How were most U.S. ships damaged at Pearl Harbor repaired and returned to service?

Most U.S. ships damaged during the attack on Pearl Harbor were repaired and returned to service because the Japanese failed to target the harbor's vital infrastructure.12

The recovery of these vessels was facilitated by several key factors:

• Intact Facilities: The harbor's shipbuilding and dry dock facilities remained largely unscathed, allowing for immediate repair efforts.2
• Shallow Waters: Because Pearl Harbor has an average depth of only 45 feet (13.7 meters), many ships that were considered "sunk" actually settled with their decks well above the waterline, making them significantly easier to salvage and repair.2
• Strategic Oversight: Japanese planners focused their assault on military targets rather than logistical ones, leaving the base's extensive oil-storage facilities intact. Had these fuel reserves been destroyed, the Pacific Fleet's ability to wage war would have been severely hampered.2

Of the eight battleships present during the attack, all but the USS Arizona and the Oklahoma were eventually repaired and returned to duty.3