1932 Submarine Aircraft Carrier

[Wizzo]

Some of the guys at the dive club was telling me about this wreck just off the south coast of the UK.

An experimental 1932 Submarine Aircraft Carrier! She was lost at sea when the hanger doors was accidentally opened while she was still submerged with all 60 crew meeting their doom.

I've been told that shortly after a treaty was signed banning aircraft being launched from a submersible vessel, hence why the technology died out. Heaven knows what submarines we would have today if the experiments continued.

All things going well I may dive on her one day.  You can read more from the link below.

http://www.divernet.com/Wrecks/wreck_tours/159473/wreck_tour_5_the_m2.html

[lkjohnson1950]

The Japanese built something similar, but much larger during WW2. The general feeling was that it was a waste of time and effort, since even with it being the largest sub ever built at the time, it only carried 3 planes and they were seaplanes, not very high performance.

[cosworth151]

It was the I-400 class. The original idea was to use them to attack the Panama Canal.

http://www.ww2pacific.com/i-400.html

I think the French may have experimented with the idea, too. France also built a sub with two of the same 8 inch guns that their cruisers carried, in a water tight turret.

Good luck on getting to dive to the M2, Wizzo! 

[Scott]

Wild, I never realized that there were actually aircraft carrying subs.  Thanks for the interesting reads.  

Wreck diving is surreal.  Do it if you can, but with a very experienced dive master and always stay in sight of your dive buddy.  Getting hung up on something while inside a wreck is a really scary moment.

[F1fanaticBD]

That was wild, really wild experiments, I have feeling if they could make a few adjustments, it can still be workable designs..

But hats off to guy who wanted to make it a reality..