FACTOIDS & TRIVIA

Introduced in 1945, the Aichi M6A1 Seiran was deployed for use by the Imperial Japanese Navy as a "foldable" floatplane to be stored in and launched from submarines. The idea was to bring the aircraft near a target via the submarine so as to be undetected. Then the plane would deployed, unfolded and launched to attack the target, then land near the submarine, folded and put back in the sub's trunk (or boot if you prefer UKenglish). The master plan was to attack the locks of the Panama Canal to disrupt Allied supply lines to the Pacific, but that plan was changed to an attack on the American base at Ulithi Atoll (FYI, my dad fought in the battle at Ulithi). As the submarines made their way to Ulithi, the war ended and the attack subs were recalled. So, the Seiran never saw combat and we'll never know if the ninja plane idea would have worked. Aichi built a total of 28 M6A1 aircraft and the only surviving example is the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum's Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia.

AICHI M6A1 Seiran

 

 

 Class: Dive Bomber/Torpedo Bomber

 Crew: 2

 Engine: Aichi AE1P inverted V-12 (1,400 hp)

 Max Speed: 295 mph at 17,060 ft

 Climb Rate:  1,712 ft/min

 Service Ceiling: 32,500 ft

 Range: 738 miles

 Armament:  1 x .50 inch machine gun
                        2 x 551 lb bomb or torpedo

 

  Model Scale:  1:100



















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