Scary Weapon from Japan

In 1274, Kublai Khan, the legendary Mongol leader and grandson of Genghis Khan, assembled a massive fleet of 30,000 men and set sail for Japan. While Japan is renowned for its beauty, this was no leisurely expedition—it was an invasion. The Mongols, launching from Korea, swiftly captured the islands of Tsushima and Iki. However, when they landed at Hakata Bay on Kyushu, they encountered fierce resistance from the local samurai warriors. Forced to retreat, Kublai Khan's forces boarded their ships to regroup, only for disaster to strike: a powerful typhoon swept through, sinking 200 ships and halting the invasion.

Despite this catastrophic setback, Kublai Khan was not one to give up easily. Over the next seven years, he rebuilt his forces, determined to conquer Japan. In 1281, he launched a second, even larger invasion. This time, the Mongol fleet was unparalleled in size, comprising 4,500 ships and 140,000 men, making it the largest invasion force in history until the D-Day landings in 1944. However, history repeated itself. As the Mongols appeared poised for victory, another massive typhoon struck. This storm was even more devastating than the first, sinking nearly the entire fleet. Tens of thousands of soldiers drowned, and survivors who washed ashore were swiftly executed by the Japanese.

These twin typhoons were seen by the Japanese as divine intervention, earning the name kamikaze, or "divine wind." The term would take on a new and ominous significance centuries later during World War II when Japan faced a different foe: the United States.

By the early 1940s, Japan’s air force was among the most advanced in the world. However, the tides of war turned dramatically after the Battle of Midway in 1942. The U.S., having decrypted Japanese communications, ambushed the Japanese fleet, sinking four aircraft carriers and destroying nearly 250 planes. The loss of experienced pilots and advanced aircraft dealt Japan a crippling blow. With fewer resources and limited options, Japanese high command turned to an extreme strategy: suicide attacks.

Thus began the infamous kamikaze missions. Pilots, often rookies with little training, were tasked with crashing their planes into enemy ships. These attacks, while horrifying, had a grim logic. The planes, many outdated or damaged, were seen as expendable, and their impact was significant. Over 4,000 kamikaze pilots were deployed, sinking at least 34 ships and killing over 7,000 Allied personnel.

Kamikaze tactics extended beyond planes. Japanese engineers devised a range of suicide weapons, including the kaiten, manned torpedoes designed to ram into enemy ships. These modified torpedoes had pilots crammed into small compartments with basic controls. Once launched, the pilot's mission was to steer the torpedo into its target, detonating its half-ton warhead. Despite their ingenuity, kaitens had significant flaws. They required submarines to remain near the surface, making them vulnerable to enemy attacks. While kaitens managed to sink a few ships, the strategy cost the Japanese far more in lives and submarines than it gained in victories.

As the war dragged on, Japan continued to develop increasingly desperate weapons. One such invention was the fukuryu, or "crouching dragon," a suicide scuba diver equipped with mines to attack landing craft. Divers would hide on the ocean floor, waiting to detonate their explosives beneath enemy ships. Although the concept was extreme, only a few divers were trained by the time of Japan’s surrender.

Even on land, the Japanese resorted to kamikaze tactics. Facing heavily armored American tanks, Japanese soldiers wielded lunge mines, explosive devices attached to poles. These soldiers were expected to charge at tanks, detonating the mines on impact. Unsurprisingly, these attacks were largely ineffective.

While kamikaze units inflicted some physical damage, their psychological impact was profound. Allied soldiers were unnerved by an enemy so willing to sacrifice themselves. This fear sometimes led to tragic mistakes, such as friendly fire incidents. Yet, contrary to popular belief, not all Japanese soldiers embraced the kamikaze ideology. Many were coerced into these missions, pressured by cultural expectations and military authorities.

The legacy of these suicide tactics remains controversial. Admiral Takijiro Onishi, known as the "father of the kamikaze," expressed deep regret for his role. Following Japan's surrender, he committed seppuku (ritual suicide), leaving a note apologizing to the thousands of young pilots he had sent to their deaths.

The story of Japan's kamikaze tactics is one of desperation, innovation, and tragedy. Born out of necessity during the waning days of World War II, these tactics pushed the boundaries of warfare and left an indelible mark on history. They are a sobering reminder of the lengths nations will go to in the pursuit of victory—and the devastating cost of war.