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Aichi M6A Seiran

1945 WORLD WAR 2

History of Aichi M6A Seiran

This oft-forgotten Aichi aircraft design is classified as an attack seaplane designed to launch I-400-class submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN). IJN's plan is to transport the planes in waterproof containers until they reach the launch waypoint. The ship will then surface, prepare the plane, and take off on a target of opportunity. For easy storage on submarines, the Aichi M6A Seiran ("Mountain Haze") was designed with wings that swivel and lay flat along the sides of the fuselage, and a tail surface that folds at its tip.

Overall, the aircraft is largely conventional, with seaplanes used for water landings and two crew members to spread the workload. Power comes from a 1,400-horsepower Aichi Atsuta 31 liquid-cooled inline V12 engine that drives a three-bladed propeller in the front.

The M6A with the 13mm machine gun should also carry an offensive load of 1 x Type 91 torpedo or up to 1,875 pounds of throwing ammunition.

Aichi designed, developed and produced their M6A series from 1943 to 1945 (the last year of the war). The plane is preparing for a surprise attack on the Panama Canal, a key shipping lane for the U.S. Navy's operations in the Pacific.

However, the Allies made progress in the Pacific, dropping two atomic bombs on Japan to force the unconditional surrender of the Japanese Empire. Therefore, the aircraft was not used for combat missions during the war.

Production was also halted due to the relentless Allied bombing raids on mainland Japan, resulting in only 28 being produced.

Eight basic M6A1 prototypes preceded eighteen M6A1 Seiran production models. A land-based derivative known as the M6A1K "Seiran Kai" was designed for pilots, and these would be used in land-based service, with wheeled landing gear and trailing gear - losing seaplane equipment. Only two prototypes were built.

The M6A2 is a proposed platform that exists in a single prototype - it is equipped with a 1,560 hp Mitsubishi Kinei MK8P engine driving a constant speed propeller.

The Seiran's performance specs include a top speed of 295 mph, a cruising speed of 185 mph, a range of 740 miles and a service ceiling of 32,500 feet.

A complete Seiran seaplane is on display at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum at the Steven F. Udvar-Haze Center in Washington, D.C. This aircraft is the final completed production model. At the end of the war, it was handed over to the American occupation forces.