The FReeper Foxhole's TreadHead Tuesday - Japanese Armor of WWII - Oct. 5th, 2004

www.wwiivehicles.com ^

[SAMWolf]

Tankette Type 92 and Tankette Type 94 Te-Ke

Design/Production

In the 1930s the Army requested a vehicle that could tow an armored trailer with ammunition to forward areas.

Description

Hull was riveted. Front mounted engine, rear compartment with large access door.

Type 92

Turret was traversed by using shoulder against the MG. If turret was facing forward driver couldn't open hatch. Their was asbestos insulation in the turret to reduce the heat inside.

Later model had better suspension which lengthened chassis. Suspension was designed by Tomio Hara. Often threw track on high speed turns.

Usage

Type 94 diesel prototype

Usually towed a tracked trailer that carried supplies. Used in China, Malaya, and Burma. Each infantry division was given a company of 6 vehicles. Withdrawn after participating in early part of Burma campaign.

A few may have had 37 mm guns installed in turret.

---

Tankette Type 97 Te-Ke / Ke-Ke

Design/Production

Tokyo Motor Industry (later Hino Motors) built 2 prototypes in 1937. The 1st model had the engine and driver at the front and the turret in the rear. It was later moved to the front so that the crew could better communicate.

Type 97

Description

Riveted construction and a rear mounted engine. The driver sat on the left of the commander. Interior was lined with heat absorbing asbestos sheets. Sometimes a 7.7mm MG was shipped instead of 37mm gun.

The turret had a hinged access door at the rear for the commander.

Usage

Type 97 Te-Ke

Used in all fronts. Initially designed for reconnaissance they were often employed as infantry support. In some instances they were used for observation posts. Also used as an ammunition carrier that could tow an ammunition trailer. A company was anywhere from 10 to 17 vehicles.

---

Type 92, Type 93, Type 95 Ha-Go,
Type 3 Ke-Ri, Type 4 Ke-Nu, Type 98-B Ke-N

:

Design/Production

The Type 89 Medium was too slow for mechanized operations so a faster model was needed. Two prototypes were completed in 1934 by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to meet the requirements of the Army. These were tested in China and Japan. The company called them HA-GO, and the army called them KE-GO. Production started in 1935, and 100 were produced by 1939. Mitsubishi, Hiigata, Tekkosho, Kobe Seikosho, and Kokura Rikugan Zoheisho manufactured them.

Type 2:
Same as the Ke-Ni but with a newer 37 mm gun. Production didn't start until 1944. Only a few were finished before the end of the war.

Description

Type 92:
All welded.

Type 93:
No Data

Type 95

Type 95 Ha-Go, Type 3 Ke-Ri, Type 4 Ke-Nu:
The turret was offset to the left. Hand traversed turret. Hull was riveted, bolted and welded. Asbestos padding was put around compartment to keep the temperature as low as possible as there was a space between the asbestos and the side of the tank. Drive sprocket was in the front and idler in the rear. No radio's as standard equipment, a few commander's vehicles did have one installed. Muzzle velocity was 2,214 ft/sec.


Type 95 Ha-Go

It had many vulnerable points, with gaps, between the hull and turret. The turret could be jammed by a knife. The vision slits let bullets into the tank.

A few vehicles had main gun replaced by Type 98 47mm.

Type 35 (Special):
In Manchuria some had their suspensions modified to help improve the ride crossing terrain.

Type 3 Ke-Ri:
57mm Model 97 gun installed. Cramped turret. A few test vehicles were produced in 1943.

Type 4 Ke-Nu:
Used turret of Type 97 Medium tank to alleviate cramped turret. 19,000 lb. 100 converted in 1944. Saw little service.

Type 98-A Ke-Ni, Type 2 Ke-To:
Was designed to replace the Type 95, but due to difficulties with retooling the factories and the diminished need for light tanks it wasn't produced in great quantities. Driver was positioned in front in the center and had steering wheel control. Muzzle velocity of 2,493 ft/sec.

Type 98-B Ke-Ni:
Had Christie type suspension with 4 road wheels, but never entered production.

Type 2 Ke-To:
29 built in 1944. Model 1 37 mm gun. Muzzle velocity of 2,625 ft/ sec. All-welded construction.

