Towards the end of 1943, in response to unfavorable progress in the war, the Japanese high command heard suggestions for various suicide craft. These suggestions were initially rejected as "defeatist" but later deemed necessary.[1] For the naval department this meant kamikaze planes, kaiten submarines, fukuryu suicide divers or human naval mines, and shinyo suicide boats.
Characteristicsedit
These fast motorboats were driven by one man, to speeds of around 55 km/h (30 kn). They were typically equipped with a bow-mounted charge of up to 300 kg (660 lb) of explosives that could be detonated by either impact or from a manual switch in the driver's area. These attack boats also carried two anti-ship rockets mounted on launchers located on either side of the boat behind the driver.
The similar Maru-Ni, which were used by the Imperial Japanese Army, were equipped with two depth charges, and were not actually suicide boats, as the idea was to drop the depth charges and then turn around before the explosion took place. Although the chances of the boat and crew surviving the wave from the explosion might seem slim, a small number of crewmen successfully escaped.[2] The depth charges used were known as the Experimental Manufacture Use 120 kg Depth Charge, and were armed by a delayed-action pull igniter.
The program began in March 1944. The first vessels were tested on 27 May, after which it was decided that the original steel hull design would be replaced by a wooden hull due to the Japanese steel shortage. On 1 August, 150 students, on average 17 years old, elected to begin training for the Shinyo.[3]
January 10, 1945: Sinking of American ships USS LCI(G)-365 (Landing Craft Infantry – Gunboat), USS LCI(M)-974 (Landing Craft Infantry – Mortar) and crippling of USS War Hawk (an auxiliary transport) in Lingayen Gulf, Luzon, Philippines.
^Morison, Samuel Eliot (1959). History of United States Naval Operations in World War II: The Liberation of the Philippines. University of Illinois Press. pp. 138–140. ISBN0-252-07064-X.
^Hackett, Robert; Kingsepp, Sander (26 November 2011). "Battle Histories of Japan's Explosive Motorboats". www.combinedfleet.com. Retrieved 2019-03-13.
Wilterding, John H. Jr. (2006). "Re: Mystery Photo 158". Warship International. XLIII (1): 41–43. ISSN 0043-0374.
External linksedit
Japanese Suicide Weapons
Explosive Motorboats based at Okinawa 1944–1945
April 26, 2024
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This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Shinyo suicide motorboat news newspapers books scholar JSTOR October 2009 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Shinyo 震洋 Shin yō Sea Quake were Japanese suicide motorboats developed during World War II They were part of the wider Japanese Special Attack Units program A Shinyo suicide motorboat being tested by Lt Col James F Doyle USA commanding officer 2nd Battalion 305th Infantry 69th DivisionClass overview NameShin yō class suicide motorboat BuildersYokosuka Naval Arsenal OperatorsImperial Japanese Navy SubclassesShinyo Type 1 Shinyo Type 5 BuiltApril 1944 June 1945 In commissionAugust 1944 August 1945 Planned11 300 Completed6 197 LostAt least 36 General characteristics Class and typeMotorboat DisplacementType 1 1 35 t 1 33 long tons Type 5 2 2 t 2 2 long tons SpeedType 1 26 knots 48 km h 30 mph Type 5 30 knots 56 km h 35 mph CrewType 1 1 Type 5 2 ArmamentBow mounted Type 98 high explosive charge of 270 kg 600 lb Two 120 mm 4 7 in anti ship rockets mounted on launchers A Japanese Shinyo suicide motorboat 1945 Contents 1 History 2 Characteristics 3 Operational results 4 See also 5 References 6 Bibliography 7 External linksHistory editTowards the end of 1943 in response to unfavorable progress in the war the Japanese high command heard suggestions for various suicide craft These suggestions were initially rejected as defeatist but later deemed necessary 1 For the naval department this meant kamikaze planes kaiten submarines fukuryu suicide divers or human naval mines and shinyo suicide boats Characteristics editThese fast motorboats were driven by one man to speeds of around 55 km h 30 kn They were typically equipped with a bow mounted charge of up to 300 kg 660 lb of explosives that could be detonated by either impact or from a manual switch in the driver s area These attack boats also carried two anti ship rockets mounted on launchers located on either side of the boat behind the driver The similar Maru Ni which were used by the Imperial Japanese Army were equipped with two depth charges and were not actually suicide boats as the idea was to drop the depth charges and then turn around before the explosion took place Although the chances of the boat and crew surviving the wave from the explosion might seem slim a small number of crewmen successfully escaped 2 The depth charges used were known as the Experimental Manufacture Use 120 kg Depth Charge and were armed by a delayed action pull igniter The program began in March 1944 The first vessels were tested on 27 May after which it was decided that the original steel hull design would be replaced by a wooden hull due to the Japanese steel shortage On 1 August 150 students on average 17 years old elected to begin training for the Shinyo 3 6 197 Shinyo boats were produced for the Imperial Japanese Navy and 3 000 Maru ni for the Imperial Japanese Army 4 Around 400 boats were transported to Okinawa and Formosa and the rest were stored on the coast of Japan for the ultimate defense against the expected invasion of the Home islands The main operative use took place during the Philippines Campaign of 1944 45 Operational results editJanuary 10 1945 Sinking of American ships USS LCI G 365 Landing Craft Infantry Gunboat USS LCI M 974 Landing Craft Infantry Mortar and crippling of USS War Hawk an auxiliary transport in Lingayen Gulf Luzon Philippines January 31 1945 Sinking of USS PC 1129 Submarine chaser off Nasugbu in Luzon Philippines February 16 1945 Sinking of USS LCS L 7 Landing Craft Support Large LCS L 26 and LCS L 49 off Mariveles Corregidor Channel Luzon April 4 1945 Sinking of USS LCI G 82 Landing Craft Infantry Gunboat and USS LSM 12 Landing Ship Medium off Okinawa April 9 1945 Damaging of USS Charles J Badger DD 657 April 27 1945 Crippling of USS Hutchins DD 476 in Buckner Bay Okinawa May 4 1945 Damaging of USS Carina AK 74 in the north end of Buckner Bay Okinawa See also editList of Allied vessels struck by Japanese special attack weapons MT explosive motorboatReferences edit Japanese suicide craft US Navy 1946 Morison Samuel Eliot 1959 History of United States Naval Operations in World War II The Liberation of the Philippines University of Illinois Press pp 138 140 ISBN 0 252 07064 X Hackett Robert Kingsepp Sander 26 November 2011 Battle Histories of Japan s Explosive Motorboats www combinedfleet com Retrieved 2019 03 13 Japanese Suicide WeaponsBibliography editWilterding John H Jr 2006 Re Mystery Photo 158 Warship International XLIII 1 41 43 ISSN 0043 0374 External links editJapanese Suicide Weapons Explosive Motorboats based at Okinawa 1944 1945 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Shinyo suicide motorboat amp oldid 1214890770, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
