Pearl Harbor and Midway

Author: [US] West et al. / Mu Zhanlao et al.
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-05-01
Features: Commemorating the 60th anniversary of the great victory in the anti-Fascist war! "Major Battles of World War II Series" with millions of words and thousands of precious historical photos, 14 CDs with 900 minutes of historical documentaries! World War II was the most unprecedented global conflict in human history, involving sixty-one countries and regions and over two billion people. The fighting forces exceeded one hundred million, with approximately ninety million soldiers and civilians killed or injured, and thirty million people displaced. Its unprecedented scale, depth, and intensity became a revolution in the history of human warfare, profoundly impacting military strategy and the concept of war. Looking back at World War II, those brutal and bloody, magnificent and tragic historical scenes have forever shaken people's hearts and remain unforgettable. The Attack on Pearl Harbor: In the spring of 1940, Hitler swept across Western Europe with "blitzkrieg," with the Netherlands and France falling in succession. The British army retreated to the British Isles, while the United States remained isolated on the other side of the ocean with an isolationist policy. The Japanese believed this was the perfect opportunity to advance southward, seize the British, French, and Dutch colonies in Southeast Asia, and secure strategic resources. Thus, Japan erupted in cries of "Don't miss the last train." The newly formed cabinet of Prime Minister Miné, under the pressure of the military, collapsed., supported by Army General Tojo Hideki and other military leaders, formed a new cabinet. As soon as he took office, he eagerly decided to form a military alliance with Germany and Italy to expand his aggression. On September 27, 1940, Japan signed the Tripartite Pact with Germany and Italy, directly targeting the United States and Britain. However, Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, commander of the Japanese Combined Fleet, was deeply concerned, believing that with Japan's industrial capacity, it was impossible to go to war with the United States and compete with it. He told Prime Minister, "If Japan and the United States are forced to fight, we can fight bravely in the first year or year and a half and have confidence in winning. But if the war continues for two or three years, we will have no chance at all. Since the Tripartite Pact has been signed, we can only fight with all our might and break our backs." Despite this, he still earnestly hoped the government could find a way to avoid fighting the United States." Yamamoto knew that the greatest threat to Japan's goal of occupying Southeast Asia was the United States. If Japan and the United States went to war, the main force of the U.S. Pacific Fleet would undoubtedly sortie from Pearl Harbor to contain the Japanese advance into Southeast Asia from the side. In that case, Japan's Southern Fleet would have to turn back to meet them. Therefore, to facilitate the southern advance and quickly secure the strategic resources needed, it was first necessary to eliminate the threat from behind and remove the "teeth" of the U.S. "shark" in Pearl Harbor. Once the main force of the U.S. Pacific Fleet was destroyed, Japan could seize all important strategic points in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, secure the rich strategic resources of Southeast Asia, and force the United States to sign a peace treaty under duress. In February 1941, Yamamoto told Vice Admiral Takashi Kaga, commander of the 11th Air Fleet, about his idea of attacking Pearl Harbor, instructing him to secretly study the plan and draft a preliminary operational outline. Kaga assigned the task to Lieutenant Commander Minoru Genda. After accepting the task, Genda carefully analyzed the enemy situation, reviewed materials, studied the sea and terrain, and calculated the forces, concluding that three conditions were necessary for the raid to succeed: deploying all six large aircraft carriers; selecting the most capable commanders and pilots with the highest training standards; and keeping the operation strictly confidential to ensure surprise. When Yamamoto received Genda's draft, he made some additions and modifications and officially named it the "Operation Z Plan." This plan was not only completely different from traditional Japanese naval strategy but also relied entirely on two unreliable assumptions: that the U.S. Pacific Fleet would be anchored in Pearl Harbor during the attack, and that a large aircraft carrier fleet could cross the Pacific without being detected. Obviously, this was very difficult to achieve, and only a gambler would take such a risk. Yamamoto was indeed a master of gambling, often telling his staff that gamblers' thinking often influenced his decision-making: half calculation, half luck. He was determined to take a big gamble: "Either win big or lose everything. If we fail to attack Pearl Harbor, we won't fight this war at all." Due to the extreme riskiness of the "Operation Z Plan," not only the Navy General Staff strongly opposed it, but even Vice Admiral Chuichi Nagumo, commander of the 1st Carrier Striking Force, initially expressed doubts. However, Yamamoto insisted, believing that there was no hope of winning a war against the United States. Knowing