A.W.P.D.-42
REQUIREMENTS FOR AIR ASCENDANCY

Tab B
Operating Plans and Forces Required
B-4-b Air Operations - Far East - 2d Phase - Air Offensive

Japanese Theatre - Appendix J-V Iron and Steel

LIST OF TARGETS

No.	Name and Location		Annual Capacity (000 tons)
No.	Name and Location		Pig Iron	%	Steel	%
1.	Imperial Iron & Steel	Yawata	2,080	21.0	3,190	41.3
2.	Showa Steel	Anshan, Manchukuo	1,700	17.2	1,000	12.5
3.	Japan Steel Tube Go.	Kawasaki	490	5.0	526	6.5
4.	Hirohata Iron & Steel	Himeji	700	7.0	500	6.2
5.	Kawasaki Dockyard	Kobe	–	–	432	5.0
6.	Imperial Iron & Steel	Wanishi, Muroran	1,150	11.6	300	3.7
7.	Imperial Iron & Steel	Kamaishi	522	5.3	290	3.6
8.	Kobe Steel Works	Kobe	750	7.6	282	3.5
9.	Tsurumi Iron & Steel	Tsurumi	160	1.6	187	2.3
10.	Kokura Steel Works	Kokura	130	1.3	143	1.8
11.	Osaka Steel Works	Osaka	–	–	146	1.8
12.	Nakayama Steel Works	Osaka	350	3.5	137	1.7
13.	Imperial Iron & Steel	Kenjiho, Korea	437	4.3	97	1.1
14.	Sumitomo Steel Works	Shimaycho	–	–	73	0.9
15.	Nippon Seikojo	Muroran	–	–	77	0.9
16.	Fuji Steel Works	Kawasaki	122	1.2	65	0.8
17.	Sumitomo Steel Tube	Amagasaki	–	–	57	0.7
18.	Honkeiko Iron Works	Penhsihu, Manchukuo	590	6.0	–	–
19.	Seishin Iron Works	Seishin, Korea	350	3.5	–	–
20.	Otani Iron Works	Amagasaki	255	2.6	–	–
21.	Amagasaki Iron Works	Amagasaki	130	1.3	–	–
22.	All Others		91	–	998	5.7
		TOTAL	10,000	100.0	8,500	100.0
The output of steel products so vital to the Japanese war program might conceivably be attacked through operations directed—concurrently or alternatively—against (1) the flow of iron ore and coking coal, (2) the steel mills themselves, and/or (3) the factories making finished steel products. In accordance with the terms of the directive, the present report pertains only to the second of the three methods of attack. The plants listed above include the most important iron and steel mills in Japan and Japanese-controlled territory, accounting for 95% or more of total capacity. Although detailed statistics on steel capacity have been closely guarded in recent years, the data presented above are believed reasonably accurate.

COMPARATIVE VALUE OF TARGETS

LOCATION OF TARGETS

BOMBER FORCE REQUIRED

1. DESCRIPTION OF TARGETS

The most important portion of these targets are the coke ovens, open hearth furnaces, and the blast furnaces.

There is no standardized layout for this type of plant in Japan.

2. NUMBER OF DIRECT HITS AND TYPE OF BOMBS REQUIRED

In order effectively to destroy this type of target, it is considered that a heavy weight of attack is required, such as not less than one hundred (100) 500 lb. bombs to fall within the target aiming area of 1000' x 1000'. In the case of some of the larger plants, several target aiming points would be required.

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 effectively to attack the twenty-one (21) targets proposed in this system, it would be necessary to have a total of

9,060 SORTIES

In order to carry out these sorties in sixty (60) operational days, a force of:

19 - B 19's and
118 - B 17e's

must be set up.