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Eighty years ago today, on 20th November 1944, the Pacific theatre of World War II witnessed a harrowing and unprecedented event: the first successful Japanese Kaiten suicide submarine attack. This tragic chapter unfolded at Ulithi Atoll in the Caroline Islands, marking a desperate and deadly tactic employed by the Imperial Japanese Navy.

The Kaiten, translating to “Return to Heaven,” was a manned torpedo designed for one-way missions. These suicide submarines were a stark reflection of Japan’s increasingly desperate measures as the war turned against them. The Kaiten programme aimed to inflict significant damage on Allied naval forces, leveraging the ultimate sacrifice of its crew.

The Kaiten, launched from a mother submarine, managed to evade detection and struck the USS Mississinewa with devastating precision. The impact triggered a massive explosion in the 11,000-ton oiler, followed by a second detonation as aviation fuel fumes ignited.

The inferno that ensued was catastrophic. Flames rapidly engulfed the vessel, leading to another explosion in the after-magazine. Despite the valiant efforts of the crew to combat the blaze, the Mississinewa succumbed to the flames, rolling over and sinking within a few hours. The attack claimed the lives of 63 of the 298 crew members, leaving a profound impact on those who survived.

The Kaiten, while innovative in design, were truly grim for those called upon to operate them. These manned torpedoes were prone to leaks, mechanical failures, and spontaneous explosions. The missions were one-way trips, with Kaiten “pilots” fully aware that they would not return. Over the course of the war, more than 100 Kaiten and eight mother submarines were lost, along with their crews.

The psychological toll on both the Kaiten pilots and their families was immense. These young men, often in their late teens or early twenties, were celebrated as heroes in Japan, but their missions were a terrible reminder of the human cost of war. The Kaiten pilots’ willingness to sacrifice themselves highlighted the extreme measures Japan was willing to take in its bid to turn the tide of the war.

The attack on the USS Mississinewa stands as a poignant reminder of the desperation and tragedy that characterised the final years of World War II. The Kaiten programme, despite its initial success, ultimately failed to achieve its strategic objectives. The loss of life and the psychological impact on both sides underscored the futility and horror of such extreme tactics.

Eighty years on, the story of the Kaiten attack serves as a sobering reflection on the lengths to which nations will go in times of war. As we remember the events of 20th November 1944, it’s a stark reminder of the human cost of war.

• Interested in the lesser-known aspects of the Second World War? Read my blog about life in wartime Naples here.