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Japanese Tanks

Discussion in 'Weapons & Technology in WWII' started by noobsquadron, Feb 24, 2008.

  1. noobsquadron

    noobsquadron Dishonorably Discharged

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    Does anyone know anything about Japanese tanks. Where they better than American tanks, who produced them? Where they of any militar significance ?

    PLZ ANSWER

    :panther:
     
  2. Joe

    Joe Ace

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    In short, they where the worst tanks of WW2. Even worse than the Italians.
     
  3. JCFalkenbergIII

    JCFalkenbergIII Expert

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    "The Japanese didn't embrace the tank, as it didn't have the calvary (cavalry) tradition that the other countries that developed the tank more extensively had. In traditional Japan Calvary (cavalry) 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.
    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.
    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.
    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.
    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'.
    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
    By 1937 Japan had approximately 1,060 tanks and 8 tank regiments.
    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.
    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.
    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."
    http://www.wwiivehicles.com/japan/index.htm
     
  4. JCFalkenbergIII

    JCFalkenbergIII Expert

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    was looking up information on Japanese tanks in WWII and found this interesting little post on another discussion forum on the subject. Does anyone know what happened to the Stuarts that were captured in the Phillipines?


    "Well, I need to kill time before I get on the plane back to the US, I thought I'll write up a article about Japanese tanks of WW2, based off a Korean magazine. So don't kill me if some of these sentences sound bad, it's kinda hard to translate. Enjoy.



    I: At first, one of the finest.

    Well, Japanese tanks weren't a failure from the start, they were actually pretty good. During the 1920's. Japan brought in British and French tanks(the old WWI tanks), for studying, and making their own tank. The Japanese rule was try to make the most parts of something by your self. Instead of making massive tank units, they decided to use a few British/french tank units at first, to get the hang of controlling tanks as a strategic piece. At first, this strategy worked well. In 1929, the first pure Japanese tank was revealed. The 89 type(the actual mass production began in 1931). The 89 type was good, compared to other WWI tanks. Of course, compared to WWII tanks, it was a tracked armoured car... The 89 type's armor barely stopped light MG bullets, the armor panels wire RIVETED. The main gun was useless also. A low speed 57mm cannon. So basically, this was a moving, troop support bunker. But that's compared to WWII tanks. Until atleast 1930, the most of the world didn't know how to use tanks. Japan thought the tank's role was to destory MG nests, and barbed wire. So the 89 type's armor and main gun was good enough, at the time. Plus the 89(I'll scratch off the type, to save my fingers.) had a diesel engine, a first in tanks. The 89 was a good tank for that time.


    II: Victory at 89's first debut, but...

    The 89 started to be placed in units in numbers, starting from 1932. Japan's invasion of China, so the newly made tank unit invaded Shanghai. So the 89 was a "fortress" in China. China had few tanks, and fewer AT weapons. The 89 was invincible, it helped lead the Japanese forces to victory in Shanghai and Nanjing. But the "invinciblity" was bad for the 89 command. They saw no need to change tactics in their "moving bunker"... After the 89, The Japanese developed the 94 type(1934), armed with only a LMG(-_-). Then came the 95 type(1935). The 95 carried a 37mm cannon(In 1935, a 37 mm was a very powerful cannon). The next tank was the start of the suffering of the Japanese tanks(Sorry, couldn't write up a better sentence...) The 97 type(1937), it had much better armor than the 89, but the main gun was same. The low power 57mm. They still had the idea that tanks were moving bunkers, supporting foot soldiers.


    III: Defeat.

    1939, Soviet and Japanese soldiers fighting for the Manchurian border met with tanks. The Japanese 89 and 97 types got slaughtered. Their low power 57mm s didn't do any damage on the Soviet BT tanks, while the BT's 47mm pierced the 89/97s. But the 95 type actually was better than the newer 97. It had a 37mm. The Soviet tank's armor was weak too, so the 37mm pierced them. Japanese forced faced the first tank defeat. If they shaped up from here, they might had some decent tanks in WWII. Problem is, they didn't.


    IIII: Japan doesn't shape up, and they face a powerful enemy.

