On December 7, 1941, the Japanese launched a surprise aerial attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, aiming to cripple the U.S. Pacific Fleet and prevent interference with Japan’s expansion in Southeast Asia. The attack began at 7:48 a.m. Hawaiian time and involved two waves of aircraft launched from six Japanese aircraft carriers, totaling over 350 planes
. The first wave targeted airfields and battleships moored in the harbor. Japanese torpedo bombers, dive bombers, and fighters struck battleships on "Battleship Row" and airfields, destroying aircraft on the ground to prevent U.S. retaliation. The USS Arizona suffered a catastrophic explosion after a bomb ignited its ammunition magazine, sinking the ship and killing over 1,100 crew members. The USS Oklahoma capsized, and the USS Utah was also destroyed. In total, five battleships were sunk or heavily damaged, along with numerous other vessels and nearly 200 aircraft
. The attack lasted about 75 minutes, resulting in approximately 2,400 American deaths, including military personnel and civilians, and over 1,100 wounded. The devastation shocked the U.S. and led directly to the United States declaring war on Japan the following day, thereby entering World War II
. Despite the severe damage, most of the damaged ships, except the Arizona, Oklahoma, and Utah, were eventually repaired and returned to service. The attack also galvanized American public opinion, uniting the country in the war effort against Japan and its Axis allies
. In summary, the attack on Pearl Harbor was a carefully planned and executed surprise strike by Japan that aimed to neutralize the U.S. Pacific Fleet, resulting in significant American losses and marking the U.S. entry into World War II
