The Pearl Harbor Attack: How Much of the U.S. Navy Was Present?

The surprise Pearl Harbor attack on December 7, 1941, caught the United States Pacific Fleet unprepared, but it was not the first warning sign. Prior to the attack, a significant portion of the United States Navy was stationed in Pearl Harbor. This article delves into the specific numbers and types of vessels present, the impact of the attack, and its aftermath on the U.S. Navy's strategic thinking.

Key Vessels Present at Pearl Harbor

On the eve of the attack, the U.S. Pacific Fleet included a substantial number of battleships, cruisers, destroyers, and submarines. Here is a breakdown of the key assets:

Battleships

USS Arizona USS Oklahoma USS West Virginia USS Pennsylvania

Other battleships, such as USS California and USS Nevada, were also present but less prominent due to damage or protection efforts.

Cruisers

USS New Orleans USS San Francisco USS Honolulu

Destroyers

There were 12 destroyers of various classes, contributing to the naval armada. This list includes:

USS Farragut USS Gearing USS Sterett

Additionally, six submarines were in training exercises, contributing to the overall defense of the fleet.

The Pearl Harbor Attack and Its Impact

The attack resulted in substantial losses, with 18 ships, including all eight battleships, either sunk or heavily damaged. The surface ships suffered significant casualties, with the USS Arizona's main battery being removed.

Battleships: 8 were present, and all were sunk or heavily damaged. Six were repaired and returned to service. Cruisers: 4 out of 7 were damaged but all were repaired and returned to service. Destroyers: 4 out of 31 were damaged, but the fleet had a total of 171 destroyers, and all were repaired and returned to service. Submarines: All 6 submarines were either on training exercises and survived.

Though the losses were severe, the U.S. Navy continued to adapt and evolve its strategies in response to the new realities of naval warfare.

The Strategic Changes in U.S. Naval Thinking

Before the attack, the battleship was considered the most significant class of ships, representing a stabilizing influence that was believed to deter the enemy. However, the losses at Pearl Harbor forced a reevaluation of this thinking. The attack taught the U.S. Navy the importance of aircraft carriers and submarines, which were not present in notable numbers at Pearl Harbor. Japan, on the other hand, continued to emphasize the importance of battleships, believing they were crucial for a decisive naval battle.

The significance of these changes cannot be underestimated, as they led to the development of new naval strategies and the deployment of resources to ensure the U.S. Navy was better prepared for future conflicts.

Further Reading

To gain a more detailed understanding of the U.S. Navy's deployment in late 1941, you can refer to the following article:

US Navy in Late 1941

This article provides a comprehensive overview of the naval forces that were present in the Pacific theatre and the strategic decisions made in the wake of the Pearl Harbor attack.