(Almost) The Ultimate Surprise Attack Aircraft: Aichi M6A Seiran

In this video, we take a look at the Aichi M6A Seiran, a Japanese Dive and Torpedo Bomber from World War II that was designed to be launched from submarines. We first talk about the concept of a submarine aircraft carrier and how Japan likely invested more in the concept than any other country. We then talk about a previous submarine-launched plane in the Yokosuka E14Y, what the primary focus of such an aircraft was, and how that differed from more standard aircraft. We talk about the solid if boring career of the E14Y, along with its two interesting missions at Pearl Harbor and over Oregon.

We then talk about the origins of the M6A Seiran and the I-400 submarines it was to be launched from. We look at the specs of the M6A and how they significantly improved over the E14Y. We talk about the slow but steady progress of the M6A, and how it eventually set out on a mission to destroy an American fleet. We talk about how that was foiled by the war ending, and we end by taking a guess on what the impact of the M6A would have been if it had been made earlier.