Its amazing today, because due to technology, we have eyes the world round. If a hostile power were to set a giant fleet of warships our way, we'd know about it.

In 1941, it was a totally different story, with radar being first developed, and not even believed by many. But with the limited technology of the day, did the US know it was coming? History will say we didn't basically know, it was a surprise. But wouldn't someone on the ground in Japan have picked up a major departure of the IJN.

Was it coincidence that the carriers weren't in Pearl? Or were they not there because we knew. But if we did know, from radio traffic, or spies on the ground, wouldn't it have made sense to have had some or all of the battleships out to sea so they had a fighting chance?

I get the idea that knowing war was imminent with both Imperial Japan and Nazi Germany, a tragic defeat like Pearl Harbour was the perfect bait to motivate a nation.

I'm a huge fan of WW II movies.Midway being one of my favorite. Tora, Tora, Tora is a classic movie, but sad to watch as the US and the Navy blindly sit and wait for it to happen. What if the radar post recognizes the giant blip, reports it and the Navy responds?