Darryl Legg Aviation Art Print portraying a Aichi M6A Seiran
Surprise from the Deep - The M6A Seiran
Among the most unusual aircraft of the Second World War, the Aichi M6A Seiran (Clear Sky Storm) was a purpose-built floatplane designed to be launched from Japanese I-400–class submarines. Conceived for surprise attacks on distant targets, including the Panama Canal, the Seiran combined the sleek lines of a high-speed bomber with the adaptability of a naval floatplane. Its wings and floats could be folded for storage within the submarine’s watertight hangar, allowing rapid assembly and launch by catapult once surfaced. Powered by a 1,400 hp Aichi Atsuta engine, it could carry a torpedo or 800 kg bomb over considerable range. Although operational plans were curtailed by Japan’s surrender, the Seiran remains a fascinating example of innovative, if ultimately impractical, wartime design
The Imperial Japanese Navy most likely intended the name Seiran to evoke the idea of a sudden storm emerging from a clear sky - a somewhat poetic reflection of the aircraft’s intended surprise role: launching unexpected attacks from submarines far from home waters. It’s quite an evocative and fitting name for such a unique aircraft.
Key Product Information
Each print measures 14" × 11.5" (17" × 14.75" including borders) / 356 mm × 294 mm (432 mm × 375 mm with borders).
Produced on 285 gsm matt fine art paper using lightfast archival inks, this Limited Edition of just 50 copies ensures lasting quality and exclusivity.
