Pearl Harbor Attack Mobilized U.S. Navy’s Largest Battleships with 31,400 Ton USS Arizona Destroyed

24/7 Wall St. Insights

• We used data from Military Factory, an online database of arms, vehicles, and aircraft.
• This attack would provoke the US Navy to launch a campaign against the Japanese, which would ultimately precipitate the end of the war.
• Also, Discover “The Next NVIDIA”

“Yesterday, December 7, 1941—a date which will live in infamy—the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by the naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.” President Franklin D. Roosevelt spoke these words in an address to a joint session of Congress and a nationwide radio audience. He continued to set the tone for the United States’ entrance into World War II.

The surprise strike by the Imperial Japanese Navy was expected to prevent the U.S. Pacific fleet from interfering with planned military actions throughout Southeast Asia. However, this attack would instead provoke the U.S. Navy to launch a campaign of its own against the Japanese, which would ultimately precipitate the end of the war. Here, 24/7 Wall St. is taking a closer look at the battle and what naval vessels were present.

To identify the warships and submarines that fought in the Battle of Pearl Harbor, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed a catalog of naval vessels from Military Factory, an online database of arms, vehicles, and aircraft. We ordered these warships and submarines chronologically. We included supplemental information regarding the type, armament, speed, displacement, and aircraft for each vessel.

Prior to this attack, the United States was fairly undecided about its involvement in the war. However, within a day of the attack on Pearl Harbor and having heard of the destruction and loss of life, Congress and the population at large had decided that there was no other way forward.

Although this attack initially seemed like a tactical victory for Japan, it would wake a sleeping giant.

This post was updated on August 29, 2025 to clarify which ships were actually present at the Pearl Harbor attack, as well as armament in place at the time of the battle.

Why Are We Covering This?

The attack on Pearl Harbor was one of the defining moments in American history. It serves as a powerful reminder of the devastation of war and the unpredictable consequences of military aggression.

Here is a look at all of the ships and submarines that fought the Battle of Pearl Harbor.

USS Utah

• Type: Demilitarized target ship (capsized)
• Year introduced: 1911
• Top speed: 20 knots (23 mph)
• Displacement: 21, 825 tons
• Armament: None
• Aircraft: N/A

USS Arizona

• Type: Dreadnought battleship (destroyed)
• Year introduced: 1916
• Top speed: 21 knots (24 mph)
• Displacement: 31,400 tons
• Armament: 12 × 14-inch (356mm), 22 × 5-inch (127mm), .50 cal MGs
• Aircraft: 3 navy floatplanes

USS Nevada

• Type: Battleship (torpedo damage)
• Year introduced: 1916
• Top speed: 20 knots (23 mph)
• Displacement: 27,500 tons
• Armament: 127mm main guns, 10 × 14-inch (356mm) main guns
• Aircraft: 3 navy floatplanes

USS Oklahoma

• Type: Battleship (capsized)
• Year introduced: 1916
• Top speed: 21 knots (24 mph)
• Displacement: 27,500 tons
• Armament: 10 × 14-inch, 21 × 5-inch, .50 cal MGs
• Aircraft: 3 navy floatplanes

USS Pennsylvania

• Type: Battleship (damaged in drydock)
• Year introduced: 1916
• Top speed: 24.2 mph
• Displacement: 31,400 tons
• Armament: 12 × 14-inch, 22 × 5-inch
• Aircraft: 3 navy floatplanes

USS Tennessee

• Type: Battleship (damaged)
• Year introduced: 1920
• Top speed: 21 knots (24 mph)
• Displacement: 32,300 tons
• Armament: 357mm main guns, 127mm guns
• Aircraft: 2 navy floatplanes

USS California

• Type: Battleship (sunk)
• Year introduced: 1921
• Top speed: 21 knots (24 mph)
• Displacement: 32,300 tons
• Armament: 12 × 14-inch, 14 × 5-inch
• Aircraft: 2 navy floatplanes

USS Maryland

• Type: Colorado-class battleship (lightly damaged)
• Year introduced: 1921
• Top speed: 21 knots (24 mph)
• Displacement: 32,600 tons
• Armament: 410mm main guns, 127mm guns, 76mm guns, 530mm torpedo tubes
• Aircraft: 3 navy floatplanes

