How many D3A were used at Pearl Harbor?

Short answer

One hundred and twenty-six: 126 D3A1 aircraft took part in the Imperial Japanese Navy's attack on Pearl Harbor. The type was a key component of the operation and led the attack on the American fleet on 7 December 1941. By mid-1942, Japan already had more than 250 in service.

Published: November 1, 2026 · Updated: November 1, 2026 · Edited by Above Ten Thousand · Editorial policy

Japanese aircraft attack USS Hornet (CV-8) during the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands on 26 October 1942 (80 G-33947)

One hundred and twenty-six Vals

The Imperial Japanese Navy's attack on Pearl Harbor involved 126 D3A1 aircraft. The type was a key component of this operation and led the attack on the American fleet on 7 December 1941, which had a shocking effect on the Americans. The D3A bombed the airfields of Oahu and contributed to the destruction of the US Pacific Fleet.

More than 250 in service

By mid-1942, the Japanese already had more than 250 operational Val dive bombers.

After Pearl Harbor

During the Indian Ocean raid in April 1942, the D3A sank several major British warships. These included the heavy cruisers HMS Cornwall and HMS Dorsetshire on 5 April 1942, as well as the aircraft carrier HMS Hermes on 9 April 1942.