The Aichi M6A “Seiran” was a Japanese purpose-made submarine-borne attack aircraft. Becoming ready in the closing stages of the Second World War, the M6A was the only one of its kind to be available during the conflict.
Game footage and aircraft models
War Thunder – https://www.youtube.com/c/Warthunder/…
00:04 History
13:58 Opinion and Conclusion
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Corrections
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Music
by order of appearance
History:
– Beautiful Oblivion by Scott Buckley http://ssoundcloud.comscottbuckley
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– William Tell Overture (by Rossini) | Youtube Audio Library
Conclusion:
– Oh, crimson blood is burning “Aa Kurenai no Chi wa Moyuru” – Japanese 1944 song
Sources
– Operation Storm – Japan’s Top Secret Submarines and Its Plan to Change the Course of World War II by John J. Geoghegan
– Monogram Close-Up 13 – Aichi M6A1 Seiran by Robert C. Mikesh
– Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War by R.J. Francillion
– I-400 Japan’s Secret Aircraft-Carrying Strike Submarine – Objective Panama Canal by Henry Sakaida, Gary Nila and Koji Takaki
– Japanese Aircraft of World War II – 1937-1945 by Thomas Newdick
– Japanese Aero-Engines 1910-1945 by Mike Goodwin and Peter Starkings
– Several other sources like aircraft manuals and tests
I do not own any of the images used in this video. The owners of such images are identified in the video itself.
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I was not expecting this at all but it's a welcome suprise haha thank you for covering this one. Here is hoping the D4Y also gets a video that one is unique tp
The big problem here is the cost of getting those bombs on target. Looking at the cost of the subs, the aircraft, and actually running the operation, it seems like an incredibly low bang-for-the-buck situation. In truth, it makes me wonder whether anyone in the Axis had ever studied logistics or operations research. These were relatively new disciplines at the time. Sounds like a joke, but I really wonder if no one in authority was familiar with basic cost-benefit / risk-return or SWOT analysis.
Great weapon, had it attacked the Panamá Canal, it could have dealt a lot of damage.
I do think those had great potential for precise strikes and long ranges. If you think about it, this is the "Amerika Bomber" Germany never had. But thankfully, just like German wonder weapons, those were just too feel and too late to make a difference in the war.
So each sub carried 3 planes with a capacity of one 800 kilo pay load, so the maximum delivery would be a possible total of 2400 kilos per sortie IF the mission was a success!. Do the math, each B 29 was able to carry in an average range around 5500 kilos and there was hundreds of planes per mission, so yeah no dice on this three plane aircraft carrier being more than resource drain on the Japanese just like Yamato, Musashi or the German Koing Tigre, Maus tanks.
I've always believed that R&D was getting a little out of hand and a huge waste of dwindling resources late in the war for the axis forces during WWII. complicated concepts and ideas simply seemed be too little too late and on too small of a scale to realistically make a difference in the outcome… The Nazi Aircraft carrier is a classic example! Although interesting to hear all the details of these projects… it all boils down to they still would have lost the war anyway.
I think the concept of the submarine aircraft carrier was brilliant & to see that It was brought to fruition is such a practical was wS incredible, that the fleet been available earlier in the war & in large numbers it could have been a real headache for the allies & game changer in regards to naval airpower tactics.
Image 1 is my favourite.
Very interesting and well-researched. Your conclusions are sound. I’ll vote for #1.
As for my opinion, I will let the facts and experts speak for themselves. The Americans were so impressed with the three captured I-400 class subs, that they were classified and sunk at a secret location out of fear that the Soviets would copy the design.
Very interesting video
I think 1 is the picture that conveys best the M6A's purpose.
2 is a very nice picture too.
I agree that the project was forward thinking but it was also a waste of resources (which was actually a good thing for the allies).
If Japan had these in numbers right at the attack of Pearl Harbor they could have attacked the Panama Canal immediately.
But then again they could have send a few carriers there as well which could have done more damage.
I vote for picture number one; by the way, I had read somewhere that prior to surrender the Japanese had jettisoned all their aircraft because they felt that if they were found with the aircraft in u.s. markings, there would be dire consequences.
