An historical event, Pearl Harbor

Hello, sorry once again that I haven`t blogged in a while, the network has been down. But I’ve enjoyed my time anyway. I’m renting a cabin that's huge. There is so much to do here and the view is amazing. It was really worth the money. I’ve got some new friends during that time in USA. They have visited me a lot during this month. We have made very good food, played billiard and enjoying our time with the pool. I really don't want to go home. In this post I'll tell you a little bit about Pearl Harbor. A friend of mine, Kim, had a grandfather who survived the attack against Pearl Harbour. She has told me a lot about it. I thought this was very interesting, so I want to share this with you guys.

The attack against Pearl Harbor was a Japanese attack on the US naval base at on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. This accoutred on December 7, 1941. The attack was conducted by flight and midget submarines of the Japanese Navy, and was commanded by the Vice Admiral, Chūichi Nagumo. The attack was directed against the US Pacific Fleet, and related flight and marine infantry forces on the island. The he Americans saw the attack as a treacherous act by Japan and as a result, America joined the second world war. The attack damaged or destroyed 21 US warships, 188 flights, and killed 2,335 American soldiers and 68 civilians. One of Pearl Harbor`s fleets wasn’t in the harbor and came from the incident unharmed. Pearl Harbor`s essential oil depot, shipyards and workshops were not injured, and these resources were important for the United States when US attacked Japan a half year later.

The attack on Pearl Harbor started 7:53 and the Japanese planes attacked in two waves, the total reached 353 flights. In the first attack wave, 183 flights began to attack the US Navy's aircraft carriers and battleships with torpedo bomber. The 170 planes in the second wave attack "Bellows Field" and "Ford Island," a naval and air base for the Navy Air Force in the middle of Pearl Harbor.

In world war 2, the First American shots that was fired and the first losses under the attack against Pearl Harbor, came when the destroyer USS "Ward" attacked and sunk a japanese mini-submarine. Five Japanese midget submarines were deployed to attack US ships after the bombing had started. None of the submarines managed to escape after the attack, and of ten submarines survived only one, Kazuo Sakamaki, who became the first Japanese prisoner of war of the United States. One of submarine managed to get into port and hit the battleship USS "West Virginia" with a torpedo. This mini submarine has never been found.

The attack lasted 90 minutes. When it finally stopped was 2403 killed. Of those, 68 were civilians and most of them had been killed by American anti-aircraft shells that fell over Honolulu. 1178 had been injured during the attack. 18 ships had been lowered, among whom were five battleships.

I think it was unnecessary of Japan to attack the US. Hope you thought this was just interesting as I did.

-Marthine

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attack_on_Pearl_Harbor