The Attack on Pearl Harbour
THE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOUR
General information :
The attack on Pearl Harbour was a random surprise military attack from the Japanese Navy towards a US naval base at the Pearl Harbour at the coast of Hawaii. This attack occurred on December 7, 1941. Just before 8 a.m. they used hundreds of planes to crash down onto the base, destroying battleships, planes, and killing over 2000 people.
The base was attacked by 353 Imperial Japanese aircraft (including fighters, level and dive bombers, and torpedo bombers) in two waves, launched from six aircraft carriers. Bombs and bullets rained onto the vessels moored below. At 8:10, a 1,800-pound bomb smashed through the deck of the battleship USS Arizona and landed in her forward ammunition magazine. The ship exploded and sank with more than 1,000 men trapped inside. Next, torpedoes pierced the shell of the battleship USS Oklahoma. With 400 sailors aboard, the Oklahoma lost balance, rolled onto her side and slipped underwater.
The effect of this attack was it crippled or destroyed nearly 20 American ships and more than 300 airplanes. Dry docks and airfields were likewise destroyed. Most importantly, more than 2,000 people died. But the Japanese had failed to cripple the Pacific Fleet. By the 1940s, battleships were no longer the most important naval vessels: Aircraft carriers were, and as it happened, all of the Pacific Fleet’s carriers were away from the base on December 7. Moreover, the Pearl Harbour assault had left the base’s most vital onshore facilities—oil storage depots, repair shops, shipyards and submarine docks—intact. As a result, the U.S. Navy was able to rebound relatively quickly from the attack.
In my opinion I think Admiral Yamamoto made a sensible decision in bombing Pearl Harbour but the planning made it a bad attack. The attack had some short effect but the overall consequence was not good. Yamamoto believed that crippling the US Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbour would buy Japan time to consolidate its gains in Southeast Asia and the Pacific. He saw it as a preemptive strike to prevent American interference in Japan's expansionist goals in the region. Despite the short-term success, the attack on Pearl Harbour had severe long-term consequences for Japan. It galvanized American public opinion against Japan, leading to the United States' entry into World War II, which ultimately proved disastrous for Japan. The US's industrial and military might, once fully mobilized, far surpassed Japan's capacity to sustain a prolonged war.
Writing activity:
1) Today was a day of shock and devastation. The Japanese have launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbour, catching us completely off guard. The skies were filled with the deafening roar of planes as they bombed the ships and installations. The harbour is now a scene of chaos and destruction. We are still assessing the extent of the damage, but it is clear that this attack will have far-reaching consequences for our military strategy in the Pacific.
2) I will always remember today as a terrifying and tragic day. I was able to witness the Japanese planes dropping out of the sky and launching a terrifying bombardment of bombs and gunfire from my vantage point over Pearl Harbour. People were running for their lives, causing chaos in the streets, and the harbor's once peaceful waters had turned into a scene of destruction. I feel so sad for people who have lost loved ones and for the community that we now have to start over.
3) As Japanese planes fell onto Pearl Harbour with a fury we had never seen before, the air was filled with the sound of explosives. Bombs descended upon us, trembling our homes, and we stared in terror as our dear harbour caught fire. The attack came on suddenly and brutally, taking us entirely by surprise. The aftermath was a horrifying sight to se all the destruction, fire and dead people.
4) I was just a child when the attack on Pearl Harbour shook our world. The sound of sirens pierced the air, sending chills down my spine as I clung to my parents for safety. From our window, we watched in horror as planes painted the sky with streaks of smoke and fire. Fear gripped my heart as I saw familiar landmarks reduced to rubble and heard the cries of those trapped beneath the wreckage. In the days that followed, the once lively streets of Pearl Harbour were eerily quiet as families mourned the loss of loved ones and grappled with the uncertainty of the future.
5) As a fisherman who has spent my life on the waters of Pearl Harbour, I never imagined I would witness such destruction on my doorstep. The attack came without warning, catching us off guard as we went about our daily routines. From my boat, I watched in horror as Japanese planes swooped down from the sky, raining bombs upon the harbor below. The water churned with debris as ships were engulfed in flames, and the once serene waters of Pearl Harbour turned crimson with blood. In the aftermath, the silence of the sea was deafening, a stark contrast to the cacophony of war that had engulfed our shores just hours before.
6) The attack on Pearl Harbour not only shattered lives but also destroyed the very fabric of our community. As a shop owner, I watched helplessly as my livelihood went up in flames, consumed by the fires of war. The streets were littered with debris, and the once bustling marketplace lay in ruins. Yet, amid the devastation, there were glimmers of hope as neighbours came together to support one another in our time of need. Together, we will rebuild our community from the ashes, stronger and more resilient than ever before.
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