Pearl Harbor: Japanese naval force December 7, 1941

While the Empire of Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor largely came from above - in the shape of fighter aircraft and bomber planes - the attack was launched from a fleet of ships that had positioned itself within 300 miles of the island of Hawaii on the morning of December 7, 1941. The striking force departed from Hitokappu Bay in the Kuril Islands to the north of Japan (present-day Russia, but claimed by Japan) on November 26. The fleet secretly made its way across the North Pacific, successfully avoiding detection by U.S. forces. The attack was carried out by 353 Japanese aircraft, which were launched from six aircraft carriers; and five midget submarines, which were launched from five "mothership" cruiser submarines. The remainder of the naval force (including around 50 aircraft) stayed out of sight of the Hawaiian coast, and were prepared to engage with any counter attack - however the surprise attack was a success, and the U.S. forces were unable to reorganize and respond at the time. On the same day, the Empire of Japan also launched simultaneous attacks on the U.S. territories of Guam, Wake Island, and the Philippines - it was not until the Battle of Midway six months later where the U.S. would win its first decisive victory in battle over the Japanese, where it also sunk four of the six aircraft carriers that had participated in the attack on Pearl Harbor.