Q&A · 2:16:22-2:17:08

Why Pearl Harbor's fuel stores survived

The fuel and support infrastructure is tentatively associated with a further strike that Japan declined to launch as it limited risk to the carrier force.

Question

Why did the Japanese not destroy Pearl Harbor's gasoline and oil reserves?

Short answer

The recollection given is that those targets belonged to a further wave that was not launched because the attackers chose to limit risk, sacrificing a chance to delay the American recovery.

Notes

The fuel reserves are tentatively associated with a later wave that was not launched. The raid is characterized as conservatively aggressive: Japan struck hard but still tried to limit losses to the force carrying out the operation. Destroying the fuel infrastructure could have bought additional months for Japanese consolidation. It would not have solved the larger strategic problem created by going to war with the United States.