    The Japanese forces wanted to forget the defeat, and keep the tanks the way they are. Although, they found out the 97's cannon didn't pierce anything. So they decided to upgrade to a 47mm, but the funds weren't steady enough, so the upgrade was postphoned. December 1941, the Pacific was began. The Allied forces didn't expect tanks in the jungle, so a lot of the first Allied defeats were helped by the Japanese tanks. The Allies had a few tanks, but those few tanks gave GREAT shock to the Japanese. The M3 Stuart tank. They weren't so suprised about the armor of the M3 deflecting the low power 57mm from the 89s and 97s(no upgrade yet), so they sent in 95s, with 37mm. Direct hit! But the 37mm just deflects off. The M3's 37mm pierces the weak Japanese tanks... The Japanese act like Germans who faced T-34s or KV-1s. But the M3s were overhwelmed, and captured/destroyed. To the Japanese, the M3 Light tank was a medium tank.


    IIIII: The so called "solution".

    The Japanese army tried to find a solution to penetrate the M3's 50mm front armot. The solution was the postphoned upgrade. They hurriedly upgraded the 97s with the 47mm cannons, and made their first debut in the Philippines. The result was good. The 47mm penetrated the M3's armor, and the Japanese army felt like invincible again. But the upgrades didn't get to that many 97's soon, there was a shortage of tanks. The masses of old tanks outnumbered the 47mm 97s. And the battlefield was about to turn into living hell for the Japanese tank crewmen.


    IIIIII: The American Calvary is here!

    1943, now the 47mm 97s are widely distributed, and the Japanese forces are feeling invincible. But, the next American tank they face, its not the M3... It's the M4 Sherman. The Japanese thought the M3 was a monster. They thought the M4 was a dinosaur. But, they trust their 47mm and fire at the Sherman. They think it will penetrate. It doesn't make a dent. They try using captured M3s. M4 >x9999 M3. Plus the 75mm cannon could penetrate everything. Now the Japanese tanks were on the run. American troops were now supplied with bazookas and M2HBs. The bazooka shattered them. The M2HB cut through the weak 97's armor and cut the crew up. And for the 95type and lower, a M1 rifle or a M1919 LMG could penetrate the armor at close range... And so the Japanese tanks' glory days in WWII were gone forever.


    End! How'd you like this bit of info? "

    http://www.totalbf2.com/forums/showthread.php?t=91491
     
  5. JCFalkenbergIII

    JCFalkenbergIII Expert

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    "Modernized Tanks, with Heavier Armor, May be Expected" from Tactical and Technical Trends

    A WWII U.S. intelligence report on expected Japanese tank developments, from Tactical and Technical Trends, No. 51, October 1944.




