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Japan's Yokosuka MXY-7 Ohka ("Cherry Blossom")¹
Allied Name: "Baka"¹

Yokosuka MXY-7 Ohka:

Mitsubishi Betty carrying an Yokosuka MXY-7 Ohka:

Design

The Ohka was developed by an Imperial Japanese Navy officer.¹

The Ohka was to be attached to a large aircraft would then carry it to near it's target and then release it.¹

Wood was the primary construction material of the Ohka.¹

Prototype

The first unpowered flight was in October 1944.¹ In November 1944 powered flights were conducted.¹

Production

• Model 11: 755¹
  • Production: September 1944 - March 1945¹
• Model 22: 50¹
• Model K-1: 45¹
• Model 43 K-1 KAI: 2¹
• Total: 852¹

Variants

• Model 11:
• Model 22: Turbojet powered.¹
• Model K-1: Trainer.¹ Had water ballast in the nose.¹
• Model 43 K-1 KAI: Two seat trainers.¹

Usage

On March 21, 1945, the first Ohka mission was flown.¹ Mitsubishi G4M bombers carried 16 Ohkas and were intercepted by United States Navy Hellcats.¹ All the G4Ms were shot down and all the Ohkas crashed into the sea.¹

On April 1, 1945, the USS West Virginia and three transports were damaged by Ohkas.¹ The USS Mannert L Abele was sunk on April 12, 1945, off of Okinawa.¹

	Yokosuka MXY-7 Ohka1	Yokosuka MXY-7 Ohka Model 111	Yokosuka MXY-7 Ohka Model 121	Yokosuka MXY-7 Ohka Model 221
Type	Suicide attack1
Crew	11
Engine (Type)		3: Type 4 Mark 1 Model 21 solid fuel1		1: Tsu-11 turbojet1
Thrust		1,764 lb1		550 lb1
Dimensions
Span		16' 9.5"1 5.12 m1		13' 6.25"1 4.12 m1
Length		19' 10.75"1 6.06 m1		22' 7"1 6.88 m1
Height		3' 9"1 1.14 m1		3' 9.25"1 1.15 m1
Wing area
Weight
Empty		970 lb1 440 kg1		1,202 lb1 545 kg1
Loaded		4,718 lb1 2,140 kg1		3,197 lb1 1,450 kg1
Performance
Speed		403 mph1 648 kph1	276 mph1 445 kph1
Dive speed		576 mph1 927 kph1
Range		23 miles1 37 km1	80 miles1 128 km1
Armament
Warhead		2,646 lb1 1,200 kg1		1,323 lb1 600 kg1

Sources:

1. Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998

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