Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941. After conquering most of China, Japan was prepared to expand its empire the Pacific, starting with the United States. Admiral Yamamoto’s attack on Pearl Harbor resulted in over 2,400 Americans killed and another 1,200 wounded. Japan only lost 64 sailors and pilots. In the aftermath, the United States Navy undertook the largest salvage operation of all time and rebuilt the navy stationed at Pearl Harbor to eventually help defeat the Japanese empire.