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M6A Seiran

Country Japan Manufacturer Aichi Kokuki KK Primary Role Torpedo Bomber Maiden Flight 1 November 1943

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseThe M6A Seiran submarine-launched torpedo seaplanes were designed in response for a 1942 requirement for aircraft to be used in conjunction with the I-400-class submarine carriers of the Japanese Navy. They were of an all-metal construction, with control surfaces covered in fabric. The design was done so that two or three of them could be stowed aboard their submarine carriers, used to attack targets in surprise. Despite the complex folding system with their tails and wings, a seasoned crew could prepare all three aircraft for launch within 30 minutes. They made use of water-cooled engines, rather than air-cooled engines more prevalent in the Japanese Navy air service, so that they could be warmed up in their hangars while the submarine was still under water; this allowed their mother submarines to remain on the ocean surface for a smaller amount of time. Because the submarines would have no means to recover these seaplanes after a mission is carried out, the thought was that the submarine carriers would rescue the air crews and abandon the aircraft. The first prototype took flight over Ise Bay, Japan in 1943; although the test flight failed due to a non-responsive horizontal tail stabilizer, it nevertheless generated much interest with the Japanese naval leadership, who would soon issue an order for 42 combat aircraft and 2 trainer aircraft. It was around this time when the name Seiran was given, which was inspired by a 18th century woodblock print titled "Awazu no seiran". The Japanese Navy formed 631st Naval Air Group to operate these submarine-borne seaplanes. The group initially operated at Kure, Japan, but the presence of surrounding mountains which posed danger led to the relocation of the group by Yashiro Island further south in mid-Mar 1945. Shortly after, they joined their submarine carriers at Nanao on the coast of the Sea of Japan. Although the original vision for M6A Seiran attack aircraft involved dropping bombs on New York, New York, United States to demoralize the American people or destroying the top of the Gatun Locks thus using the power of water to seriously damage the Panama Canal, no such mission would ultimately be executed; planning for such strikes was canceled in early Jun 1945 in favor of targets closer to Japan. In Jul 1945, two I-400-class submarines each carrying three M6A1 Seiran aircraft and two modified AM-class submarines each carrying two M6A1 Seiran aircraft were sent on an attack on the American anchorage of Ulithi in the Caroline Islands, but the Japanese surrender was announced before the task force reached their target, and the mission was ultimately aborted. Thus, none of the M6A Seiran aircraft were ever used in combat.

ww2dbaseIn all, 29 aircraft of this design were built, including 8 M6A1 prototypes, 18 M6A1 production aircraft, 2 M6A1-K Nanzan land-based trainers, and 1 M6A2 prototype. Production ceased in Jul 1945.

ww2dbaseSources:

John Geoghegan, Operation Storm

Wikipedia



Last Major Revision: Aug 2008

M6A Seiran Timeline

15 May 1942 Aichi received a request to design the world's first propose-built submarine-borne attack aircraft. 8 Nov 1943 Aichi held the first test flight of the submarine-borne attack aircraft M6A1 Seiran over Ise Bay. Lieutenant Commander Tadashi Funada was the chief test pilot. The test was a failure due to a non-responsive horizontal tail stabilizer, but it nevertheless generated much interest with the Japanese naval leadership. 15 Nov 1944 Japanese Navy pilot Ensign Katsuo Takahashi was dispatched to Aichi's factory to take delivery of a completed Seiran aircraft for flight testing. 24 Nov 1944 Japanese Navy officially accepted M6A Seiran seaplane for service. 15 Dec 1944 Japanese Navy 6th Fleet established Submarine Squadron 1 for the operation of long range carrier submarines. By this time, however, none of the Seiran attack aircraft were ready for operational service. 13 Jan 1945 Another M6A Seiran aircraft was completed by Aichi. 10 Apr 1945 Ten Seiran seaplanes performed a practice flight over Fukuyama, Japan to familiarize the crews with flights over densely populated areas in case they were to receive an order to attack US cities. After the exercise, Second Lieutenant Ichiyoshi's aircraft crashed on water landing; Ichiyoshi was killed, and the observer survived the crash. 13 Jun 1945 The Seiran aircraft flown by Lieutenant Masuo Egami and Warranty Officer Hisayoshi Kimoto crashed in a mountain on the coast of Nanao Bay, Japan.

SPECIFICATIONS

M6A1



Machinery One Aichi Atsuta Type 32 inverted V-12 liquid-cooled engine rated at 1,400hp Armament 1x12.7mm Type 2 machine gun, 1x torpedo or 800kg of bombs Crew 2 Span 12.26 m Length 11.64 m Height 4.58 m Wing Area 27.00 m² Weight, Empty 3,362 kg Weight, Loaded 4,250 kg Weight, Maximum 4,445 kg Speed, Maximum 474 km/h Speed, Cruising 296 km/h Service Ceiling 9,900 m Range, Normal 1,190 km

Photographs

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