Japan’s Bold Strategy to Attack and Invade the USA with the Fugaku G10N

During World War II, one of the Allies’ key advantages was the inability of their enemies to strike the mainland United States effectively. While German submarines prowled the Atlantic and Japanese naval forces dominated parts of the Pacific, the American industrial heartland remained untouched. Factories in Detroit, aircraft plants in California, and shipyards along the East Coast could churn out supplies and equipment for the war effort without fear of aerial attacks. This geographical isolation gave the United States a significant edge, but Japan devised an ambitious plan to change that with a super bomber known as the Nakajima Fugaku G10N.

Project Z and the Ambition for a Transoceanic Bomber

After the devastating loss at the Battle of Midway in 1942, Japanese military leaders recognized that they needed a new approach to counter the growing might of the United States. American factories and infrastructure were fueling an unprecedented military buildup, and Japan sought a way to cripple this production. The idea was bold: create a bomber capable of reaching key targets in the U.S., including West Coast cities like San Francisco, Midwestern hubs like Detroit, and even New York City. The plan also envisioned the aircraft continuing onward, landing in German-occupied Europe to refuel and rearm before returning to Japan. This audacious project became known as Project Z.

The central concept behind the Fugaku G10N was to design an aircraft unlike any other. It had to carry enough fuel and payload to cross the vast Pacific Ocean, strike its targets, and continue across the Atlantic. However, the logistical challenges were enormous. Japan’s aircraft carriers were ill-suited for launching such a massive plane, and there were no forward bases close enough to mainland America to make the plan feasible. Earlier attempts, such as sending firebombs via balloon across the Pacific, had been ineffective, as local firefighters quickly extinguished the resulting blazes. Thus, Japan’s military leadership realized they needed something far more advanced.

The Nakajima Aircraft Company took the lead on Project Z, launching feasibility studies into building a bomber of unprecedented size and range. At first, Japan’s Army and Navy were skeptical. Their initial successes in the war had relied on short- and medium-range bombers, and they saw little need for a long-range heavy bomber. However, after Midway, both branches came to see the potential value of targeting American industry directly.

The Dual-Design Dilemma of the Fugaku G10N

Disagreements between the Army and Navy complicated the project. The Army wanted a bomber capable of operating at lower altitudes, around 32,000 feet, with heavy defensive armament to fend off American fighters. The Navy, on the other hand, prioritized high-altitude performance at 49,000 feet, where interception would be more difficult. The Navy’s design emphasized lighter defensive weapons and a larger bomb load, as it anticipated fewer enemy aircraft at such high altitudes. These differences were reflected in their respective designs, with the Army favoring a twin-tail configuration and the Navy opting for a single-tail fin.

Despite these disagreements, Nakajima managed to merge the two concepts into a single design. The final version of the Fugaku G10N was a flexible platform that could serve multiple purposes. Three distinct configurations were planned. The first was as a heavy bomber, capable of carrying a large payload over an estimated range of 11,000 miles. To extend its range further, designers proposed jettisoning the landing gear after takeoff, as the plane could land on its belly in Europe if it survived the mission.

The second configuration was a flying machine gun platform, with defensive armament positioned to fend off attackers from all directions. This version would escort other bombers or provide support for long-range missions. The third configuration transformed the plane into a transport capable of carrying troops or vehicles, an essential component of the grander vision to invade the United States. The Japanese military imagined using the Fugaku to deploy forces directly onto American soil, a bold idea that demonstrated the ambitious thinking behind the project.

The Fugaku G10N: A Vision Unfulfilled

The Fugaku G10N was planned to be massive, dwarfing other bombers of the era. Its wingspan was over 200 feet, and its six engines were designed to provide the power needed for such a heavy aircraft. To save weight, the landing gear would be discarded after takeoff, and the plane would rely on belly landings upon reaching its destination. Crews were estimated to include at least ten members, with several tasked with operating the onboard defensive weapons.

While the design was impressive, Japan’s limited industrial capacity made it nearly impossible to bring the Fugaku G10N to fruition. By the time the project gained momentum, Japan’s factories were struggling to keep up with existing demands for aircraft, ships, and other military supplies. Additionally, American forces were advancing across the Pacific, capturing key islands and reducing Japan’s ability to launch long-range missions. The combined pressures of material shortages and shifting priorities ultimately led to the abandonment of Project Z.

Although the Fugaku G10N never left the drawing board, it remains a fascinating example of the extreme measures Japan considered to challenge the United States during World War II. The project highlights the ingenuity and ambition of wartime engineering, as well as the challenges of translating such bold ideas into reality under the constraints of war.