Final answer:
Japan's strategy for the attack on Pearl Harbor was to execute a surprise assault aimed at crippling the U.S. Pacific Fleet to prevent American intervention in its expansion in Asia. Though Pearl Harbor was severely damaged, the U.S. aircraft carriers were not in port and thus escaped destruction. Strategists like Isoroku Yamamoto were conflicted about the plan but saw it as a necessity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Japan’s strategy for attacking the American naval base at Pearl Harbor was a surprise air assault intended to decisively cripple the U.S. Pacific Fleet, thereby preventing America from interfering with Japan’s expansionist ambitions in Southeast Asia. The meticulously planned attack on December 7, 1941, aimed to destroy battleships, aircraft carriers, and other military assets to secure Japan time to consolidate its conquests and create a formidable defense against subsequent retaliation. The outcome of the attack was the destruction of eight battleships, three cruisers, three destroyers, and 180 aircraft, resulting in 2,403 American servicemen killed. Although the attack was damaging, it failed to destroy the U.S. aircraft carriers, which were not in port, and thus only partially achieved the intended outcome.