Damaging the ships at Pearl Harbor was different from stopping the United States from mobilizing for a Pacific war. San Diego remained the major supporting base, while Hawaii was still developing into the fleet base planners wanted. Ships sunk in Pearl Harbor's shallow water could also be recovered, limiting the lasting effect of the raid. Claims that the attack would break morale therefore confuse temporary operational damage with destruction of the American ability to continue the war.
Notable Point · 59:05-59:54
Damaging Pearl Harbor versus stopping mobilization
A blow against the forward fleet could delay operations, but it could not halt American mobilization from the Pacific coast.