Yamamoto's Plan

Yamamoto’s Plan was a strategic military proposal by Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto during World War II. It aimed to surprise and weaken the United States Pacific Fleet by attacking Pearl Harbor, drawing American forces into a fierce battle early in the war. The goal was to prevent U.S. interference in Japan’s expansion in Asia and the Pacific. Although tactically successful in the short term, it ultimately led to a prolonged conflict that Japan was unprepared to sustain. Yamamoto hoped this initial strike would buy Japan enough time to solidify its empire, but the plan underestimated American resilience and capacity to recover.