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From Citizendium, the Citizens' Compendium

Contents 1 Japanese operational concept 2 U.S. intelligence and planning 2.1 Communications intelligence 2.2 Threat assessment 2.2.1 Sabotage vs. air attack 2.2.2 Implications of the Battle of Taranto 3 Order of battle 3.1 Japan 3.2 United States 4 The attack 4.1 Preliminaries 4.2 First wave air attack 4.3 Second wave air attack 5 =Arguments for and against a possible third strike 6 Aftermath 6.1 Changes in Command 6.2 Effect on naval doctrine

On December 7, 1941, units of the Imperial Japanese Navy conducted air and submarine operations against American forces in the Battle of Pearl Harbor. This battle was a key element in the major Japanese escalation of what they call the Pacific War.

While the United States had intelligence suggesting a high probability of Japanese attacks in December 1941, and some specific information that either did not reach the Pearl Harbor commanders, Admiral Husband E. Kimmel (Navy) or Lieutenant General Walter Short (Army), the attack was a tactical surprise.

Few battles, and the circumstances leading to them, have been studied as extensively as this one. Many concepts of the discipline of intelligence and warning resulted from this action.

For the geographic area, see Pearl Harbor.

Japanese operational concept

U.S. intelligence and planning

Communications intelligence

Threat assessment

Sabotage vs. air attack

Implications of the Battle of Taranto

Order of battle

Japan

United States

The attack

Preliminaries

First wave air attack

Second wave air attack

=Arguments for and against a possible third strike

Aftermath

Changes in Command

Effect on naval doctrine