Towed targets at an altitude do not include low level wind and ground effect. They are also not moving at 30 kt and maneuvering evasively, they are technically called kites and blow round in the wind. This is not training its flying kites.
Actual training was "incredibly strenuous training, coupled with cruel and torturous corporal punishment as a daily routine." Irokawa Daikichi, who trained at Tsuchiura Naval Air Base, recalled that he "was struck on the face so hard and frequently that [his] face was no longer recognizable." He also wrote: "I was hit so hard that I could no longer see and fell on the floor. The minute I got up, I was hit again by a club so that I would confess." This brutal "training" was justified by the idea that it would instill a "soldier's fighting spirit." However, daily beatings and corporal punishment would eliminate patriotism among many pilots.’’
No sub launched Okha are recorded as built much less used its vapourware not a kewl SSM.
Swapping out a main battery or two for a one shot weapon does not on the face of it seem to be a good idea in 1936-41. It’s a pretty dodgy idea up to the late 70's.
But I suppose the crew would be motivated by the sight of ‘Everybody was looking down and tottering. Some were unable to stand up and were carried and pushed into the plane by maintenance soldiers’ maybe not – quote is from the Yomiuri Shimbun, not known for be apologetic about wartime Japan.
Sorry just having a problem knowing how the IJN finds the target at 300nm and maintains guidance on a moving target or no, the kamikaze scout plane will get to extreme range call in the attack, keep contact for a couple hours without being seen and provide mid course correction to the Kingfish, whoops Kamikaze and then heroicially shout Banzai (or Hissaku or oh fuck)and sink another cowardly American.
The IJN actually had no real issue in sinking US carriers early in the war. Of course that was with living aircrew who could repeat strikes.
If you Deck park on an IJN carrier you can’t launch the kind of strike you need which worked very well btw. Basically the Kates cant take off and the Vals have a problem unless you flush the Kamikaze. Of course if you happen to get attacked first then you have either a set of corroding planes on deck delaying any CAP launch or a fully fuelled and bombed up set of corroding planes on deck.
The planes don’t hit harder. They will hit above the waterline (unlike torps) or without the acceleration of a free fall bomb. The only way you will exceed the velocity of a dive bomb is with a rocket assisted terminal dive. None of which exist til 1944, anywhere.
And when built they had a range of of 23 miles. A standard Kamikaze (i.e. a plane with a bomb load) would nowhere approach that velocity and have very limited penetration power, and be much more likely to be shot down.
Actual performance is 3,900 a/c expended (4,500 produced in 41) for:
three escort carriers, 14 destroyers three high-speed transport ships,five Landing Ship, Tank,four Landing Ship Medium, three Landing Ship Medium (Rocket, one auxiliary tanker, three Canadian Victory ships, three Liberty ships, two high-speed minesweepers, one Auk class minesweeper, one submarine chaser, two PT boats, two Landing Craft Support
As opposed to actual 1942 US losses of 4 CV, I will stop there but the rest is (5 CA, 2CL,25DD, 6 ML, 4 Gunboats, A seaplane tender, 7 PT ,5 tugs, 3 tankers, 10 troop transports, 16 district patrol craft, rather a lot of other patrol craft, 10 misc auxiliaries and a couple of BB.)
The IJN actually managed to destroy most of the US carrier force anyway. It really does not matter how. Except the Japanese.
Oh and as to the Japanese view of Kamikaze.
I cannot predict the outcome of the air battles, but you will be making a mistake if you should regard Special Attack operations as normal methods. The right way is to attack the enemy with skill and return to the base with good results. A plane should be utilized over and over again. That’s the way to fight a war. The current thinking is skewed. Otherwise, you cannot expect to improve air power. There will be no progress if flyers continue to die.
—Lieutenant Commander Iwatani, Taiyo (Ocean) magazine, March 1945
Or in the words of the first special attack formation commander, ‘please do not appoint me to this post.’
Or
A kamikaze is a surprise attack, according to our ancient war tactics. Surprise attacks will be successful the first time, maybe two or three times. But what fool would continue the same attacks for ten months? Emperor Hirohito must have realized it. He should have said 'Stop.'
"Even now, many faces of my students come up when I close my eyes. So many students are gone. Why did headquarters continue such silly attacks for ten months! Fools! Genda, who went to America — all those men lied that all men volunteered for kamikaze units. They lied."
Saburo Sakai