The Seiran was designed to be carried on I-400 Class subs: largest of WWII at 400 ft long, displacing 4,500 tons, surface range of 37,500 nm at 14 knots. Seiran had distinction of being only sub-borne aircraft built with offensive missions as primary role; others built for reconnaissance. War ended, however, before first sortie which was to have been against the Navy's anchorage at Ulithi Atoll, about 200 miles south of Guam. (Initial plans had been to attack the lock gates of the Panama Canal). Original specs called for fast, catapult-launched aircraft without undercarriage; this was later changed to provide for twin floats. Despite added complexity of providing for easy storage in watertight hangar of a sub, project progressed smoothly. M6A1 had wing- and tail-folding mechanisms. Wings swiveled on rear spar to lie flat along the fuselage; the tip of the vertical tail folded to starboard, and the horizontal tail surfaces folded downward. Despite apparent complexity, first of 3 aircraft could be assembled in 7 minutes by a crew of 4 ; the second and third took about 15 and 20 minutes respectively. Fluorescent paint applied to important parts to aid in night assembly. Nanzan trainer version fitted with conventional inward-retracting undercarriage, and the folding tip of the rudder was eliminated as absence of floats improved directional stability. The First Submarine Flotilla--including two I-400 class subs and the I-13 and I-14--put to sea Jul 45, but ware ended before an attack took place.
I highly recommend the Monogram Aviation Publications book on the Seiran, if you can find it.
This photo was taken when the Seiran was still in storage at Garber.