Submarine Force Enters World War II
At 7:55 a.m., Sunday morning, the U.S. Pacific Fleet is attacked while at anchor at Pearl Harbor by 191 Japanese torpedo-bombers, dive-bombers, high-altitude bombers, and fighters from the carriers AKAGI, HIRYU, KAGA, SHOKAKA, SORYU, and ZUIKAKU of Vice Admiral Chuichi Namumo's strike force. The attackers withdraw at 8:25 a.m., only to be followed by a second wave of 170 planes at 8:40 a.m.
Fortunately, all three of the Pacific Fleet carriers --LEXINGTON (CV-2), SARATOGA (CV-3), and ENTERPRISE (CV-6) --are elsewhere, and, overlooking the strategically vital oil tank farm, repair facilities, and submarine base, the Japanese concentrate on the battleships anchored off Ford Island. Moored off the far side of Ford Island are the battleships NEVADA (BB-36), ARIZONA (BB-39) with the repair ship VESTAL outboard, TENNESSEE (BB-43), WEST VIRGINIA (BB-48), MARYLAND (BB-46) and OKLAHOMA (BB-37), the fleet oiler NEOSHO, and the battleship CALIFORNIA (BB-44).
ARIZONA is destroyed by a bomb that detonates her forward magazine, killing 1,103 of the 1,400 men on board. OAKLAHOMA capsizes due to flooding, with the loss of 415 of her 1,354 officers and men; and the CALIFORNIA is heavily damaged and settles to her superstructure, as do WEST VIRGINIA and NEVADA --the only battleship to get under way. MARYLAND, PENNSYLVANIA and TENNESSEE are damaged, but can steam to the West Coast under their own power for repairs three weeks later.
More than half of the army, navy, and marine planes on airfield ashore are also destroyed. All except 29 of the Japanese aircraft involved return to their carriers. Altogether, 2,403 American servicemen are killed and 1,178 wounded, with the navy suffering by far the greatest losses. The surprise at Pearl was echoed by shock and disbelief at home, as radio announcers interrupted football and symophony broadcasts with the first bulletins. But by day's end, Roosevelt had signalled Pacfic commanders: "Execute unrestricted air and submarine warfare against Japan." It had been, President Roosevelt told Congress, "a day that will live in infamy." With these words, President Roosevelt unites the American people in the determination to defeat Japan.
Submariners from Narwhal man deck guns during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The Narwhal shared the credit for downing an enemy plane with the submarine Tautog and a nearby destroyer.
The view of the attack on Pearl Harbor from the Submarine Base
President Roosevelt signing the Declaration of War
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