    MODERNIZED TANKS, WITH HEAVIER ARMOR, MAY BE EXPECTED


    More effective Japanese armored fighting vehicles, incorporating heavier armor, wider tracks, two-way radio, and a modern high-velocity 75-mm weapon, are likely to be encountered in the near future. There is every reason to believe the Japanese are conversant with details of modern German tank design, and that they have also had opportunity to study Allied armor.
    Much heavier armor plate, or the addition of spaced armor to the present armor of Japanese tanks, is to be expected. To conform to modern European tank standards, it will have to be up to 40-mm thick on light tanks, up to 75-mm on medium tanks, and up to 100-mm on heavy tanks.
    Among other developments anticipated are the use of wider tracks, employment of a modern, high-velocity 75-mm field piece as a tank weapon, two-way radio communication, improved vision, escape doors, and gas-fume extraction.
    It must be remembered, however, that while the Japanese are considered capable of designing an efficient modern heavy tank, they may have considerable difficulty in producing such a tank in large quantities.
    At present there are four main types of Japanese armored fighting vehicles: tankette (Keisokosha) up to 5 tons, light tanks (Kei Sensha) 5 to 10 tons, medium tanks (Chu Sensha) 10 to 20 tons, and heavy tanks (Ju Sensha) over 20 tons.
    Few tankettes have been encountered since the 1942 Burma campaign. There is nothing to indicate, however, that this type has been abandoned and it will no doubt be encountered in operations in open terrain. It is important to realize that the tankette is not intended primarily for fighting but is essentially a light, full track reconnaissance vehicle.
    The Japanese light tank most often encountered is the Model 2595 (1935), the design of which seems to have been frozen about 1937 to permit mass production. It was built to operate over the varied terrain of east Asia where roads are few and poor, and where maneuverability is the essential requirement.
    The only Japanese medium tank so far encountered is Model 2597 (1937) and its improved versions. Like the Model 2595 light tank, this design also was frozen several years ago to permit mass production. Model 2597 armor is too light for tank-vs.-tank combat, but the vehicle has fair striking power, good cruising radius, and is conspicuously maneuverable. Although the Japanese describe it as "the main striking power of the Army," it has given a poor account of itself in close combat with allied antitank weapons and tanks on various Pacific islands.
    Another type now being encountered in the Pacific theater is a light amphibious tank, described in detail in Tactical and Technical Trends, No. 50. General characteristics of Japanese tanks may be summarized briefly as follows:
    Only air-cooled Diesel engines are employed. These are 4, 6, and V–12 types, all of which employ the German (Robert Bosch) type of fuel injection.
    Basic designs are good, but the tanks are difficult to produce in large numbers. The cooling systems used are likely to give trouble after prolonged use in hot climates.
    Transmissions are conventional in design and of sturdy construction. A comparatively large number of nonfriction bearings are used.
    The same basic suspension is used in all types so far encountered. Four-point hull suspension bogies are bell-crank mounted to armored compression springs. A trailing idler appeared in later models, resisted by a compression spring. A single bogie roller with unarmored compression spring has been added to each corner of medium-tank hulls.
    Tracks are of conventional design and rather narrow. However, loading is light, generally in the neighborhood of 7 to 8 pounds per square inch. Power-weight ratios are excellent throughout the line.
    ARMOR GOOD, BUT LIGHT
    Japanese armor so far encountered has been of good quality but comparatively light by European or American standards. Arrangement of the armor is poor by modern standards of design. Little use is made of angles and, in many case, reentrant angles are formed. No steps have been noted to protect turret rings or mantlets against jamming or splash.
    Hull design can be considered good by modern standards, and the latest models have shown improvement. In some cases crew compartments are very cramped and little attention has been paid to crew comfort. Turrets and hulls are both well insulated with some material, such as asbestos.
    For several years all Japanese turrets were circular. More recent models have turrets of oval shape and in some of them a machine gun is mounted coaxially with the main armament. No evidence of power-operated turrets has yet been found.
    Periscopes are not frequently used, vision being dependent on slots, occasionally backed by glass blocks.
    Apparently little thought has been given to providing the crew with a quick means of escape in case of fire or other emergency. These weapons have been found in Japanese tanks: Model 91 (1931) 6.5-mm tank machine gun; Model 97 (1937) 7.7-mm tank machine gun; Model 94 (1934) 37-mm tank gun; Model 98 (1938) 37-mm tank gun; Model 1 (1941) 37-mm tank gun; Model 90 (1930) 57-mm tank gun; Model 97 (1937) 57-mm tank gun; and an adaptation, model unknown, of Model 1 (1941) 47-mm antitank gun. Model 91 is a variation of the standard light machine gun of the same caliber, fitted with telescopic sights, special stocks, etc. All other weapons listed are low-velocity types, with the exception of Model 1 (1941) 37-mm tank gun and the new 47-mm gun, which are mounted in the newer light and medium tanks. However, these low-velocity models may be given a new lease on life by providing them with hollow-charge ammunition, which is reported under development. Weapons are usually arranged in a conventional manner, with one machine gun fore in the hull and the other in the turret opposite the main armament.



    Lone Sentry: Modernized Tanks, with Heavier Armor, May be Expected (WWII Tactical and Technical Trends, No. 51, October 1944)
     
  6. JCFalkenbergIII

    JCFalkenbergIII Expert

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    And here is a "What If" for you,

    On June 7th of 1943, Japanese ambassador in Germany, General Oshima was shown a Tiger from sPzAbt 502. Single Tiger was then sold to Japan in 1943, but was never delivered due to the war situation and was loaned by Japan to the German Army (sSSPzAbt 101). Henschel charged Japan 645.000 Reichsmarks for fully equipped Tiger (with ammunition and radio equipment), while the regular price for the same Tiger was only 300.000 Reichsmarks.

