Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 3:56:52-3:57:18

A landing raid during the attack on Pearl Harbor

Better Army-Navy cooperation might have enabled a damaging landing raid at Pearl Harbor, although the proposal is still treated cautiously.

Alternate HistoryAmphibious WarfareAttack On Pearl HarborImperial Japanese ArmyImperial Japanese NavyInterservice Coordination
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Question

Could Japan have landed troops during the attack on Pearl Harbor?

Short answer

Possibly, with better Army-Navy cooperation. The concrete suggestion is a damaging raid followed by withdrawal, and it is still judged a poor idea.

Notes

Cooperation between the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy might have made raiding or invading Pearl Harbor in December 1941 viable. The specific possibility discussed is to put troops ashore, inflict substantial damage, and then withdraw them. Even under that assumption, the operation is judged a poor idea.