Japan’s Underwater Aircraft Carriers

 

During World War II, Imperial Japan developed the massive I-400-class submarines, the largest non-nuclear subs ever built until the 1960s. Displacing 6,500 tons and stretching 400 feet, each carried three Aichi M6A Seiran floatplane bombers folded in a 100-foot watertight hangar. With a 37,500-mile range—1½ times around the world—they were designed for surprise strikes on the U.S. mainland or the Panama Canal.

Only three entered service. The war ended before their planned attack on the Panama Canal (Operation PX) could launch. Surrendered in 1945, they revealed Japan’s audacious vision of global submarine aviation.

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