National Museum of the U.S. Navy

The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor began at 7:55 am on December 7, 1941. Japanese naval forces compiled for the raid included 4 heavy aircraft carriers, 2 heavy cruisers, 35 submarines, 2 light cruisers, 9 oilers, 2 battleships and 11 destroyers.

The attacking forces came in two waves, the first consisting of 183 aircraft which included 40 torpedo planes, 49 level bombers, 51 dive bombers and 43 fighters. The second wave included 170 planes, 54 of them level bombers, 80 dive-bombers and 36 fighters. Over 350 Japanese planes were involved in overall attack, which surprised the United States. At the end of the day, over 2,000 men lost their lives.

from left:
USS Maryland and USS Oklahoma after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Sailors watch USS Shaw explode from Ford Island.
Wrecked destroyers USS Downes and USS Cassin in dry dock for repairs after the attack

Battleships

A warship used mainly for naval bombardment and protection of the fleet against air and surface attacks. Roughly equal to the size of three football fields, they floating fortresses eventually were replaced by aircraft carriers. Battleships were named for states.

Cruisers

Smaller than a battleship, cruisers are mainly deployed to conduct raids and protect members of the task force from enemy ships with naval bombardment and gunfire. Cruisers were named for territories, islands, cities and towns.

Destroyers

Small, highly maneuverable and lightly armored. Usually nicknamed the "tin can," destroyers are used to conduct anti-submarine operations. Destroyers were named for deceased Navy and Marine Corps personnel or distinguished civilians.

U.S. Personnel Casualties

Summary of U.S. Ship Damage

Battleships

Arizona sunk, total loss

California sunk, raised, repaired May 1944

Maryland damaged, repaired Feb. 1942

Nevada heavily damaged, repaired Dec. 1942

Oklahoma capsized, total loss

Tennessee damaged, repaired Mar. 1942

West Virginia sunk, raised, repaired July 1944

Pennsylvania slightly damaged, repaired Aug. 1942

Destroyers

Cassin heavily damaged, rebuilt Feb. 1944

Downes heavily damaged, rebuilt Nov. 1943

Helm damaged, repaired Jan. 1942

Cruisers

Helena heavily damaged, repaired June 1942

Honolulu damaged, repaired Jan. 1942

Raleigh heavily damaged, repaired July 1942

Minecraft

Oglala sunk, raised, repaired Feb. 1944

Auxiliaries

Curtis damaged, repaired Jan. 1942

Sotoyomo sunk, raised, repaired Aug.1942

Utah capsized, sunk

Vestal heavily damaged, repaired Feb. 1942

YFD-2 sunk, raised, repaired May 1942

U.S. Aircraft Damage Summary: Lost and Damaged Aircraft

Navy 92 31

Army Air Corps 77 128

from left:
The burned out wreck of a P-40 pursuit aircraft at Wheeler Air Force Base.
Battleship Row under attack by Japanese, December 7, 1941
Three civilians killed while on their way to work by shrapnel from a Japanese bomb.

Ships at Pearl Harbor Lost in World War II

Arizona (BB 39) December 7, 1941

Blue (DD 387) August 23, 1942

Gamble (DM 15) February 18, 1945

Grebe (AM 43) December 5, 1942

Helena (CL 50) July 6, 1943

Henley (DD 391) October 3, 1943

Hull (DD 30) December 18, 1944

Jarvis (DD 393) August 9, 1942

Monaghan (DD 354) December 18, 1942

Neosho (AO 23) May 11, 1942

Oklahoma (BB 37) December 7, 1941

Perry (DMS 17) September 13, 1944

Reid (DD 369) December 11, 1944

Thornton (AVD 11)* May 2, 1945

Tucker (DD 374) August 4, 1942

Utah (AG 16) December 7, 1941

Ward (DD 139) December 7, 1944

Wasmuth (DMS 15)* December 29, 1942

Worden (DD 352)* January 12, 1943

PT 22* January 12, 1943

PT 28* January 12, 1943

Japanese Ships Assigned to "Hawaii Operation"

Akagi June 5, 1942 Midway

Kaga June 4, 1942 Midway

Shokaku June 19, 1942 Philippine Sea

Zuikaku October 25, 1944 Leyte Gulf

Hiryu June 5, 1942 Midway

Soryu June 4, 1942 Midway

Hiei November 13, 1942 Guadalcanal

Kirishima November 15, 1942 Guadalcanal

Chikuma October 25, 1944 Leyte Gulf

Tone July 24, 1945 Kure

Abukuma October 26, 1944 Surgao Strait

Katori February 17, 1944 Truk

Akigumo April 11, 1944 Celbes Sea

Arare July 5, 1942 Aleutians

Hamakaze April 7, 1945 South of Kyushu

Isokaze April 7, 1945 South of Kyushu

Kagero May 8, 1943 Solomons

Kasumi April 7, 1945 South of Kyushu

Sazanami January 14, 1944 Yap

Shiranuhi October 27, 1944 Leyte Gulf

Urakazi November 21, 1944 Formosa

Ushio Surrendered at Yokosuka Naval Base