Japan designed its forces around a short war because its industrial base lacked the depth to support a longer conflict. By the time Hiburi entered production, the demands of the actual war had exposed those limits. Rapid escort construction was a response to an increasingly difficult situation. Escort mobilisation had to meet needs that the original short-war strategy had not accommodated.
Notable Point · 41:26-42:06
A short-war force facing a longer conflict
Japan's limited industrial depth encouraged short-war planning and left its forces struggling to adapt to a longer conflict.