Aichi M6A Seiran

1943


SUBMARINE-BASED SEAPLANE	Virtual Aircraft Museum / Japan / Aichi

The first prototype flew in November 1943. 20 built.

Specification

MODEL	M6A1
CREW	2
ENGINE	1 x "Atsuta-32", 1050kW
WEIGHTS
Take-off weight	4040-4445 kg	8907 - 9800 lb
Empty weight	3300 kg	7275 lb
DIMENSIONS
Wingspan	12.26 m	40 ft 3 in
Length	11.64 m	38 ft 2 in
Height	4.58 m	15 ft 0 in
Wing area	27.0 m²	290.63 sq ft
PERFORMANCE
Max. speed	430 km/h	267 mph
Cruise speed	300 km/h	186 mph
Ceiling	9900 m	32500 ft
Range	1200 km	746 miles
ARMAMENT	1 x 13mm machine-gun, 850-kg torpedo or 1 x 800-kg bomb or 2 x 250-kg bombs

3-View

A three-view drawing (752 x 1206)

Comments

Dave Smith 55th, e-mail, 19.02.2014 01:39

If anyone wants to see the subs- i400 etc. that these a /c flew from, go to operationstormbook.com /i400images.

Chuck, e-mail, 29.12.2013 04:26

Didn't know this aircraft existed until I saw the exhibit under the Enola Gay (close to my all time favorite - the P38) at Udvar-Hazy back in 2005. I had to find a scale model and detail it from my photos. Beautiful airplane.

Mark, e-mail, 20.09.2012 17:31

Aichi M6A1

�� Aichi M6A1 �� Seiran (�� ) �� , �� I-400. �� 13mm �� 850 �� 800 ��. �� 1943 �� (��) �� 28 Seirans �� , �� .

� �� Aichi Kokuki �� , �� (Daimler-Benz), �� Messerschmitt Bf 109, �� Mitsubishi �� . �� 474 km /h. �� , �� 90 �� . �� , �� 12,2 �� 11,6 ��. �� , �� .

�� 7 �� . �� Seirans �� . �� . �� . �� 26 ��, �� , �� . �� . �� , �� , �� , �� . �� , �� .

�� National Air and Space Museum �� Washington D.C.

Steve, e-mail, 21.08.2012 20:42

The Seiran suggests what might have been a useful alternative for the Kriegsmarine - a fighter-like floatplane successor to the Ar-196 to serve as air defense from heavy ships, as a hedge against what actually happened - the nonavailability of the carrier "Graf Zeppelin". (Visualize guns as payload instead of bombs). Performance as a fighter would have been unimpressive - but capable of dealing with all Fleet Air Arm strike aircraft through the Barracuda.

bombardier, e-mail, 25.05.2011 11:31

20 I-400 class submarines with 3 seaplanes each would have been tough opponents

NH Rackley, e-mail, 27.05.2010 14:17

The single remaining Aichi Seiran floatplane sits fully restored in the Smithsonian Air & Space Udvar-Hazy Center at Dulles Airport, VA. Drop in, as a docent I'll give ya'll a three hour tour.

Scott Williams, e-mail, 01.09.2009 17:15

When I visited the Paul Garber facility in 1992, they were in the process of restoring one of these aircraft. I'm not sure if they've finished it yet or not.

KEN FERREL, e-mail, 14.05.2008 05:57

The book "The Japanese Submarine Force and World War II" by Carl Boyd and Akihiko Yoshida describes the use of these aircraft in their Giant I-400 class submarine. Also stated that they were converted from "Judy" dive bombers. The I-400's hanger could hold three seaplanes.

David, e-mail, 21.09.2007 16:47

This aircraft had a very complicated system of folding wings and tailplane. The wings unlocked, pivoted vertically and were folded back against the fuselage. The ailerons on the rear tailplane folded downwards towards the ground. When folded the body and wings were all contained within the diameter of the propellor.
On take off, from the submarine, the pilots were subjected to tremendous forces from the launch device.

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