1.Since the atomic bomb was expected to produce its greatest amount of damage by primary blast effect, and next greatest by fires, the targets should contain a large percentage of closely-built frame buildings and other construction that would be most susceptible to damage by blast and fire.
2.The maximum blast effect of the bomb was calculated to extend over an area of approximately 1 mile in radius; therefore the selected targets should contain a densely built-up area of at least this size.
3.The selected targets should have a high military strategic value.
4.The first target should be relatively untouched by previous bombing, in order that the effect of a single atomic bomb could be determined.
Hiroshima was a city of considerable military importance. It contained the 2nd Army Headquarters, which commanded the defense of all of southern Japan. The city was a communications center, a storage point, and an assembly area for troops. To quote a Japanese report, "Probably more than a thousand times since the beginning of the war did the Hiroshima citizens see off with cries of 'Banzai' the troops leaving from the harbor."
The center of the city contained a number of reinforced concrete buildings as well as lighter structures. Outside the center, the area was congested by a dense collection of small wooden workshops set among Japanese houses; a few larger industrial plants lay near the outskirts of the city. The houses were of wooden construction with tile roofs. Many of the industrial buildings also were of wood frame construction. The city as a whole was highly susceptible to fire damage.
The Selection of the Target
http://www.atomicarchive.com/Docs/MED/med_chp5.shtml
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Hiroshima and Nagasaki were both military as well as civilian targets, and both amendable to fire damage after the blast.
One (primary) goal of the bomb was to end the war without a US invasion.
So there was the "shock and awe" . If you want to call it terror - so be it. It was a freaking World War and Japan
had already attacked us and would enslaved us just as they did China given the chance.
No holds barred, save as many US military lives as possible, and defeat the Japanese Empire.
Looking at it that way, the atomic bomb served it's purpose. That's the only way to look at it-thru the perspective of the time itself.
2.The maximum blast effect of the bomb was calculated to extend over an area of approximately 1 mile in radius; therefore the selected targets should contain a densely built-up area of at least this size.
3.The selected targets should have a high military strategic value.
4.The first target should be relatively untouched by previous bombing, in order that the effect of a single atomic bomb could be determined.
Hiroshima was a city of considerable military importance. It contained the 2nd Army Headquarters, which commanded the defense of all of southern Japan. The city was a communications center, a storage point, and an assembly area for troops. To quote a Japanese report, "Probably more than a thousand times since the beginning of the war did the Hiroshima citizens see off with cries of 'Banzai' the troops leaving from the harbor."
The center of the city contained a number of reinforced concrete buildings as well as lighter structures. Outside the center, the area was congested by a dense collection of small wooden workshops set among Japanese houses; a few larger industrial plants lay near the outskirts of the city. The houses were of wooden construction with tile roofs. Many of the industrial buildings also were of wood frame construction. The city as a whole was highly susceptible to fire damage.
The Selection of the Target
http://www.atomicarchive.com/Docs/MED/med_chp5.shtml
+
Hiroshima and Nagasaki were both military as well as civilian targets, and both amendable to fire damage after the blast.
One (primary) goal of the bomb was to end the war without a US invasion.
So there was the "shock and awe" . If you want to call it terror - so be it. It was a freaking World War and Japan
had already attacked us and would enslaved us just as they did China given the chance.
No holds barred, save as many US military lives as possible, and defeat the Japanese Empire.
Looking at it that way, the atomic bomb served it's purpose. That's the only way to look at it-thru the perspective of the time itself.
