特攻隊
Meanings
1
special attack unit; kamikaze unit; suicide squad
Refers specifically to WWII Japanese military units that carried out suicide attacks, especially the Navy's kamikaze air units. The term is strongly associated with the Pacific War and carries heavy historical weight.
See also: 特別攻撃隊
The young men of the special attack units wrote letters to their families before sorties.
Records of the kamikaze units convey the tragedy of war to the present day.
Usage patterns
- 〈人〉が特攻隊に志願するto volunteer for a special attack (kamikaze) unit
The young soldiers volunteered for the special attack unit.
- 特攻隊として出撃するto sortie as a special attack (kamikaze) unit
He sortied as part of a special attack unit and never returned.
- 特攻隊を編成するto form/organize a special attack unit
In the final stage of the war, the military organized special attack units.