A possible invasion of Japan and the supply build-up

The prospect of invading Japan drives the logistics argument. Such an operation would need more ships and experienced crews than the United States could provide alone. In the interpretation offered here, fear of the invasion's scale also explains the creation and use of nuclear weapons. Ground formations could deploy only after fuel, stores, and infrastructure had been staged for them. The British Pacific Fleet, Eastern Fleet, and Indian Ocean forces first had to push Japanese positions back and work toward Singapore, shortening supply routes from Britain and India. The Italian campaign is described as costing roughly 350,000 lives to help make the Far Eastern campaign viable.