Download Instructions for Attack on Pearl Harbor

Instructions for Attack on Pearl Harbor
Part I
Students are to write a 2 page typed double spaced report and contain at least five
paragraphs: introduction, three supportive paragraphs, and a conclusion. Students
must use Times New Roman or Arial size 14 font. The report must include the
following:
 A description of the historical event that took place on December 7, 1941.
When did the attack start, how long did it last, when it ended. The purpose for
the attack. What countries were involved? What were the main targets?
 What ships were involved in the attack? What happened to the ships that
were damaged in the attack? Were any ships salvaged and sent into
operation after the attack? What ships were unsalvageable? Which one(s)?
What does Battleship Row mean? How did that play a role in the attack?
What changes were implemented after the attack? Were only ships destroyed
or damaged? What other areas was targeted?
 What was the damage? What were the casualties, the wounded, and how did
it compare to the opposing forces? What was the number of survivors
comparing to the number of deaths, injuries between the parties involved?
Compare the amount of damage between the opposing forces.
 Was there a way that the attack could have been foreseen? If so, what was
it? In other words, was there a way to know that an attack was to happen?
Was the attack a success? What were the objectives and were they reached?
 How did the United States respond to the attack? What was the outcome of
the attack? What resulted from the attack?
 What recent event was similar to the Attack? What were the similarities? How
were they different?
Part II
Students are to create a modern day messenger board using 4 x 6 index cards
writing posts of their own and responding to others describing the attack, the amount
of casualties and damage, how the attack was accomplished, who was attack and
where the attack was occurring, etc. Students are to use the paper they wrote in
order to make a post on the makeshift Facebook/Twitter page that will be displayed
in the hallway. This is to create a dialogue between the students using modern
technology on a historical event as if the attack was happening now.
Rubric Attack on Pearl Harbor
Category
Content
Organization
Originality
Social Media
(Part II)
Instructions
4
3
2
1
Covers topic indepth with details
and examples.
Subject
knowledge is
excellent.
Content is well
organized.
Includes essential
knowledge about
the topic. Subject
knowledge
appears to be
good.
Content is
logically
organized for the
most part.
Includes essential
information about
the topic but
there are 1-2
factual errors.
Content is
minimal OR there
are several
factual errors.
Overall
organization of
topics appears
flawed.
Product shows a
large amount of
original thought.
Ideas are creative
and inventive.
Post on a
makeshift
Facebook/Twitter.
Responds to
more than three
posts.
All instructions
were followed.
Product shows
some original
thought. Work
shows new ideas
and insights.
Post on a
makeshift
Facebook/Twitter.
Responds to
three posts.
Has little
evidence of
original thinking.
There is no clear
or logical
organizational
structure, just lots
of facts.
Has no original
thought.
Post on a
makeshift
Facebook/Twitter.
Responds to two
posts.
Post on a
makeshift
Facebook/Twitter.
Responds to zero
or one post.
Almost all
instructions were
followed.
Most of the
instructions were
followed.
Some of the
instructions were
followed.
Attack on Pearl Harbor
December 7, 1941 - A Date That Will Live in Infamy
On the morning of December 7, 1941, the Japanese launched a surprise
air attack on the U.S. Naval Base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. After just two
hours of bombing, more than 2,400 Americans were dead, 21 ships* had
either been sunk or damaged, and more than 188 U.S. aircraft destroyed.
The attack at Pearl Harbor so outraged Americans that the U.S. abandoned
its policy of isolationism and declared war on Japan the following day -officially bringing the United States into World War II.
