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

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  • čas přidán 8. 09. 2024

Komentáře • 122

  • @Geoff31818
    @Geoff31818 Před měsícem +87

    “Only two nations both axis developed aircraft carrying subs” looks at HMS M2 and M3 awkwardly

    • @Geoff31818
      @Geoff31818 Před měsícem +24

      Also looks at surcouf awkwardly too.

    • @CharlesStearman
      @CharlesStearman Před měsícem +15

      M2 and M3 were both considered experimental, and only M2 carried an aircraft. The three M-class submarines (M1, M2 and M3) all began as submarine cruisers armed with a single 12" gun. After M1 was lost in a collision, M2 and M3 had their guns removed and were used for experimental work - M2 was fitted with an aircraft hanger and launch rail while M3 was adapted for mine-laying. M2 was later lost due to flooding though the open hanger door, and M3 was scrapped.

    • @wattyler6075
      @wattyler6075 Před měsícem

      M3 was fitted out as a minelayer. M2 was an experimental sub,proof of concept.

    • @Geoff31818
      @Geoff31818 Před měsícem +12

      @@CharlesStearmanI’m aware of their history but both were commissioned and HMS M2 did perform sorties. Which is more than the i400 class did.

    • @vespelian
      @vespelian Před měsícem +5

      M3 was the minelayer, but there was the French Surcouf.

  • @TheMartinbowes
    @TheMartinbowes Před měsícem +54

    The guys whof flew the float plane over Melbourne must have had iron balls. Not so much to fly over the city, but to turn around in the dark and head out to see wondering where they parked that damn sub.

    • @fakshen1973
      @fakshen1973 Před měsícem +10

      The irony of Japan starting a forest fire in Oregon vs. the USA firebombing Tokyo later.

  • @rpreto72
    @rpreto72 Před měsícem +27

    One of the most beautiful seaplanes of WW2.

  • @2854Navman
    @2854Navman Před měsícem +12

    The "element of surprise" sure surprised me LOL!

  • @erikvan9582
    @erikvan9582 Před měsícem +59

    "Dying in battle was considered a great honour",blaze of glory sure sounds cool until you realize you have no soldiers left

    • @SCjunk
      @SCjunk Před měsícem +1

      The last major Banzai charge (gyokusai attack) was on Saipan, on July 7th through 9th 1944 around 3000+ Japanese who were more or less out of essential ammunition attacked US forces with improvised weapons such as bayonets on poles, clubs and trenching spades, it was the largest even gyokusai attack, so death rather than capture, not about glory. A few desperate Banzai attacks by small groups even individuals occurred in Burma and probably elsewhere after July 9th 1944 but were a lot less common than the movies depict. whether gyokusai would have re-occurred when Kyushu and Honshu were attacked during Olympic and Downfall can only be surmised certainly brainwashing of the military home defence force and civilian population was going ahead at pace in Mid 1945. fear of a rumoured bestial enemy, especially when your own troops are so inclined and shaming people into believing their sacrifice negates guilt are powerful dual motivators.
      That said the allies often glorify their own forces suicidal sacrifice without decrying it, consider that the allies first wave beach landing parties both at Normandy and in POA were given odds on rates of not surviving, same with USAAF and RAF bomber crews in Europe and even German U boat crews. Another case of the winner and possibly the white man's morality. Even Germany's case with very dubious moral compass, they are now compared favourably to the Soviet/ Russian horde who did Human wave attacks - but Soviets/Russians were semi white and are also apart from Islamic or religious terrorists the only nationality that do meat shield attacks so are deplored not exulted.

    • @erikvan9582
      @erikvan9582 Před měsícem +1

      @@SCjunk Who compares ww2 Germany favourably to the Soviets again?

    • @ashbirk4681
      @ashbirk4681 Před měsícem +2

      From the Hagakure “A samurai who is dealt a fatal blow should kill 10 men before he falls”
      Sounds good on paper 🤷🏻‍♂️

    • @JTA1961
      @JTA1961 Před měsícem +1

      The land of the rising "SON"

    • @SCjunk
      @SCjunk Před měsícem

      @@erikvan9582 Plenty it started before WW2 ended - Patton actually said that the western Allies were fighting the wrong enemy. And it still is an on-going trope, that is one of the reasons you get sh!t in media especially in USA that Ukrainians are Nazis. They like most of Eastern Europe hate Russians not because they are right wing but because they were occupied 45 + years by Soviets/Russians, the German Nazi thugs were only there for 8 years max.

