Japanese Submarine Aircraft
Online reviews

Cybermodeler.com
By Ray Mehlberger

I got this book for review back in 2002, but it never got reviewed here on Cybermodeler along with some of the other Mushroom Model Publications (MMP) books. So, here…without further ago is the review.

The book comes in MMP’s usual 6 ½” x 9 ½” soft-cover format. It contains 128 pages.

The book tells the stories of using submarines to transport aircraft to areas of operations that was beyond the aircraft’s normal flying range. This was first attempted by Germany during WWI and also experimented with, about that same time period, by both Britain and the U.S. However, interest by these three countries soon discarded and only Japan persisted with the tactic. The book covers all the stories of operations by these countries in detail.

The book features 63 black and white photos, a line drawing of a Japanese I type sub carrying a “Glen” float plane, 12 line drawings of submarine carried aircraft in 1/72nd scale, three cockpit interior drawings of the “Glen” along with tail and fuselage detail drawings, a shot of a “Glen” inside it’s submarine hangar. Cockpit illustrations from handbooks of the interior of the “Seiran” and 18 full color illustrations of the types of aircraft that were carried aboard Japanese submarines:
Yokosho I-GO (a two-view)
Yokosho 2-GO (a two-view)
Watanabe E9Y1 (single-view)
Kagisho E14Y1 (2 single-views)
Kagisho E14Y1 (4 two-views)
Aichi M6A1 Seiran (a three-view)
Aichi M6A1 Seiran (single-view) float version
Aichi M6A1k Nanzan (single-view) wheeled version

There are 53 full color photos of a Seiran that has been restored at the NASM Garber Facility as walk-around shots, showing all of its anatomy. The book ends with a page of bibliography.

A Japanese submarine that carried a “Glen” float plane is credited with being the only aircraft that attacked the mainland of the U.S. It dropped a few incendiary bombs on a forest in Oregon and started small fires. Not much damage was really done, because of much rain that had fallen the week before in the area. A huge Japanese sub was built to carry 3 Seiran aircraft for a bombing attack on the Panama Canal. This sortie was aborted due to the war ending. Both these action stories are described in the book and are interesting reading.

This book is neat, because it tells about little known aircraft/submarine cooperative actions during WWII. It will be of great interest to historians and modelers alike.

As an aside, Nichimo made a I-type sub with a Glen mounted on it, in 1/200th scale. My review of this kit can still be found on this site.

The Glen and Seiran aircraft have both appeared in 1/72nd scale by a couple companies too.

Highly recommended.

Reviewed by Mark Smith
at www.rollmodels.net

Published in 2002, this is a volume few could have imagined even ten or twelve years ago: one hundred and twenty eight pages detailing the development, operational history, structural details, and colors and markings of JNAF submarine-borne aircraft. This has always been an obscure and esoteric subject, and it has taken sixty years or so before anything remotely comprehensive has been compiled and published. Mr. Januszewski is to be congratulated. The author is also responsible for the meticulous 1/72 drawings of five different aircraft designed for the remarkable purpose of being assembled and launched from surfaced submarines for reconnaissance and attack purposes. Six of these pages are devoted to the E14Y1 "Glen," and ten are given to the last word on the subject, the Aichi M6A1 Seiran. Frankly, I bought the book for my interest in the Seiran, but the 22 pages devoted to the "Glen," especially in operations off the American coast, were fascinating. To fly these aircraft was an elite assignment, and yet most of these men are largely forgotten (compared to JNAF fighter pilots, for instance) due to the clandestine nature of these units.

This is a particularly important book for anyone interested in the subject for the simple reason that only one monograph has been published on any of these aircraft, the old Monogram title on the Seiran that is long out of print and now a collector's item. But this book is much more complete regarding that aircraft, and if you are planning on building and detailing Tamiya's 1/48 or 1/72 scale model, it's the best reference you'll find (though it must be admitted that Tamiya's kits of this airplane are great references in themselves). There are no FAOW or Maru Mechanic titles on Seiran. But in this book there are fifteen pages of Tim Hortman's color photographs of the sole remaining Seiran before, during, and after its superb restoration by the National Air and Space Museum. Tim has spent considerable time documenting the Japanese aircraft held by the NASM, and I believe one day his photos will be of great historical value. The Seiran photos are a case in point, especially appreciated now that the aircraft is restored. The coverage of the cockpit area (11 photos) is particularly good.

