Online dictionary of history and traditions in Japan: Kaiten

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French version

Kaiten

人間魚雷回天回天
alternative words: Human torpedo kaiten, Human torpedo
keywords: weapon , world war 2
related topics: Kamikaze
related web sites: http://www2s.biglobe.ne.jp/~k_yasuto/album.htm , http://www.yasukuni.or.jp/museum/hall/kaiten.html , http://www2.ocn.ne.jp/~manabi/tokuyama/kaiten.htm
explanation: Human torpedo used by Japanese imperial navy at the last stage of world war II: the torpedo is guided by a pilot and explodes with him at the target. The total length 15m, diameter 1m, it owns a periscope and 1.6 ton of explosive. Initially proposed in 1943 by lieutenants Nishina and Kuroki, the plan was first rejected due to its consequence, but finally adopted in 1944 because of a hopeless situation. 4 training bases were created in Yamaguchi and Oita prefectures with 400 apparatus.