Usage

Type 95 Ha-Go

Type 95 Ha-Go, Type 3 Ke-Ri, Type 4 Ke-Nu:
Used on all fronts. Were used as dug in pillboxes on Iwo Jima.

12 Type 95 arrived at Saipan in April 1944, with the 9th Tank Regiment commanded by Colonel Takashi Goto.

---

Type 89 Chi-Ro

Design/Production

Many of the features were copied from the Vickers Mark C that was purchased from Britain in 1927.

Type 89

Produced by Mitsubishi.

Description

Gun had a muzzle velocity of 1,148 ft/sec.

89A Chi-Ro Ko:
Had gasoline engine, but after experience in Manchuria in the cold weather it was decided to substitute a diesel engine. Widely used in China and sometimes fitted with unditching tails. Had a box type hull with sloped glacis plates. Protective skirting covered the leaf springs.

89B Chi-Ro Ot-Su :
Appeared in 1934 (sometimes known as the Type 94). Had single sloping front plate, new turret with commanders cupola, and a 6 cylinder diesel engine. Some vehicles had unditching tails at rear. The driver sat on the right and the hull MG gunner sat on the left. Steering was done by clutch and brake.

Usage

First used at the Shanghai Incident in 1932 as part of the naval landing force. Used by the medium tank units of Yamashita's 25th Army during invasion of Malaya and Singapore. Some also saw action in Burma and in the Philippines before the majority of them were moved in mid-1942 to China for use.

---

Type 97 Chi-Ha

Design/Production

In the mid-1930s the Army issued requirement for a new medium tank to replace the Type 89B.

Two prototypes were built. Mitsubishi built one for the Engineering Department, and Osaka Arsenal built one for the General Staff Office. The Osaka prototype was known as the Chi-Ni and the Mitsubishi prototype was the Chi-Ha. The Chi Ni weighed 10,000 kg and had a 6 cylinder air-cooled diesel engine which produced 135 hp. Top speed was 18.5 mph. It had a 3 man crew with a 57 mm Type 90 gun and 6.5 mm Type 91 MG.

Type 97 Chi-Ha

At first the Chi-Ni was selected as it was cheaper, but it was decided that the more powerful Chi-Ha was needed after the war broke out in China.

Hitachi also helped with the production of the Chi Ha.

Description

Riveted construction. The driver sat on the right and a the machine gunner on the left. The 2 man turret was hand cranked and was offset to the right. The sprocket was in the front and the idler in the rear. 57 mm gun had muzzle velocity of 1,378 ft/sec. The middle return roller only supported the inside of the track. The 4 center wheels were mounted in pairs on bell cranks. The outside wheels were independently mounted.

Internal communications were accomplished by 12 push buttons in the turret connected to 12 lights and a buzzer by the driver.

Type 97 Shi-Ki

Shi-Ki:
Command tank with 37 mm gun in hull instead of MG. Turret gun was dummy. A long range radio was installed with a rail antenna around the top of the turret.

Se-Ri:
Armored Recovery Vehicle with a collapsible crane. Had 240 hp diesel.

Ho-Ni I

Ho-Ni I:
Turret removed and 75 mm gun installed.

Ho-Ni II:
Turret removed and 105 mm gun installed.

Mine Clearing Tank G:
Had 2 revolving drums which had rows of chains. This was primarily copied from Allied Mine Clearing tanks.

Type 38 HO-RO:
Turret removed, and 150 mm gun installed.

Ho-K:
Had its turret removed and had a steel prow mounted on the front for clearing paths through Manchurian forests.

Other variants were self-propelled AA (20 mm & 75 mm), engineer, recovery, flame-thrower, bulldozer, and bridge layer.

Type 97 Special Shinhoto Chi-Ha

Type 97 Special Shinhoto Chi-Ha:
New turrets designed by Mitsubishi for the Type 1 Chi-He were put onto Type 97 tanks. Mainstay of Japanese Armored forces. Since the Type 1 Chi-He was slow in getting into full production it was decided to upgrade the Type 97 Chi-Ha production. First used in 1942.

The 47 mm gun could fire at 2,700'/s and would penetrate 70 mm of armor at 500 yards.

Observation Tank Ka-So: Carried a dummy 47 mm gun, but kept the MGs. Had rail antenna around the top of the turret.

