COMPARATIVE VALUE OF TARGETS
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REQUIREMENTS FOR AIR ASCENDANCY Tab B Japanese Theatre - Appendix J-IV Alumina and Aluminum Plants |
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PRINCIPAL ALUMINA PLANTS |
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No. |
Name and Location |
Annual Capacity (tons) |
Percent Japan Total |
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1. |
Japan Light Metals Company (Shimisu) |
120,000 |
43.4 |
|
2. |
Japan Aluminum Company (Kurosaki) |
50,000 |
18.1 |
|
3. |
Manchuria Light Metals Co. (Fushun, Manchukuo) |
25,000 |
9.1 |
|
4. |
Sumitomo Chemical Co. (Niihama) |
18,000 |
6.6 |
|
5. |
Japan Electro-Chemical Industry Co. (Yokohama) |
16,680 |
6.0 |
|
6. |
Japan Soda Company (Takaoka) |
13,900 |
5.0 |
|
7. |
Korea Nitrogen Fertilizer Co. (Konan, Korea) |
12,000 |
4.3 |
|
8. |
Japan-Manchuria (Nichiman) Aluminum Co. (Iwase) |
10,000 |
3.6 |
|
9. |
Korea Riken Metals Company (Chinnampo) |
6,000 |
2.1 |
|
10. |
Manchuria Light Metals Co. (Antung, Manchukuo) |
5,000 |
1.8 |
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TOTAL |
276,580 |
100.0 |
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PRINCIPAL ALUMINUM PLANTS |
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No. |
Name and Location |
Annual Capacity (tons) |
Percent Japan Total |
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A. |
Japan Light Metals Co. (Kambara) |
36,000 |
15.6 |
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B. |
Kokusan Light Metals Co. (Sasazu) |
36,000 |
15.6 |
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C. |
Japan Electro-Chemical Industry Co. (Omachi) |
20,000 |
8.7 |
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D. |
Japan Light Metals Co. (Niigata) |
18,000 |
7.8 |
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E. |
Japan Soda Co. (Takaoka) |
16,000 |
7.0 |
|
F. |
Japan Aluminum Co. (Takao, Taiwan) |
12,000 |
5.2 |
|
G. |
Manchuria Light Metals Co. (Fushun, Manchukuo) |
12,000 |
5.2 |
|
H. |
Showa Electro-Industrial Co. (Hirota) |
12,000 |
5.2 |
|
I. |
Manchuria Light Metals Co. (Antung, Manchukuo) |
9,000 |
3.9 |
|
J. |
Sumitomo Aluminum Reduction Co. (Niihama) |
9,000 |
3.9 |
|
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TOTAL |
180,000 |
77.1 % |
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SUMMARY: Strategic importance derives from accepted dependence of aircraft output upon aluminum capacity. In the case of Japan, the basic alumina is produced at a few large plants and distributed to only a moderately more dispersed group of aluminum reduction plants for conversion into metal. Key targets are thus the alumina plants, particularly vulnerable to air attack and difficult to repair. Their destruction would halt all aluminum production. Most alumina plants are located at harbor points to receive vital supplies of Netherlands East Indies and Malayan bauxite, so that nearby ships also lend themselves to air attack. Several alumina plants are components of large chemical works, making their destruction doubly important. |
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1. DESCRIPTION OF TARGETS
The layout of alumina and aluminum plants can vary considerably. It consists essentially of grinding plants, gas producing plant and gas holders, calcining furnaces, precipitation plant, etc. The alumina plants are more vulnerable to attack than the aluminum plants.
2. NUMBER OF DIRECT HITS AND TYPE OF BOMBS REQUIRED
In view of the fact that some of the plant involved is of heavy and some of light construction, it is considered that these targets can best be attacked by using a mixture of 500 lb. and 300 lb. bombs. For purposes of calculation it has been assumed that the weight of attack should be such that not less than twenty (20) 500 lb. bombs and sixty (60) 300 lb. bombs should fall within an aiming point area of 1000’ by 1000’.
3. NUMBER OF SORTIES AND BOMBER FORCE REQUIRED
Based upon detailed calculations taking into account all operational factors involved in making attacks against highly defended targets with appropriate allowances for probabilities, aiming errors, losses, etc., etc., it appears that in order to effectively destroy the twenty (20) targets included in the system, it would be necessary to have:-
2,760 SORTIES
In order to carry out these sorties in sixty (60) operational days, a force of:-
6 - B 19’s and
37 - B 17e's must be set up.