this, he argued that if they had to fight, they should strike first with all their might to deliver a devastating blow to the enemy and create difficulties and obstacles. There was no other way. The Navy General Staff was hesitant, but Yamamoto later threatened to resign as commander of the Combined Fleet if they did not approve the "Operation Z Plan." He also stated that if Vice Admiral Nagumo did not fully agree, he would personally lead the carrier fleet into battle. Faced with Yamamoto's ultimatum, the Navy General Staff had no choice but to approve the "Operation Z Plan." Japan immediately began intensive preparations. Japanese torpedo bomber pilots practiced simulated attacks on Pearl Harbor terrain from above the Gulf of Kagoshima in the south, performing acrobatic maneuvers to drop torpedoes at extremely low altitudes (since Pearl Harbor's waters were only 12 meters deep, torpedoes would have sunk to the bottom if launched from the usual 1,000-meter altitude). Japanese pilots repeatedly practiced suddenly lowering their aircraft's altitude and slowing down to drop torpedoes at 20 meters. Additionally, the Japanese modified ordinary torpedoes to make them suitable for shallow-water attacks. Horizontal bombing pilots trained for night bombing and accuracy at naval bombing. To penetrate U.S. battleships with 800-kilogram armor-piercing shells, the training altitude was reduced from 4,000 meters to 3,000 meters. Meanwhile, the Navy Intelligence Department sent spies to Hawaii to monitor the movements of the U.S. Pacific Fleet in and out of Pearl Harbor. To ensure the success of the attack and prevent leaks, only those involved in the planning knew the mission, including the aircraft carrier commanders. A strict letter inspection system was implemented, and naval cadets in formal uniforms were sent to Tokyo to visit, creating the illusion that the Japanese Navy was not preparing for war to deceive foreign observers. To further mislead the United States, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent former ambassador to Germany Kichisaburō Nomura as a "peace envoy" to the United States to assist Ambassador Shigeru in peace negotiations with the U.S. After most preparations were complete, on November 5, Yamamoto issued "Combined Fleet Secret Order No. 1," outlining the Navy's strategy after the operation began, which included the attack on Pearl Harbor as well as simultaneous attacks on Malaya, the Philippines, Guam, Wake Island, Hong Kong, and Southeast Asia. Yamamoto gathered all the ship commanders and flight leaders on his flagship, the "Nagato," to inform them of the Pearl Harbor attack plan. Within 24 hours, Yamamoto issued the second order, setting the preliminary attack time for December 8 (Sunday, 3:30 a.m. Tokyo time, December 7, Sunday, 8:00 a.m. Hawaii time). At this point, Japan entered a state of war readiness. On November 16, the task force codenamed "Kido Butai" gathered in the inner harbor. This was a massive fleet under the command of Vice Admiral Chuichi Nagumo, including six aircraft carriers, two fast battleships equipped with 14-inch guns, two heavy cruisers, one light cruiser, nine destroyers, three oilers, and one supply ship. According to Yamamoto's orders, the Kido Butai deliberately staggered the departure dates of its ships to conceal its operational intentions, beginning its journey to (now part of Russia) in the southern Kuril Islands on November 17. On November 24, 1941, following Yamamoto's instructions, the participating ships completed their preparations for the long voyage. On November 25, Yamamoto sent a secret operational order to Nagumo: "The Kido Butai must depart on November 26, maintaining strict secrecy, and enter the waiting area by evening on December 3, completing refueling." On the morning of November 26, the Kido Butai weighed anchor and set sail, preceded by three submarines, sailing silently across the turbulent North Pacific toward the waiting area at 42°N, 170°W, where they would await the final order to attack. Now the arrow was already released, and the sword was drawn, but the negotiations between Japan and the U.S. in Washington were still proceeding with pretense. The Japanese dispatched numerous ships and aircraft to Japan's home islands, simulating aircraft carrier formations and frequently engaging in radio communications to create the illusion that their main fleet was still active in Japan. Meanwhile, the U.S. forces in Pearl Harbor were lax, with most personnel on weekend leave, and the harbor was peaceful. (Recent historians have suggested that the U.S. high command may have already learned of the Japanese fleet's departure but decided not to notify the Pearl Harbor garrison, allowing it to be attacked by the Japanese to provide a pretext for U.S. involvement in the war.) The Kido Butai maintained radio silence, only receiving and not sending, and advanced eastward along the predetermined northern route to avoid U.S. patrol aircraft and merchant ships. The voyage was unexpectedly smooth, with overcast skies like a natural curtain concealing the massive fleet's movements. The sea surface was also free of the huge waves typical of winter. On December 2, as the Kido Butai crossed the International Date Line and entered the western Pacific waters north of Midway, Yamamoto sent a secret order via new code: "Climb New Peak 1208," meaning to launch the attack as