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Originally Posted by smm
Kaitens were quite overegged IIRC. Although I can't remember the source anymore, it was that they were one-for-one, less effective than Long Lances. I've heard a theory (again, can't remember source) that many pilots got cold feet at the last moment and tried to save themselves (which _seemed_ easier than in a plane, but in reality wasn't) - no idea whether it's true or not though.
Dan Carlin had a very good and interesting section on Kamikaze (applies to Kaiten too) in episodes VI I think of his Supernova in the East podcast.
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Quite true. The only Kaiten kills I know of were USS Mississinewa, USS Underhill, and one landing craft.
Conway's WWII ships implies they could have been used to sink the USS Indianapolis, but Capt. Hashimoto denied this at the Indianapolis court martial.