  • @WarblesOnALot
    @WarblesOnALot Před měsícem +15

    G'day,
    In January 1943 a Japanese Snubyoumarine launched one of those little 350 Hp versions from off the northern NSW Coast, Australia.
    It headed inland going West, and overflew Grafton, Glen Innes (my home town - which is how I come to know the story...), Inverell, Gravesend & Moree - before returning via
    Inverell to veer Northwest to cover Ashford, Emmaville Deepwater, Tenterfield, Casino, & Lismore ; before returning to it's Submarine Mother-Ship..., which then duly sank - not being found until about 1996 (?).
    My father said that because the RAAF had
    No Fighter Bases set up to defend the NSW Seaboard
    (when the Fighting was in New Guinea & Guadalcanal...), and the Army had no Radar or Anti-Aircraft Defences either - despite various Camps & Bases dotted and sprinkled all over the Map...;
    Australia & the US did
    NOTHING at all, whatsoever
    To
    Oppose the
    Submarine Reconnaissance of
    My Home Town.
    However, the Grafton PoLice rang the Glen Innes PoLice as the Seaplane departed, heading West & climbing over Jackadgery's Gap, obviously
    Following the Gwydir Highway.
    So Glen Innes got to sound it's
    Air Raid Siren,
    And on a Sunday Afternoon my
    Father marshalled his (first) wife & 2 kids in the
    Slit-Trench he'd dug in the Back Yard in '42 after Darwin (3,000 miles to the Northwest...) was bombed
    By
    Surprise
    In February.
    Hearing the whole Story
    In the 1960s,
    It struck me that
    If that was as close as
    WW-2
    ACTUALLY came to
    Glen Innes -
    Then the whole bloody
    Story was
    Vastly
    Oversold and
    Exagerated in it's
    Alleged
    "Importance".
    True Story.
    Such is life...
    Have a good one.
    Stay safe.
    ;-p
    Ciao !

    • @hodaka1000
      @hodaka1000 Před měsícem +1

      Never heard that before

    • @WarblesOnALot
      @WarblesOnALot Před měsícem +1

      @@hodaka1000
      G'day,
      It wasn't widely reported, but my father was an Engine Reconditioner, plugged into the local Militia (Home Guard...) and able to talk with most of the more mobile local Yokels ; and as the War went on & the Allies were winning,
      "Security" became less of a
      Thing
      Concerning the
      Successful but
      Ineffectual Recon. Flight from
      Yamba to Moree & back via Casino & Lismore.
      And Glen Innes is enough of a
      Backwater as to have no more people living here now than there have been for 150 years (!) ; so despite the New-Agers &
      Tree-Changers & other assorted
      Social Casualties & Refugees
      From the Cities...
      And about half the Population are
      "Locals" (attended Kindergarten in Town), the "Old Locals" followed their Parents & Grandparents through the local Kindergarten.
      And
      "Original Settlers are still living on
      Land Grants which their Family received from the
      Colonial Governor before
      1872 - when NSW became a
      Self-Governing Colony...
      I'm an "Old Local",
      So I know a few things (!).
      Such is life,
      Have a good one...
      Stay safe.
      ;-p
      Ciao !

  • @philipwilson4671
    @philipwilson4671 Před měsícem +11

    Element of Surprise! That was awesome. I didn't see that coming. 🙂

    • @sivalon1
      @sivalon1 Před měsícem

      It is amongst the weaponry of the Spanish Inquisition..

  • @StoneCresent
    @StoneCresent Před měsícem +24

    The M6As were thrown overboard not just to prevent examples from getting into Allied hands but to prevent them from being seen. They were painted in American markings, i.e. they intended to commit a war crime.

  • @user-je5do6jn2f
    @user-je5do6jn2f Před měsícem +6

    You used the folded version of the Tamiya kit as a reference, noice.

  • @josephstabile9154
    @josephstabile9154 Před měsícem +21

    Worthy of mention is that the Smithsonian today has one of these Seirans...

