Kimmel could not keep the entire fleet continuously at sea because fuel supplies imposed a hard operational limit. Sea time also meant salt-water wear, painting, repair, and routine maintenance, so preserving readiness required periods in harbor. He rotated formations rather than keeping every major unit in one place, with the carriers away on missions while the battleships happened to be in Pearl Harbor. Shore facilities also gave him a more reliable and secure communications link with Washington than command at sea could provide. The historical disposition therefore reflected logistics, upkeep, rotation, and command requirements rather than simple passivity.
Notable Point · 7:23-9:50
Why Kimmel's battle line was in Pearl Harbor
Fuel limits, maintenance needs, force rotation, and better shore communications explain why the battleships were in port on 7 December.