Following on the “kamikaze” theme we find the Kaiten, or the turn toward heaven. These were basically a human guided torpedo. There were five different models of Kaiten designed. Only the type 1 saw actual use.

Types 1,2,3,4 were based on the Type93 24” torpedo, or Long Lance. Type 10 was based on the Type 92 21” torpedo. The Kaiten could be launched by either surface ships or submarines. When launching from a submarine the Kaiten could be launched underwater. However due to depth limitations of the Kaiten the submarine was restricted as well.

The Kaiten was a human piloted torpedo. At this time a torpedo was a fire and forget weapon. The ship fired and forgot about it and the torpedo also would forget about hitting the target more times than not. Homing torpedoes came much alter in the war. So to improve their effectiveness the Kaiten was developed in Japan.

Kaiten were not effective during the war. It appears only 2 different US ships were lost to these weapons, the USS Underhill and USS Mississinewa are confirmed to have been lost in a Kaiten attack. Japanese claim many more ships than this. Two most notable rumored victims were the USS Yorktown at Midway and the USS Indianapolis.

The Kaiten never was a successful weapon, nor did it strike fear into American sailors.