    • @raycollins4328
      @raycollins4328 Před měsícem +12

      I saw that aircraft under restoration at the Smithsonian’s Garber Restoration Facility in Maryland in 1986 or 1987. It’s currently on display at Udvar Hazy and I’m virtually certain it’s the only Seiran still in existence.

    • @kylanrober8754
      @kylanrober8754 Před měsícem +3

      I just saw it 3 days ago. She’s the last remaining example no less

  • @joewalker2152
    @joewalker2152 Před měsícem +5

    As a subscriber from when you had only a few hundred, THAT WAS YOUR BEST INTRO SO FAR!
    Please keep up your unique quirky intros.......👍

  • @anzaca1
    @anzaca1 Před měsícem +4

    15:27 Part of the reason for the inline engine, other than narrowing the fuselage, was that liquid-cooling meant that the engine could started in the hanger to warm it up, without worrying about it overheating.

    • @haley746
      @haley746 Před měsícem

      Didn’t they have a system to hook up the plane’s coolant to the sub to preheat it?

  • @Wookie120
    @Wookie120 Před měsícem +6

    A long time ago, in my teens in the late 70's I read a book on Japanese Submarines and their use. The subs and aircraft mentioned in your video were given a good account of in the book. Something I am wondering if you know though, the plane that fire bombed Oregon? It was launched off of its mother submarine over the stern as the sub was going full speed, In Reverse! Just a little historical anacdote for you. Really enjoy the videos and your delivery!

  • @ptonpc
    @ptonpc Před měsícem +10

    Those fish and crabs never saw it coming!

  • @stephenmeier4658
    @stephenmeier4658 Před měsícem +9

    Your presentation style is fantastic, and I love your quirky intros. Keep doing you!

  • @markrook6085
    @markrook6085 Před měsícem +6

    The Japanese failed to realize that the forests of coastal Oregon are very, very, WET, as anyone who’s ever lived there can testify. They dry out a bit in summer, but coastal fog keeps things nice and soggy. If they really wanted to start forest fires, they should have flown inland another 100 miles to reach the drier forests of the Cascades. THAT could have caused some real problems, especially in September.

  • @andreaslermen2008
    @andreaslermen2008 Před měsícem +13

    That intro...🤣🤣🤣

  • @brookeshenfield7156
    @brookeshenfield7156 Před měsícem +5

    Aloha and thank you for your great work. I am spreading the word about you!

  • @FRIEND_711
    @FRIEND_711 Před měsícem +7

    Another awesome video ^w^ As a Japanese viewer I love that you are talking a lot about Japanese planes as of late.
    However one thing caught my attention, its the submarine I-402.
    You said that the submarine was a tanker? I just checked Japanese wiki and there's no mention of it being a tanker and this is the first time I am hearing of this, May I ask the source for that specific information? I would like to know more about it.

  • @jcalvert6666
    @jcalvert6666 Před měsícem +3

    There was another Seiran / I-400 mission that reached advanced stages of planning. Operation PX . It actually had potential to do lot of damage . The idea was to use the planes to attack west coast port cities -San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles - with weapons developed by unit 731. Namely bombs filled with fleas carrying Bubonic Plague (also known as black death). Fortunately for everyonme japanese leaders realised that at this point biowar attack on US would not change the outcome of the war, and consequences for japan after the war ended would be utterly devastating .

  • @kidmohair8151
    @kidmohair8151 Před měsícem +2

    a giant slingshot?
    rubber band?
    a ship-borne...make that *submarine-borne* trebuchet
    would be a sight to behold.

  • @user-og8zt7bi2z
    @user-og8zt7bi2z Před měsícem +14

    Could you do a video on the planed next generation of imperial German planes? The ones that were planed but never entered service.

  • @tomarmadiyer2698
    @tomarmadiyer2698 Před měsícem +1

    BEST INTRO EVER!!!

  • @user-je5do6jn2f
    @user-je5do6jn2f Před měsícem +1

    The trainer with the skinny gear would be a great aftermarket mod for the Tamiya kit.

  • @kylanrober8754
    @kylanrober8754 Před měsícem +2

    I just saw the sole surviving aircraft at the udvar hazy Center the day before this video

  • @darekkijewski713
    @darekkijewski713 Před měsícem

    Thanks a lot, a great video, I think my 1/72 scale stash of unbuilt aircraft includes both the pontoon and wheeled versions of this unusula aircraft. Please keep thses videos coming. Aslo, your soothing voice makes all the difference... Greetings from Poland!

