The Kamikaze: Japan’s Desperate Suicide Attacks in World War II
Towards  the end of 1943 in response to unfavorable progress in the war the  Japanese command heard suggestions for various suicide craft. These  suggestions were initially rejected but later deemed necessary. Japanese  Special Attack Units (特別攻撃隊, tokubetsu kōgeki tai, often abbreviated to  特攻隊 tokkōtai), also called shimbu-tai, were specialized units of the  Imperial Japanese Navy and Imperial Japanese Army used for suicide  missions during World War II. For the naval department this meant  Kamikaze planes, Kaiten submarines, Fukuryu suicide divers (or human  mines) and Shin'yō suicide boats. Kamikaze aircraft were to strike enemy  naval combatants far out at sea. Suicidal surface craft were to strike  at transports at anchor or close in during enemy landings. Some of the  most famous and devastating Kamikaze attacks are included in this book.  Minor attacks and most near misses are not. Kaiten, Fukuryu and Shin'yō  are subjects for a future book.