The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour

 On December 7, 1941, at 7:55 am, 3 years into World War 2, Japanese fighters attacked the American naval base of Pearl Harbour. This was the first wave of two waves of airplanes. In two hours, five battleships had been sunk, 16 others damaged, and 188 aircraft destroyed. It was only by chance that three carriers had been assigned elsewhere that day, which had saved them. 2,400 Americans had been killed in the attack, and another 1,178 were injured, while less than 100 Japanese had died.

This attack brought America into the war. If the Japanese had targeted the shore facilities and oil reserves, much more damage would have been made. The attack was partly a success, but it provoked the Americans. In the end, the Japanese were beaten by the Americans.