Over 300 aircraft were launched by the Japanese in the attack on Pearl Harbor

When we take a look at the size of the Japanese force at Pearl Harbor, we can understand that its enormous power was meant to completely destroy the naval facility there. The Japanese had a total of 408 aircraft when they departed from Japan.

The Japanese strategy was to send their aircraft in two waves, as we can see from the facts we have learned about Pearl Harbor thus far. There were supposed to be 48 planes in the second wave and 360 in the first. At the time of the battle, however, the plans were altered. The first wave of aircraft consisted of 183 planes split into three groups, while the second wave included 171 planes. There were 103 bombers, 131 level bombers, 40 torpedo planes, and 79 fighters among them. In addition, they had 11 destroyers, 9 oilers, 2 light cruisers, 35 submarines, 6 aircraft carriers, 65 ships, and 2 battleships.

The purpose of the initial wave of aircraft that was released from the Japanese aircraft carriers was to absolutely ruin not only the aircraft on the ground but also the key ships. A defensive combat air patrol, or CAP, was the intended use of the second wave of aircraft.