    Achtung Panzer! - Tiger I
     
  7. Skipper

    Skipper Kommodore

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    One of the tanks was so crappy that it was nicknamed the "Toy tank"
     
  8. JCFalkenbergIII

    JCFalkenbergIII Expert

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    TheType 97 was replaced in productionby the Type 1 CHI-HE medium tank,followed by the Type 3 CHI-NU, ofwhich only 60 were built by the end ofthe war. The last Japanese mediumtanks were the Type 4 and Type 5, but'neither of these well-armed vehiclessaw combat.SpecificationType 97Crew: 4Weight: 15000 kg (33,069 lb)Dimensions: length 5.516 m (18 ft 1 in);width 2.33 m (7 ft 8 in); height 2.23 m(7 ft 4 in)Powerplant: one Mitsubishi 12-cylinder air-cooled diesel enginedeveloping 170 hp (127 kW)Performance: maximum road speed38 km/h (24 mph); maximum range210 km (130 miles); fording 1.0 m (3 ft3 in); gradient 57 per cent; verticalobstacle 0,812 m (2 ft 6 in); trench
    2.514 m (8 ft 3 in)
     

    Attached Files:

  9. JCFalkenbergIII

    JCFalkenbergIII Expert

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    THE DEVELOPMENT OF IMPERIAL JAPANESE TANKS



    [​IMG]
    Experimental First Tank

    The Birth of the Japanese Tank

    The tank was one of the remarkable innovations during WWI. The IJA heard about the power of tank in the battle, they imported some tanks to know what is the tank. First, one British Mk.IV was imported in 1918. In those days, no Japanese could operate the tank. The tank was operated by the British engineers and demonstrated before Japanese people being astonished at a moving iron monster. After British Mk.IV, some other tanks were also imported. Japanese learned the tank by these imported tanks.
    In 1925, the IJA decided to establish the tank force. They planned to form there light tank battalions and one heavy tank battalion. However, the problem was how to prepare tanks for these units. In those days. there were only 16 tanks in Japan. The IJA sent a mission to Europe in order to import more tanks from UK or France. They requested new models of the tank, but European countries would not sell new models because they were not yet enough produced. After all, only available model was the old Renault FT17 tank. The IJA was reluctantly importing them for their tank force.
    To know this course, young engineers in the IJA Technical Bureau got angry and insisted that the tank should be made in Japan and they could do it. General Suzuki, the chief of the IJA Technical Bureau made a protest against the IJA Department and made its decision cancelled. After it, they were allowed to develop a tank, but it was a heavy bet for them. Until that time, IJA engineers had developed only a few kinds of truck and one kind of tractor. Of course, no one had an experience to develop the tank. Moreover, they had to achieve it only in two years. If they could not do it within this period, the budget for the development would be cancelled.
    The development of the Japanese tank started in June 1925. Four engineers in the motorcar group of the IJA Technical Bureau participated in the development. One of them was young officer Tomio Hara. Later, he became a general and the leader of the Japanese tank development. They started to design a tank and worked hard day after day. There was no previous example of the design of tank in Japan, so they had to design every things, even one bolt and one nut. They drew plans for 10,000 pieces of parts.
    In May 1926, the design was finished and it was ordered to the Osaka Arsenal. In those days, Japanese technical level of the motorcar was very low and no motorcar company nor factory existed in Japan. The Osaka Arsenal had solved many technical problems one by one with much efforts. In Feb. 1927, the first Japanese tank was finally finished within the required period. It was a big news that the tank was made in Japan. Many IJA generals requested to attend the test of the first Japanese tank. On June 21st, the first Japanese tank run smoothly in the front of attendant generals. The generals applauded it, because they had been afraid that it would really run. In the test of the next day, the tank showed a satisfactory performance on the movement in rough terrains and slopes. The first Japanese tank made a great success. It proved that Japan can develop the tank by themselves. After that, it became the IJA policy that the tank is made in Japan.