There is something elegant about this design despite the purpose for which it was built for, sorry I know your preference for images but #2 is very striking.
These could add much to reconnaissance . The Pacific is ALOT of water , Not much punch tactically. Imo
1
Finally somethingI never heard of, lovely one!
I would argue that German-planned attacks via V1 buzzbomb launches from U-boats against New York, countered by Operation Teardrop, would be a far better predecessor to ballistic missile submarines than the Japanese plan to start forest fires (doesn't lightning start most of them already?), but it's an interesting concept anyway. As with so many of these plans, the amount of effort and time spent never gets a return on investment.
It seems like after midway the Japs could not do anything right. At least there navy couldn't anyway
Well done. I had no idea these had the capability to be launched without floats! Same with the fake US natural metal scheme!
I saw this aircraft at Willow Grove Naval Air Station, outside of Philadelphia, in the 1960s. It and a number of other captured Japanese Aircraft were displayed together outside in the element for decades. I'm glad, given its historical value, that it is now properly restored and displayed.
I’ll say artwork 1
Another Great video.
Japan made some of the best looking and performing aircraft made many 1 /48 scale models of them, inc the sheridin, even the i-100
Number 2
2 please
I have to say, the land based version (with retractable undercarriage) was a nice looking aircraft.
The whole concept was an extravagant failure especially when you consider the Japanese submarine campaign against America and Australia was a failure as well. They didn't sink many ships compared to many they lost to American subs. The resources to build these massive subs would of best been used to build basic attack subs. Thanks great topic !
Very good video, thank you. it was a powerful weapon system
welcome to youtube 🙂 its nice to see a new channel bringing new information, keep up the good work
Looks like an overgrown, 2 seat Ki-61 to me…
I had a flight sim back in the '90s which let you fly the Seiran. It is a nice, high speed torpedo bomber that can maneuver a bit too. IDK how accurate the model was but it was a fun alternative to the aging torpedo and dive bombers from the mid-1930s.
Relying on ditching in the ocean and having single use planes is a completely absurd idea. But these are the same people who committed suicide to, mostly ineffectually, attack US ships. There were some successful kamikaze attacks but 99% really didn't do much. By the time they started designing the Okha, the war was lost. They told children that when the Yankees came, they were to stab US soldiers with bamboo stakes and blow themselves up against a tank…Great strategy! I can't believe ignorant morons think the two very weak atomic bombs (what we would call "tactical munitions" these days) were wrong. Well, 10x as many kids would have died in an invasion. Americans and Brits think, "save the children". The Japanese thought, "well we can always make more". Great evolutionary strategy. How's that working out for you these days, hmm? So indifferent to children they are too selfish to have any, at all.
My grandpa went to Iwo Jima just a couple of days after the main battle ended. There were still pockets of resistance going for months, with many US troops flat out murdered. Sneaking up and cutting your throat in your sleep isn't combat, it is cowardice. It is terrorism. He saw some of the worst of what the Japanese did. I imagine it was tough for him to reconcile his empathy for Japanese internees in the US with the utter brutality displayed by the Empire.
I think it is time for Japan to apologize for real. Their persistent denial of the sheer inhumanity of Imperial Japan is a slap in the face to numerous countries. Japan did just as much genocide as the Nazis only they didn't keep anally detailed records of it like the Nazis. Plausible deniability. They didn't really sack Peking and rape and murder a million civilians in a week. Nope, they definitely didn't do that😝
I get why the Chinese and Koreans still hate them. You can't forgive someone who refuses to admit their failing.
I cannot imagine China or Russia ever being quite that evil. I think the Chinese would be more humane because they have been on the receiving end of Japanese brutality. And the Russians have been on the receiving end of Nazi brutality. As bad as the "Special Operation" has gotten, it is still just not quite on the same level.
2
well this is rare an aircraft I've never heard of before but frankly this is a very specialized plane that had very very few planes built so i think i can be forgiven for my failure
The crews ditching had to swim back to Japan? Did any make it?
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Great video
I think it is a good idea for high value targets, especially if they perfected the tactics. Imagine if they could patrol the entire pacific, using recoverable aircraft. They could harass shipping lanes, hit and run, 6000 miles away!.
What are the seven military wonders of WW2?? 15:01