Yokosuka MXY-7 Ohka

The Yokosuka MXY-7 Ohka, (櫻花 (Shinjitai: 桜花) "cherry blossom", Hebon-shiki transcription Ōka, ) was a purpose-built, rocket powered human-guided anti-shipping kamikaze attack plane employed by Japan towards the end of World War II. The United States gave the aircraft the name Baka (Japanese for "idiot").

It was a manned flying bomb that was usually carried underneath a Mitsubishi G4M "Betty", Yokosuka P1Y Ginga "Frances" (guided Type 22) or planned Nakajima G8N Renzan "Rita" (transport type 43A/B) bombers to within range of its target; on release, the pilot would first glide toward the target and when close enough he would fire the Ohka's rocket engine and guide the missile towards the ship that he intended to destroy. The final approach was almost unstoppable (especially for Type 11) because the aircraft gained tremendous speed. Later versions were designed to be launched from coastal air bases and caves, and even from submarines equipped with aircraft catapults, although none were actually used this way. It appears that the operational record of Ohkas used in action includes three ships sunk or damaged beyond repair and three other ships with significant damage. Seven US ships were damaged or sunk by Ohkas throughout the war.

Conceived by Ensign Mitsuo Ohta of the 405th Kokutai, and aided by students of the Aeronautical Research Institute at the University of Tokyo, Ohta submitted his plans to the Yokosuka research facility. The Imperial Japanese Navy decided the idea had merit and Yokosuka engineers of the First Naval Air Technical Bureau (Kugisho) created formal blueprints for what was to be the MXY7. The only variant which saw service was the Type 11, and was powered by three Type 4 Mark 1 Model 20 rockets. 150 were built at Yokosuka, and another 600 were built at the Kasumigaura Naval Air Arsenal.

The Ohka pilots, members of the Jinrai Butai (Thunder Gods Corps), are honored in Japan at Ohka Park in Kashima City, the Ohka Monument in Kanoya City, the Kamakura Ohka Monument at Kenchō-ji Kamakura, and the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo.

The only operational Ohka was the Type 11. Essentially a 1,200 kg (2,646 lb) bomb with wooden wings powered by three Type 4 Model 1 Mark 20 solid-fuel rocket motors, the Type 11 achieved great speed but with limited range. This was problematic, as it required the slow, heavily-laden mother aircraft to approach within 37 km (20 nmi; 23 mi) of the target, making them very vulnerable to defending fighters. There was one experimental variant of the Type 11, the Type 21, which had thin steel wings manufactured by Nakajima.

The Type 22 was designed to overcome the short standoff distance problem by using a Campini-type thermojet engine, the Tsu-11. This engine was successfully tested, and 50 Ohkas were built at Yokosuka to accept this engine. The Type 22 was to be launched by the more agile P1Y3 version of the Navy's Ginga bomber, necessitating a shorter wing span and much smaller 600 kg (1,320 lb) warhead. None appear to have been used operationally, and only three of the experimental Tsu-11s engines were known to be produced.

The Type 33, was a larger version of the Type 22 powered by an Ishikawajima Ne-20 turbojet with a 800 kg (1,760 lb) warhead. The mothership was to be the Renzan. The Type 33 was cancelled due to the likelihood that the Renzan would not be available.

Other unbuilt planned types were the Type 43A to be launched from submarines, and the 43B, a catapult/rocket assisted version, also with folding wings so that it could be hidden in caves. Two trainer versions were also under development for this version, the two-seat K-1 and the K-1 Kai, the former being a glider, and the latter fitted with a single rocket motor. In place of the warhead, a second seat was installed for the student pilot.

Finally, the Type 53 would also use the Ne-20 turbojet, but was to be towed like a glider and released near its target.

Operational versions:
Kugisho/Yokosuka MXY-7 "Ohka" Type 11 Rocket Suicide Attacker. 852 built.

Non-operational versions:
Kugisho/Yokosuka "Ohka" Type 21 Rocket Suicide Attacker. Steel wings; one built.
Kugisho/Yokosuka "Ohka" Type 22 Motorjet Suicide Attacker. 50 built.
Kugisho/Yokosuka "Ohka" Type 33 Turbojet Suicide Attacker. Renzan drop launch.
Kugisho/Yokosuka "Ohka" Type 43A Ko Turbojet Suicide Attacker. Submarine launched.
Kugisho/Yokosuka "Ohka" Type 43B Otsu Turbojet Suicide Attacker. Cave launched.
Kugisho/Yokosuka "Ohka" Type 53 Turbojet Suicide Attacker. Towed launch.

Trainer versions:
K1 Kai rocket assist trainersKugisho/Yokosuka "Ohka" K-1 Suicide Attack Trainer
Kugisho/Yokosuka "Ohka" K-1 Kai Suicide Attack Trainer

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Okha
• Yokosuka
• MXY-7
• Ohka
• idiot
• Baka
• Kamikaze

[khomartin]

Oh, great video! Thank you sharing.

[OpoderosoMadara]

Baixaki ...

[TheMudron]

jesus christ they were fucking crazy, a bomb is its nose

[MrHelmyabdullah]

@starwarsman96 I agree with you but only with regard to the Japanese kamikazes , we should make an exeption . Do you agree ?

[starwarsman96]

@starwarsman96 guts*



[starwarsman96]

@MrHelmyabdullah it takes more guts to aim a rifle and shoot and actually fight than to blow yourself up, suicide bombers/kamakazis are pansies who dont want to fight they just want to take the easy way out, it doesnt take guys to get in a plane full of explosives and ram your enemy but to take a plane and fight head to head

[MrHelmyabdullah]

@starwarsman96 A fool who protects and defend the honor of his parents , his wife , his kids , his sweetheart , his village , his emperor and his country in the face of ferocious American fire bombing from the air . A brave and honorable fool indeed........

[starwarsman96]

@maguna75 ok explain how its not foolish to pilot a rocket into a ship and when it was not very dependable? and killing yourself dude that makes you have less troops than you could have had

[starwarsman96]

@maguna75 yeah it is because they were gona lose no matter what

[maguna75]

@starwarsman96

It is not foolish.

He is the samurai who decided would protect a country in exchange for his life.

However, it is very sad.