The tora of the title is the two-syllable Japanese codeword used to indicate that complete surprise had been achieved. It is a coincidence that tora also means "tiger" The attack commenced at 7:48 a.m. Hawaiian Time . The base was attacked by 353 Imperial Japanese aircraft in two waves, launched from six aircraft carriers. All eight U.S. Navy battleships were damaged, with four sunk.

Tora! Tora! Tora! - japońskie hasło do ataku na Pearl Harbor, przesłane 7 grudnia 1941 o 7:53 przez komandora porucznika lotnictwa Mitsuo Fuchidę na lotniskowiec Akagi. Japońskie słowo tora oznacza tygrysa, w tym wypadku użyto go jako akronimu słów totsugeki (nagły atak) i raigeki (atak torpedowy).