<P> The Japanese army, which was not based in the cities, was largely undamaged by the raids . The Army was short of food and gasoline, but, as Iwo Jima and Okinawa proved, it was capable of ferocious resistance . The Japanese also had a new tactic that it hoped would provide the bargaining power to get a satisfactory peace, the Kamikaze . </P> <P> In late 1944 the Japanese invented an unexpected and highly effective new tactic, the Kamikaze suicide plane aimed like a guided missile at American ships . The attacks began in October 1944 and continued to the end of the war . Experienced pilots were used to lead a mission because they could navigate; they were not Kamikazes, and they returned to base for another mission . The Kamikaze pilots were inexperienced and had minimal training; however most were well educated and intensely committed to the Emperor . </P> <P> Kamikaze attacks were highly effective at the Battle of Okinawa as 4000 kamikaze sorties sank 38 US ships and damaged 368 more, killing 4,900 sailors . Task Force 58 analyzed the Japanese technique at Okinawa in April 1945: </P> <Dl> <Dd> "Rarely have the enemy attacks been so cleverly executed and made with such reckless determination . These attacks were generally by single or few aircraft making their approaches with radical changes in course and altitude, dispersing when intercepted and using cloud cover to every advantage . They tailed our friendlies home, used decoy planes, and came in at any altitude or on the water ." </Dd> </Dl>

What role did the us play in ww2