The Warships at Pearl Harbor and the Destruction of the USS Arizona

On December 7, 1941, Japan launched a surprise attack on the U.S. Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor, drawing the United States into World War II. The strike targeted a large concentration of American naval power, including battleships, cruisers, and destroyers stationed in Hawaii. Among the most devastating losses was the USS Arizona, which was destroyed after a catastrophic explosion, resulting in the deaths of more than 1,100 crew members.

While the attack was intended to weaken the U.S. Navy’s ability to respond in the Pacific, it instead galvanized the nation and marked a turning point in the war. In the months and years that followed, the United States mobilized its industrial and military strength on a massive scale. This overview looks at the key warships present at Pearl Harbor, along with their capabilities and roles during the attack.

USS Utah

Type: Demilitarized target ship (capsized)
Year introduced: 1911
Top speed: 20 knots (23 mph)
Displacement: 21, 825 tons
Armament: None
Aircraft: N/A

USS Arizona

Type: Dreadnought battleship (destroyed)
Year introduced: 1916
Top speed: 21 knots (24 mph)
Displacement: 31,400 tons
Armament: 12 × 14-inch (356mm), 22 × 5-inch (127mm), .50 cal MGs
Aircraft: 3 navy floatplanes

USS Nevada

Type: Battleship (torpedo damage)
Year introduced: 1916
Top speed: 20 knots (23 mph)
Displacement: 27,500 tons
Armament: 127mm main guns, 10 × 14-inch (356mm) main guns
Aircraft: 3 navy floatplanes

USS Oklahoma

Type: Battleship (capsized)
Year introduced: 1916
Top speed: 21 knots (24 mph)
Displacement: 27,500 tons
Armament: 10 × 14-inch, 21 × 5-inch, .50 cal MGs
Aircraft: 3 navy floatplanes

USS Pennsylvania

Type: Battleship (damaged in drydock)
Year introduced: 1916
Top speed: 24.2 mph
Displacement: 31,400 tons
Armament: 12 × 14-inch, 22 × 5-inch
Aircraft: 3 navy floatplanes

USS Tennessee

Type: Battleship (damaged)
Year introduced: 1920
Top speed: 21 knots (24 mph)
Displacement: 32,300 tons
Armament: 357mm main guns, 127mm guns
Aircraft: 2 navy floatplanes

USS California

Type: Battleship (sunk)
Year introduced: 1921
Top speed: 21 knots (24 mph)
Displacement: 32,300 tons
Armament: 12 × 14-inch, 14 × 5-inch
Aircraft: 2 navy floatplanes

USS Maryland

Type: Colorado-class battleship (lightly damaged)
Year introduced: 1921
Top speed: 21 knots (24 mph)
Displacement: 32,600 tons
Armament: 410mm main guns, 127mm guns, 76mm guns, 530mm torpedo tubes
Aircraft: 3 navy floatplanes

USS West Virginia

Type: Battleship (sunk)
Year introduced: 1923
Top speed: 21 knots (24 mph)
Displacement: 33,000 tons
Armament: 406mm main guns, 20 × 5-inch
Aircraft: N/A

IJN Akagi

Type: Aircraft carrier
Year introduced: 1927
Top speed: 31 knots (36 mph)
Displacement: 36,500 tons (full load)
Armament: 10 × 200mm (8-inch) guns, 12 × 120mm dual-purpose guns, and 28 × 25mm AA guns
Aircraft: 21 Mitsubishi A6M "Zero" fighters, 21 Aichi D3A "Val" dive bombers, 21 Nakajima B5N "Kate" torpedo bombers

IJN Kaga

Type: Aircraft carrier
Year introduced: 1929
Top speed: 28 knots (32 mph)
Displacement: 38,200 tons
Armament: 10 x 8-inch guns, 127mm twin-barreled anti-aircraft guns, 25mm twin-barreled anti-aircraft guns
Aircraft: 90 total aircraft, including Mitsubishi A6M "Zero" fighters, Aichi D3A "Val" dive bombers, and Nakajima B5N "Kate" torpedo bombers

USS New Orleans

Type: Heavy cruiser
Year introduced: 1934
Top speed: 32 knots (37.6 mph)
Displacement: 9,950 tons (standard- 12, 463 tons (full load)
Armament: 203mm triple-gunned turrets, 127mm secondary guns, .50 cal machine guns
Aircraft: 4 navy floatplanes

IJN Soryu

Type: Aircraft carrier
Year introduced: 1937
Top speed: 34.5 knots (39.7 mph)
Displacement: 19,800 tons
Armament: 127mm twin-barreled dual-purpose guns, 25mm twin-barreled anti-aircraft guns
Aircraft: 71 total aircraft, including Mitsubishi A6M "Zero" fighters, Aichi D3A "Val" dive bombers, and Nakajima B5N "Kate" torpedo bombers

IJN Tone

Type: Heavy cruiser
Year introduced: 1938
Top speed: 35.5 knots (40.8 mph)
Displacement: 15,200 tons
Armament: 203mm twin-gunned turrets, 127mm guns, 25mm anti-aircraft guns, 610mm torpedo tubes
Aircraft: 6 Aichi A13E floatplanes

USS Phoenix

Type: Light cruiser
Year introduced: 1938
Top speed: 39.1 mph
Displacement: 9,700 tons (standard)-12,200 tons (full load)
Armament: Mk 16 152mm main guns, 127mm guns, .50 cal machine guns
Aircraft: 4 navy floatplanes

IJN Chikuma

Type: Heavy cruiser
Year introduced: 1939
Top speed: 35.5 knots (40.8 mph)
Displacement: 15,200 tons
Armament: 203mm twin-gunned turrets, 127mm guns, 25mm anti-aircraft guns, 610mm torpedo tubes
Aircraft: 6 Aichi A13E floatplanes

IJN Hiryu

Type: Aircraft carrier
Year introduced: 1939
Top speed: 34.3 knots (39.5 mph)
Displacement: 20,250 tons
Armament: 127mm twin gunned turrets, 25mm anti-aircraft guns
Aircraft: 73 total aircraft, including Mitsubishi A6M "Zero" fighters, Aichi D3A "Val" dive bombers, and Nakajima B5N "Kate" torpedo bombers

IJN Shokaku

Type: Aircraft carrier
Year introduced: 1941
Top speed: 34 knots (39.1 mph)
Displacement: 32,100 tons
Armament: 127mm anti-aircraft guns, 25mm anti-aircraft guns
Aircraft: 84 total aircraft including Mitsubishi A6M "Zero" fighters, Aichi D3A "Val" dive bombers, and Nakajima B5N "Kate" torpedo bombers

IJN Zuikaku

Type: Aircraft carrier
Year introduced: 1941
Top speed: 34 knots (39.1 mph)
Displacement: 32,100 tons
Armament: 127mm anti-aircraft guns, 25mm anti-aircraft guns
Aircraft: 84 total aircraft including Mitsubishi A6M "Zero" fighters, Aichi D3A "Val" dive bombers, and Nakajima B5N "Kate" torpedo bombers