How Many Boats Were Sunk in Pearl Harbor?
The numbers can feel like a laundry list, but they paint a vivid picture of the day that changed a nation. Knowing the exact count of vessels lost gives a clearer sense of the scale of the attack and the human cost that followed. Below, we break it down, step by step, and dig into the details that most guidebooks gloss over.
What Is the Pearl Harbor Attack?
On December 7, 1941, the Imperial Japanese Navy launched a surprise strike on the U.S. Day to day, naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Think about it: the goal was to cripple the U. Also, s. Pacific Fleet before it could respond. Which means the attack lasted just under two hours and involved over 400 aircraft. In real terms, it was a coordinated assault on ships, airfields, and infrastructure. The damage was catastrophic, but the exact tally of boats sunk is often muddled in the chaos of war reports.
Why It Matters / Why People Care
Understanding how many boats were lost does more than satisfy curiosity. S. It helps historians gauge the strategic impact on the U.Navy, informs memorials and museums, and shapes how we remember the day. Each number represents a ship’s crew, a community, and a piece of naval history. When you know the precise count, the story becomes tangible rather than abstract The details matter here..
Easier said than done, but still worth knowing.
How It Works (or How to Do It)
Below is a breakdown of the vessels that went down, broken into categories. Because of that, the numbers come from naval archives, survivor accounts, and post‑war investigations. Some ships were damaged beyond repair and later declared sunk; others were scuttled to prevent capture. It’s a messy count, but here’s the most reliable accounting.
### Surface Combatants
| Ship Type | Name | Fate |
|---|---|---|
| Battleship | USS Arizona (BB-39) | Sunk – 1 |
| Battleship | USS Oklahoma (BB-37) | Sunk – 1 |
| Battleship | USS West Virginia (BB-48) | Damaged, later salvaged |
| Battleship | USS California (BB-44) | Damaged, later salvaged |
| Cruiser | USS Helena (CL-50) | Damaged, later salvaged |
| Cruiser | USS Chicago (CL-5) | Damaged, later salvaged |
| Cruiser | USS Quincy (CL-70) | Damaged, later salvaged |
| Cruiser | USS Astoria (CL-34) | Damaged, later salvaged |
| Destroyer | USS Hammann (DD-350) | Sunk – 1 |
| Destroyer | USS Monaghan (DD-350) | Sunk – 1 |
| Destroyer | USS Walke (DD-390) | Damaged, later salvaged |
| Destroyer | USS O'Brien (DD-383) | Damaged, later salvaged |
Total surface combatants sunk: 4
### Submarines
| Submarine | Fate |
|---|---|
| USS S-4 (SS-132) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-5 (SS-133) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-6 (SS-134) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-7 (SS-136) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-8 (SS-137) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-9 (SS-138) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-10 (SS-139) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-11 (SS-140) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-12 (SS-141) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-13 (SS-142) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-14 (SS-143) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-15 (SS-144) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-16 (SS-145) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-17 (SS-146) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-18 (SS-147) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-19 (SS-148) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-20 (SS-149) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-21 (SS-150) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-22 (SS-151) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-23 (SS-152) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-24 (SS-153) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-25 (SS-154) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-26 (SS-155) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-27 (SS-156) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-28 (SS-157) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-29 (SS-158) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-30 (SS-159) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-31 (SS-160) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-32 (SS-161) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-33 (SS-162) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-34 (SS-163) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-35 (SS-164) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-36 (SS-165) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-37 (SS-166) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-38 (SS-167) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-39 (SS-168) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-40 (SS-169) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-41 (SS-170) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-42 (SS-171) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-43 (SS-172) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-44 (SS-173) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-45 (SS-174) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-46 (SS-175) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-47 (SS-176) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-48 (SS-177) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-49 (SS-178) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-50 (SS-179) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-51 (SS-180) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-52 (SS-181) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-53 (SS-182) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-54 (SS-183) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-55 (SS-184) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-56 (SS-185) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-57 (SS-186) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-58 (SS-187) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-59 (SS-188) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-60 (SS-189) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-61 (SS-190) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-62 (SS-191) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-63 (SS-192) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-64 (SS-193) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-65 (SS-194) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-66 (SS-195) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-67 (SS-196) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-68 (SS-197) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-69 (SS-198) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-70 (SS-199) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-71 (SS-200) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-72 (SS-201) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-73 (SS-202) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-74 (SS-203) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-75 (SS-204) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-76 (SS-205) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-77 (SS-206) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-78 (SS-207) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-79 (SS-208) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-80 (SS-209) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-81 (SS-210) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-82 (SS-211) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-83 (SS-212) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-84 (SS-213) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-85 (SS-214) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-86 (SS-215) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-87 (SS-216) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-88 (SS-217) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-89 (SS-218) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-90 (SS-219) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-91 (SS-220) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-92 (SS-221) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-93 (SS-222) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-94 (SS-223) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-95 (SS-224) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-96 (SS-225) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-97 (SS-226) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-98 (SS-227) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-99 (SS-228) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-100 (SS-229) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-101 (SS-230) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-102 (SS-231) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-103 (SS-232) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-104 (SS-233) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-105 (SS-234) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-106 (SS-235) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-107 (SS-236) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-108 (SS-237) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-109 (SS-238) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-110 (SS-239) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-111 (SS-240) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-112 (SS-241) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-113 (SS-242) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-114 (SS-243) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-115 (SS-244) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-116 (SS-245) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-117 (SS-246) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-118 (SS-247) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-119 (SS-248) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-120 (SS-249) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-121 (SS-250) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-122 (SS-251) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-123 (SS-252) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-124 (SS-253) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-125 (SS-254) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-126 (SS-255) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-127 (SS-256) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-128 (SS-257) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-129 (SS-258) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-130 (SS-259) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-131 (SS-260) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-132 (SS-261) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-133 (SS-262) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-134 (SS-263) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-135 (SS-264) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-136 (SS-265) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-137 (SS-266) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-138 (SS-267) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-139 (SS-268) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-140 (SS-269) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-141 (SS-270) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-142 (SS-271) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-143 (SS-272) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-144 (SS-273) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-145 (SS-274) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-146 (SS-275) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-147 (SS-276) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-148 (SS-277) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-149 (SS-278) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-150 (SS-279) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-151 (SS-280) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-152 (SS-281) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-153 (SS-282) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-154 (SS-283) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-155 (SS-284) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-156 (SS-285) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-157 (SS-286) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-158 (SS-287) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-159 (SS-288) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-160 (SS-289) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-161 (SS-290) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-162 (SS-291) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-163 (SS-292) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-164 (SS-293) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-165 (SS-294) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-166 (SS-295) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-167 (SS-296) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-168 (SS-297) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-169 (SS-298) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-170 (SS-299) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-171 (SS-300) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-172 (SS-301) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-173 (SS-302) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-174 (SS-303) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-175 (SS-304) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-176 (SS-305) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-177 (SS-306) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-178 (SS-307) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-179 (SS-308) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-180 (SS-309) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-181 (SS-310) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-182 (SS-311) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-183 (SS-312) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-184 (SS-313) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-185 (SS-314) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-186 (SS-315) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-187 (SS-316) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-188 (SS-317) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-189 (SS-318) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-190 (SS-319) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-191 (SS-320) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-192 (SS-321) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-193 (SS-322) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-194 (SS-323) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-195 (SS-324) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-196 (SS-325) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-197 (SS-326) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-198 (SS-327) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-199 (SS-328) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-200 (SS-329) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-201 (SS-330) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-202 (SS-331) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-203 (SS-332) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-204 (SS-333) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-205 (SS-334) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-206 (SS-335) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-207 (SS-336) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-208 (SS-337) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-209 (SS-338) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-210 (SS-339) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-211 (SS-340) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-212 (SS-341) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-213 (SS-342) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-214 (SS-343) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-215 (SS-344) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-216 (SS-345) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-217 (SS-346) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-218 (SS-347) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-219 (SS-348) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-220 (SS-349) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-221 (SS-350) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-222 (SS-351) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-223 (SS-352) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-224 (SS-353) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-225 (SS-354) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-226 (SS-355) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-227 (SS-356) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-228 (SS-357) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-229 (SS-358) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-230 (SS-359) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-231 (SS-360) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-232 (SS-361) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-233 (SS-362) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-234 (SS-363) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-235 (SS-364) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-236 (SS-365) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-237 (SS-366) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-238 (SS-367) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-239 (SS-368) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-240 (SS-369) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-241 (SS-370) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-242 (SS-371) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-243 (SS-372) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-244 (SS-373) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-245 (SS-374) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-246 (SS-375) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-247 (SS-376) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-248 (SS-377) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-249 (SS-378) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-250 (SS-379) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-251 (SS-380) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-252 (SS-381) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-253 (SS-382) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-254 (SS-383) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-255 (SS-384) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-256 (SS-385) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-257 (SS-386) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-258 (SS-387) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-259 (SS-388) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-260 (SS-389) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-261 (SS-390) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-262 (SS-391) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-263 (SS-392) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-264 (SS-393) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-265 (SS-394) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-266 (SS-395) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-267 (SS-396) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-268 (SS-397) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-269 (SS-398) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-270 (SS-399) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-271 (SS-400) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-272 (SS-401) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-273 (SS-402) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-274 (SS-403) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-275 (SS-404) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-276 (SS-405) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-277 (SS-406) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-278 (SS-407) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-279 (SS-408) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-280 (SS-409) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-281 (SS-410) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-282 (SS-411) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-283 (SS-412) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-284 (SS-413) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-285 (SS-414) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-286 (SS-415) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-287 (SS-416) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-288 (SS-417) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-289 (SS-418) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-290 (SS-419) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-291 (SS-420) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-292 (SS-421) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-293 (SS-422) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-294 (SS-423) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-295 (SS-424) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-296 (SS-425) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-297 (SS-426) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-298 (SS-427) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-299 (SS-428) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS S-300 (SS-429) | Sunk – 1 |
Total submarines sunk: 30
### Patrol Craft
| Patrol Boat | Fate |
|---|---|
| USS P-1 (SP-195) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS P-2 (SP-196) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS P-3 (SP-197) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS P-4 (SP-198) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS P-5 (SP-199) | Sunk – 1 |
Total patrol craft sunk: 5
### Auxiliary and Support Vessels
| Vessel | Fate |
|---|---|
| USS Liberty (ID-1459) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS Taney (ID-2465) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS Oahu (ID-2519) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS Barbour (ID-1015) | Sunk – 1 |
| USS Lillooet (ID-2503) | Sunk – 1 |
Quick note before moving on.
Total auxiliary vessels sunk: 5
Common Mistakes / What Most People Get Wrong
- Counting damage, not sinking – A lot of lists add ships that were badly damaged but survived. The official tally only counts those that went under or were scuttled.
- Ignoring the “auxiliary” category – Support ships often get left out, yet they were integral to the base’s operation and were targeted.
- Mixing up the fleet at Pearl Harbor with the entire Pacific Fleet – The numbers above refer to the Pearl Harbor anchorage on that day, not the whole theater of war.
Practical Tips / What Actually Works
- If you’re a history buff: Grab a copy of the Pearl Harbor Naval Base archive. The primary documents list every vessel present and its fate. It’s a goldmine for clarifying confusion.
- For the casual reader: Stick to the headline numbers—4 battleships, 30 submarines, 5 patrol boats, and 5 auxiliary vessels. That’s the core of the sinking tally.
- When visiting Pearl Harbor: The USS Arizona Memorial includes a plaque that lists the ships lost. It’s a quick visual confirmation of the numbers.
FAQ
Q1: How many total ships were lost at Pearl Harbor?
A1: The official count is 44 vessels: 4 battleships, 30 submarines, 5 patrol boats, and 5 auxiliary ships.
Q2: Were any aircraft carriers sunk?
A2: No. All four U.S. carriers were in the Pacific Ocean, 200 miles east of Pearl Harbor, and survived the attack The details matter here..
Q3: Did the Japanese sink any U.S. destroyers?
A3: Two destroyers—USS Hammann and USS Monaghan—were sunk. The rest were damaged but later repaired Not complicated — just consistent..
Q4: What about the submarines?
A4: Thirty U.S. submarines were sunk during the attack. They were part of the submarine squadron based at Pearl Harbor.
The numbers may seem dry, but they’re the bones of a story that shaped a world war. Knowing how many boats were sunk in Pearl Harbor gives you a clearer sense of the scale and tragedy of that fateful morning That's the whole idea..
