The Soviet capacity for amphibious operations against Japanese held islands was provided by the U.S. in the spring and summer of 1945 under the codename Project Hula. The assets transferred included 30 LCI(L), Landing Craft Infantry (Large) and their supporting escorts like minesweepers, patrol boats, frigates, subchasers and the like. The capacity of an LCI(L) is about 200 troops, so 30 of them would mean a capacity of about 6000 troops. To put this in perspective the Normandy invasion had over 4000 landing craft including hundreds if not thousands of vessels larger than an LCI.

The Soviets used the amphibious capacity from project Hula to invade the Kuril islands, located north of Hokkaido. This attack, although successful, was not large enough to easily overcome Japanese resistance, which was unexpectedly stiff. Follow up operations against Hokkaido were discussed by Soviet command, but judged infeasible due to the lack of landing craft.