Dogfights: Secret Weapons

On November 20, 1944, in the early morning hours off the coast of the island of Ulithi the USS Mississinewa sits at anchor. The massive tanker is filled with oil?a vital supply ship for the American fleet as it continues its attacks on the Japanese empire. At 5:45am, a massive explosion rips apart the Mississinewa. But this is no accident. This is the work of the Kaiten?a terrifying new Kamikaze weapon. The Kaiten is a manned, suicide submarine. With rudimentary cockpit controls mounted over an extra large long-lance torpedo. The Kaiten is designed to be driven directly into an American ship before detonating. The Kaiten that hit the Mississenewa was manned by Sub-Lieautenant Seiko Nashina. Fire and oil spill out over the ocean, huge plumes of smoke billowing over the stricken ship. American sailor Herb Daitch barely manages to escape the ship, swimming to safety underneath the burning water. The Kaiten has succeeded here...but the program as a whole is a dismal failure.