Order of battle of the Attack on Pearl Harbor facts for kids
The attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, was a major surprise attack by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. An "order of battle" is like a detailed list that shows all the different military units, ships, aircraft, and commanders involved in a battle or operation. It helps us understand who was where and what their role was during this important historical event. This list shows the forces for both Japan and the United States on that day.
The Japanese forces were led by Admiral Osami Nagano of the Naval General Staff. The main attack force was the Combined Fleet, commanded by Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto.
First Air Fleet: The Main Attackers
The most important part of the Japanese attack was the First Air Fleet, led by Vice Admiral Chūichi Nagumo. This fleet had several aircraft carriers, which are like floating airfields for planes.
1st Carrier Division: Akagi and Kaga
- Akagi: This was the flagship, meaning it was where Vice Admiral Nagumo commanded from. It carried different types of planes:
* Torpedo Bombers (B5N2 "Kate"): These planes were designed to drop torpedoes or bombs. They were led by Commander Mitsuo Fuchida. * Dive Bombers (D3A1 "Val"): These planes would dive straight down to drop bombs on targets. * Fighter Planes (A6M2 "Zero"): These fast planes protected the bombers and fought against enemy aircraft. They were led by Lieutenant Commander Shigeru Itaya.
- Kaga: This carrier also had a mix of torpedo bombers, dive bombers, and fighter planes. Some planes from the Kaga were lost during the attack.
2nd Carrier Division: Sōryū and Hiryū
- Sōryū: Commanded by Captain Ryusaku Yanagimoto, this carrier also had torpedo bombers, dive bombers, and fighter planes.
- Hiryū: Led by Captain Tomeo Kaku, this carrier's planes also participated in the attack.
5th Carrier Division: Shōkaku and Zuikaku
- Shōkaku and Zuikaku: These two carriers were newer and also carried many torpedo bombers, dive bombers, and fighter planes.
Other Japanese Ships
The Japanese fleet wasn't just carriers. It also included:
- Battleships: The Hiei and Kirishima were powerful warships.
- Cruisers: Ships like the Tone and Chikuma helped scout and protect the fleet.
- Destroyers: Many smaller, fast ships like the Akigumo and Urakaze provided protection.
- Submarines: The Japanese also sent many submarines, including large ones like I-19 and smaller "midget submarines" that tried to sneak into Pearl Harbor. One midget submarine, I-16A, was commanded by Ensign Kazuo Sakamaki, who became the first Japanese POW captured by the US in World War II.
- Supply Ships: Tankers like Kyokuto Maru carried fuel for the fleet.
The US forces at Pearl Harbor were part of the United States Pacific Fleet, led by Admiral Husband E. Kimmel.
Battleships: The Heart of the Fleet
The US Navy had many powerful battleships anchored at Pearl Harbor. These were the biggest and strongest ships in the fleet.
- Battleship Division 1:
* Arizona (BB-39): This famous battleship was sunk during the attack, and Rear Admiral Isaac Campbell Kidd was killed. * Nevada (BB-36): This ship tried to escape the harbor but was hit. * Oklahoma (BB-37): This battleship was also sunk.
- Battleship Division 2:
* Pennsylvania (BB-38): This was the flagship of the Pacific Fleet. * Tennessee (BB-43) * California (BB-44): This ship was sunk but later raised and repaired.
- Battleship Division 4:
* Maryland (BB-46) * West Virginia (BB-48): This ship was sunk but also later raised and repaired. Captain Mervyn Bennion was killed on board.
Cruisers and Destroyers
The US Navy also had many cruisers and destroyers at Pearl Harbor:
- Cruisers: Ships like St. Louis (CL-49) and Helena (CL-50) were present.
- Destroyers: Many destroyers, such as Shaw (DD-373), were in the harbor. The Shaw was famously hit and caught fire.
- Submarines: Several submarines, including Narwhal (SS-167) and Dolphin (SS-169), were at the base.
- Support Ships: Various other ships were present, like the target ship Utah (AG-16) (which was sunk), repair ships like Vestal (AR-4), and hospital ships like Solace (AH-5).
United States Army: On Land in Hawaii
The US Army forces in Hawaii were led by Lieutenant General Walter Short. Their job was to protect the islands from attack.
Infantry Divisions
- 24th Infantry Division
- 25th Infantry Division
These divisions included different infantry regiments, like the 19th Infantry Regiment and the 27th Infantry Regiment.
Coast Artillery
The Coast Artillery was responsible for defending the coast with large guns. Units like the 15th Coast Artillery Regiment were part of this defense.
Hawaiian Air Force
The US Army also had its own air force in Hawaii, led by Major General Frederick L. Martin. This included:
- Fighter Planes: Groups like the 15th Pursuit Group had fighter squadrons (like the 45th Pursuit Squadron) to defend the skies.
- Bomber Planes: The 5th Bombardment Group had bomber squadrons (like the 23rd Bombardment Squadron).
United States Marine Corps: Protecting the Base
The US Marine Corps also had units stationed at Pearl Harbor and nearby bases.
- Marine Barracks Pearl Harbor: Marines were responsible for security at the naval base.
- Defense Battalions: Units like the 1st Defense Battalion were set up to defend key areas.
- Marine Aircraft Group (MAG-21): Based at Marine Corps Air Station Ewa, this group had different types of aircraft, including scout bombers and fighter planes.