Usage

36 Type 97s with the 9th Tank Regiment, commanded by Colonel Takashi Goto, arrived on Saipan in April 1944. In the early morning hours of June 17, 1944, 37 Type 97s and Type 95s joined with the 136th Infantry Regiment (commanded by Colonel Yukimatsu Ogawa) and attacked the 6th Marines. Several of the tanks got bogged down near the Susupe swamp while the rest moved forward towards the Marine lines. The Marines using machine guns, mortars, bazookas, artillery, and naval gun fire were able to stop the attack which was the largest tank attack of the Central Pacific.

Type 97 Se-Ri

It's role was to deal with machine gun nests and field fortifications encountered by the infantry.

In 1942 a new turret with a 47 mm Type 97 L/48 gun was fitted. Muzzle velocity of 2,625 ft/ sec.

[SAMWolf]

Type 1 Chi-He

Design/Production

Type 1 Chi-He :
Was designed to replace the Type 97 Chi-Ha. However production was delayed by having to retool the factories and the emphasis of production going to aircraft. First appeared in 1941. Plenty of turrets were produced and were supplied for the Shinhoto Chi-Ha.

Type 2 Ho-I:
Was intended to be used for infantry support. Produced from 1942.


Type 2 Ho-I

Type 3 Chi-Nu:
Was designed as a replacement for the Type 1 Chi-He. Were built in 1944.

Description

Type 1 Chi-He:
Armed with new gun, redesigned superstructure, turret, and welded armor.

Type 2 Ho-I:
Had 75 mm short barreled gun. 16.5 tons, and 5 man crew.


Type 3 Chi-Nu

Type 3 Chi-Nu:
The gun was based on the French Schneider 75 mm field gun.

Usage

Type 2 Ho-I:
Issued to gun tank companies of the Japanese Army's tank regiments.


Type3 Chi-Nu

Type 3 Chi-Nu:
None left home islands.

---

Heavy Type 4 Chi-To, Type 5 Chi-Ri


Type 4 Chi-To

Heavy Type 4 Chi-To:
Only 6 prototypes were constructed by 1945.

Heavy Type 5 Chi-Ri :

Type 5 Chi-Ri

Developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. This was a lengthened Type 4 Chi-To with a 37 mm gun added in the hull. It was powered by a water-cooled aircraft engine that was oringally a German design.

The last tank that IJA had developed. One prototype was accomplished except for mounting a main gun when WWII was ended. Chi-Ri was planned to mount a 88mm gun, which would be converted from Type 99 88mm AA Gun.

---

Amphibious Tanks

Design/Production

A-I-GO:
Was to be used by the Army, but never went beyond prototype stage. Amphibious version of Type 92 Light Tank.


Type2 Ka-mi

Type 2 Ka-Mi:
The Navy took over amphibious tank development from the army in 1940. Their first design was the Ka-Mi which appeared in 1942. Based on the Ha-Go. These were virtually hand built and thus not enough were produced for demand.

Type 3 Ka-Chi:
Based on the Chi-He Medium Tank.

Description

A-I-GO:
Had watertight hull and was slightly larger than the Type 92 Light Tank. Floats and propellers were added.

Type 2 Ka-Mi:
Two sponsons were fitted to the front and rear and would be detached once ashore. The front sponson was divided into 8 compartments to minimize flooding from damage. All welded construction. Had 2 propellers and was steered by 2 rudders which were controlled by cables from the commander's position. There was also a radio and telephone intercom for the crew. One of the crew was a mechanic that looked after the engine and the power transfer from the road wheels to the propellers.


Type3 Ka-Chi

Type 3 Ka-Chi:
Had circular escape hatch on top of the turret which was extended to keep it above the waves. There was a tower above the rear deck to keep the exhaust clear of water.

It had smooth sides with pontoons attached to the front and rear, which were detached once it reached shore.

Usage

Type 2 Ka-Mi:
Used mostly for infantry support or used as pillboxes. Some could be launched from submarines. 3 were with the 1st Yokosuka Special Naval Landing Force at Saipan.

Type 3 Ka-Chi:
Encountered at Kwajalein.