  • @memofromessex
    @memofromessex Před měsícem

    I love your sense of humour!

  • @robertbowers9856
    @robertbowers9856 Před měsícem

    As usual, I got a good laugh! My brother wrote a story that was published in a major magazine, about a Japanese fella that attacked the Oregon coast. He gave his family samuri sword in appology.

  • @woongah
    @woongah Před měsícem +2

    I see the inspiration for the Blue Noah comes from looong ago....

  • @SeannoG1
    @SeannoG1 Před měsícem +2

    These were the seaplanes that attacked the Panama Canal during Operation: Clear Sky Storm

  • @gregshepheard3371
    @gregshepheard3371 Před měsícem

    Thank you so much for telling these stories, you are a superstar

  • @uncleeric3317
    @uncleeric3317 Před měsícem +1

    M6A without those pontoons was an otherwise sleek and beautiful plane.

  • @michaelgautreaux3168
    @michaelgautreaux3168 Před měsícem +1

    Perfect! Ah. The element of surprise. Issued by the ton in well motivated Scout platoons organic in Armor & Infantry formations. Continuity varies widely bcs being a component of "Conventional Warfare" units but a seasoned platoon of "Cowboys" (Hooligans) can deliver copious amounts element 123 w/ career damaging if not ended results. The fallout is usually seismic....😆😆

  • @peregrinemccauley5010
    @peregrinemccauley5010 Před měsícem +2

    Elementary my Dear Watson.

  • @anzaca1
    @anzaca1 Před měsícem +1

    The I-400 subs themselves were incredible feats of engineering on their own. The US actually destroyed them because they didn't want the Soviets finding out and getting a look at them.

  • @himwo.
    @himwo. Před měsícem

    Technically speaking, the Fa 330 is an autogyro! I know it's not the focus of this video, but even deploying the thing took some time as it was stowed in two watertight containers on the hull of the U-Boat. So the U-Boat had to surface, check if nothing and nobody is around, then assemble the autogyro, tether it to the U-Boat and man it, have the U-Boat reach sufficient speed for the Autogyro to fly...
    It wasn't very effective, in one case the outlook on the Fa 330 spotted something and the U-Boat steamed over, only to discover that the alleged ship was an island.

  • @vipertwenty249
    @vipertwenty249 Před měsícem +1

    You still have almost the coolest logo - have you considered making it electric blue to make it even cooler? Perhaps with a few icicles?

  • @user-je5do6jn2f
    @user-je5do6jn2f Před měsícem +1

    Kawasaki: Leggo my Atsuka!

  • @durandpierre6720
    @durandpierre6720 Před měsícem +3

    le croiseur sous marin surcouf embarqué aussi un hydravion

    • @vac65
      @vac65 Před měsícem +2

      Yessss, seems nobody remembers Sourcuf!

    • @MaticTheProto
      @MaticTheProto Před měsícem

      @@vac65I know it thanks to steel ocean

  • @user-je5do6jn2f
    @user-je5do6jn2f Před měsícem +1

    I have the 1/48 Tamiya kit on my Shelves of Shame.

  • @pavelslama5543
    @pavelslama5543 Před 2 dny

    Im sure someone in the japanese imperial navy pictured in his mind a trebuchet big enough to cause some forest fire or something in Oregon.

  • @radoslavkosil7450
    @radoslavkosil7450 Před měsícem +1

    11:40 pretty sure it could carry 3 aircraft not 2.
    *edit it was said at the end

  • @josephglatz25
    @josephglatz25 Před měsícem +1

    I think the people who came up with the M-6A forgot that Combat Air Patrol exists.

  • @gregdrew874
    @gregdrew874 Před měsícem +2

    Man, that intro was like trudging a mile 😓thru the hot dessert for a half a bottle of warm water.

  • @Sniping_badger31
    @Sniping_badger31 Před měsícem

    Love your videos! Would like to see a Japanese j7w video, neat plane that came very late in the war

  • @rockitsurjon8629
    @rockitsurjon8629 Před měsícem

    It's going alright. Thank you for asking.

