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I've often wondered if the Japanese pilots were assigned to target specific berths rather than specific ships. If so, it would explain some interesting events.

From an attack management perspective, assigning pilots to attack specific berths is efficient. No need for hunting certain types of ships, better separation and array of attacking forces (reduces the risk of mid-air collisions in congested airspace), reduced risk of wasting torpedoes and bombs on already destroyed targets, simplifies damage assessment, etc.

We know that the Japanese had good intel on the harbor including excellent navigable charts. For example, the charts were good enough to plan mini sub operations in the harbor. It is very likely that the Japanese knew exactly which type of ship would most probably be at which berth.

So, for example, Berth X is the home of a battleship. A battleship will require Y number of torpedoes and Z number of bombs to destroy it. So the forces assigned to target Berth X will be Y torpedo bombers and Z level bombers. And so forth.

Targeting specific berths might explain why Utah got hammered. She was moored at a berth typically used by carriers. It would explain why ships anchored in the harbor away from berths suffered much less attention, like Phoenix .

Japanese pilot is assigned Berth X and goes in, expends his ordnance on whatever is at Berth X, and then gets out fast to fight another day. Any other potential targets are ignored.

Perhaps someone better read knows how targets were actually assigned to Japanese pilots at Pearl Harbor.

Just some thoughts.