The Underwater Japanese Aircraft Carrier

Here’s an interesting bit of history: during World War II, the Japanese made several large submarines that were able to carry and launch small planes. The I-400-class submarines literally were underwater aircraft carriers. The idea being, of course, that the Japanese could launch sneak attacks with planes that seemingly appeared out of nowhere.

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A small hangar contained up to three airplanes with collapsible wings that would be launched from a catapult track (much like modern air craft carriers). Of course, the submarine had to surface first.

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They were the largest submarines made until the nuclear subs of the 60s. Reminds of me the anime Space Battleship Yamato.

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Thanks, Wikipedia. That gives me another idea for a ship in a bottle: a submarine in a jug literally filled with murky water.

PS. And oh how the times have changed. Or haven’t changed? I don’t know. X-47B stealth drone successfully launches from an aircraft carrier.