Japanese Special Attack Aircraft – MMP #9101

Polska recenzja książki Japanese Special Attack Aircraft & Flying Bombs dostępna w serwisie Plastikowe.pl

Overview

• Full title: Japanese Special Attack Aircraft & Flying Bombs
• Authors: Ryusuke Ishiguro, Tadeusz Januszewski
• Illustrators: Zygmunt Szeremeta, Krzysztof Wołowski
• Media: A4 format, softcover, 264 pages, 24 in colour
• Language: English
• ISBN-13: 978-83-89450-128

Publisher’s note:

Japanese Special Attack (Kamikaze) aircraft are well know, but not very good described in the literature. This book is the first in English on this subject. Details are provided of a wide selection of historic machines and fascinating colour schemes, as well as full technical details.

Details

Subject

Polish readers could read older issue of this book, released for the first time in Poland in 1994 by Wydawnictwo Lampart under Lotnicy śmierci i ich samoloty title. Fortunately Mushroom Model Publications squad decided to release updated English version of this book fifteen years later.

MMP’s edition is updated with new info based on Japanese sources published in few recent years. There are few myths debunked too, nice bonus in such poorly documented subject. Book provides overview of special attack units, beginning with culture background and specific behaviour. Training and combat operations chapters are illustrated by several photos giving feel of this unique formation and lifestyle.

Main part of this book are types and variants of equipment used by special attack units. Divided by subject and final operator (IJA / IJN) aircraft and flying bombs are described with all details behind their construction and combat use. Prototypes and projects were covered too.

Quality

High quality of print is common for all MMP’s publications and this one is no different. The only weak point can be soft cover. Books of that size and weight are more practical with hardcover. On the other hand hardcover books costs few quids, euros, dollars more.

Scale plans, drawings, photos and profiles

Most scale plans are drawn in 1/72 scale. Few plans are not in that scale but it’s really hard to fit 1/72 side view of G8N1 Renzan on A4 paper sheet. Modellers should be happy with various plans and additional drawings like instrument panel of M6A Seiran or transport trolleys for Ohka Model 11 or Model 22.
Book contains 198 photos and many of them are really unique. Together with scale plans should be great help for modellers and researchers. Colour profiles by Zbigniew Szeremeta can be good source of inspiration, especially for items planned and not build before the VJ-Day.

Summary

Highly recommended for all modellers and enthusiast of WWII Japanese aviation. A must have for all those interested in Kamikaze equipment and actions or interested in air and naval battles in the Pacific.

Review sample kindly supplied by Mushroom Model Publications.

Table of contents

Japanese Special Attack

• The culture of Kamikaze
• Kamikaze — the last chance for the Japanese Empire
• The creators of Japanese Special Attack
• Establishment of the Kamikaze suicide units
• Kamikaze pilot training
• Last moments before a suicide mission
• Kamikaze over the Philippines
• The last air combats over the Philippines
• Kamikaze in defence of Iwo Jima
• Fighting at Okinawa
• The last Kamikaze attacks in defence of the Japanese Islands
• The effects of Kamikaze
• The fate of the Kamikaze godfathers
• Kamikaze effectiveness
• List of the most important suicide units and formations
  • Suicide unit of the Army and Navy participating in actions over the Philippines
  • Suicide unit of the Army and Navy participating in actions over Okinawa
  • Organisation of some aircraft suicide units
  • Ships damages and sunk during attacks by Kamikaze or Shimpū suicide units

Kamikaze (or Shimpū) aircraft

Special attack aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Army

• Kawasaki Ki-48 (”Lily”)
• Kawasaki Ki-119
• Kokusai Ta-Go
• Nakajima Ki-49 Donryu (”Helen”)
• Mitsubishi To-Go and Ki-167
• Nakajima Ki-115 Tsurugi
• Rikugun single jet-engine fighter
• Tachikawa Ki-74 (”Patsy”)
• Tachikawa Ta-Go
• The Experimental Single-seat Attack Aeroplane

Special attack aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Navy

• Aichi M6A Seiran / Nanzan
• Kawanishi Baika
• Kugisho D3Y Myojo
• Kugisho D4Y Suisei (”Judy”)
• Kugisho MXY7 Ohka (”Baka”)
• Kokukyoku Jinryu
• Nakajima Kikka
• Nakajima Toka

Remote controlled flying bombs of the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy

• Army
  • Fu-Go bomber balloon
  • Rikugun Maru-Ke (Ke-Go) homing bomb
  • Kawasaki I-Go-1 Otsu (Ki-148)
  • Mitsubishi I-Go-1 Ko (Ki-147)
  • Rikugun I-Go-1 Hei
  • Tokyo University I-Go infra-red guided missile
  • Rikugun AZ and Maru-Ko flying torpedoes
  • Tokushu Kogata Bakugekki and Sa-Go
• Navy
  • Kugisho Funryu remote controlled missile
  • Kugisho Kudan flying bomb
  • Kugisho Kurai flying anti-submarine torpedo
  • Kokukyoku Shusui-shiki Kayaku Rocket

Addons

• Bibliography
• Colour profiles