80 years—Pearl Harbor
Nov 29, 1941
Oahu, Hawaiian Island National Territories:
The cramped ship space of Pearl was not the only Naval knot in the stomachs of Hawaii's U.S. command.
The harbor was surrounded by heights from which anyone on a public road could view.
Thread
Nov 29, 1941
Oahu, Hawaiian Island National Territories:
The cramped ship space of Pearl was not the only Naval knot in the stomachs of Hawaii's U.S. command.
The harbor was surrounded by heights from which anyone on a public road could view.
Thread
And it was a lovely sight of the expanse of Oahu-- to the east, Diamond Head mountain overlooking Waikiki Beach and Honolulu, and to the west wall of the lochs of Pearl, whose mouth opened to the sea on the south edge of Oahu.
Since March, Takeo Yoshikawa has enjoyed the view
Since March, Takeo Yoshikawa has enjoyed the view
Under the cloak of having diplomatic papers as a vice-consulate and with an alias name, Yoshikawa is an IJN intelligence officer monitoring the coming and goings of U.S. aircraft and ships at Pearl and all Oahu.
Twice weekly, he sends reports through diplomatic codes to Tokyo.
Twice weekly, he sends reports through diplomatic codes to Tokyo.
While the U.S. has penetrated the Japanese diplomatic code, only about 15% is decipherable at any moment. Plus, staff shortages and the seemingly countless mundane exchanges of diplomatic communication between a minor consulate and his homeland as low priority
Since Kimmel took command of the Fleet early in the year, the peacetime proclivity was still to rotate the capital ships at sea during the week, then have them all at the base on the weekends, thereby allowing crews liberty while the ships are refueled.
The IJN planners took this into account in deciding any raid should be staged on a Sunday, thereby affording the most significant chance that most American capital ships will be present.
Short, however, has viewed the muddled language from Gen Marshal's war warning as suggesting espionage may also be afoot.
He has the bulk of the Army aircraft at the two major airfields, Hickam and Wheeler, packed tight together in close rows, unfueled and unarmed, out of their hangers and on the edges of the runways.
2300 NW of Hawaii:
Kido Butai battles fog and heavy seas.
Slowed still by the fuel-hungry destroyers having to rendezvous with the tankers, the IJN skill at high sea refueling between ships is sorely tested.
Kido Butai battles fog and heavy seas.
Slowed still by the fuel-hungry destroyers having to rendezvous with the tankers, the IJN skill at high sea refueling between ships is sorely tested.
Nevertheless, the detailed plan for arriving in Hawaiian waters by Dec 7 for a strike on Dec 8 (Tokyo time) is on track.
All Japanese vessels, Navy, and merchant keep their clocks on Tokyo time.
All Japanese vessels, Navy, and merchant keep their clocks on Tokyo time.
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