In addition, there are fourteen pages of color drawings of five different aircraft showing off some surprisingly colorful birds, as well as perspective views of details superbly rendered by the author, including three drawings of different cockpit details for "Glen," the sort of thing one might have considered lost forever to history. Numerous photos and some small drawings are included of the submarines that hosted these aircraft, inserted appropriately in the smooth narrative.

So many books on aviation history are largely redundant and rely heavily on the previous literature. To see a book that offers so much new material on such an elusive subject is a joy. I can remember seeing a grainy photo about thirty years ago with the caption, "the only known photo of the E14Y1 "Glen." I recognized it in this book - one of sixteen photos of "Glen," a few surprisingly clear.

I like all the Mushroom books I've seen but this is my favorite. I only wish it was in hard cover and in a bit larger format. For under twenty dollars, though, it's great value. Highly recommended!

Review printed in Model Boats Magazine - April 2003

Internet Modeler
Reviewed by Jim Schubert

Buy this book if you are at all interested in Japanese naval or aviation history as it is the best single source on its subject that I have found.  There are minor problems with it as regards its internal consistency and the author uses the term "Yokosho" Yokosuka Kaigun KO-SHO - "Yokosho" for short) for what we are more used to seeing as "Yokosuka" (Yo-Kos Ka).  Some of the phrasing is also distractingly awkward due, probably, to English not being the author's cradle tongue.  These are, however, very minor negatives and they in no way diminish the book's overall value.

 The Imperial Japanese navy was the only naval power to include airplane carrying submarines in their strategic planning for WWII.  The authors set out for us in great detail the development and deployment of this weapon-system.  In this well researched and crafted book he surveys eight airplane types:

KARL KASPAR U-1:  Two purchased by IJN from Germany in 1923.  USA also purchased one.  Usually identified as Caspar-Heinkel U-1.

YOKOSUKA 1-Go:  IJN built one derivative of the U-1 in 1927 powered by a Gasuden-LeRhone rotary engine.

YOKOSUKA 2-Go:  Kawanishi Type 91; E6Y1 based on the British Parnall Peto.  Ten were built in 1929, the last of which was retired in 1943.

WATANABE E9W1:  "Slim".  34 were built in 1934/37 and served in early WWII operations as scouts.

WATANABE E14W:  One built in 1937 for competition, which was won by the "Glen".

YOKOSUKA E14Y:  "Glen",one prototype and 138 production airplanes were built starting in 1938.  Served with fleet through most of WWII as scouts and light bombers.

AICHI M6A1 SEIRAN:  26 were built in 1943/44 for medium bomber and torpedo duties from the Sen-Toku class submarines.

AICHI M6A1K NANZAN:  Two prototypes were built in 1943 with wheeled undercarriages as trainers for Seiran crews.

KUGISHO OHKA 43 Ko:  None of these extended range "Baka" suicide bombs were actually built following the construction of a mockup in 1945.

Not mentioned is the SUZUKI 18 SHI, MXS12 single place bomber designed to carry two torpedoes.  The second prototype, at least, of this 4,470 kg MTOGW plane actually flew from a submarine catapult and dropped torpedoes during testing in may of 1945.  No MXS12's, beyond the prototypes were built.  I will endeavor to produce a general arrangement drawing of the MXS12 and a table of its leading particulars for inclusion in the SPRUE BITS section of the August issue of this magazine.

The author also addresses eleven types of Japanese aircraft carrying submarines:

JUNSEN 1M:  One built to test operations with the Yokosuka 2-Go in 1932.  It was active in WWII sans an airplane.

