Q&A · 16:02-16:44

Japanese night-flying limits at Pearl Harbor

A question about a night attack on Pearl Harbor turns on the Japanese Navy's much weaker night-flying capability.

Question

Why did Japan not attack Pearl Harbor at night when Enterprise was also nearby?

Short answer

The Japanese Navy lacked a night-flying capability at the level needed for such an operation.

Notes

The Japanese Navy could not conduct night flying to the relevant Royal Navy standard at Pearl Harbor. Owning carriers and experienced daylight air groups did not automatically create a dependable night-strike force. The Royal Navy's advantage came from operating several carriers over many interwar years and repeatedly testing the difficult procedures. Training time, rather than aircraft count alone, constrained the prospects for a night attack.