  • @johngettins794
    @johngettins794 Před měsícem

    I believe aircraft readiness crews would have pre heated the engine oil to allow for a fast get away.

  • @monostripeexplosiveexplora2374

    It is a cool aircraft

  • @bacarnal
    @bacarnal Před měsícem

    Yokosuka... having been based in Japan at Camp Fuji and hearing how the locals pronounced it it sounds closer to Yō KŌsss kă, the "u" almost silent and blended with the "sss" sound.😊

  • @RectalRooter
    @RectalRooter Před měsícem +1

    Cool Comment The End :)

  • @user-je5do6jn2f
    @user-je5do6jn2f Před měsícem +1

    The Seiran looked like a Judy on a diet with floats.

  • @vipondiu
    @vipondiu Před měsícem +1

    1:01 I'm pretty sure this is bismuth

  • @jimroberts3009
    @jimroberts3009 Před měsícem

    It looks a bit like the Heinkel He 112, which Japan had purchased a few of, from Germany, before WW2

  • @RemusKingOfRome
    @RemusKingOfRome Před měsícem +1

    Newcastle, N.S.W, Australia was attacked at night by sub planes, at the start of the war. No one in Australia knew what was happening. j

  • @johnking6252
    @johnking6252 Před měsícem +2

    How about an aircraft that carries mini-subs ? Just saying, it's war , spend more money !! Hahahaha. ✌️

  • @natus1
    @natus1 Před měsícem

    The front part of the m6a looks like ju 87

  • @mogaman28
    @mogaman28 Před měsícem +1

    The pilot who bombed that Oregon forest didn't came back to say sorry?

    • @markrook6085
      @markrook6085 Před měsícem +5

      He did come back in the early 60’s, at the invitation of the City of Brookings. Fujita accepted the invite, but was apprehensive about how he would be received. He actually brought his sword with him, to commit seppuku if he was attacked, or was “dishonored”. He was surprised to be warmly welcomed like a celebrity by the people of Oregon. And no apologies were necessary. It was wartime, and people understood that. He donated his sword to the City of Brookings, where it can be seen today in the local museum.

    • @Zaprozhan
      @Zaprozhan Před měsícem +2

      @@markrook6085 Truly a class act, all around.

    • @markrook6085
      @markrook6085 Před měsícem +1

      @@Zaprozhan He bombed Oregon, only to become an honored figure in the state’s history. Oregon was the only state of the continental US to be attacked by Japanese submarines, aircraft, and the infamous balloon bombs.

  • @davey7452
    @davey7452 Před měsícem

    Immediately after Japan surrendered the US navy seized the carrier subs for technical studies, when it was finished they were towed out to sea and sunk .

  • @mlalbaitero
    @mlalbaitero Před měsícem

    6:18 why's the wing like that?

    • @freakyjim2131
      @freakyjim2131 Před měsícem

      The Arado 231 had wings that were offset in height in order for them to be able to fold over each other to reduce width for a submarines hanger.

  • @digschopper9321
    @digschopper9321 Před měsícem +1

    I pop out of a hole...SUPPLIES!!!

  • @PunkinsSan
    @PunkinsSan Před měsícem +2

    Story like from ww2 Tom Clancy 😅😅😅

  • @KARLMARX56
    @KARLMARX56 Před měsícem

    Pilot- WTF!?!?
    Me- I thought I was supposed to paint the whole plane in
    Glo N the Dark, sry
    ( in Japanese, of course)

  • @philliplopez8745
    @philliplopez8745 Před měsícem

    It is very clear that the United States Government knew full well that Japan was coming .

  • @ReisskIaue
    @ReisskIaue Před měsícem +1

    If IJN would have been able to deploy all 18 I-400s with 3 A6M each it would have meant that there were at max 48 A6Ms at once doing surprise attacks and maybe 18 subs disturbing merchants. But since USA had MAGIC I doubt the subs would be there for a long time (maybe after an initial surprise success) and they would start to triangulate them if they made radio transmissions and hunt down send the subs to the bottom of the Pacific (similar to what British [and Americans] did to German wolf packs. And without the subs the planes (if they somehow miracously managed to survive being sunk with their subs) wouldn't be of any use on American West Coast. I don't sink the I-400s would have lasted very long.

