Visit to RAF Museum Cosford The Second World War
Japanese rocket powered suicide weapon. Allied code name BAKA which translates as 'fool', although it can be used to describe the absurd.
(From Jack McKillop) The Baka was the Yokosuka MXY7, Navy
Suicide Attacker Ohka (Cherry Blossom). The first version was the Model 11
carrying a 1,200 kg (2,646 pound) warhead in the nose and designed to fit in the
bomb bay of a specially modified Mitsubish G4M2e, Navy Type 1 Attack Bomber
Model 24J, Allied Code Name "Betty." The Ohka had three Type 4 Mk. I
Model 20 rocket motors with a combined thrust of 800 kg (1,764 pounds) that
would fire for eight to ten seconds. While flying level at 3,500 meters (11,485
feet), the Ohka could reach a top speed of 250 knots (288 mph or 463 km/h)
without power and 350 knots (403 mph or 649 km/h) with full thrust. The terminal
dive velocity of the Model 11 was 500 knots (576 mph or 927 km/h).
A total of 755 Ohka Model 11s were built between September 1944 and March 1945.
Their first operational mission was on 21 March 1945 when 16 G4M2e bombers were
intercepted and dropped their loads short of the target. The first successful
mission was on 1 April 1945 when Ohkas damaged the battleship USS West Virginia
(BB-48), attack transports USS Hinsdale (APA-120) and USS Alpine (APA-92), and
tank landing ship USS LST-884. The first ship sunk by an Ohka was the destroyer
USS Mannert L. Abele (DD-733) on 12 April 1945.
The second version, the Ohka Model 22, was planned to be an improved version of
the weapon to be carried by the faster Yokosuka P1Y1, Navy Bomber Ginga, Allied
Code Name "Frances." In order to accommodate the Ohka in the bomber,
the wing span was reduced and a smaller warhead was carried. The Ohka 22 was
also fitted with a small turbojet engine instead of rocket motors so that it
could be launched further away. Unlike the Model 11 which had a 20-mile (32 km)
range, the Model 22 had a 70-mile (113 km) range. Fifty Model 22s were built;
one test flight was made in July 1945 but auxiliary rocket motors installed
under the wings fired accidentally just after release and the Ohka crashed. I do
not believe that any operational missions were flown with this aircraft.
The third version, the Ohka Model 33, also had a turbojet but carried a larger
payload. This aircraft was intended to be carried by a four-engine Nakajima G8N1
Navy Experimental 18-Shi Attack Bomber Renzan (Mountain Range), Allied Code Name
"Rita." The program was cancelled before any were completed.
There were several other Ohka models that did not go into production.
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