    Type 89 Medium Tank


    Though the first Japanese tank was made, it was too big and too heavy (18 tons) to use as main tank in the army. So, a light tank at 10 tons weight was newly designed. The development of the new tank advanced swiftly because the designers have had an experience to develop a tank. Only problem was the armor plate for tank, because the first tank was made of soft iron. The armor plate was developed by the Nihonseikosho Company. So, it was called the Niseko steel, abbreviated as NIhonSEiKOsho.
    In April 1929, a new light tank was finished. Its weight was 9.8 tons. It was called Type 89 Light Tank. Later, it was re-classified to the medium because the weight increased to over 10 tons due to several improvements. The production of Type 89 Tank started in 1931 and it became the main tank of the IJA. On the other hand, the first tank developed to the Type 95 Heavy Tank. However, the IJA had no interest in the heavy tank and it was produced in only small numbers.
    Type 89 Tank was deployed in the tank force and used in the battles of China. First, the tank force belonged to the infantry arms and their duty was to support infantry. The short-barreled 57mm gun of Type 89 Tank was effective to destroy the enemy MG nest and the 15mm-thick armor was enough for the enemy HMG fire. Its low speed of 25km/hr was not a problem for the infantry support duty.
    Type 89 Tank was apparently superior to Renault NC27 tank, which was used together with Type 89 in China. Soon, Renault tanks were replaced with Type 89 Tanks. Though the Type 89 Tank was good on the whole, there were still several small problems. For example, early model had a gap under the muntlet and a bullet flies into a turret through that gap. As the Type 89 Tank was continued to be improved after the production started, many variations existed in Type 89. The development of the Japanese tank was still at the stage of trial and error.

    Type 92 Combat Car


    After WWI, European countries attempted to mechanize the cavalry. The horseman was useless in the modern warfare. To know this tendency in Europe, Japanese cavalry also tried some armored cars for their mechanization. However, the wheeled armored car was not fit to the operation in China, because the roads in China were very poor. They gave up the wheeled armored car and studied the tracked armored car. First, they experimented with amphibious cars. The first amphibious armored car was a curious vehicle having both track and wheel and it run in the opposite direction on the water and on the ground. After this, some amphibious cars were experimented, but any car could not satisfy the cavalry. At last, they gave up the amphibious car and decided to make a new tracked vehicle only for ground.
    New vehicle was ordered to Ishikawajima Motorcar Manufacturing Company and it was finished in 1932. It is Type 92 Combat Car. It was called " Sokosha"(Armored Car) in Japanese, but it was actually a light tank. Type 92 was thin-armored and light-armed, but it was able to run at 40 km/hr. It was a vehicle fit to the cavalry spirit. Type 92 was used in China by cavalry.
    [​IMG]
    Experimental Amphibious Armored Car Sumida AMP


    Type 94 Tankette


    The IJA imported two Carden Loyd Mk.VIs in 1930 and put them in the IJA Infantry School and Cavalry School for evaluation. The schools tested them and reported that this kind of vehicle will be useful as the support vehicle for transport, scout and communication.
    According to this report, the IJA decided to develop the same kind of vehicle as Carden Loyd. The development was ordered to Tokyo Gasu Denki Kogyo Inc. in 1933. The experimental model was finished in 1934. It was a light small vehicle like Carden Loyd, but it had a turret armed with one MG. To carry the cargo, it drew a trailer. That vehicle was called "Tokushu Keninsha" (Special Tractor), or abridged to TK.
    Seeing this vehicle, the General Staff Office thought it too luxurious to use it only as tractor and they required to rename it as armored car. So, it was named Type 94 Light Armored Car when TK was introduced. Though it is the correct Japanese name, it is called tankette here as generally called.
    Type 94 Tankette was the cheap vehicle, about a half price of Type 89 Medium Tank. So, it could be many deployed. The IJA established the training center of tankette in eleven infantry divisions and popularized the armor in the army. Type 94 Tankette was mass-produced, 300 pieces in 1935, 246 in 1936 and 200 in 1937. They were deployed in the independent tankette company under the infantry division. The infantry division could use the tankette unit at will, so it was a very convenient unit for infantry. Type 94 Tankette was used not only for support duty, but also for combat. Type 94 Tankette much contributed to the mechanization of the IJA infantry.

