Aichi M6A
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| M6A Seiran | |
|---|---|
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| Type | Submarine-launched dive bomber |
| Manufacturer | Aichi Kokuki KK |
| Maiden flight | 1943 |
| Introduced | 1945 |
| Retired | 1945 |
| Primary user | IJN Air Service |
| Produced | 1943-1945 |
| Number built | 28 |
The Aichi M6A Seiran[1] was a submarine-launched attack floatplane designed for the Imperial Japanese Navy.
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[edit] Design and development
It was intended to be used with the I-400, a 4500-ton submarine dubbed a "submersible aircraft carrier". Two to three of the craft would be stowed aboard in disassembled form, and launched by catapult. The twin floats could be jettisonned, and the aircraft was essentially meant to be ditched at sea upon completion of its mission.
An alternate version with landing gear instead of floats was designated M6A1-K and named Nanzan (南山, "Southern Mountain"). While generally described as a land-based trainer, some sources indicate that it was designed for the attack role, to be launched from the submarine and then landed. Besides the difference in landing gear, the vertical stabilizer's top portion, which was foldable on the Seiran, was removed.
[edit] Operational history
The first M6A1 was completed in November 1943, and 28 examples (including M6A1-Ks) were completed by 1945. The type was never used in combat.
[edit] Variants
- M6A1 Prototype
- Prototypes powered by Atsuta 30 or 31 1,400 hp engine and removable floats, 8 built.
- M6A1 Seiran
- Special Attack Bomber, 18 built.
- M6A1-K Nanzan
- Prototypes of training version, retractable wheeled landing gear, 2 built.
- M6A2
- Prototype, equipped with one Mitsubishi Kinsei MK8P 62 of 1,560 hp driving a three-blade constant-speed metal propeller, 1 built.
[edit] Operators
[edit] Survivors
A single M6A1 has been preserved and resides in the Udvar-Hazy Center of the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum. It is located in the Washington, DC suburb of Chantilly, VA near Dulles International Airport.
[edit] Specifications (M6A1)
This aircraft article is missing some (or all) of its specifications. If you have a source, you can help Wikipedia by adding them.General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Length: 10.63 m (34 ft 11 in)
- Wingspan: 12.26 m (40 ft 3 in)
- Height: 4.58 m (15 ft 1 in)
- Wing area: 27.0 m² (291 ft²)
- Empty weight: 3,362 kg (7,412 lb)
- Loaded weight: 4,250 kg (9,370 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 4445 kg (9800 lb)
- Powerplant: 1× Aichi Atsuta Type 32 inverted V12 liquid-cooled engine, 1,400 hp (1,000 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 474 km/h (256 knots, 295 mph)
- Range: 2,000 km (1,100 nm, 1,200 mi)
- Service ceiling 9,900 m (32,000 ft)
- Wing loading: 157 kg/m² (32.2 lb/ft²)
- Power/mass: 246 W/kg (0.15 hp/lb)
Armament
- Guns: 1× 12.7 mm (.50 in) cabin-mounted Type 2 machine gun
- Bombs:
- 1× torpedo or
- 800 kg (1,800 lb) general ordnance
[edit] See also
Comparable aircraft
- Arado Ar 231
- Mureaux-Besson MB 411
- Parnall Peto
- Watanabe E9W1
- Yokosuka E14Y
Related lists
[edit] References
[edit] Notes
- ^ Japanese 晴嵐, "Mountain Haze" Sei - Clear Skies, ran - Storm. Loose translation; Storm from clear skies.
[edit] Bibliography
- Januszewski, Tadeusz. Japanese Submarine Aircraft. Sandomierz, Poland/Redbourn, UK: Mushroom Model Publications, 2002. ISBN 83-91632-72-5.
- Ogawa, Toshihiko. Nihon Kōkūki Daizukan, 1910-1945. Tokyo, 1993.
- Mikesh, Robert C. Aichi M6A1 Seiran, Japan's Submarine-Launched Panama Canal Bomber. Bolyston, MA: Monogram Aviation Publications, 1975. ISBN 0-914144-13-8.
[edit] External links
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