Additional Sources:

users.swing.be
www.tarawaontheweb.org
mailer.fsu.edu/~akirk
www3.plala.or.jp
www.military.cz
www.republika.pl

[SAMWolf]

Japanese Tanks in World War II

This cross section of vehicles of the Imperial Japanese military should be an eye opener. Japan was not quite so "armor less" as most people might believe. In fact, Japan had at it's disposal a wide variety equipment. People tend to use Soviet or German tanks when making comparisons of armor power, protection, and quality. It should be remembered that each started the war with much smaller tanks and firepower. The difference in development was application and terrain. Japan's conquests, with the exception of China, were mostly jungle which did not favor large armor formations. It was felt that there was less need to develop a large armored force or heavy tanks. Armor development was hindered by steel production and military priorities. Armor Tactics were generally under developed as a result. Considering the thin armor protection that Japanese tankers had to put up with, along with cramped fighting conditions, Japanese tankers acquitted themselves well in combat.

After WW1 Japan showed an interest in tanks and obtained a variety of models. These units included the British Heavy Mk V and the Medium A. Japan also purchased the very popular FT-17 which they called Ko-Gata Sensha. In 1927 they purchased it's successor, the Renault NC-1 from the French which they called the Otsu-Gata Sensha. Sensha means battle wagon. Both of these models were still in active Japanese service in 1940. Additional units and parts came from the takeover of French holdings in South East Asia.

Japan produced it's first home grown tank in 1922 which was a multi-turret design and weighed 22 tons. Later, the Japanese purchased some Vickers 6 ton tanks and the Carden-Loyd tankette and used these as a basis for further developement on their part. Major Tomio Hara designed a bellcrank scissors suspension which paired the bogie wheels and connected them to a coil spring mounted horizontally outside the hull. This suspension became almost a standard on many Japanese models and can easily be seen on the Type 89 medium tank. By 1937, Japan fielded 1060 tanks in 8 regiments. Even with the success of the tank in China, the Japanese still did not see the tank as a battle winner. Tanks were rarely allowed independent action and were largely tied to infantry units in the French system of tank deployment. The standard thought was to use them as moble pillboxes. In the period between 1931 and 1938 the Japanese built nearly 1700 new tanks and this made them the 4th largest tank producer in the world. The peak of Japanese tank production was in 1942 but declined afterward owing to war material priorities. Once the grave mistake was realized as to the true potential of the tank, the Japanese were completely unable to catch up.

[SAMWolf]

Veterans for Constitution Restoration is a non-profit, non-partisan educational and grassroots activist organization. The primary area of concern to all VetsCoR members is that our national and local educational systems fall short in teaching students and all American citizens the history and underlying principles on which our Constitutional republic-based system of self-government was founded. VetsCoR members are also very concerned that the Federal government long ago over-stepped its limited authority as clearly specified in the United States Constitution, as well as the Founding Fathers' supporting letters, essays, and other public documents.

---

Actively seeking volunteers to provide this valuable service to Veterans and their families.

---

UPDATED THROUGH APRIL 2004



The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul

Click on Hagar for
"The FReeper Foxhole Compiled List of Daily Threads"

[snippy_about_it]

FALL IN to the FReeper Foxhole!



It's TreadHead Tuesday!


Good Morning Everyone

If you would like added to our ping list let us know.
If you'd like to drop us a note you can write to:

The Foxhole
19093 S. Beavercreek Rd. #188
Oregon City, OR 97045

[snippy_about_it]

Free Republic Treadhead Ping





mostly cajun ;archy; Gringo1; Matthew James; Fred Mertz; Squantos; colorado tanker; The Shrew; SLB; Darksheare; BCR #226; IDontLikeToPayTaxes; Imacatfish; Tailback; DCBryan1; Eaker; Archangelsk; gatorbait; river rat; Lee'sGhost; Dionysius; BlueLancer; Frohickey; GregB; leadpenny; skepsel; Proud Legions; King Prout; Professional Engineer; alfa6; bluelancer; Cannoneer No.4; An Old Man; hookman; DMZFrank; in the Arena; Bethbg79; neverdem; NWU Army ROTC; ma bell; MoJo2001; The Sailor; dcwusmc; dts32041; spectr17; Rockpile; Theophilus;


************Snippy, I bequeath to you the FR TH PL.

148 posted on 08/24/2004 11:39:45 AM PDT by Cannoneer No. 4 (I've lost turret power; I have my nods and my .50. Hooah. I will stay until relieved. White 2 out.)

Cannoneer, we miss you. :-)

[Light Speed]

Hi SAM

I get the impression the Japanese never banked on having to defend their new holdings in the Pacific....that a political solution would appear for them.

