Then go ahead and attack anyway. What was their highest priority, in terms of a target? I would think it would have been the US Carriers, but they may not be the case.
as i understand it, and forgive me if I'm wrong, but the pacific theatre is not my area, but I thought the japanese were after the whole american fleet, with the carriers as a primary target. whilst it was a blow the carriers were not in port, and therefore were going to be a continued threat, the fact they could still strike at the fleet in harbour was a bonus.
You must remember that finding the Aircraft carriers not in port, they did not send in their second wave of bombers which would have brought more devastation to the naval base and could have put the US in a really bad position.
surely that was a major miscalculation? If they had sent in the second wave and caused greater devestation then surely they would then have put themselves on a stronger footing against America for the coming war?
I have allways been from the school of thought that they did not send in the second wave as they had no idea where the US Air Craft carriers were and did not want to be defenceless on the (slight) possibility that the US carriers found them and attacked. They also had inflicted heavy damage on the US Pacific fleet, and like pilots all over the world in WW2 some may have claimed more damage than they actually did, as to a pilot flying up high such a scene could be seen as sustaining more damage than actually happened. I am sure the IJN was mighty peeved when the carriers were not in base,
Not long after, Midway showed what could happen when the US carriers "bushwhacked" the Japanese Task Force.
It was indeed a big disappointment not finding the US carriers in port at Pearl and not finding them first prior to the battle at Midway. It was a wise decision to held back the second wave as the carriers were still out there somewhere. Had the IJN found, attacked and sunk the US carriers first we could have seen a different war in the Pacific.
Yes, Japanese realized the carriers were not in the Harbor right away. How can you miss something like a carrier lol? They are very unique looking. They were disappointed although they were still happy that they did tons of damage to the rest of the fleet and destroyed hundreds of planes on the ground. Umm, what is with you guys keep saying "if they sent in the second wave"? Japanese fleet did send in the second wave. They originally planned 3 waves. It's the third wave they cancelled, not because they fear the carriers are out there, but rather they second wave took quite some losses due to the surprise attack was no longer a surprise after the first wave. They don't want to lose more planes on the third wave attack. It was their mistake not to send in the third wave. From what I have heard, the fuel storage on the island were intact. They should have destroyed it with the third wave, it can cause a shortage of fuel to the U.S. pacific fleet for at least half a year or more. Not only they should have sent in the third wave, I say they should have send in the fleet as well to bombard the harbor at close range...sink all damaged ships or capture them. Land troops to take over the island...but that's another issue to argue.
