Difference between revisions of "Kamikaze"

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'''Kamikaze''' ([[Japan|Japanese]] for "Divine Wind") refers to a kind of attack in which a pilot crashes the vehicle he is operating at high speed into an enemy ship or position. Kamikaze attacks were used by the Empire of Japan during the last phase of the [[World War II|Second World War]] as a desperation move against the numerically superior [[United States Navy]] and Royal Australian Navy forces, and they were essentially the first guided missiles. While these attacks were somewhat successful in destroying ships, it was not enough to stop allied efforts.
'''Kamikaze''' ([[Japan|Japanese]] for "Divine Wind") refers to a kind of attack in which a pilot crashes the vehicle he is operating at high speed into an enemy ship or position. Kamikaze attacks were used by the Empire of Japan during the last phase of the [[World War II|Second World War]] as a desperation move against the numerically superior [[United States Navy]] and Royal Australian Navy forces, and they were essentially the first guided missiles. While these attacks were somewhat successful in destroying ships, it was not enough to stop allied efforts.


The kamikazes included not only standard aircraft but also specially designed, rocket-powered guided missiles(Ohka) and -- on the ocean -- specially designed piloted torpedoes(Kaiten).  Neither of these specialized suicide vehicles were too particularly effective due to the vulnerability of the bombers and submarines that the weapons required to allow them to be carried within range of their targets.  However whenever they were able to make a successful attack the results were spectacular.   
The kamikazes included not only standard aircraft but also specially designed, rocket-powered guided missiles (''ohka'') and -- on the ocean -- specially designed piloted torpedoes (''kaiten'').  Neither of these specialized suicide vehicles was particularly effective due to the vulnerability of the bombers and submarines that the weapons required to deliver them to within range of their targets.  However, whenever they were able to make a successful attack, the results were spectacular.   


[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvO4VRpTXk8| History Channel's Dogfights Series episode on the Kamikaze]
Such attacks were not just limited to the Japanese, as there was at least one [[Nazi Germany|German]] Operation, the ''Sonderkommando Elbe'', where 180 Bf 109 fighters (first attack of the 2000 strong force) took part in a ramming attack on the [[United States Air Force|US Eighth Airforce's]] [[bomber]]s on 7 April 1945.  This attack had only very limited effectiveness so all future ''Sonderkommando Elbe'' missions were cancelled.  Only 13 successful attacks were performed that day with those only downing 12 American bombers and damaging 3 others forcing them to retreat.  Unlike the Japanese kamikaze attacks, these were not intended as suicide attacks; the pilots were told to try to bail out once they had completed a successful ramming attack.  Of the 13 pilots, only 5 survived.


== Kamikaze attacks in Science Fiction ==
== Kamikaze attacks in Science Fiction ==
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== Gallery ==
== Gallery ==
<gallery>
<gallery>
File:220px-USS Laffey (DD-724).jpg|The USS ''Laffey'' a picket destroyer that managed to survive a very heavy Kamikaze attack.
File:220px-USS Laffey (DD-724).jpg|The USS ''Laffey'' a picket destroyer that managed to survive a very heavy ''kamikaze'' attack.
File:Kamikaze damage USS Saratoga.jpg|The USS ''Saratoga'' after surviving a Kamikaze attack.
File:Kamikaze damage USS Saratoga.jpg|The USS ''Saratoga'' after surviving a ''kamikaze'' attack.
File:Cv6-explosion-wide.jpg|Not even the mighty "Big E" was immune from attack.  This hit was so violent that it blasted the entire forward elevator higher then the ship itself was long.
File:Cv6-explosion-wide.jpg|Not even the mighty "Big E" was immune from attack.  This hit was so violent that it blasted the entire forward elevator higher then the ship itself was long.
File:Princeton exploding.jpg|USS 'Princeton' after taking a Kamikaze attack.  The ship was the most damaged Allied vessel to survive one such attack.
File:Princeton exploding.jpg|USS ''Princeton'' after taking a ''kamikaze'' attack.  The ship was the most damaged Allied vessel to survive one such attack.
File:AO-59 Mississinewa-kaiten1.gif|The USS 'Mississinewa', a fleet oiler after taking a successful Kaiten attack.
File:AO-59 Mississinewa-kaiten1.gif|The USS ''Mississinewa'', a fleet oiler after taking a successful ''kaiten'' attack.
File:Kaiten.jpg|A Kaiten on display at a museum.  
File:Kaiten.jpg|A ''kaiten'' on display at a museum.  
File:Kaitennj2.jpg|A Japanese submarine carrying several Kaiten preparing to sail.  
File:Kaitennj2.jpg|A Japanese submarine carrying several ''kaiten'' preparing to sail.  
File:MXY7 Ohka Cherry Blossom Baka Ohka-2bs.jpg|An Ohka piloted rocket-powered bomb.
File:MXY7 Ohka Cherry Blossom Baka Ohka-2bs.jpg|An ''ohka'' piloted rocket-powered bomb.
File:Ohka lauching.jpg|An Ohka being deployed.
File:Ohka lauching.jpg|An ''ohka'' being deployed.
</gallery>
</gallery>
==External Links==
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvO4VRpTXk8| History Channel's ''Dogfights'' series episode on the ''kamikaze''.]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQXSle9G1BM| History Channel's ''Dogfights'' series episode that covers the ''kaiten''.]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBS-CHPEhRw&list=PL767D57E6A27479A5| History Channel's ''Dogfights'' series episode that covers the ''Sonderkommando Elbe''.]


[[Category:Military]]
[[Category:Military]]
[[Category:Strategies and Tactics]]
[[Category:Strategies and Tactics]]

Latest revision as of 15:51, 2 February 2016

Kamikaze (Japanese for "Divine Wind") refers to a kind of attack in which a pilot crashes the vehicle he is operating at high speed into an enemy ship or position. Kamikaze attacks were used by the Empire of Japan during the last phase of the Second World War as a desperation move against the numerically superior United States Navy and Royal Australian Navy forces, and they were essentially the first guided missiles. While these attacks were somewhat successful in destroying ships, it was not enough to stop allied efforts.

The kamikazes included not only standard aircraft but also specially designed, rocket-powered guided missiles (ohka) and -- on the ocean -- specially designed piloted torpedoes (kaiten). Neither of these specialized suicide vehicles was particularly effective due to the vulnerability of the bombers and submarines that the weapons required to deliver them to within range of their targets. However, whenever they were able to make a successful attack, the results were spectacular.

Such attacks were not just limited to the Japanese, as there was at least one German Operation, the Sonderkommando Elbe, where 180 Bf 109 fighters (first attack of the 2000 strong force) took part in a ramming attack on the US Eighth Airforce's bombers on 7 April 1945. This attack had only very limited effectiveness so all future Sonderkommando Elbe missions were cancelled. Only 13 successful attacks were performed that day with those only downing 12 American bombers and damaging 3 others forcing them to retreat. Unlike the Japanese kamikaze attacks, these were not intended as suicide attacks; the pilots were told to try to bail out once they had completed a successful ramming attack. Of the 13 pilots, only 5 survived.

Kamikaze attacks in Science Fiction

Gallery

External Links