Eighty Years Ago: Asia Pacific, Nov 13 – 19, 1941

Nov 13, 1941: Top brass of Japan’s Combined Fleet meet to hear ‘Operational Order No. 1’ on upcoming offensive in the Pacific, including attack on Pearl Harbor

Nov 14, 1941: Japan’s ambassador to Washington, Admiral Nomura Kichisaburo, desperate to reach a last-minute deal with the United States, urges Tokyo to abandon rigid deadlines for bringing about agreement.

Nov 15, 1941: Japanese officers led by General Homma Masaharu complete plans for occupation of the Philippines

Nov 16, 1941: Canadian soldiers of the Winnipeg Grenadiers and Royal Rifles arrive at Hong Kong to boost defenses amid fears of imminent Japanese offensive moves. See photo above, courtesty of Department of National Defence, Canada

Nov 17, 1941: After working overtime, Mitsubishi Munitions delivers last of 180 specially designed torpedoes to be used by Japanese planes during attack in Pearl Harbor’s shallow waters

Nov 18, 1941: Japanese agents in Hawaii are instructed to provide precise description of naval vessels present in Pearl Harbor

Nov 19, 1941: German auxiliary cruiser Kormoran engages in duel with Australian light cruiser HMAS Sydney off Western Australia. Both vessels sink

Categories: War

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