Attack on Pearl Harbor

Japan's carrier strike of 7 December 1941 was meant to knock out the US Pacific Fleet long enough for Japan to seize the oil and rubber of South-East Asia. It damaged or sank eight battleships and killed more than 2,000 Americans, civilians among them, for the loss of 29 Japanese aircraft and five midget submarines. Tactically it succeeded; strategically it fell short. The American carriers were at sea and escaped, and a further strike on the harbour and oil reserves was called off, leaving the base able to repair ships. Above all, the surprise attack united a divided American public behind a war Japan could not hope to win in a long contest.