What types of weapons were used in the attack on Pearl Harbor?

The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, was a surprise aerial and naval assault that utilized several types of weaponry to inflict significant damage on the U.S. Pacific Fleet and local airfields.

The primary weapons employed during the attack included:

• Aircraft: Approximately 360 military aircraft were launched from Japanese carriers, including dive-bombers, torpedo planes, and fighters.12
• Aerial Munitions: The aircraft utilized bombs and torpedoes to target battleships and other vessels moored in the harbor.23
• Guns: Aircraft strafed airfields and ships using onboard guns to destroy planes on the ground and suppress defensive efforts.23
• Submarines: The Japanese force deployed five midget submarines, which were small vessels typically designed for surprise attacks and armed with torpedoes.245

In response, U.S. personnel utilized available antiaircraft guns and other defensive measures, while the destroyer USS Ward notably engaged a Japanese submarine using depth charges prior to the main aerial assault.26