Ohka
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Ohka_11.jpg
The Yokosuka MXY-7 Ohka (桜花 "cherry blossom") was a purpose-built kamikaze aircraft employed by Japan towards the end of World War II. The US gave the aircraft the Japanese name Baka ("fool").
It was a small flying bomb that was carried underneath a Mitsubishi G4M "Betty", Yokosuka P1Y Ginga "Frances" (guided Type 22) or planned Heavy Nakajima G8N Renzan "Rita" (transport type 43A/B) bomber to within range of its target; on release, the pilot would first glide towards the target and when close enough he would fire the Ohka's engine(s) and dive against the ship to destroy. That final approach was almost unstoppable (especially for Type 11) because the aircraft gained tremendous speed. Later versions were designed to be launched from costal air bases and caves, and even from submarines equiped with aircraft catapults, although none were actually used this way.
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Variants
The first operational Ohkas (Type 11 and Type 21) were powered by solid fuel rocket motors, which provided great speed but only very limited range. This was problematic as it required the carrier aircraft to approach close to the target, making them very vulnerable to fighter defences.
The Ohka Type 22 was designed to overcome this problem by using a thermojet style jet engine, the Tsu-11. This engine was successfully tested, and Ohkas were built to accept this engine, but none appear to have been used operationally.
The final stage in Ohka development was the Type 43, which was intended to be powered by an Ishikawajima Ne-20 turbojet. Two trainer versions were also under development for this version, the K-1 and the K-1 Kai, the former being a glider, and the latter fitted with a single rocket motor.
Operational versions
- Kugisho/Yokosuka MXY-7 "Ohka" Model 11 (Baka) Rocket Suicide Attacker
Non-operational versions
- Kugisho/Yokosuka "Ohka" Model 21 (Baka) Rocket Suicide Attacker
- Kugisho/Yokosuka "Ohka" Model 22 (Baka) Funjet Suicide Attacker
- Kugisho/Yokosuka "Ohka" Model 33 (Baka) Turbojet Suicide Attacker
- Kugisho/Yokosuka "Ohka" Model 43 Ko (Baka) Turbojet Suicide Attacker
- Kugisho/Yokosuka "Ohka" Model 43 Otsu (Baka) Turbojet Suicide Attacker
- Kugisho/Yokosuka "Ohka" Model 53 (Baka) Turbojet Suicide Attacker
Trainer versions
- Kuugisho/Yokosuka "Ohka" K-1 Suicide Attack Trainer
- Kuugisho/Yokosuka"Ohka" K-2 Kai Suicide Attack Trainer (or "Ohka" K-1 Modify "Wakazakura")
Some 850 were built, mostly Type 11. Surviving Ohkas include:
- Type 11 — Royal Air Force Museum, Cosford
- Type 11 — Fleet Air Arm Museum, Yeovilton
- Type 11 — Manchester Air and Space Museum, Manchester
- Type 11 — Defence Explosives Ordinance School, Kent
- Type 11 — Indian Air Museum, New Delhi
- Type 11 — Iruma Air Force Base, Saitama
- Type 11 — USMC Air Ground Museum, Quantico, Virginia
- Type 22 — Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Washington DC (recently restored)
- Type 43 K-1 (rebuilt to represent a Type 11) — National Museum of the United States Air Force, Dayton, Ohio
- Type 43 K-1 — Navy Memorial Museum, Washington DC
- Type 43 K-1 Kai — Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Washington DC
Operational history
- March 21 1945 — fifteen Ohka-carrying Betty bombers escorted by about thirty Zeros fly to attack Task Group 58.1 ( Hornet, Bennington, Wasp, Belleau Wood). Attack force intercepted and destroyed some 70 miles from the target. None of the Bettys return.
- April 1 1945 — Six Bettys attack the US Fleet off Okinawa. At least one makes a successful attack, with its Ohka hitting one of the 16" turrets on the West Virginia, causing extensive damage. Alpine, Achernar, and Tyrrell are also hit by kamikaze aircraft, but it is unclear whether any of these were Ohkas from the other Bettys. None of the Bettys return.
- April 12 1945 — nine Bettys attack the US Fleet off Okinawa. Mannert L. Abele is hit, breaks in two, and sinks. Jeffers destroys an Ohka with AA fire fifty yards from the ship, but the resulting explosion is still powerful enough to cause extensive damage, forcing Jeffers to withdraw. Stanly is targeted by two Ohkas. One strikes just above the waterline, with the charge punching through the other side of the hull before detonating, causing little damage to the ship, and the other Ohka narrowly missed (collecting the Stanly's ensign!) and crashed into the sea. One Betty returns.
- April 14 1945 — seven Bettys attack the US Fleet off Okinawa. None return. None of the Ohkas appear to have been launched.
- April 16 1945 — six Bettys attack the US Fleet off Okinawa. Two return, but no Ohkas hit their targets.
- April 28 1945 — four Bettys attack the US Fleet off Okinawa at night. One returns. No hits.
- May 4 1945 — seven Bettys attack the US Fleet off Okinawa. One Ohka hits the bridge of Shea, causing extensive damage and casualties. Vessel judged beyond repair. Gayety is also damaged by a near-miss by an Ohka. One Betty returns.
- May 11 1945 — Four Bettys attack the US Fleet off Okinawa. Hugh W. Hadley is hit, suffers extensive damage and flooding. Vessel judged beyond repair.
- May 25 1945 — eleven Bettys attack the US Fleet off Okinawa. Bad weather forces most of the aircraft to turn back, and none of the others score hits.
- June 22 1945 — six Bettys attack the US Fleet off Okinawa. Two return, but no hits were scored.
Specifications (Type 11)
General Characteristics
- Crew: one, pilot
- Length: 6.10 m (20 ft 0 in)
- Wingspan: 5.10 m (16 ft 8 in)
- Height: 1.20 m (3 ft 11 in)
- Wing area: 6 m² (65 ft²)
- Empty: kg ( lb)
- Loaded: 2,140 kg (4,708 lb)
- Maximum takeoff: kg ( lb)
- Powerplant: 3x rocket motors, 7.8 kN (1,760 lbf) total thrust
Performance
- Maximum speed: 630 km/h (394 mph)
- Range: 36 km (23 miles)
- Service ceiling: m ( ft)
- Rate of climb: m/min ( ft/min)
- Wing loading: 356 kg/m² (72 lb/ft²)
- Thrust-to-mass ratio: 1 lbf:2.6 lb (3.8 N/kg)
Armament
- 1,200 kg (2,640) tri-nitroaminol warhead
Related content
Related development:
Comparable aircraft: Fieseler Fi 103
Designation sequence: MXY-4 - MXY-5 - MXY-6 - MXY-7 - MXY-8 - MXY-9
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External links
- Thunder Gods (http://wgordon.web.wesleyan.edu/kamikaze/books/general/naito/index.htm) 1989 book about Ohka squadron
- The Cherry Blossom Squadrons (http://wgordon.web.wesleyan.edu/kamikaze/books/general/hagoromo/index.htm) 1973 book about Ohka squadronde:Yokosuka MXY-7