Why Attack?
The Japanese were tired of negotiations with the United States. They
wanted to continue their expansion within Asia but the United States had
placed an extremely restrictive embargo on Japan in the hopes of curbing
Japan's aggression. Negotiations to solve their differences hadn't been
going well.
Rather than giving in to U.S. demands, the Japanese decided to launch a
surprise attack against the United States in an attempt to destroy the
United States' naval power even before an official announcement of war
was given.
The Japanese Prepare for Attack
The Japanese practiced and prepared carefully for their attack on Pearl
Harbor. They knew their plan was extremely risky. The probability of
success depended heavily on complete surprise.
On November 26, 1941, the Japanese attack force, led by Vice Admiral
Chuichi Nagumo, left Etorofu Island in the Kurils (located northeast of
Japan) and began its 3,000-mile journey across the Pacific Ocean.
Sneaking six aircraft carriers, nine destroyers, two battleships, two heavy
cruisers, one light cruiser, and three submarines across the Pacific Ocean
was not an easy task.
Worried that they might be spotted by another ship, the Japanese attack
force continually zig-zagged and avoided major shipping lines. After a week
and a half at sea, the attack force made it safely to its destination, about
230 miles north of the Hawaiian island of Oahu.
On the morning of December 7, 1941, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor
began. At 6:00 a.m., the Japanese aircraft carriers began launching their
planes amid rough sea. In total, 183 Japanese aircraft took to the air as
part of the first wave of the attack on Pearl Harbor.
At 7:15 a.m., the Japanese aircraft carriers, plagued by even rougher seas,
launched 167 additional planes to participate in the second wave of the
attack on Pearl Harbor.
The first wave of Japanese planes reached the U.S. Naval Station at Pearl
Harbor (located on the south side of the Hawaiian island of Oahu) at 7:55
a.m. on December 7, 1941. Just before the first bombs dropped on Pearl
Harbor, Commander Mitsuo Fuchida, leader of the air attack, called out,
"Tora! Tora! Tora!" ("Tiger! Tiger! Tiger!"), a coded message which told the
entire Japanese navy that they had caught the Americans totally by
surprise.
Surprise Attack on Pearl Harbor
Sunday mornings were a time of leisure for many U.S. military personnel at
Pearl Harbor. Many were either still asleep, in mess halls eating breakfast,
or getting ready for church on the morning of December 7, 1941. They
were completely unaware that an attack was imminent.
Then the explosions started. The loud booms, pillars of smoke, and lowflying enemy aircraft shocked many into the realization that this was not a
training exercise; Pearl Harbor was really under attack.
Despite the surprise, many acted quickly. Within five minutes of the
beginning of the attack, several gunners had reached their anti-aircraft
guns and were trying to shoot down the Japanese planes.
At 8:00 a.m., Admiral Husband Kimmel, in charge of Pearl Harbor, sent out
a hurried dispatch to all in the U.S. naval fleet, "AIR RAID ON PEARL
HARBOR X THIS IS NOT DRILL."
The Attack on Battleship Row
The Japanese had been hoping to catch U.S. aircraft carriers at Pearl
Harbor, but the aircraft carriers were out to sea that day. The next major
important naval target was the battleships.
On the morning of December 7, 1941, there were eight U.S. battleships at
Pearl Harbor, seven of which were lined up at what was called Battleship
Row and one (the Pennsylvania) was in dry dock for repairs. (The
Colorado, the only other battleship of the U.S.'s Pacific fleet, was not at
Pearl Harbor that day.)
Since the Japanese attack was a total surprise, many of the first torpedoes
and bombs dropped on the unsuspecting ships hit their targets. The
damage done was severe. Although the crews on board each battleship
worked feverishly to keep their ship afloat, some were destined to sink.
The seven U.S. battleships on Battleship Row:






Nevada - Just over a half hour after the Nevada was hit by one
torpedo, the Nevada got underway and left its berth in Battleship Row
to head toward the harbor entrance. The moving ship made an
attractive target to the Japanese bombers, who caused enough
damage to the Nevada that it was forced to beach itself.
Arizona - The Arizona was struck a number of times by bombs. One
of these bombs, thought to have hit the forward magazine, caused a
massive explosion, which quickly sank the ship. Approximately 1,100
of her crew were killed. A memorial has since been placed over the
Arizona's wreckage.
Tennessee - The Tennessee was hit by two bombs and was
damaged by oil fires after the nearby Arizona exploded. However, it
stayed afloat.
West Virginia - The West Virginia was hit by up to nine torpedoes and
quickly sank.
Maryland - The Maryland was hit by two bombs but was not heavily
damaged.
Oklahoma - The Oklahoma was hit by up to nine torpedoes and then
listed so severely that she turned nearly upside down. Despite being
upside down, a large number of her crew remained trapped on board.
Rescue efforts were only able to save 32 of her crew.

California - The California was struck by two torpedoes and hit by a
bomb. The flooding grew out of control and the California sank three
days later.
In addition to the air assault on Battleship Row, the Japanese had launched
five midget submarines. These midget subs, which were approximately 78
1/2 feet long and 6 feet wide and held only a two man crew, were to sneak
into Pearl Harbor and aid in the attack against the battleships. However, all
five of these midget subs were sunk during the attack on Pearl Harbor.
The Attack on the Airfields
Attacking the U.S. aircraft on Oahu was an essential component of the
Japanese attack plan. If the Japanese were successful in destroying a
large portion of the U.S. airplanes, then they could proceed unhindered in
the skies above Pearl Harbor. Plus, a counter-attack against the Japanese
attack force would be much more unlikely.
Thus, a portion of the first wave of Japanese planes that arrived over Pearl
Harbor at 7:55 a.m. were ordered to target the airfields that surrounded
Pearl Harbor.
As the Japanese planes reached the airfields, they found many of the
American fighter planes lined up along the airstrips, wingtip to wingtip,
making easy targets. The Japanese strafed and bombed the planes,
hangers, and other buildings located near the airfields, including
dormitories and mess halls.
By the time the U.S. military personnel at the airfields realized what was
happening, there was little they could do. The Japanese were extremely
successful at destroying most of the U.S. aircraft. A few individuals picked
up guns and shot at the invading planes.
A handful of U.S. fighter pilots were able to get their planes off the ground,
only to find themselves vastly outnumbered in the air. Still, they were able
to shoot down a few Japanese planes.
The Attack on Pearl Harbor Is Over
By 9:45 a.m., just under two hours after the attack had begun, the
Japanese planes left Pearl Harbor and headed back to their aircraft
carriers. The attack on Pearl Harbor was over.
All Japanese planes had returned to their aircraft carriers by 12:14 p.m.
and just an hour later, the Japanese attack force began their long journey
homeward.
The Damage Done
In just under two hours, the Japanese had sunk four U.S. battleships
(Arizona, California, Oklahoma, and West Virginia). The Nevada was
beached and the other three battleships at Pearl Harbor received
considerable damage.
Also damaged were three light cruisers, four destroyers, one minelayer,
one target ship, and four auxiliaries.
Of the U.S. aircraft, the Japanese managed to destroy 188 and damage an
additional 159.
The death toll among Americans was quite high. A total of 2,335
servicemen were killed and 1,143 were wounded. Sixty-eight civilians were
also killed and 35 were wounded. Nearly half of the servicemen that were
killed were on board the Arizona when it exploded.
All this damage was done by the Japanese, who suffered very few losses
themselves -- just 29 aircraft and five midget subs.
The United States Enters World War II
The news of the attack on Pearl Harbor quickly spread throughout the
United States. The public was shocked and outraged. They wanted to
strike back. It was time to join World War II.
At 12:30 p.m. on the day following the attack on Pearl Harbor, President
Franklin D. Roosevelt1 gave an address to Congress2 in which he declared
that December 7, 1941 was "a date that will live in infamy." At the end of
the speech, Roosevelt asked Congress to declare war on Japan. With only
one dissenting vote (by Representative Jeannette Rankin from Montana),
Congress declared war, officially bringing the United States into World War
II.
* The 21 ships that were either sunk or damaged include: all eight
battleships (Arizona, California, Nevada, Oklahoma, West Virginia,
Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Tennessee), three light cruisers (Helena,
Honolulu, and Raleigh), three destroyers (Cassin, Downes, and Shaw), one
target ship (Utah), and four auxiliaries (Curtiss, Sotoyoma, Vestal, and
Floating Drydock Number 2). The destroyer Helm, which was damaged but
remained operational, is also included in this count.
Pearl Harbor Facts
Finding out the basics facts about Pearl Harbor can often be troublesome.
Hopefully you will find what you are looking for here for this collection of
Pearl Harbor facts should prove both informational and interesting.
General Pearl Harbor Facts