JUNSEN 2M:  One built to test operations with the Watanabe E9W Slim in 1935.  It, too, was active in WWII.

JUNSEN 3M:  Two built in 1937 to develop the strategies, tactics and procedures of operating airplanes from submarines  J3Ms carried either two Slims or two Glens.  These boats were also active in WWII.

KO-GATA A(1):  Three built in 1941/2  to carry one Slim or one Glen.

KO-GATA A(2):  One built in 1944 to carry one Glen.

KAI-KO-TAKA (A):  Two built in 1944/5 to carry two Seirans.

OTSU-GATA B(1):  20 built in 1940/3 to carry one Glen.  Of this class I-17 shelled oil derricks near Goleta, California; I-25 shelled Fort Stevens at the mouth of the Columbia river near Astoria, Oregon and later her Glen made two bombing sorties to drop Thermite bombs in the forests near Brookings and Port Orford, Oregon and I-26 shelled the lighthouse at Estevan Point on the west coast of Vancouver Island, Canada.

NB:  I have used the Roman letter "I" for the Kana symbol, pronounced "EE", in the submarines' individual ship's numbers.

OTSU-GATA B(2):  Six built in 1943/4 to carry one Glen.

OTSU-GATA B(3):  Three built in 1944 to carry one Glen.

OTSU-GATA B(4):  Eight were ordered and canceled in 1943.  they would have carried one Glen each.

SEN-TOKU:  Five of these were laid down in 1944/5.  Two were canceled, one was converted to a tanker and the remaining two, I-400 and I-401, were intended to launch three, and maybe four, Seirans each against the Panama Canal locks.  Deteriorating Japanese fortunes caused their initial operation to be directed against the US anchorage at Ulithi instead in company with I-14, but the war ended whilst they were enroute and the three boats surrendered at sea after destroying their airplanes.  These were the largest submarines built during WWII and were not exceeded in size until the building of nuclear subs during the Cold War

Hindsight shows that the IJN did not use their large fleet of fine, modern, submarines very well in WWII.  They were far too cautious and kept control of submarine operations focused at too high a level of command rather than doing what the German, British and US navies did, which was to essentially turn their submariners loose with instructions to, "Go get 'em."

Submarines bearing airplanes is a fascinating subject.  I got interested in it back in 1994 when built a model of I-25 and her Glen based on the Fujimi 1:700 scale kit.  That's when I began to research the subject more thoroughly than usual, including visiting Brookings, Port Orford and Fort Stevens in Oregon.  In 1997 I wrote an article for the IPMS-Seattle newsletter on the subject prompted by having read the obituary of Nobuo Fujita who piloted the Glen that bombed the US. 

Kit wise, we modelers are well served in regards this subject.  Fujimi offer the Otsu-Gata B(1) sub, of which class was I-25, as a 1:700 scale waterline kit.  Nichimo offers an even better 1:200 scale Otsu-Gata b(1) and pit Road/Sky Wave offer a double kit of Sen-Toku class subs, which kit includes markings for both I-400 and I-401.  The publisher of this magazine tells me I'll be doing a "Build" article on my Fujimi I-25 for a future issue.  As to the airplanes - Fujimi has the best 1:72 scale Glen.  Shun MPM's Glen as it lacks detail and is inaccurate.  Tamiya offer the Seiran and Nanzan in both 1:48 and 1:72 scales and all four kits are excellent.  Again, shun MPM's offerings of these two types as they have overly long, at least two scale feet, fuselages and other inaccuracies.  Tamiya got theirs right because they aided in the restoration of the Seiran at the NASM.

The 128 pages of this book are very well printed on glossy paper stock of good weight.  The glossy card stock cover is printed in color with a profile of the Seiran on the front and a color photo of the NASM's Seiran, in the restoration shop at Silver Hill, on the back.

