This work investigates the strategic, tactical, and logistical dimensions of the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, with a specific focus on the subsequent salvage operations required to restore the United States Pacific Fleet. Vice Admiral Homer N. Wallin, who served as the commander of the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard during the recovery efforts, provides an authoritative account of the aftermath. He utilizes his direct technical experience and access to official naval records to document the complex engineering challenges involved in righting capsized vessels and repairing damaged hulls. The text serves as both a historical record of the attack and a detailed manual on the maritime salvage techniques employed under wartime pressure.

Military historians and naval engineers frequently cite this work as the definitive primary source for the technical aspects of the Pearl Harbor salvage effort. The prose is noted for its clinical, matter-of-fact tone, reflecting the author's background as a career naval officer.