Suicide Kaitens achieved minimal success with only the USS Mississinewa and USS Underhill recorded as being sunk to Kaiten action. By JR Potts, AUS 173d AB
The Kaiten (meaning "Reverse Destiny" or "Change the World") was based on the Japanese Navy Type 93 torpedo and was a top secret suicide weapon, a one-person manned torpedo with a 3000lb (1,360 kg) warhead. Almost 400 of these were built, with more than 100 of these sent on suicide missions.
As well as the obvious advantage of providing guidance for the torpedo, Kaitens could be launched from a submerged submarine, unlike the unmanned Type 93 torpedo which was deck launched from the surface. Mother submarines carried up to six Kaitens. The manned torpedo was launched around 8300 yards from its target. About 550 yards the torpedo submerged to about 13 feet on its final run. However they were not nearly as effective round-for-round as the highly successful Type 93 torpedo on which they were based. The American sources state that the only sinkings achieved by Kaiten attacks were the tankers USS Mississinewa and the USS Underhill.
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Navy Ship Profile:
Photo Courtesy of JR Potts, AUS 173d AB
1944
Designation: Kaiten Classification Type:Manned Suicide Torpedo Ship Class:Not Applicable Country of Origin: Imperial Japan Number in Class: 400
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