The first Japanese dive-bomber appeared over Pearl Harbor at 7:55 am (local time). The Japanese managed to damage almost 20 U.S. Aerial View of Japanese Carrier Ships at the Attack on Pearl Harbor. More than 2,000 soldiers were killed and the level of destruction was on a scale that had not occurred on American soil in generations. They took the lives of more than 2,500 Americans and destroyed 18 ships and about 300 airplanes. The Beginning The tension between Japan and […] Pearl Harbor attack was actually a preventive strategy adopted by the Japanese government to put a hold on the unnecessary interference of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the internal affairs of Japan. Why Did Japan Attack Pearl Harbor? Actually, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor was not only from the air. However, there were several key reasons why this attack happened. The attack was motivated by the imperialistic aspirations of the Japanese in the Pacific region. On December 7, 1941, the Japanese military executed a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, the main Pacific base of the United States Navy. Pearl Harbor is a U.S. naval base near Honolulu, Hawaii, that was the scene of a devastating surprise attack by Japanese forces on December 7, 1941. The Attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 directly caused America’s entry to WW2 which led to the eventual launch of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, an outcome that spelled disaster for the Japanese. At 6:00 a.m., the Japanese aircraft carriers began launching their planes amid the rough sea. The attack was motivated by the imperialistic aspirations of the Japanese in the Pacific region. When Japanese bombers appeared in the skies over Pearl Harbor on the morning of December 7, 1941, the U.S. military was unprepared for this horrible and surprising attack. The attack strongly altered the course of World War II. Destroying the Base at Pearl Harbor Would Mean Japan Controlled the Pacific. The attack on Pearl Harbor happened because the Japanese wanted to destroy the U.S. Pacific Fleet so it could not impede Japanese expansion through the South Pacific. Japan also hoped to shatter the morale of the United States to prevent it from entering World War II. The vast majority of the attack was by air. This unforgettable day is well-documented by American historians. Learn more about the details and significance of the attack in this article. Even with such a huge fleet at his disposal, getting all those ships across 3,700 miles of open ocean, without anyone noticing, no less, was still an extremely dangerous undertaking. The U.S. Was Trying to Stop Japan’s Global Expansion. Pearl Harbor attack, surprise aerial attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor on Oahu Island, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941, by the Japanese that precipitated the entry of the United States into World War II. Within a quarter of an hour the various airfields at the base were subjected to savage attack. The attack. Those are three reasons why Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. On the morning of December 7, 1941, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor began. Tensions Began During the Great Depression. Why did the Japanese attack only by air? Pearl Harbor located in Hawaii was attacked by Japan on 7th December 1941. The Japanese carried out a surprise attack on the Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. This attack was one of the worse in … But there are a number of other factors that fueled the … In total, 183 Japanese aircraft took to the air as part of the first wave of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Why Japan Attacked Pearl Harbor. It was part of a first wave of nearly 200 aircraft, including torpedo planes, bombers, and fighters. Pearl Harbor was actually a target of opportunity. Many people believe the Japanese were successful in their attack. There’s a reason the Americans thought their fleet was safe at Pearl Harbor. Here are some key facts about the attack. The Pacific Fleet was actually based in San Diego. Why Did The Japanese Attack Pearl Harbor ? But, the result of the attack did not enable Japan … They also employed so-called midget submarines, although those were largely unsuccessful. When they deployed to Hawaii for summer maneuvers in 1941 the State Department requested they stay at their forward base of operations (Pearl Harbor) as a waning to the Japanese Empire not to attack the Philippines.