1. Kamikaze aircraft
    Standard IJN and IJA aircraft  Ohka  Tsurugi  Toka  Shusui  Hiryu To-Go  Shinryu  Maru-Ten  Baika 

2. Boats
    Shin'yō  Maru-Ni 

3. Midget submarines
    Ko-hyoteki  Kaiten  Kairyu 

4. Fukuryu

5. Land-based suicide weapons
    Nikaku  Giretsu Kūteitai 

6. List of ships

7. Bibliography

8. Notes

There were more than 400 Allied vessels struck by Japanese special attack weapons in the last twelve months of World War II, including some vessels that were struck as many as six times in one attack.^[1] The one special weapon that is most often associated with World War II is the Japanese kamikaze aircraft. Kamikaze was used to describe the way the Japanese believed they would be victorious by destroying the Allied fleet by crashing aircraft into their ships. The word kamikaze originated as the name of major typhoons in 1274 and 1281, which dispersed Mongolian invasion fleets under Kublai Khan. The Allies referred to these special weapons as "suicide" attacks, and found it difficult to understand why an individual would intentionally crash an airplane into a ship, as the two cultures clashed in battle. Both Imperial Japanese Navy and Imperial Japanese Army had Special Attack Units organized specifically for this mission. Aircraft were not the only special attack weapons. Attack boats, suicide divers, and several types of submarines were also used to destroy ships and landing craft as the Allied forces advanced toward Japan.^[2]

Kamikaze aircraft

Standard IJN and IJA aircraft

Almost every make and model of aircraft were used as kamikazes.^[3] The most often seen were the Mitsubishi A6M ("Zero," allied code name "Zeke"), Aichi D3A (Allied code name "Val"), Mitsubishi G4M (Allied code name "Betty"), Nakajima B5N (Allied code name "Kate"), Yokosuka P1Y (Allied code name "Francis"), although in the final months of the war, every flyable aircraft was used. The Army used the Kawasaki Ki-61 (Allied code name "Tony"), Mitsubishi Ki-46 (Allied code name "Dinah"), although like the Navy, all available aircraft were to be used as the threat to Japan increased after Iwo Jima fell.^[4]

Ohka

The Yokosuka MXY-7 Ohka (also spelled Oka) (櫻花; Shinjitai: 桜花; "cherry blossom"; Hebon-shiki transcription Ōka) was a purpose-built kamikaze aircraft employed by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service in the last months of World War II.^[3] US forces gave the aircraft the Japanese name Baka which loosely translates as "idiot" or "fool" in English.

Ohka was a small flying bomb that was carried underneath a Mitsubishi G4M "Betty", Yokosuka P1Y Ginga "Frances" or the planned Heavy Nakajima G8N Renzan (Allied code name "Rita") transport type 43A/B and heavy bomber to within range of its target; on release, the pilot would first glide towards the target and, when close, enough he would fire the Ohka{{'}}s engine(s) and dive into the ship to destroy it.^[5] That final approach was almost unstoppable (especially for the rocket-powered Ohka Type 11) because the aircraft was capable of attaining tremendous speed. Later versions were designed to be launched from coastal air bases and caves, and even from submarines equipped with aircraft catapults, although the war ended before they were used this way.

Tsurugi

The Nakajima Ki-115 Tsurugi (剣 "Sabre") was a one-man purpose-built kamikaze aircraft developed by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force in the closing stages of World War II in late 1945.^[6] More than 100 Ki-115s were completed.

Toka

The Toka (藤花, "Wisteria Blossom") was the IJN version of the Nakajima Ki-115 Ko. Showa was to build the Toka for the IJN.^[7]

Shusui

The Mitsubishi J8M Shūsui (Japanese: 三菱 J8M 秋水, literally "Autumn Water", used as a poetic term meaning "Sharp Sword" deriving from the swishing sound swords make) used by the Navy and Ki-200 for the Army. The Shusui ("Sword Stroke") was a rocket powered interceptor. It was the Japanese copy of the German Me 163 rocket powered interceptor fighter that was specially designed for use against high flying B-29 bombers. The prototype flew on 7 July 45. The War ended before production.

Hiryu To-Go

The Hiryu To-Go, also known as the Ki-167 "Sakura-dan", was a Mitsubishi Ki-67 Kai (Allied code name "Peggy") twin-engine bomber with guns removed and faired over, crew reduced to four men. This flying bomb was built with 3 ton thermite shaped-charge bomb behind the cockpit, pointed forward and angled slightly down, and a blast radius of 1 km. Two of these aircraft were known to have been built. One sorted 17 April 1945 and did not return.

Shinryu

The Mizuno Shinryu ("Divine Dragon") was a proposed rocket-powered kamikaze aircraft designed for the Imperial Japanese Navy towards the end of World War II. It never reached production.

