10 Weirdest Weapons Used During World War II

4. Explosive Suicide - Japanese Kamikaze Pilots Were Human Bombs

During World War II, some 3,860 Kamikaze pilots were killed when they flew their planes at US warships in the Pacific Ocean. Essentially pilot-guided explosive missiles that were purpose built to detonate on impact, Kamikaze - which means "divine" or "spirit wind" - pilots were effectively the Second World War equivalent of modern-day suicide bombers.

With the aim of destroying a high volume of Allied ships seen as so crucial, the Japanese were willing to sacrifice pilots in order to achieve this, and so ploughed funds into Kamikaze planes. Beginning in October 1944, the Japanese even introduced a rocket-propelled aircraft which was designed with a 2,600-pound warhead on the front so that it could sink an entire ship in one fell swoop.

Although to Western society it may seem barbaric to send men to a certain death, in Japanese culture the tradition of giving up your life instead of being defeated and captured and having the perceived shame of surrender was entrenched in the minds of the people.

Originating from the samurai Bushido code, the Japanese wanted to retain honour and did not want to surrender even though they were clearly losing the aerial battle against the Americans by 1944.