    Diesel Engine


    A Vickers Mk.C tank was imported to Japan in 1927. When British engineers operated it in the presence of IJA officers, the tank caught fire and British engineers got badly injured with fire. This accident reminded the Japanese of the danger of the gasoline engine.
    The diesel engine uses the light oil, which is less inflammable than gasoline. However, the first diesel engine for vehicle in the world just appeared in 1924 and the diesel engine was not popular in those days. Tomio Hara insisted the development of the diesel engine for tank, but the most people said that it was too risky because any country had not yet succeeded in the diesel engine for tank. Hara eagerly persuaded the opponents by pointing out the merits of the diesel that the diesel is more safe than gasoline engine and the diesel can save the consumption of precious oil that was all imported to Japan. In 1932, the development of diesel engine was approved. However, one important condition was added. The IJA required the air-cooling engine. It is because of the condition of Manchuria. There are many desert terrains without water and the winter of the Manchuria is so cold that expensive antifreeze is necessary for the water-cooling engine.
    The development of the diesel engine was ordered to Mitsubishi Jukogyo Company. After efforts in two and a half years, Mitsubishi had accomplished the development of diesel engine. It was an air-cooling 120HP diesel engine called Mitsubishi A6120VD. It was loaded in the Type 89 Medium Tank from the 1934 production. Then, it was also used by the Type 95 Light Tank. This engine was reliable and easy to maintain. The success of the long march of the tank forces like Malaya campaign much owed to this engine. And the diesel engine decreased the danger of fire. 21 out of 28 Type 89 Otsu Tanks destroyed in Nomonhan were recovered because they did not catch fire. The disadvantage of the diesel engine is that it is underpower compared with gasoline engine. It made difficult for the Japanese tank to have the heavy armor and large gun.
    After that, all Japanese military vehicles, tank, tractor and truck came to load a diesel engine and several companies produced diesel engines. Since they produced different kinds of diesel engine, it made a large problem. For example, Type 97 Medium Tank loaded two kinds of diesel engine made by Mitsubishi and Hitachi. The parts of these engines were not compatible and it made problemsome to maintain the tank. In 1940, the IJA showed the standard of the diesel engine for the military vehicles. This standard unified the basic parts like cylinder and covered some sizes of engine from 4 to 12 cylinders. This type of engines were called "Tosei" Engine. It was applied from the engine of Type 1 Medium Tank.

    Type 95 Light Tank


    From early 1930s, the IJA was experimenting on the mechanized unit combined with infantry and tank. However, slow Type 89 Medium Tank could not keep pace with the motorized infantry which could move at 40km/hr by truck. To know this problem, Tomio Hara proposed a new light tank at 40km/hr speed and started the development in 1933. The prototype of the new tank was finished in 1934. It was a high-speed and light-armored tank similar to the British cruiser tank or Soviet BT-tank. Its code name was "Ha-Go" meaning the third car.
    In 1935, the IJA council about the introduction of Ha-Go was held at the IJA Technical Bureau. At that meeting, Ha-Go was presented as the main tank of the mechanized unit. The representative of the tank force objected that this tank cannot be used as main tank, because its armor is not enough for the infantry support duty. The representative of the cavalry said, "We don't care of a thin armor. We are content with its speed and armaments." The chairman asked the representative of the tank force if this tank is unnecessary for them. The representative of the tank force said unwillingly that it would be better than not having it, because it would be used as armored car.
    Ho-Go was introduced and named Type 95 Light Tank. Though it was not a main tank, Type 95 was produced in the most numbers among the Japanese tanks.
    [​IMG]
    Prototype of Type 95 Light Tank


    Type 97 Medium Tank


    Since the Ha-Go was not adopted as the main tank of the tank force, the successor to Type 89 Medium Tank was needed. However, there were two different opinions on the new main tank. The IJA Department requested a low-price tank due to the limited budget and the Staff Office agreed with it because they made much of the quantity. On the other hand, the tank force made much of the quality and was opposed to a low-price tank.
    As they could not consent easily, two different prototypes were made. One was called Chi-Ha and another was called Chi-Ni. The prototype of Chi-Ha was 13.5 tons, 35km/hr and had a two-men turret. Chi-Ni was 9.8 tons, 30km/hr and had a one-man turret. The armor of both prototypes was 25mm-thick. Though the tank force had requested a 30mm-thick armor, they forbore with 25mm because of the weight increase.
    The problem of the new main tank was solved by the outbreak of the Sino-Japanese War. The budget of the IJA was increased sharply and the IJA Department agreed with the introduction of Chi-Ha. The production of Type 97 Medium Tank started in 1937 and it became the main tank of the IJA after Type 89 Medium Tank.
    [​IMG]
    Experimental Medium Tank Chi-Ni


