Q&A · 3:16:00-3:16:25

How long could Japanese industry survive sustained air attack?

Japan's coastal concentration and limited geographic depth make its industrial system unusually exposed once Allied bombers gain nearby bases.

Question

Once Allied air bases were in range, how long could Japanese industry withstand a reverse Blitz?

Short answer

Probably not long, because coastal concentration and limited room for dispersal left Japanese infrastructure highly exposed.

Notes

Japanese industry would probably not hold out for long once sustained Allied attacks began from bases within range. Much of the country's industrial and transport infrastructure was concentrated near the coast. Japan also had less internal space in which to disperse facilities than Britain. The same lack of depth that troubled Yonai's logistical planning would therefore magnify the effect of a reverse strategic-bombing campaign.