You’re exactly right.
The Japanese couldn’t hit all the shipyards on the continental United States. That would have mattered but it was impossible for the Japanese to do it.
“The Japanese couldn’t hit all the shipyards on the continental United States.”
My point was after Dec 7th, the number of patrols from Pearl were greatly increased. Very little change of a surprise, especially with us reading their mail by then. Carriers, battleships, destroyers at Pearl would have been sent to meet them. Planes at Hickman would be up in the air and heading out too.