Kamikaze

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 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.

History Channel's Dogfights Series episode on the Kamikaze

History Channel's Dogfights Series episode that covers the Kaiten and the Ohka.

Kamikaze attacks in Science Fiction

• Wraith Darts will Kamikaze into targets if left without a carrier vessel.
• Jem'Hadar attack ships will ram into enemy ships with little provocation.

Gallery

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  The USS Laffey a picket destroyer that managed to survive a very heavy Kamikaze attack.

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  The USS Saratoga after surviving a Kamikaze attack.

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  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.

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  USS 'Princeton' after taking a Kamikaze attack. The ship was the most damaged Allied vessel to survive one such attack.

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  The USS 'Mississinewa', a fleet oiler after taking a successful Kaiten attack.

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  A Kaiten on display at a museum.

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  A Japanese submarine carrying several Kaiten preparing to sail.

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  An Ohka piloted rocket-powered bomb.

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  An Ohka being deployed.