Maru-Ten

The Maru-Ten was Nakajima's designation for the '{{nihongo|Kōkoku Nigō Heiki|皇国二号兵器|"Imperial Weapon No.2"|}}. This was a suicide weapon with no landing gear, was catapult launched using Rocket Assisted Take Off (RATO), used Ne-12B engines, and carried a single bomb. It was never built, as it evolved into the {{nihongo|Nakajima Kikka|中島 橘花|"Orange Blossom"|}}.

Baika

The Kawanishi Baika (梅花, "Ume Blossom") was a pulsejet-powered kamikaze aircraft under development for the Imperial Japanese Navy towards the end of World War II. The war ended before any were built. The design was greatly inspired by the manned version of the German V1 flying bomb, the Fieseler Fi 103R "Reichenberg".

Boats

Shin'yō

The Shin'yō (Japanese: 震洋, "Sea Quake") were Japanese suicide boats developed during World War II.^[8] They were part of the wider Special Attack Units program. These fast motorboats were driven by one man, to speeds of around {{convert|30|kn|km/h mph|abbr=on}}. They were typically equipped with {{convert|250|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}} of explosives packed in the bow with several impact fuses. The Shinyo units were known as Shimpu Tokubetsu-Kogekitai. About 6,200 Shinyo were produced for the Imperial Japanese Navy.

Maru-Ni

An additional 3,000 of the Shinyo were produced for the Imperial Japanese Army as Maru-Ni. The Maru-Ni units were known as Shimbu Tokubetsu-Kogekitai. About 400 of these boats were sent to Okinawa and Formosa, the rest were stored on the coast of Japan for the ultimate defense against the invasion of the Home islands. The Mary-Ni attacked by dropping one or two shallow-set depth charges as close to the target ship as possible, with the intention of turning away as the depth charges were released off the stern.

Midget submarines

Ko-hyoteki

The {{Nihongo|Type A Ko-hyoteki|甲標的甲型|Kō-hyōteki kō-gata|Target 'A', Type 'A'}} class was a class of Japanese midget submarines (Ko-hyoteki) was manufactured in three Types:

• Type A Ko-hyoteki-class midget submarines were used in the 1942 Attack on Sydney Harbour, Attack on Diego Suarez Harbor and the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor.^[9]
• Type B Midget Ha 45 prototype built 1942 to test Type A improvements.^[10]
• Type C Midget Ha 62–76 similar to Type A with crew of 3 and radius increased to {{convert|350|nmi|km}} at {{convert|6|kn|km/h}} surfaced or {{convert|120|nmi|km}} at {{convert|4|kn|km/h}} submerged.^[10]
• Type D Koryu (115 completed) improved Type C with crew of 5 and radius increased to 1000 miles at 8 knots surfaced and 320 miles at 16 knots submerged.^[11][12]

Kaiten

The Kaiten ({{lang-ja|回天}}, literal translation: "Return to the sky", commonly rendered as: "The turn toward heaven", "The Heaven Shaker" or "Change the World"^[13]) was a torpedo modified as a suicide weapon, and used by the Imperial Japanese Navy in the final stages of World War II.^[8]

Early designs allowed for the pilot to escape after the final acceleration towards the target, although whether this could have been done successfully is doubtful. There is no record of any pilot attempting to escape or intending to do so, and this provision was dropped from later production kaitens. The inventor of the Kaiten, Lt. Hiroshi Kuroki was lost during one of the first training missions. When the sub was raised a note was found with a note written during his final minutes before death, sending his respects to his family and detailing the cause of the accident and how to repair the defect.

Kairyu

The {{nihongo|Kairyu|海龍|Kairyū|"Sea Dragon"}} was a Small, 2-man, midget submarine of the Imperial Japanese Navy of 20 ton that was based on the

Type A midget submarine that was used in the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor.^[12] All five of the Type A midget submarines used were captured (1) or destroyed (4). Midgets also attacked in Sydney (all four lost) and Madagascar in June 1942. The Kairyu mini-submarines were meant to meet the invading American Naval forces upon their anticipated approach of Tokyo. Although not intended only as a suicide weapon, crew survival was possible, but the odds of survival were not high. These mini-submarines were built so that they could be equipped with either two torpedoes or a 1,000 pound warhead in the bow, for crashing into ships as the kaiten did. Over 760 of these submarines were planned, and by August 1945, 200 had been manufactured, most of them at the Yokosuka shipyard, but of the 200, only 115 were ready for use at the time of surrender.

Fukuryu

Fukuryu (Japanese:伏龍, Fukuryu "Crouching dragons") suicide divers were a part of the Special Attack Units prepared to resist the invasion of the Home islands by Allied forces.^[14] They were equipped with a diving jacket and trousers, diving shoes, and a diving helmet fixed by four bolts.