Their inter service rivalry's and poor forward planning saw them on the run after Port Moresby fell.

They built these massive warships in Musashi and Yamato..and never used them properly.
they used their sub force improperly and did not maximize their long lance torpedo's potential.

they left their best pilots to perish in eventual attrition..without rotating them back for training others.

they allowed their military ..especially the Army to brutalize their soldiers in violence and humiliation.
all this and diseases....the Japanese soldier on any island or foriegn soil was half gone/used up before the first naval shells landed or air bombardment fell.

The Japanese defeated themselves...in the end..they were put down like an animal unwanted in a kennel.

a stupid people....who could have resisted axis allignment if they had the brains.

today...Islam and Jihad...

more stupid people.

[radu]

Good morning everyone!

To all our military men and women, past and present, and to our allies who stand with us,
THANK YOU!

I hope y'all are doing great and that all's well with everyone.
hehehe......Treadhead Tuesday reminds me it may not be a bad idea to keep my Dimowit Squisher close at hand. Things are getting uglier by the day.

((HUGZ)) for everyone!

[SAMWolf]

Morning Light Speed.

My understanding was that the Japanese never planned on defeating us in the war. They planned to buy time, consolidate their gains and make us pay such a high price to get them back, that we'd negotiate a peace. They guessed wrong.

[SAMWolf]

Morning Radu.

Always good to have a Dimowit Squisher close at hand. :-)

[SAMWolf]

Good Night Snippy.

[snippy_about_it]

Somethings wrong with FR. I can only say goodnight from my comments page. It says 11 of 8 and sure enough the thread will only let me go to post 8. Grrr.

Good time to call it a night. Good night Sam.

[radu]

Hiya SAM!! Ya mean I'm not the only one awake at this hour? LOL!! Great to see ya.

Having fun with that volcano burping and coughing so close by? I've been keeping tabs on that as best I can with y'all in mind.

[Iris7]

Morning, SAM,

My own take on the Pacific War is that the Imperial Japanese Navy was at least somewhat practical about the whole affair. Look at Yamamoto's take on the Americans as poker players.

The Army though was full of that Yamato Spirit stuff, cultivating total acceptance of death in yourself. Romantic view of war, sentimentalism. Dieing for the Emperor was taken absolutely seriously. Screwed up the Army's ability to think.

Leadership in surrender after Hiroshima and Nagasaki came from the Navy. The Army wanted to fight. Factions within the Army even tried to capture the Emperor to "persuade" him not to surrender. The plot leaked. Close, though.

[Aeronaut]

Good morning Snippy.

[Professional Engineer]

Good morning ladies. Flag-o-gram.

Brian Binnie, a retired US Navy fighter pilot, takes his "Victory Lap" atop SpaceShipOne after Monday's successful flight.

[E.G.C.]

Good morning, Snippy and everyone at the Foxhole.

[Professional Engineer]

[manna]

Present!

[The Mayor]

October 5, 2004

Watching The Wind

Read: Acts 8:26-34

He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap. —Ecclesiastes 11:4

Bible In One Year: Isaiah 23-25; Philippians 1

---

When it comes to telling others about Jesus, I'm sometimes like a cautious farmer who keeps his eye on the weather, looking for the perfect day to plant his crops. The season passes and he sows nothing. The opportunity is gone; the harvest is lost (Ecclesiastes 11:4).

I hesitate and wonder, "Is this person ready to listen to the gospel? Is this the time to speak?" You can never tell what's going on in the depths of another person's heart. Some may be dwelling in darkness yet longing for someone to lead them into the light.

The Ethiopian eunuch in his royal chariot seemed to have it all together (Acts 8:27). He enjoyed prestige, wealth, and power, yet inwardly he was empty and searching. He was reading Isaiah's promise of the suffering Savior and trying to come to grips with his words. Right at that moment, Philip took the opportunity to tell the eunuch about Jesus (v.35).

I have a friend who often leads people to Jesus. I asked him once how he knew they were ready to receive the gospel. "It's easy," he replied. "I ask them."

So I must stop worrying about the wind and the clouds and get on with it—scattering the seed wherever I go, regardless of the weather. You just never know. —David Roper

Toiling through the changing seasons
In the sunshine and the rain,
Zealous sowing with compassion
Yields a wealth of golden grain. —Anon.

Sowing the seed of God's Word is never out of season.