    Shinhoto Chi-Ha


    Type 97 Medium Tank was much superior to Type 89 Medium Tank with regard to the most points. However, it was armed with the same short-barreled 57mm gun as that of Type 89. The designer Hara was not satisfied with it and thought that the coming tank should be armed with a high-velocity cannon for anti-tank fight. However, the IJA did not understand it and they were satisfied with the gun of Type 89 Medium Tank. Their main interest was in the battles of China and there was no tank vs. tank fight.
    Hara's anxiety came true in the battle of Nomonhan. The 45mm gun of Soviet tank outranged the short-barreled gun of Japanese tank and the Japanese tanks were suffered in heavy losses. From this lesson, the IJA awoke to the tank vs. tank fight and they started the development of a new tank gun.
    New tank gun was 47mm caliber lesser than 57mm tank gun, but it had a long barrel and its penetration was much superior to that of the short-barreled 57mm gun. The development of the 47mm tank gun started in 1939 and it was finished in 1941. When the Pacific War began, the Chi-Ha loading a new turret (Shinhoto) armed with a 47mm gun was being tested. The Japanese tanks which invaded the Philippines encountered US M3 Light Tanks. M3 Light Tank had a thick armor and the Japanese tank gun could no penetrate its armor. To defeat the M3 Light Tank, the Japanese transported Shinhoto Chi-Ha tanks to the Philippines in a hurry. On the Philippines, the 47mm gun of the Shinhoto Chi-Ha was tested against the captured M3 Light Tank. At 1,000m distance, 3 out of 6 hits penetrated the front armor of M3 Light Tank. And 6 out of 9 hits penetrated it at 800m distance. Japanese tankers were satisfied with the result and they were burning with revenge to M3 Light Tank. However, the battle of the Philippines ended without the fight of M3 Light Tank vs. Shinhoto Chi-Ha.

    Self-Propelled Guns


    Japanese SP gun was also born from the lesson of Nomonhan. In Nomonhan, Japanese artillery were outnumbered by Soviet artillery and suffered in heavy losses. After the battle of Nomonhan, the buildup and mechanization of the artillery force were stressed in the IJA. To mechanize the artillery, SP gun was necessary, but the Japanese did not have this kind of vehicle.
    The first developed SP gun was the Type 1 SP gun. It had two versions, 75mm gun model and 105mm gun model. At first, they were planned to be used in the Pacific as assault gun. However, Since the early campaigns in the Pacific War ended in a short period, they were not in time for these campaigns. When the tank divisions were formed, they were deployed in the mobile artillery regiment of the tank divisions. Though the SP gun was expected as the main weapon in the mobile artillery unit, it was produced in only small numbers. In 1943, the IJA suppressed the production of the armor severely in order to increase the production of airplane. The 1943 production plan of the IJA stated "We put up with it if this decision will affect the production of Type 1 SP Gun."
    Though the SP gun was once suppressed, it was revived as tank destroyer. From the late 1943, a lot of M4 Sherman Tank appeared in the Pacific and Burma and they raged in the battle ground. The 47mm tank gun was inadequate against M4 Sherman and more powerful gun was urgently required. The IJA restarted the production of Type 1 SP Gun and ordered the IJA Technical Bureau to improvise the SP gun mounting an obsolete artillery on an obsolete tank chassis. The stuffs of the 4th Laboratory of the Technical Bureau, saying ironically that it is the marriage of a widow and a widower, developed two SP guns, Ho-Ro and Ho-To. Ho-Ro was mounted a Type 38 15cm Howitzer on the Chi-Ha chassis and Ho-To was mounted a Type 38 12cm Howitzer on the Ha-Go chassis. They are old guns which were introduced before WWI. They are low-velocity, but the HEAT shell enabled them to destroy the M4 Sherman.
    Besides these improvised SP guns, a heavy tank destroyer was planned. It was mounted with a 105mm anti-tank cannon and had a closed fighting compartment. This vehicle called Ho-Ri was intended to match against the M23 Pershing.
    [​IMG]
    12cm SP Gun Ho-To


