Fukuryu

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Japanese Fukuryu suicide diver.

Suicide divers (Japanese:伏龍, Fukuryu "Crouching dragons") were a part of the Special Attack Units prepared to resist the invasion of the Home islands by Allied forces. They were armed with a mine containing 15 kilograms of explosive, fitted to a 5 meter bamboo pole. They would dive and stick the pole into the hull of an enemy ship, destroying themselves in the process. They were equipped with a diving jacket and trousers, diving shoes, and a diving helmet fixed by four bolts. They were typically weighed down with 9 kg of lead, and had two bottles of compressed air at 150 bars. They were expected to be able to walk at a depth of 5 to 7 meters, for about 6 hours. This new weapon is only known to have been used a few times operationally:

January 8th, 1945 Damage by suicide divers to Infantry landing craft (gunboat) LCI(G)-404 in Yoo Passage, Palaus.
February 10th, 1945 Attempted attack by suicide divers on surveying ship Hydrographer (AGS-2) in Schonian Harbor, Palaus.

Several deaths occurred during training due to malfunctions.

Imperial Japanese Navy