By the numbers, here's what you get in this valuable book:  53 color photos, 63 B&W photos, 11 general arrangement three (or more) view drawings, 14 perspective drawings, 3 shaded drawings, 4 drawings of submarines, 9 color profiles, 1 three-view color rendering, 6 two-view color renderings and one map.  All of this, plus the generally readable text, provides just about all the information on the subject that an enthusiast reader could want.  If you are a scholar specializing in the subject, you'll have to go to original sources for more information.

To repeat the advice with which I started this review - buy this book.

Further Reading Suggestions:

SILENT SIEGE III:  Bert Webber, Webb Research Group Pubs., Medford, Oregon, 1997, ISBN 0-936738-73-1.

SUBMARINES OF THE IMPERIAL JAPANESE NAVY:  D. carpenter and N. Polmar, Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, ISBN 0-87021-682-1.

THE JAPANESE SUBMARINE FORCE AND WORLD WAR II:  C. Boyd and A. Yoshida, Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, 1995, ISBN 1-5570-080-0.

MONOGRAM CLOSE-UP 13, AICHI M6A1 SEIRAN:  Robert C. Mikesh, Monogram Aviation Pubs., Boylston, Massachusetts, 1975, ISBN 0--914144-13-8.

Modeling Madness
Reviewed by Scott Van Aken

It never ceases to amaze me that new information is constantly being brought forth regarding Japanese aircraft of WW II. I guess that is because most of what is written is not in English so it takes time for that information to hit the shelves around here. A case in point is this particular book from Mushroom Models Publications.

In the back of my mind, I have always known that the Japanese Navy was a proponent of submarine-operated aircraft. It just never really hit me on how much this was true until I read this book. Unlike other navies who basically just tinkered with the idea, the Japanese did a great deal of development in the field and produced viable aircraft. They also designed many of their huge fleet submarines around the need to carry aircraft. In the beginning of the war, these planes were used a great deal for reconnaissance of major cities and harbors, including those of the United States. It is a sub launched plane that did the only mainland U.S. bombing during the war and while highly ineffective in terms of actual damage, was able to glean resources away from the front lines to protect from a threat that never developed.

The book covers all of the known sub-launched aircraft and even the prototypes that never really made it. There is also a history of sub-launched planes, going into the work of not only Japan, but other nations. There are lots of photographs, most of which I have never seen, as well as nicely done three views of the various aircraft. Since only one aircraft of all the types is still extant, there is not much in the way of close up photos for the other aircraft. However there are some very good drawings showing some of the more unusual features of these planes. The M6A1 Seiran is the only plane that has survived and there are many photos of this plane before and during restoration.

Also included in the book is a table listing all of the aircraft carrying subs and their eventual fate. Not surprisingly, most of them were destroyed during the war. In addition, there are a number of very well done color profiles and three views of the planes. I found the book to be fascinating reading and one that I can highly recommend to you.

Hyperscale
Reviewed by Brett Green

Mushroom Model Publications return to some serious esoteria with their latest release, "Japanese Submarine Aircraft".

The book comprises 128 pages in 9.5" x 6.5" format, with soft covers and including a fourteen page colour profile section and a further seventeen pages of colour walkaround photos.

After introductory text describing submarine aviation in general and the development of this field in Japan, the remainder of the book examines particular submarine aircraft by type.

Each chapter is devoted to a specific aircraft, and is generously illustrated with photographs, plans, scrap-view drawings and tables. Seven aircraft types are covered, but the greatest attention is focussed on the Kugisho E14Y1 (Glen) and the Aichi M6A Seiran/Nanzan.

The text throughout is clear, concise and logically organised. My only criticism with the book's format, in common with some others in this series, is that many of the photographs are quite small. A few interesting photos are also darkly reproduced, making it difficult to discern details.

The fourteen page colour profile section includes multiple views of 13 prototype and operational submarine aircraft.

The rare M6A1 Seiran at the Garber facility of the National Air and Space Museum in Washington is well documented with over 50 colour photographs. The interior is especially well covered.

This book will be a valuable resource for any modeller building Japanese Submarine Aircraft, and to the aircraft historian.

Recommended