Pearl Harbor left experienced carrier air groups behind

What feature of Pearl Harbor planning becomes more surprising on closer study?

Japan left two smaller carriers and experienced aviators behind even though one more tanker might have supported their inclusion.

Parts of the famous operation remained surprisingly improvised. Ryūjō and Hōshō were older and smaller, yet their air groups included valuable operational experience. Bringing the division could materially increase strike capacity for the cost of roughly one additional tanker. The tradeoff reveals how logistics, carrier characteristics, and pilot quality interacted in the final force package.