![]() While Ohta had started work on the design in 1943 the authorities would not take an interest until the following year. Ohta submitted his plans to the Yokosuka research facility. The design was conceived by Ensign Mitsuo Ohta of the 405th Kōkūtai, aided by students of the Aeronautical Research Institute at the University of Tokyo. On release, the pilot would first glide towards the target and when close enough he would fire the Ohka 's three solid-fuel rockets, one at a time or in unison, and fly the missile towards the ship that he intended to destroy. The MXY-7 Navy Suicide Attacker Ohka was a manned flying bomb that was usually carried underneath a Mitsubishi G4M2e Model 24J "Betty" bomber to within range of its target. Allied troops referred to the aircraft as "Baka Bombs". Improved versions which attempted to overcome the aircraft's shortcomings were developed too late to be deployed. In action during the Battle of Okinawa in 1945, Ohkas were able to sink or damage some escort vessels and transport ships but no major warships were ever sunk. Although extremely fast, the very short range of the Ohka meant that it had to be carried into action as a parasite aircraft by a much larger bomber, which was itself vulnerable to carrier-borne fighters. The Yokosuka MXY-7 Ohka ( 櫻花, Ōka, " cherry blossom" 桜花 in modern orthography) is a purpose-built, rocket-powered human-guided kamikaze attack aircraft employed by Japan against Allied ships towards the end of the Pacific War during World War II. 21 March 1944 (unpowered), November 1944 (powered). ![]()
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