Incompetence is a tough word, both Short & Kimmel had long records as competent officers. But, they were warned repeatedly of the possibility of war. They did know the general capabilities of the Japanese. ie: submarines infiltrating the harbor channel; the Japanese fleet sorting east to strike our fleet. Such events had been repeatedly entered into the USN wargames during the 1920s & 1930s. So was not that the USN did not believe such things possible. Short & Kimmel had also recieved orders to prepare for war and stand at full alert, in late November. Still their command was caught hungover on a weekend, with junior officers at key command posts, inadaquate reconissance available....

The torpedo question is silly. It had been clearly demostrated several times in the 1920s & 1930s what aircraft bombs could do to a anchored warship. For a decade the USN had been developing dive bomber tactics to use against armored warships, and we knew the Japanese were working at similar capabilities. In any case torpedos would not be used against the machine shops, oil tanks, drydocks, aircraft, ect... Claiming that lack of knowledge of torpedo capability in shallow water decived anyone about the possibility of a attack sounds stupid.

Of course MacAurthur had eight or nine hours warning and his bombers were whacked on the ground, interceptors on patrol at the wrong location and with ineffective communications, key reconissance missions delayed, and planned airstrikes dithered over. I that case both Mac & his air commander Bereton were retained in command and allowed even greater opportunities.

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