| MXY-7 Ohka | |
|---|---|
 Ohka Model 11 replica at the Yasukuni Shrine Yūshūkan war museum. | |
| General information | |
| Type | Kamikaze (piloted suicide) anti-ship aircraft / missile |
| National origin | Japan |
| Manufacturer | Yokosuka Naval Air Technical Arsenal |
| Status | Retired |
| Primary user | Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service |
| Number built | 852 |
| History | |
| Manufactured | 1944–1945 |
| Introduction date | 1945 |
| First flight | 21 March 1944 (unpowered), November 1944 (powered). |
| Retired | 1945 |
The Yokosuka MXY-7 Ohka (櫻花[1], Ōka, "cherry blossom"; 桜花 in modern orthography) is a purpose-built, rocket-powered human-guided kamikaze attack-aircraft[2] deployed by Japan against Allied ships in the Pacific Ocean theater towards the end of World War II. Although extremely fast, the Ohka had a very short range, so it had to be carried into action as a parasite aircraft by a much larger bomber, which was itself vulnerable to carrier-borne fighters. In action during the Battle of Okinawa in 1945, Ohkas succeeded in sinking or damaging some escort-vessels and transport ships, but never sank any major warships. The Japanese developed improved versions in an attempt to overcome the aircraft's shortcomings, but they came too late for deployment.
Allied personnel referred to the aircraft as "Baka Bombs" (baka being a Japanese pejorative term meaning "fool" or "idiot").[3]
- ^ 內令兵第八號 軍極秘. March 1945. p. 39.
試作櫻花ヲ兵器ニ採用シ櫻花（オウクワ）一一型ト呼稱ス 昭和二十年三月十七日 海軍大臣 ("The prototype Ohka is adopted as a weapon and will be called Ohka Type 11. March 17, 1945, Minister of the Navy")
- ^ "Ohka" aerospaceweb.org. Retrieved: 16 October 2010.
- ^ "Yokosuka MXY-7 Ohka (Baka Bombs)". NHHC. Retrieved 2021-08-30.