The Imperial Japanese Navy's Operation Tan No. 2 was a desperate measure undertaken as military losses mounted and the prospects for victory dwindled. On March 11, 1945, multiple kamikaze aircraft, which were specifically trained to execute suicide missions, targeted the U.S. Pacific Fleet stationed at Ulithi Atoll in the Caroline Islands. The choice of Ulithi was strategic; it was a crucial staging area for American forces as they prepared for further offensives in the Pacific, including potential operations aimed at Japan itself. The Japanese leadership aimed to inflict significant damage on the American fleet, hoping to disrupt upcoming operations and regain some measure of agency in a war that seemed increasingly lost.

The kamikaze attacks represented a radical and horrifying tactic aimed at maximizing impact with limited resources. As the pilots flew their aircraft, loaded with explosives directly at U.S. warships, the psychological effect of such missions added to the terror of the conflict. By this stage in the war, many Japanese pilots were pressed into action despite the odds against them, reflecting the increased desperation of Japanese military policy. Although the attack involved several aircraft, the response from the well-prepared American fleet resulted in the downing of most of the attacking planes before they could achieve their objectives.

Despite the aggressive efforts of the Japanese forces, the damage inflicted on the U.S. fleet was minimal. The ongoing attrition faced by Japan, both in terms of resources and morale, became more pronounced following such futile missions. Kamikaze tactics, while initially deemed a noble sacrifice by the Japanese, contributed to diminishing returns in the face of relentless American production and technology that ensured fleet superiority.