Kamikaze - Part 1/6

(Description: A History Channel Documentary. Kamikaze (Japanese: ??; literally: "God-wind," "spirit-wind," or "divinity-wind"; common translation: "divine wind") is a word of Japanese origin, which in English usually refers to the suicide attacks by military aviators from the Empire of Japan, against Allied shipping, in the closing stages of the Pacific campaign of World War II to destroy as many warships as possible.")

Kamikaze pilots would attempt to intentionally crash their aircraft — often laden with explosives, bombs, torpedoes and full fuel tanks — into Allied ships. The aircraft's normal role was, essentially, converted to that of a manned missile in a desperate attempt to reap the benefits of greatly increased accuracy and payload over that of a normal bomb. The goal of crippling as many Allied warships as possible was considered critical enough to warrant the cost of a trained aviator and his aircraft. These attacks, beginning in 1944, followed several significant and critical military and strategic defeats for Japan. A combination of a decreasing capacity to wage war - along with the loss of experienced pilots - and the increasing industrial capacity of the United States as well as the Japanese government's reluctance to surrender at the very end of Pacific War, led to the use of the kamikaze tactic which was implemented to stop or slow the Allied advance towards the Japanese home islands.

Kamikazes were the most common and best-known form of Japanese suicide attack during World War II. They were similar to the "banzai charge" used by Japanese soldiers. In addition, the Japanese military used or made plans for various suicide attacks, including Sea Dragon submarines, human torpedoes, speedboats and divers. The tradition of suicide instead of defeat and perceived shame is highly entrenched in the Japanese military culture. For instance it is one of the main traditions in the Samurai life and the Bushido code, particularly loyalty and honor unto death.