Let us set the scene a bit more.
In 1940, before Hawaii was even a state, the United States moved the headquarters of its Pacific Fleet from its base in San Pedro (near Los Angeles) to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
Also in 1940, an event halfway around the world from Hawaii would directly impact the events of 1941. The British, then at war with Italy, launched a surprise attack against the Italian Naval Base at Taranto. The base was in relatively shallow waters, and it had been believed that such shallow waters (similar to what existed at Pearl Harbor) would help protect the ships there against torpedo attack. The British, however, had modified their torpedoes to allow them to work in shallower waters. While the Japanese would not make the same modifications the British had, the devastating attack on Taranto taught them that such an attack was feasible, and the Japanese rapidly discovered a plan that would work.
The danger of an aerial attack on Pearl was not lost on senior US military leadership. In February, 1941, Admiral Husband E. Kimmel, the CINCPAC (Commander-in Chief, Pacific)(pronounced "Sink-Pack"), wrote to the Navy Chief of Naval Operations (CNO):
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Kimmel
I feel that a surprise attack (submarine, air, or combined) on Pearl Harbor is a possibility, and we are taking immediate practical steps to minimize the damage inflicted and to ensure that the attacking force will pay.
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