They were typically weighed down with {{convert|9|kg|lb|abbr=on}} of lead, and had two bottles of compressed air at 150 bars. They were expected to be able to walk at a depth of {{convert|5|to|7|m|ft|abbr=on}}, for about six hours. The Fukuryu were armed with a {{convert|15|kg|lb|abbr=on}} mine fired with a contact fuse, fitted onto the end of a {{convert|5|m|ft|abbr=on}} bamboo pole. To attack, they would swim under a ship and slam the mine onto the ship's hull, destroying themselves in the process. This new weapon is only known to have been used a few times operationally:

• January 8, 1945: Infantry landing craft (gunboat) LCI(G)-404 damaged by suicide divers in Yoo Passage, Palaus.
• February 10, 1945: Attempted attack on surveying ship USS Hydrographer (AGS-2) by suicide divers in Schonian Harbor, Palaus.

Land-based suicide weapons

Nikaku

Although the Nikaku were not specifically designated as anti-ship weapons, the mental conditioning and training they received prepared them to pilot a Maru Ni, should the need arise. Nikaku were IJA soldiers with explosives strapped to their bodies, acting as human anti-tank mines. The method used in the attack was very simple: the soldier would crawl between the tank treads or allow the tank to drive over him, then explode the charge. The army pioneered this technique in the Philippines and on Okinawa. Other methods used were where the weapon was a shaped-charge on a spike or a simple hand grenade.

Giretsu Kūteitai

List of ships

This table list every known ship that was attacked and damaged by a Japanese special weapon. Not included are ships that were not damaged from a near miss, or were damaged when debris from another ship that was attacked and hit fell or flew on or into it.

Unless otherwise noted, these ships were hit by one kamikaze aircraft.

Bibliography

• {{cite book |last=|first=|authorlink= |title=LCI: Landing Craft Infantry, Volume II|url= |accessdate= |year=1995|publisher=Turner Publishing|location=|isbn=1563112620}}
• {{cite book |last=Ball|first=Donald L.|authorlink= |title=Fighting Amphibs; The LCS(L) in World War II|url= |accessdate= |year=1997|publisher=Mill Neck Publications|location=Williamsburgh, VA|isbn=0965905500}}
• {{cite book |last=Browning Jr. |first=Robert M. |authorlink= |title=US Merchant Vessel War Casualties of World War II |url= |accessdate= |year=1996 |publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, Maryland |isbn=978-1557500878}}
• {{cite book |last=Cressman |first=Robert J. |authorlink= |title=The Official Chronology of the U.S. Navy in World War II |url= |accessdate= |year=1999 |publisher=Contemporary History Branch |location=Naval Historical Center |isbn= }}
• {{cite book |last=Masterson |first=Dr. James R. |authorlink= |title=U. S. Army Transportation, In The Southwest Pacific Area |url= |accessdate= |date=October 1949 |publisher=Transportation Unit Historical Division Special Staff |location=US Army |isbn=}}
• {{cite book |last=Rielly |first=Robin L. |authorlink= |title=Kamikazes, Corsairs, and Picket Ships|url= |accessdate= |year=2008 |publisher=Casemare |location=Havertown, PA |isbn=978-1935149415 }}
• {{cite book |last=Rielly |first=Robin L. |authorlink= |title=Kamikaze Attacks of World War II|url= |accessdate= |year=2010 |publisher=McFarland & Company, Inc |location=Jefferson, North Carolina |isbn=978-0786446544 |page= |pages=}}
• {{cite book |last=Watts|first=Anthony J.|authorlink= |title=Japanese Warships of World War II|year=1967 |publisher=Doubleday & Company}}
• {{cite book |last=Zaloga|first=Steven J.|title=Defense of Japan|year=2010|publisher=Osprey Publishing|location=Oxford, UK|isbn=9781846036873}}
• {{cite book |last= |first= |authorlink= |title=Ships' Data US Naval Vessels Vol I 250-010|url= |accessdate= |date=April 15, 1945 |publisher=Navships |location= |isbn= }}
• {{cite book |last= |first= |authorlink= |title=Ships' Data US Naval Vessels Vol II 250-011|url= |accessdate= |date=April 15, 1945 |publisher=Navships |location= |isbn= }}
• {{cite book |last= |first= |authorlink= |title=Ships' Data US Naval Vessels Vol III 250-012|url= |accessdate= |date=April 15, 1945 |publisher=Navships |location= |isbn= }}
• {{cite book |last= |first= |authorlink= |title=Casualties: U.S. Navy and Coast Guard Vessels, Sunk or Damaged Beyond Repair during World War II 7 December 1941-1 October 1945|url= |accessdate= |year= |publisher=Naval History And Heritage Command |location=Department Of The Navy |isbn= }}
• {{cite book |last=Stern |first=Robert L. |authorlink= |title=Fire From the Sky: Surviving the Kamikaze Threat|url= |accessdate= |year=2010 |publisher=Pen and Sword |location= |isbn=978-1473814219 |page= |pages=}}

Notes

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