Ships · Japan · 1944-1945
Shinyo
suicide motorboat
A small plywood motorboat packed with a 270kg explosive charge in its bow, the Shinyo was meant to be driven at speed into an Allied ship's hull by a single pilot in a final attack. Over 6,000 were built and stockpiled to repel the invasion of Japan's home islands, though most were destroyed by air raids before they ever launched; one damaged the transport USS War Hawk off Luzon in January 1945.
| crew | 1 |
|---|---|
| displacement | 1.35-2.2 tons (displacement) |
| armament | explosive charge in bow |
| speed | 26 knots |
