Kamikaze: Ever had a chance of success?

[FLYBOYJ]

What resources? The Ohka required very few materials, less fuel and hardly any fully trained pilots. This is impossible with the standard Kates, Nates and Betties.

The rocket powered one were. It cost a lot of $$$ to build turbine engines with basically a drain of strategic materials.

Kamikazes were the best option for the Japanese: plenty of fanatics willing to give their lives, thereby mitigating Japan's technological inferiority. Conversely, American sailers were petrified of the Japanese kamikazes. An American invasion in November 1945 would have seen a carnage, never before seen in American history. They were preparing hundreds and hundreds of suicide bombers, subs and torpedo boats. Although of course, the outcome would be the same.

Kris

agree

 

[razor1uk]

T eh phsycological effect of the kamikaze is in aways akin to the modern weaponed version to the impaling spears used by Vlad Tapesh of Wallacia against the Ottomans 550+ years ago...

 

[swampyankee]

T eh phsycological effect of the kamikaze is in aways akin to the modern weaponed version to the impaling spears used by Vlad Tapesh of Wallacia against the Ottomans 550+ years ago...

I disagree: it wasn't that unusual, at the time, to kill prisoners (another normal practice was to sell them into slavery), although Vlad seemed to enjoy it far too much (to the point it disturbed his allies).

 

[Civettone]

Oh no no, its rocket engines, or at least those by Walter, were much cheaper than turbojets.


Kris

 

[VBF-13]

Kamikaze: Ever had a chance of success?

Let's get back to the question. The answer is a resounding "no." We'd have kept fighting these fanatics until we wiped out that entire suicidal race. In fact, we were right on the brink of that, when cooler minds prevailed.

 

[parsifal]

Kamikaze: Ever had a chance of success?

Let's get back to the question. The answer is a resounding "no." We'd have kept fighting these fanatics until we wiped out that entire suicidal race. In fact, we were right on the brink of that, when cooler minds prevailed.

Based on an incorrect premise. "kamikazes" were never intended to win outright. From before Phil sea the Japanese were looking for a way out of the war. The issue was the terms. By the start of the start of Okinawa, Japan was really only after two concessions in the surrender....that the Home islands not be occupied, and that the person, position and family of the emperor be respected. Though the US never accepted formally any terms, in reality, the Japanese did secure a verbal undertaking by the allies that thempereror would be respected. the sacrifices of the "Kamikazes" played its part in securing that undertaking.

The final campaigns, from that perspective, were a success for the Japanese, hard as it mis to accept. They got a better deal than their german counterparts because of it

 

[razor1uk]

I'd say the "...suicidal race" is verging on being offencive to some of the forum, perhaps 'ideology' should be used - also most of the people who volunteered, were those who perhaps stereotypically had been in or from higher education - they generally didn't wish to die easy, but to make it expensive for the enemy, and if their knowledge and teachings would do so, if even for one more day without enemy encroachment....

 

[VBF-13]

I'd say the "...suicidal race" is verging on being offencive to some of the forum, perhaps 'ideology' should be used - also most of the people who volunteered, were those who perhaps stereotypically had been in or from higher education - they generally didn't wish to die easy, but to make it expensive for the enemy, and if their knowledge and teachings would do so, if even for one more day without enemy encroachment....

Had they not at some point abated, they're indeed a suicidal bunch. Better?