planned on December 8 (December 7 in Hawaii, 8:00 a.m.). Nagumo immediately ordered the ships to extinguish lights and proceed, and announced the "Operation Z" plan to all personnel, preparing them for battle. On December 3, the Kido Butai turned southeast. On December 6, the oilers refueled the fleet and left the formation. The striking force then turned south, increasing speed to 24 knots and closing in on Pearl Harbor. On the morning of December 8 (December 7 in Hawaii), the Kido Butai arrived about 230 miles north of Pearl Harbor. The aircraft carriers began changing course and sailing against the wind. The flagship "Akagi" raised the "Z" flag. Thirty years earlier, during the Russo-Japanese Battle of Tsushima, Admiral Tōgō Heihachirō had issued the order "The fate of the Imperial nation rests on this battle. All officers and men must fight with utmost effort" from the flagship "Mikasa," which was flying the "Z" flag. At 6:00 a.m. on December 7, the Kido Butai received the attack order. Green lights lit up on the flight decks of the aircraft carriers, and aircraft took off one after another. Within 15 minutes, the 183 aircraft assigned to the first wave of strikes had all left the deck, including 43 fighters, 49 horizontal bombers, 40 torpedo bombers, and 51 dive bombers, which quickly formed formations under the guidance of lead aircraft and circled the ships before diving toward Pearl Harbor. At that time, the U.S. Pacific Fleet in Pearl Harbor consisted of 8 battleships, 2 heavy cruisers, 6 light cruisers, 29 destroyers, 5 submarines, and 30 auxiliary ships. On land, 262 aircraft were parked at airfields, while the other two aircraft carriers, 8 heavy cruisers, and 14 destroyers were transporting aircraft to Wake Island and Midway or conducting exercises at Johnston Island. Since it was Sunday, most personnel were off duty, and Pearl Harbor was calm, with no signs of alert. At 7:49 a.m., Minoru Genda ordered the radio operator to send the attack signal, and the strike units immediately formed attack formations. Dive bombers led the way, flying through valleys. At 7:55 a.m. (5 minutes ahead of the scheduled time of 8:00 a.m.), waves of bombs rained down on Hickam Field, Wheeler Field, and Ford Island, reducing hundreds of U.S. aircraft parked neatly in rows to scrap metal and destroying hangars. In just a few minutes, the Japanese completely neutralized Pearl Harbor's air defense. After observing the Americans being bombed from his aircraft, Genda sent the signal for a successful attack to the "Akagi" carrier: "Tora! Tora! Tora!" Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto and his staff waited on the flagship "Nagato," anchored in the Ming Gulf, from 2:00 a.m. onward for news. They waited quietly, their expressions showing anxiety and unease. "The surprise attack was successful!" They received the scheduled signal for a successful attack: "Tora! Tora! Tora!" The staff officers were overjoyed, while Yamamoto was relieved. Every few minutes, the phone would repeat the reports of and the chaos of the Americans. At 7:57 a.m., Japanese torpedo bombers broke through from several directions, firing torpedoes at the U.S. ships on both sides of Ford Island from just 12 meters above the water. At 8:05 a.m., Japanese horizontal bombers entered from the west, again attacking the battleships moored at Ford Island and the high-artillery concentration at Wheeler Field. Flames and explosions filled the sky, obscuring Pearl Harbor, and many U.S. ships sank without time to prepare for battle. At 8:40 a.m., the first wave of attacks ended, and the Japanese aircraft returned safely after completing their mission. The second wave of 168 Japanese aircraft took off at 7:15 a.m. and formed attack formations at 8:46 a.m., entering from the east side of Oahu at 8:55 a.m. Dive bombers primarily targeted the smoke-filled U.S. ships, while horizontal bombers continued to attack the airfields, and fighters provided air cover. Meanwhile, Japanese midget submarines infiltrated Pearl Harbor, laying mines and firing torpedoes at U.S. ships, blocking the harbor. On December 17, 1941, the Japanese launched the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, devastating the U.S. Pacific Fleet. When the first wave of Japanese aircraft suddenly struck, the Americans were in chaos, panicked, and unable to respond. Island anti-aircraft guns did not begin firing until five minutes later, and only four of the 33 anti-aircraft batteries opened fire, but they shot down very few Japanese aircraft. Ships in the harbor were initially unaware of what was happening. The battleship "Nevada," which had just raised the flag as the flagship, was torn apart by machine guns from Japanese aircraft, and the startled flag raiser quickly raised several more stars and stripes, none of which were spared. When a torpedo hit the battleship "Arizona," the Americans still looked in disbelief. The battleship "Maryland" was raising the flag when a sailor casually glanced at nearby aircraft heading for the airport, mistaking them for his own planes. Before he could react, bombs fell on him. It wasn't until 8:00 a.m. that the U.S. Pacific Fleet command sent an urgent message to the Navy Department: "Pearl Harbor has been bombed. This is not a drill." By then, the battleships "Oklahoma" and "West Virginia" had been shattered, and the battleship "Arizona" and its 1,000 sailors had also