Type 4 Ka-Tsu - Combat
There is little clear data on the plans for operations, which would be transported by submarine to the vicinity of the Allied anchorage atoll and, upon release, rely on their own power to cross the reef into the lagoon anchorage. It is envisaged that these amphibious chariots can bypass Allied anti-submarine networks to intercept and avoid anti-submarine ships. After entering the lagoon, a surprise attack would be carried out on the moored Allied ships.
The possibility of being used as an amphibious torpedo boat for the “Tornado Operation” to attack US military carriers is considered to be urgently demanded for practical use. In preparation for a raid on American shipping at Majuro atoll, (Operation Yu–Go) 10 Ka Tsus were each fitted with two Type 2 450mm torpedoes. The intention was that the amphibians would be transported to Majuro on five submarines. They would then fight their way across the island into the lagoon, launch their torpedoes at the USN’s ships, and return to the island to wreak havoc with the shore installations. The operation would be supported by IJN ships and aircraft, and Special Naval Landing Forces (ie Japanese Marines).
In 1944, Allied forces captured Marshall Islands, air strikes on the Japanese bases caused significant damage. In February, the Japanese planned to use 9 submarines, each carrying 2 special Type-4 floating tanks to the Allied special fleet berth for the atoll surprise fight. Berth, the imperial stronghold, supported the battle plan for the sneak attack, and March 14, the Japanese reconnaissance found the American fleet carrier moored in Majuro Atoll.
The target of the attack was an enemy mixed unit that was Marshall Islands in the park, with the main target being an aircraft carrier or escort aircraft carrier, and the specific target of the attack was Majuro Atoll. Participation force: Dragon Roll Troops (attack mission) Five large submarines (I-36, I-38, I-41, I-44, I-53), each loaded a special Type-4 vehicles, a reconnaissance team (pre-mission reconnaissance) on I-10 and four medium submarines, and two large submarines.
For a variety of reasons, including the unsuitability of the Ka Tsus, the plan was dropped. The operation scheduled to be carried out on the Naval Day on May 27, 1944 is suspected to be inpracticable mainly due to the performance problems of the Kat-su vehicle and was canceled on May 12. The date of the attack was scheduled to be between May 29 and June 7, before which the reconnaissance team and the aviation unit to conduct reconnaissance, to confirm that the Allied forces were in the atoll. Since May 6, 800 Japanese troops had trained in actual combat at the secret base of Hiroshima County and Cang Kiu Island.
In the case of the Ka-Tsus, it was found during trials that the waterproofing was insufficient for submarine travel, leading to flooding of the engine compartment. During the training, the huge problem of the special Type-4 boat was gradually exposed. The amphibious tank was designed to transport supplies on the sandy beach of Guadalcanal. It took 20 minutes to open the engine watertight cover to start the tank after the submarine had surfaced. A huge noise wsa emitted by the vehicle climbing over the coral reef, and the low power of the floating tank made it easy to get stuck on the reef, let alone carry two tons of multiple torpedoes to carry out special attack combat.
Slow travel speed, bumpy reef crossing, the engine is not waterproof, in the trip will gradually get soaked, it is difficult to prevent the gearbox oil leakage, all showed that the Type-4 vehicle was not a suitable special attack weapon, so the commander of the First Fleet on May 12 ordered the indefinite extension of the operation.
After that, the Japanese army set up a unit called "Special 4 type internal fire Boat Commando", ready to enter the Philippine defense War. The Ka-Tsu vehicles were planned to enter the Philippines in the latter half of 1944, they were lost without being able to reach the site due to transshipment due to the accident of the loading carrier or halfway along the sea, and eventually they could not participate in the actual battle.
At the end of 1944, on the other hand, a new vehicle was added to the vehicles left in the inland, and it was planned to organize 10 "special Type- attack units" consisting of 8 cut vehicles by May 1945. This is a plan to use a tow truck equipped with a Ka-Tsu vehcile as a local defense force, and it was practically expected to operate as an amphibious torpedo. It seems that Ogasawara Islands and Ishigaki Island were planned deployment destination.
The remaining commando, remnants, prepared for a local showdown near the Gulf of Gongqi County Shibuchi in southern Kyushu. However, this plan was not realized due to the delayed production, and the specially organized Special Forces Raids Corps remained in 4-5 units, and at the end of the war two teams under Yokosuka Jamofu were in Chiba. Two teams under the Three Assault Corps were deployed to Aira and Shibushi.
In addition, there is also a review on the concept of attacking the landing place of the enemy landing unit at the beginning, attacking enemy ships in coastal operation and blocking the support fire by the guns, and the personnel of the human mine "Fushiryu" just before the landing of the US military. Operation to transport to the waiting point was also considered, before ushering in the Japanese surrender.
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