IJN Shinyo Explosive Boat (1/300)

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By late 1943 the war in the Pacific was turning decisively against Imperial Japan. Anticipating an imminent attack on Japanese soil, the Japanese military rushed to prepare a series of desperate defense strategies. One such plan was the Shinyo ("Sea Quake") class of explosive boats designed for one-man crews. The Shinyos were small, wooden vessels equipped with a 270kg charge in their bows. This powerful payload could be triggered either by manual control or by an impact trigger (the exposed wooden component protruding from the bow was part of this mechanism). These boats were clearly intended as suicidal weapons. Sources vary on the speed capabilities of the Shinyos, but most reports indicate they achieved around 30 knots. However, a reputable source suggests that when fully loaded with explosives, their top speed was limited to a relatively modest 18 knots; yet, the rockets mounted aboard allowed them to accelerate rapidly during an attack. Although these otherwise unarmed boats were mass-produced in the thousands and intended to target American invasion forces, they seemed to have had little impact on the war effort. One reason may be that many Shinyos were held in reserve for the planned invasion of Japan's main islands, which ultimately did not occur. Despite this, they managed to sink several American boats and ships, primarily in and around the Philippines and Okinawa. Files included: IJN Shinyo Explosive Boat High Speed - a photo showing the boat with its bow lifted up, as if speeding through the water. IJN Shinyo Explosive Boat Low Speed - an image of the boat lying flat, suggesting it was moving at lower speeds. IJN Shinyo Explosive Boat Full Hull - a comprehensive view of the entire boat, without any signs of water damage.