Bofors range and Pom-Pom volume in the Pacific

At long range the Bofors could harass and break up conventional strikes earlier, a major benefit in open Pacific operations. Kamikaze pilots sought cruisers, carriers, and capital ships when they could find them, attacking destroyers when larger targets were unavailable. Their determination to strike made destruction inside the final approach more important than deterrence. Quad Bofors mounts remained effective, but British octuple Pom-Poms created a larger close-range zone of concentrated fire through sheer barrel count. American interest centered on the octuple mounting's firepower, while satisfaction with the Bofors gun continued. The comparison depends on the attacker's behavior, the other defensive layers, and the number of guns on a mount.