Torpedo planes in WWII were the lead blockers for dive bombers, paving the way for victory but with great risk. Despite saying that they scored hits, torpedo planes often failed to explode or run deep, making them susceptible to anti-aircraft and fighter defenses.
The Pearl Harbor attack started with torpedo planes honing in on the vulnerable battleships on the outside of the pairs that make up battleship row, with the outside ships taking the brunt of the torpedoes.
The abilities of damage control crews back at port, such as Pearl Harbor, to quickly turnaround and repair ships will be crucial to the war effort in WWII. The heroic efforts of these crews in controlling fires, preventing ships from listing, and getting damaged ships back into operation will be vital to winning battles.
Japan had approximately six million tons of merchant shipping at the time of the Pearl Harbor attacks, in short supply for all nations during the war. Submarines would account for roughly 60% of the Japanese merchant ships that were sunk, with allied aircraft accounting for most of the rest.
The Pearl Harbor attack left the US Pacific fleet in shambles, with battleships destroyed and countless lives lost. However, the carriers of the Pacific fleet managed to escape and proved to be the instrumental weapon in the US's eventual retaliation against Japan.
The question of how long it took for the Japanese planes to take off from their carriers and reach Pearl Harbor remains a topic of debate and speculation, as the narrow transition window made the attack possible only within a certain time frame.