Striking Force Akagi Kaga Sōryū Hiryū Shōkaku Zuikaku Hittokapu Bay Kasatka Kuril Islands combat air patrol aircraft carriers Hawaii Pearl Harbor fighters
On November 26, 1941, a Japanese task force (the Striking Force) of six aircraft carriers – Akagi, Kaga, Sōryū, Hiryū, Shōkaku, and Zuikaku – departed Hittokapu Bay on Kasatka (now Iterup) Island in the Kuril Islands, en route to a position northwest of Hawaii, intending to launch its 408 aircraft to attack Pearl Harbor: 360 for the two attack waves and 48 on defensive combat air patrol (CAP), including 9 fighters from the first wave.