Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 3:27:54-3:31:05

Why Japanese submarines found few commerce targets

Japanese submarines were not wholly barred from commerce raiding, but the most important Allied routes lay far from their main operating areas and were often convoyed.

Commerce RaidingConvoysImperial Japanese NavyIndian OceanPacific WarSubmarine Warfare
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Question

Were Japanese submarines restricted to scouting and attacks on warships rather than commerce raiding?

Short answer

No. They could attack commerce, but distant routes and escorted convoys limited the available campaign.

Notes

Japanese submarines were not designed only for scouting and attacks on warships. They were also expected to undertake anti-commerce operations. The harder problem was finding dense, accessible merchant traffic within the geography of Japan's war. Important routes ran far to the south or through the Indian Ocean toward Australia. Japanese boats did conduct successful operations in the Indian Ocean, but there they also encountered well-escorted convoys. Their limited campaign against commerce therefore reflected target geography and opposition as well as doctrine.