  • @bigearl3867
    @bigearl3867 Před měsícem +2

    Sounds a lot like early attempts at Gundams.

  • @patrickcardon1643
    @patrickcardon1643 Před měsícem

    Still hard to believe that someone running profits & losses on banzai charges and kamikazes would come to the conclusion it was all profit ...

  • @sski
    @sski Před měsícem +1

    GENERAL LIMEYJAW: STOP RIGHT THERE! (with your talk of trebuchets flinging M6A's into the sea) TOO SILLY! YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CUT THAT PART OUT FOR THE GOOD OF EVERYONE! Carry on then.

  • @user-tb6uj9hz6k
    @user-tb6uj9hz6k Před měsícem +9

    The US. blocked oil to Japan.
    So the Japanese had only two options, surrender or attack.
    And most American generals knew that the Japanese absolutely chose to attack.
    So the Pear Harbor incident was not a surprise attack.

    • @erikvan9582
      @erikvan9582 Před měsícem

      Perhaps but it was a stupid move,Japan already had a massive empire,Manchukuo,Korea,Taiwan,all the territories that were handed to them as reward for ww1 support for the allies,they could have stopped their ongoing invasion which was already draining them and focused on mainaining their current colonial holdings,they were evil as the devil himself but well,we put up with it even today as long as they don't venture too close to us,they then could have built up their technology learning from the Nazis,build up those synfuel programs until they could sustain themselves and fight when they were truly ready

    • @HeedTheLorax
      @HeedTheLorax Před měsícem +3

      1+1=3 in your world?

    • @roo72
      @roo72 Před měsícem +3

      Nonsense. There was a third choice, simply not to go to war.

    • @yoseipilot
      @yoseipilot Před měsícem +1

      And these Americans generals pretending, that Pearl Harbor attack was not their fault, making them most longest hypocrites in history

  • @brianford8493
    @brianford8493 Před měsícem +1

    The ultimate surprise nothing 😅

  • @durandpierre6720
    @durandpierre6720 Před měsícem +1

    pas si sur que Pearl Harbor soit vraiment une attaque surprise lol

  • @fakshen1973
    @fakshen1973 Před měsícem +1

    If Japan had the resources od the USA, Tokyo would rule the world today... and I'm not saying yhat would be a good thing.

  • @colinmartin9797
    @colinmartin9797 Před měsícem +3

    My thumb was hovering dangerously over the unsubscribe button for that joke.
    You passed. But you're on thin dihydrogen monoxide.

  • @AnEnemy100
    @AnEnemy100 Před měsícem

    The Surcouf was not axis.

  • @1207rorupar
    @1207rorupar Před měsícem

    But if Japan ever used chemical or biological warfare against the US with the subs and planes and/or Panama Canal, then things could've been very different at the end of the war

  • @HeedTheLorax
    @HeedTheLorax Před měsícem +1

    Get to the point maybe

  • @SCjunk
    @SCjunk Před měsícem

    There was also operation PX which was a planned attack on Los Angelis and San-Franciso possibly other West coast cities with Biological weapons developed by Unti 731 which was IJA facility whereas I-400 series were IJN and Army and Navy weren't on good terms, so the plan was opposed by the Head of the Army General Yoshijiro Umezu, who finally got the plan stopped on March 26th 1945 - no doubt the task force off Okinawa had something to do with it, so the proposed attack on Ulithi was formulated but seemingly without the bio hazard stuff. But rumours persist of the Emperor approving a revised bio attack plan to begin on September 22nd 1945, possibly the rumour persists because of conspiracy theory - 1). Op. PX having an alternate name Operation Cherry Blossom by Night (Japanese operations rarely if ever had dual code names) and 2) the alternate operation which the study cherry blossom is alleged to have started on the same day Op. PX was cancelled March 26th, this is added to by 3). the US undue haste in disposal of three 1-400s probably semi complete and thus unsailable were hurried scuttled off Fukue Island Japan under Op. Roads End with alleged of reasons mainly around that Soviet inspection teams were looking for captured material, but the captured 1-400 1-401 plus I-201 and I-203 submarines were taken to Pearl Habour for further study and sunk off Hawaii on several conflicting dates June 4th and June 15th 1946, which by mid 1946 the fear of Soviet interference is ridiculous, only this only adds to the scuttle-butt rumours.