Yup, back in 1938 Admiral Ernest King organized and executed a successful surprise air raid against Pearl Harbor during a fleet exercise.
And he wasn't even the first to do it: Admiral Harry Yarnell did it during Fleet Problem XIII in February of 1932. Despite the umpires declaring it a success, they doubted it could happen without the attacking carriers taking damage, even though the defenders never found Lexington or Saratoga. And then the battleship admirals voted down a tactics reassessment.
In fact, pretty much every war game involving an attack on Pearl Harbor was a victory for the attackers. Too bad FDR didn't even bother consulting the military before ordering the Pacific Fleet to Hawaii. And then fired CinCUS Richardson when he protested how dangerous this was and that the USN wasn't ready for a war with Japan.
In early morning of Dec.7 1941, Japanese planes launched a surprising attack on Pearl Harbor. 4 of 8 docked battleships were lost, 1 stranded, the rest are all seriously damaged. 188 US planes were lost. The Japanese aircraft carriers escaped after the attack, and the retaliation force couldn't locate them.Strike baseHit!Ehehe~WHO STOLE MY TACTIC!?Oh no! A swarm of unknown planes are coming!Pearl HarborEh!? Aren't those our planes!?The planes turned aroundPaint?So it was a drillThis is a tactic of utilizing carrier based aircraft for long distance strikeSaratoga invented this first!Who's that? Which one is that naughty naughty carrier!?Launch planesPearl Harbor baseLand based planes won't be able to launch on time!Land planesRunNobody catches me!Running too fastAir defense in Pearl Harbor is not even prepared! You are sitting ducks in front of your sneaking enemies!
That's my lesson for you all, you are welcome!Bastard!It's a drill, don't take that too seriouslyLater...Sorry, I'll teach her more manners laterWHO STOLE MY TACTIC!?
