How Japan Built The Largest Submarines Of WWII — With Hangars And Fighters Inside

Описание: They were the largest submarines of World War II — and among the most ambitious ever built. The I-400–class submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy were true underwater aircraft carriers, capable of sailing halfway around the world, surfacing in the dark, launching three Aichi M6A Seiran attack planes, and disappearing beneath the waves before the enemy ever realized what happened.

Designed to strike the Panama Canal, Pearl Harbor, or even U.S. mainland targets, the I-400 program was Japan’s final attempt to shift the balance of the war. Enormous range, massive diesel engines, pressure hulls big enough for hangars, and pilot crews trained for secret one-way missions made these subs one of the most extraordinary engineering feats of WWII.

But they came too late. When the war ended, the United States captured the I-400s — and was stunned by their size, sophistication, and potential. Fearing Soviet interest, the U.S. scuttled them in deep water to keep the technology secret.

This is the hidden story of the I-400 class — the underwater giants built to change world history.