The Battle of Pearl Harbor, 1941. Japan's Audaciously Decisive Victory Sparks its Eventual Demise.

History's Greatest Battles

The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor hurled the United States into the inferno of World War II, a cataclysmic decision that would seal the empire’s fate. But their failure to annihilate vital targets, the lifeblood of American naval power, proved their greatest miscalculation. The untouched fuel depots, repair yards, and submarine bases became the foundation of a furious American counteroffensive, transforming Pearl Harbor from a scene of devastation into the launching point for a relentless campaign. These overlooked targets would fuel America’s resurgence and ultimately break Japan’s grip on the Pacific.
Pearl Harbor. December 7, 1941.
Japanese Forces: Six Aircraft Carriers, 131 Dive Bombers, 94 Torpedo Bombers, and 79 Fighters.
American Forces: Eight Battleships, Six Cruisers, 49 Marine Aircraft, 148 Naval Aircraft, and 129 Army Aircraft.
Additional Reading and Episode Research:

• Levite, Ariel. Intelligence and Strategic Surprise.
• Mintz, Frank. Revisionism and the Origins of Pearl Harbor.
• Prange, Gordon. At Dawn We Slept.
• Slackman, Michael. Target - Pearl Harbor.
• Clausen, Henry. Pearl Harbor: Final Judgement.

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