Did the Japanese know the aircraft carriers were not at Pearl Harbor?

The Japanese were aware that the American carriers were not at Pearl Harbor. After some debate, they decided the chance to destroy all eight US Pacific Fleet battleships — still seen as the dominant naval weapon at the time — was just too good an opportunity to pass up.

Did the American military know that their ships in Pearl Harbor were vulnerable to attack by torpedo bombers?

Pearl Harbor was considered relatively safe from a surprise attack because of its shallow harbor. American military observers were aware of the use of specialized torpedoes at the Battle of Taranto, but had not ordered the changes in policy that would have alerted the commanders of the Pacific Fleet to the danger.

Did the Japanese warned the US about Pearl Harbor?

7. Some Japanese wanted to warn American officials before the attack, but one man decided to stand in the way. “Many of the Japanese wanted to give Americans a little warning,” Nelson said.

What if Japan had sunk the carriers at Pearl Harbor?

In the end, it is unlikely that the destruction of two carriers at Pearl would have turned the tide of war. The massive fleet of carriers that the United States built by 1944 would have overwhelmed the prewar Imperial Japanese Navy, even without the losses at Coral Sea, Midway and Guadalcanal.

How many Japanese carriers were at Pearl Harbor?

six
All six of Japan’s first-line aircraft carriers, Akagi, Kaga, Soryu, Hiryu, Shokaku and Zuikaku, were assigned to the mission. With over 420 embarked planes, these ships constituted by far the most powerful carrier task force ever assembled.

Did Billy Mitchell predict Pearl Harbor?

Mitchell believed that Japan was the dominant nation in Asia and was preparing to do battle with the United States. He predicted that air attacks would be made by the Japanese on Pearl Harbor and the Philippines and described how they would be conducted.

Why did Japan have so many aircraft carriers at Pearl Harbor?

Unfortunately for the Japanese, they were considered among the most useful vessels in the fleet, and consequently were often at sea. The presence of carriers at Pearl was a function of Washington’s anticipation of war.

Why did Japan fail to synchronize its attack on Pearl Harbor?

At the same time, the Imperial Japanese Navy needed time to hone the lethality of Kido Butai, its carrier arm, and maximize the destruction at Pearl. Given the lead time between ordering and launching the attack, it was not possible to synchronize the plan around the presence of the carriers.

Were there any aircraft carriers in the Pacific during the war?

Consequently, the only two carriers actually available for service in the Pacific were Lexington and Enterprise, both of which were operating out of Pearl in late November. Unfortunately for the Japanese, they were considered among the most useful vessels in the fleet, and consequently were often at sea.

What if the Japanese had been lucky enough to catch the carriers?

If the Japanese had been lucky enough to catch both carriers, Nagumo might well have decided to launch a second, devastating attack against the remaining U.S. ships at Pearl. It is even conceivable that, if the Japanese had waited two more weeks, they might have caught USS Saratoga.