2-378-256 - Historica Graphica Collection/Heritage Images

Battleship USS 'Arizona' (BB-39) sinking during the attack on Pearl Harbour, 1941. The Japanese Navy launched a surprise attack on the US military facilities at Pearl Harbour on the morning of 7 December 1941 using bombers launched from aircraft carriers. The attack succeeded in sinking 4 battleships and damaging 4 others, and destroyed 188 aircraft. The 'Arizona' sank after her forward magazine exploded. 2345 servicemen lost their lives in the attack (1177 on board the 'Arizona') along with 57 civilians. President Roosevelt denounced the attack as a day that will live in infamy and Congress declared war on Japan.