by Phil
5. May 2010 21:56
The Aichi M6A Seiran ("Mist on a fair day") was a submarine-launched attack floatplane designed for the Imperial Japanese Navy.
It was intended to be used with the I-400 class submarine, a 4,082 tonne (4,500 ton) submarine aircraft carrier. Two or three of the craft would be stowed aboard in disassembled form, and launched by catapult. The twin floats could be jettisoned, and the aircraft was essentially meant to be ditched at sea upon completion of its mission. The Type AM submarine was also intended to carry two of these aircraft.
An alternate version with landing gear instead of floats was designated M6A1-K and named Nanzan ("Southern Mountain"). While generally described as a land-based trainer, some sources indicate that it was designed for the attack role, to be launched from the submarine and then landed. Besides the difference in landing gear, the vertical stabilizer's top portion, which was foldable on the Seiran, was removed.
Full Wikipedia Entry
Photos of the Aichi M6A "Seiran" at the National Air & Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center and during resoration at the Garber Restoration Center.