    Tanks after Chi-Ha


    In 1942, new medium tank Chi-He had been developed. It was better than Chi-Ha on the speed or armor, but the IJA had little interest in this new tank. The 47mm gun of Chi-He was already mounted on Chi-Ha and the factories were mass-producing the Chi-Ha. Almost two years after its development, the production of Chi-He was started. However, Chi-He was not produced even for one year because the production of Chi-Nu started.
    Type 3 Medium Tank Chi-Nu was urgently developed to cope with the M4 Sherman. Originally, the next tank to Chi-He was the Type 4 Medium Tank Chi-To. However, the development of Chi-To delayed and a stopgap tank was required. The development of Chi-Nu started in May 1944 and it was finished in Oct. It took only a half year, as Japanese engineers rushed work. Chi-Nu was produced until the war ended. Chi-Nu was the last tank that was deployed in the Japanese tank forces.

    Development of Tank
     
  10. JCFalkenbergIII

    JCFalkenbergIII Expert

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    [​IMG]

    Special No. 3 Flying Tank "So-Ra" or "Ku-Ro"

    Weight : Tank - 2.9 tons Tank with wings - 4.2 tons Dimensions: Tank - 4.07 x 1.44 x 1.89 (h) m Tank with wings - 12.8 x 22 x 3 (h) m Speed (max) : 43 km/hr Engine : Gasoline Engine 50 PS/2400 rpm Armaments : 37 mm x 1 or MG x 1 or flamethrower x 1 Crew : 2 Special No. 3 Flying Tank is a glider tank. It detaches wings after landing and acts as tank. So-Ra was developed in 1943, but it was abandonned and not produced. Above picture is on the mockup of the tank portion. So-Ra
     
  11. gumalangi

    gumalangi Member

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    other than amphibious tanks,. perhaps,.. Japan also didnt see the needs of heavier armour,.. their fronts are consists of small islands,. steep hills,. and tropical rainforests,..
     
  12. TA152

    TA152 Ace

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    More great information JC !
    Do you happen to know if the Japanese Self Defence Forces use tanks today and if so what kind ?
    (don't spend too much time on it if you don't know off hand )
     
  13. JCFalkenbergIII

    JCFalkenbergIII Expert

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    Not necessarily true. There were considering some heavier tanks from Germany.

    [​IMG]In 1943, single early Panther Ausf D along with PzKpfw VI Tiger was sold to Japan, but both were never delivered due to the war situation and were loaned by Japan to the German Army.

    Left: Japanese Military Attache Colonel Ioshida inspecting purchased Panther at Henschel plant.
    Photo provided by Dmitry Pyatakhi

    Achtung Panzer! - Panther
     
  14. Joe

    Joe Ace

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    Heres some.
    Type 61
    [​IMG]
    Type 64
    [​IMG]
    Type 90
    [​IMG]

    EDIT-What the hell is this doing in a WW2 Forum?
     
  15. JCFalkenbergIII

    JCFalkenbergIII Expert

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    Thanks TA152. Yes they do. In fact the first tanks that the JSDF used were WWII era M4 Shermans and M24 Chaffees. Here are a couple of great sites for Japanese Tanks and the JSDF.

    Japan Ground Self Defence Force PAGE
    History of JGSDF
     
  16. TA152

    TA152 Ace

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    Thanks again JC ! The Type 61 reminds me of the M-60.

    And Joe, why don't you try out your avatar trick and see if it really works. :D
     
  17. JCFalkenbergIII

    JCFalkenbergIII Expert

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    Most welcome TA152 :). I wonder what use the Japanese would have put the Panther and Tiger I to? And where? I dont see them being very useful on Islands and in Jungles. Perhaps on the Home Islands. AHHHH another "What If ?" LOL
     
  18. Mibo

    Mibo Member

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    probably for testing, and helåping the Japanese to create their own heavy tank? I dont see much effect in using 1 Tiger and 1 Panther....
     
  19. JCFalkenbergIII

    JCFalkenbergIII Expert

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    Like I said I can't see them being used on some of the Pacific islands or the Jungle. They were certainly buying them for evaluation.
     
  20. JCFalkenbergIII

    JCFalkenbergIII Expert

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    With the amount of technology information that the Germans were sending to the Japanese Im surprised that the plans for Tanks and AFVs weren't shared.
     

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