Thus most of them came back down and exploded in the area of downtown Honolulu. One of those places hit was a saimin stand that killed 12 people.

What was the name of the battleship moored next to the sunken U.S.S. West Virginia?

U.S.S. Tennessee. The Tennessee moored on the inside of West Virginia next to Ford Island was saved from torpedo attacks but was still bombed.Oil from the Arizona floating on the surface of the water was on fire and threatened to engulf the Tennessee. The crew started her propellers turning to keep the burning oil from reaching the ship. She suffered only light damage and was seaworthy within a few weeks.