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

Posted on 10/04/2004 11:25:00 PM PDT by SAMWolf



Lord,

Keep our Troops forever in Your care

Give them victory over the enemy...

Grant them a safe and swift return...

Bless those who mourn the lost.
.

FReepers from the Foxhole join in prayer
for all those serving their country at this time.


...................................................................................... ...........................................

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Japanese Armor of WWII




European Influences


The Japanese didn't embrace the tank, as it didn't have the calvary tradition that the other countries that developed the tank more extensively had. In traditional Japan Calvary was used for reconnaissance in the mountainous countryside.

After World War I the Japanese acquired several different foreign tanks (French Renault FT & NCI, and Britain's Vickers 6-Ton & Medium C). After analyzing them they began to develop light and medium tanks.

Early Designs



Type 94 'TK' tankettes in a street of Hoihow, on the Hainan Island in 1939.


The first tank designed was the Type 87 (Experimental Tank Number 1) and was produced at the Osaka Arsenal in 1927. It had a crew of 5 and had a water cooled, 8 cylinder, gasoline engine that produced 140 hp. The maximum speed was 12.5 mph. It had a 57 mm gun in a turret with two 7.2 mm MG in a turret that was located at the front and rear of the hull.

In 1925 2 tank companies were established, with one established at the Chiba Infantry School to study tank tactics.

In the late 1920s 6 British Carden-Loyd Mark VI MG carriers and 2 Mark VIb carriers were purchased. After trials were conducted the Tokyo Gas and Electric Industry (later Hino Motors) built a prototype. It became the Type 94 Tankette.


Tankette Type 97 Te-Ke during the victory parade in Manilla in 1942.


The Osaka Arsenal in March 1927, developed the Experimental Heavy Tank I. It weighed 22 tons, with 57 mm gun in the main turret, and 2 MGs in subsidiary turrets. In 1930 the 2nd Heavy tank was developed, but it only made some modifications from the first. In 1932 the Type 91 or Type 92 was developed. The Type 95 was then developed. However, no production orders were placed.

In 1929 the Type 89 (Experimental Tank Number 2) was designed. It weighed 10,000 kg and had a turret mounted 37 mm gun, a turret rear MG, and a bow mounted MG. It's engine was a 6 cylinder gasoline Daimler that propelled it to 15 mph. Mitsubishi started production on it as the Type 98 Medium tank.


Type 95 Ha-Go destroyed towards the end of the war


By 1932, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries was producing an air-cooled diesel engine that was suitable for tanks. This was placed experimentally into a Type 89. This later became known as the Type 89-B.

In 1933 Major Tomio Hara designed the basis of many of the suspensions of future Japanese tanks, the bellcrank scissors which had paired bogie wheels connected by a coil spring.

New Mechanization


During the 1930s the Japanese considered mechanization. Studies focused on armored cars at first, but with the terrain in Asia, it was decided to go with tracked vehicles. Ishikawaijma designed the Type 92 'combat car'.


This tank seems to have been abandoned somewhere on the edge of the airstrip.
A tri-color camoflage can clearly be seen on this tank.


Four tank regiments were formed during 1933-34 in Japan and Manchuria. Three of the regiments had 2 companies of 10 Type 89s each. The 4th had 3 Type 89 companies and was known as the Independent Mixed Brigade which included:

  • motorized infantry
  • artillery regiment
  • engineer company
In 1933 the Independent Mixed Brigade was formed in China of mainly Type 95 and Type 89 tanks. It was a combination of 3 Type 89 companies, infantry regiment, artillery regiment, and engineer company, all of which were motorized. The Mixed Brigade was used to spearhead attacks in 1937 but the lack of Chinese opposition prevented the leadership to see it's potential and was disbanded.


Type 89


By 1937 Japan had approximately 1,060 tanks and 8 tank regiments.

During the war in China the Japanese used the tanks as mobile pillboxes as the Chinese didn't have quantities of antitank weapons. Also air-cooled diesel engines were preferred as water was scarce in Mongolia, Manchuria, and North China.

After the battle of Khalkin Gol in 1939 against the Russians and the successes in Europe by the Germans, 2 armored divisions were formed in 1940 in Manchukuo.


Type 4 Chi-To


During most of the war the Japanese focused their industry on building warships and aircraft during the war years as they were the more prestigious weapons of the time. By 1945 production was to be concentrated on the defence of the Japanese homeland, and tanks finally got higher priority, but this was too late.


Type 92


Notes:

The names were based on the last 2 digits of the year in the Japanese calendar. The Japanese Empire was founded in 660 B.C. (Add 660 to western calendar to get year in Japanese calendar.

Sensha (from word sen which meant battle, and sha which meant wagon)



TOPICS: VetsCoR
KEYWORDS: armor; china; freeperfoxhole; japan; pacific; philippines; tanks; treadhead; type3; type4; type89; type92; type95; type97; veterans; worldwarii
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To: U S Army EOD
This thingy?


121 posted on 10/05/2004 5:30:47 PM PDT by snippy_about_it (Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
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To: Darksheare

She just blew again about 10 minutes ago. Think I'll drive over by Sam's house to the lookout and see if I can see anything.


122 posted on 10/05/2004 5:31:58 PM PDT by snippy_about_it (Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
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To: snippy_about_it

Understood.
Be careful out tehre.
The Mt St Helens websites that have the most recent info have a backlog of two days of info.


