Six Japanese aircraft carriers took part in the Pearl Harbor attack.
The carriers were Akagi, Kaga, Sōryū, Hiryū, Shōkaku, and Zuikaku. Together they formed the core of the Kido Butai, or Mobile Force, which sailed across the North Pacific under strict radio silence before launching the raid.
The operation was unusual because it concentrated a large carrier force for a long-range surprise attack. The carriers carried fighters, dive bombers, and torpedo bombers, allowing Japan to strike ships and airfields in coordinated waves. The first wave focused heavily on battleships and air defenses, while the second attacked additional ships and facilities.
The six-carrier force later participated in other major Pacific operations, including the Battle of Midway. Four of these carriers—Akagi, Kaga, Sōryū, and Hiryū—were sunk at Midway in June 1942.