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Last update:
06/15/2008
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Aichi M6A1 Seiran |
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Scale 1:33 |
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Author: Rafal
Ciesielski |
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File Size: 43.3 Mb |
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Please take a look at
Our Offer page before placing an
order. |
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Aichi M6A1 Seiran
Imperial Japanese Navy Special Attack
Bomber
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Price $12.00 |
Model # 030 |
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If ordering a CD, please
add $5.45
for Shipping & Handling. One charge per order. |
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Technical data: |
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Length |
11.64 m |
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Span |
12.262 m |
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Engine |
Aichi AE1P Atsuta 32
twelve-cylinder, liquid cooled inverted V engine rated at 1,400hp for
take-off |
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Max Speed |
474 km/h with floats |
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Armament |
1 x 12.7mm rear firing, one 800kg
torpedo or one 800kg bomb or 2 x 250kg bombs |
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Crew |
2 |
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In 1942 Aichi was instructed to design a
floatplane attack bomber to be used onboard of a new I-400 class
submarine. First prototype of the Seiran was completed in November
of 1943 and was powered by Atsuta 30 twelve-cylinder inverted-vee liquid
cooled engine. Despite of the obvious complexity of the wing and
rudder folding mechanisms required to fit the plane into a watertight
hangar, M6A1 Seiran could be ready for flight in under 7 minutes.
All important parts had fluorescent paint applied on them to help the crew
during nighttime operations. First prototype was joined by another five
aircraft powered by Atsuta 31 engine and 18 serial production aircrafts
powered by Atsuta 32 engines.
The first target
of the I-400/Seiran weapon system were to be locks of the Panama canal but
soon it was changed to US Navy's anchorage in Ulithi Atoll. In late July
of 1945 I-400 and I-401 with three Seirans onboard each and I-13 and
I-14 carrying two Seirans each, sailed from Japan on this one-of-a-kind
mission. War ended before First Submarine Flotilla reached their
designated target.
The only surviving
Seiran can be viewed in Smithsonian. It is the last airframe built by
Aichi, serial number 28, discovered after the war in the ruins of the
Aichi factory.
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