123 posted on 10/05/2004 5:41:52 PM PDT by Darksheare (Vote Dubya on Nov 2nd to exorcise the DemUns!)
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To: SAMWolf; PhilDragoo; GailA; bentfeather; alfa6; Professional Engineer; Darksheare; Valin; All
The Foxhole comment on tonights debate so far....


124 posted on 10/05/2004 7:01:25 PM PDT by snippy_about_it (Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
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To: Darksheare; SAMWolf; snippy_about_it; Professional Engineer; PhilDragoo

Need a laugh after the VP debate try this...

http://www.laserp.com/fun_stuff/kerry_edwards.htm

Regards

alfa6 ;>}


125 posted on 10/05/2004 7:04:27 PM PDT by alfa6 (I'm just an analog guy in a digital world.)
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To: snippy_about_it

LOL Good one!


126 posted on 10/05/2004 7:14:43 PM PDT by Soaring Feather (~Poetry is my forte.~)
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To: U S Army EOD

LOL!


127 posted on 10/05/2004 8:03:58 PM PDT by SAMWolf (CAUTION! Do Not Look Into Laser With Remaining Eye.)
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To: snippy_about_it

"At Kerry and Edwards trial law...our Ambulance chasers will get the highest dollar for your injury.
We also handle defense cases if you have altered Military documents and are being investigated.
Sandy Berger will get any document the Gov has...and we will send copies to you in 24 hrs....as fast as Kinko's can copy them.
You only pay after settlement....you have your choice of Peoples Republic of China offshore bank accounts.
So if you are on film stepping out infront of traffic while the light is green...don't be frustrated....give us a call."

128 posted on 10/05/2004 8:11:53 PM PDT by Light Speed
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To: U S Army EOD

Let's say I'm glad the Brits won the battle of Trafalgar.


129 posted on 10/05/2004 8:26:06 PM PDT by SAMWolf (CAUTION! Do Not Look Into Laser With Remaining Eye.)
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To: snippy_about_it

LOL! Edwards just parroted, in some cases line for line, what Kerry said in his debate.

He managed to get in Kerry's Vietnam Service, "The Plan", Haliburton and Bush is a liar right off the bat.


130 posted on 10/05/2004 8:28:08 PM PDT by SAMWolf (CAUTION! Do Not Look Into Laser With Remaining Eye.)
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To: Light Speed

LOL!


131 posted on 10/05/2004 8:28:30 PM PDT by SAMWolf (CAUTION! Do Not Look Into Laser With Remaining Eye.)
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To: alfa6

Kerry / Edwards - The Love Connection :-)


132 posted on 10/05/2004 8:29:16 PM PDT by SAMWolf (CAUTION! Do Not Look Into Laser With Remaining Eye.)
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To: Professional Engineer

I recall there was a lot of screaming and hollering when the design was first shown, and (sad to say) who it was that designed it. Looking back it seems kind of silly, as it really is a special place. I keep wanting to go there, but I don't know if I could deal with it.


133 posted on 10/05/2004 8:57:20 PM PDT by Valin (I'll try being nicer if you'll try being smarter.)
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To: Professional Engineer

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


Is this a great country or what!


134 posted on 10/05/2004 8:58:38 PM PDT by Valin (I'll try being nicer if you'll try being smarter.)
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To: Valin
Looking back it seems kind of silly, as it really is a special place.

Yeah, all the controversary does seem silly now-a-days.

135 posted on 10/05/2004 9:13:09 PM PDT by SAMWolf (CAUTION! Do Not Look Into Laser With Remaining Eye.)
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To: snippy_about_it

Yep, looks just like my old ding-a-ling.


136 posted on 10/05/2004 9:32:25 PM PDT by U S Army EOD (John Kerry, the mother of all flip floppers.I)
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To: U S Army EOD
Yep, looks just like my old ding-a-ling.

;-)

137 posted on 10/05/2004 10:17:34 PM PDT by snippy_about_it (Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
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To: alfa6

:-)


138 posted on 10/05/2004 10:20:43 PM PDT by snippy_about_it (Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
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To: SAMWolf; snippy_about_it; Light Speed; radu; Iris7; Aeronaut; Professional Engineer; E.G.C.; ...
PHOTO GALLERY OF THE IJA AFVs

Japanese Army Tank (8 photos)


Kha-Go Japanese Light Tank book


This photo was taken near the Japanese airfield. Most of the tanks involved in the Japanese
counterattack of the late afternoon of D-day were stopped by the heavier firepower of the
Sherman, as well as by bazookas and grenade launchers.


Site number 23d, a Japanese light tank has probably not been moved from the spot where it was
originally disabled by anti-tank fire that repulsed the Japanese counterattack of D-day.

~~~

"I've been President of the Senate, but the first time I met you was when we walked on this stage."
Vice President Dick Cheney to Senator John Edwards, Tuesday, October 5, 2004.


139 posted on 10/05/2004 10:29:19 PM PDT by PhilDragoo (Hitlery: das Butch von Buchenvald)
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To: PhilDragoo

All little john did tonight was mimic big john. I wish Cheney would have asked him if he had any individual thoughts of his own!


140 posted on 10/05/2004 10:32:26 PM PDT by snippy_about_it (Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
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