USS West Virginia

• Type: Battleship (sunk)
• Year introduced: 1923
• Top speed: 21 knots (24 mph)
• Displacement: 33,000 tons
• Armament: 406mm main guns, 20 × 5-inch
• Aircraft: N/A

IJN Akagi

• Type: Aircraft carrier
• Year introduced: 1927
• Top speed: 31 knots (36 mph)
• Displacement: 36,500 tons (full load)
• Armament: 10 × 200mm (8-inch) guns, 12 × 120mm dual-purpose guns, and 28 × 25mm AA guns
• Aircraft: 21 Mitsubishi A6M “Zero” fighters, 21 Aichi D3A “Val” dive bombers, 21 Nakajima B5N “Kate” torpedo bombers

IJN Kaga

• Type: Aircraft carrier
• Year introduced: 1929
• Top speed: 28 knots (32 mph)
• Displacement: 38,200 tons
• Armament: 10 x 8-inch guns, 127mm twin-barreled anti-aircraft guns, 25mm twin-barreled anti-aircraft guns
• Aircraft: 90 total aircraft, including Mitsubishi A6M “Zero” fighters, Aichi D3A “Val” dive bombers, and Nakajima B5N “Kate” torpedo bombers

USS New Orleans

• Type: Heavy cruiser
• Year introduced: 1934
• Top speed: 32 knots (37.6 mph)
• Displacement: 9,950 tons (standard- 12, 463 tons (full load)
• Armament: 203mm triple-gunned turrets, 127mm secondary guns, .50 cal machine guns
• Aircraft: 4 navy floatplanes

IJN Soryu

• Type: Aircraft carrier
• Year introduced: 1937
• Top speed: 34.5 knots (39.7 mph)
• Displacement: 19,800 tons
• Armament: 127mm twin-barreled dual-purpose guns, 25mm twin-barreled anti-aircraft guns
• Aircraft: 71 total aircraft, including Mitsubishi A6M “Zero” fighters, Aichi D3A “Val” dive bombers, and Nakajima B5N “Kate” torpedo bombers

IJN Tone

• Type: Heavy cruiser
• Year introduced: 1938
• Top speed: 35.5 knots (40.8 mph)
• Displacement: 15,200 tons
• Armament: 203mm twin-gunned turrets, 127mm guns, 25mm anti-aircraft guns, 610mm torpedo tubes
• Aircraft: 6 Aichi A13E floatplanes

USS Phoenix

• Type: Light cruiser
• Year introduced: 1938
• Top speed: 39.1 mph
• Displacement: 9,700 tons (standard)-12,200 tons (full load)
• Armament: Mk 16 152mm main guns, 127mm guns, .50 cal machine guns
• Aircraft: 4 navy floatplanes

IJN Chikuma

• Type: Heavy cruiser
• Year introduced: 1939
• Top speed: 35.5 knots (40.8 mph)
• Displacement: 15,200 tons
• Armament: 203mm twin-gunned turrets, 127mm guns, 25mm anti-aircraft guns, 610mm torpedo tubes
• Aircraft: 6 Aichi A13E floatplanes

IJN Hiryu

• Type: Aircraft carrier
• Year introduced: 1939
• Top speed: 34.3 knots (39.5 mph)
• Displacement: 20,250 tons
• Armament: 127mm twin gunned turrets, 25mm anti-aircraft guns
• Aircraft: 73 total aircraft, including Mitsubishi A6M “Zero” fighters, Aichi D3A “Val” dive bombers, and Nakajima B5N “Kate” torpedo bombers

IJN Shokaku

• Type: Aircraft carrier
• Year introduced: 1941
• Top speed: 34 knots (39.1 mph)
• Displacement: 32,100 tons
• Armament: 127mm anti-aircraft guns, 25mm anti-aircraft guns
• Aircraft: 84 total aircraft including Mitsubishi A6M “Zero” fighters, Aichi D3A “Val” dive bombers, and Nakajima B5N “Kate” torpedo bombers

IJN Zuikaku

• Type: Aircraft carrier
• Year introduced: 1941
• Top speed: 34 knots (39.1 mph)
• Displacement: 32,100 tons
• Armament: 127mm anti-aircraft guns, 25mm anti-aircraft guns
• Aircraft: 84 total aircraft including Mitsubishi A6M “Zero” fighters, Aichi D3A “Val” dive bombers, and Nakajima B5N “Kate” torpedo bombers

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