Kamikaze damage on warships

[Byron Angel]

I know the japs had a copy of the Me 262 jet ,but never used in operations.im interested in just how much the germans and japanese traded or shared technology. so any help finding out would be welcome.

The engine that powered the Ki-61 was a license built copy of the Daimler-Benz DB-601 IIRC.

The Japanese received examples of the Bf-109, He-100, and He-112B for flight testing.

The Type 98 7.92mm aircraft MG was derived from the MG-15.

The Japanese imported 400 x MG 151/20 20mm aircraft cannon which were fitted to modified Ki-61 fighters.

The above is extracted from R J Francillon's "Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War".


Byron

[lwd]

...Kamikaze's were specifally trained men (normally young) that were to crash their aircraft, the had very little other formal flight training. This is one reason why the faired so poorly against USN fighters late in the war. A pilot who himself was injured or his plane damaged that crashed the aircraft on a target was not a kamikaze. Kamikaze squadrons were normally escorted by regular pilots that would lead them to targets.

Not quite right. The term has been applied to those specifically trained for the task and impromptu suicide attackers as well. At one point even experianced pilots were sent on kamikaze missions as well. Sakai for instance was sent on one. He survived because they didn't find any US ships. Note some also try to restrict the term to just one of the services (navy I think). In general usage the term has evolved beyond that. Perhaps better to talk of "special attack" units or pilots if you want to restrict the coverage.