The attack on Pearl Harbor occurred on December 7, 1941.
The Japanese attacked the United States without warning.
The attack lasted 110 minutes, from 7:55 a.m. until 9:45 a.m.
A total of 2,335 U.S. servicemen were killed and 1,143 were
wounded. Sixty-eight civilians were also killed and 35 were wounded.
The Japanese lost 65 men, with an additional soldier being captured.
Pearl Harbor is on the south side of the Hawaiian island of Oahu and
is the home to a U.S. naval base.
The attack on Pearl Harbor brought the United States into World War
II.
Japan and the Attack on Pearl Harbor



Plans for a surprise attack against the United States were begun as
early as January of 1941.
Although it was Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto who initiated
the plans for the attack against Pearl Harbor, Commander Minoru
Genda was the plan's chief architect.
The Japanese used the codename "Operation Hawaii" for the attack
on Pearl Harbor. This later changed to "Operation Z."





The Japanese specifically chose to attack on a Sunday because they
believed Americans would be more relaxed and thus less alert on a
weekend.
The Japanese attack force stationed itself approximately 230 miles
north of the Hawaiian island of Oahu.
The Japanese launched their airplanes in two waves, approximately
45 minutes apart.
The first wave of Japanese planes struck Pearl Harbor at 7:55 a.m.
The second wave reached Pearl Harbor around 8:40 a.m.
When Japanese Commander Mitsuo Fuchida called out, "Tora! Tora!
Tora!" ("Tiger! Tiger! Tiger!") upon flying over Pearl Harbor, it was a
message to the entire Japanese navy telling them they had caught
the Americans totally by surprise.
Facts About the Battleships








The main target of the Japanese was to be the aircraft carriers;
however, since all three U.S. aircraft carriers were out to sea, the
Japanese focused on the battleships.
There were eight battleships at Pearl Harbor that day, which included
all the battleships of the U.S. Pacific fleet except for one (the
Colorado).
Seven of the U.S. battleships were lined up in "Battleship Row."
During the attack, the Nevada left its berth in Battleship Row and tried
to make it to the harbor entrance. After being repeatedly attacked on
its way, the Nevada beached itself.
The Arizona exploded when a bomb breached its forward magazine
(i.e. the ammunition room). Approximately 1,100 U.S. servicemen
died on board.
After being torpedoed, the Oklahoma listed so badly that it turned
upside down.
To aid their airplanes, the Japanese sent in five midget subs to help
target the battleships. The Americans sunk four of the midget subs
and captured the fifth.
All eight U.S. battleships were either sunk or damaged during the
attack. Amazingly, all but two (the Arizona and the Oklahoma) were
eventually able to return to active duty.
Facts About the Airfields at Pearl Harbor






Many U.S. servicemen were either still in their pajamas or eating
breakfast in the mess halls when the attack on Pearl Harbor began.
U.S. servicemen identified the invading planes as Japanese because
of the "meatballs," what they called the large, red circle (the Rising
Sun) on the side of Japanese planes.
The Japanese hoped to destroy U.S. planes on the ground in order to
minimize any counter-attack against them over Pearl Harbor or
against the Japanese attack force.
The Japanese struck the airfields at Hickam Field, Wheeler Field,
Bellows Field, Ewa Field, Schoefield Barracks, and Kaneohe Naval
Air Station.
Many of the U.S. airplanes were lined up outside, along the airstrips,
wingtip to wingtip, in order to avoid sabotage. Unfortunately, that
made them easy targets for the Japanese attackers.
Unable to get more than a handful of planes in the air, individual U.S.
servicemen tried to shoot down the Japanese planes from the
ground.
After the Attack on Pearl Harbor Ended




When the Japanese left Pearl Harbor at 9:45 a.m., the Americans
didn't realize the attack was actually over. They expected another
wave to hit.
The day following the attack on Pearl Harbor, U.S. President Franklin
D. Roosevelt declared that December 7, 1941 would be "a date that
will live in infamy."
The United States declared war on Japan on December 8, 1941, the
day following the attack on Pearl Harbor.
"Remember Pearl Harbor!" became a rallying cry for the U.S. during
World War II.