Japanese tanks

I was watching History Channels "Modern Marvels". This episode was about Sherman tanks. 59 minutes was spent talking about them fighting in Europe, but for a couple of seconds they mentioned that the Shermans killed small japanese tanks. I could not find out anything about the japanes tanks. If anyone has any info, please post it here. Thanks in advance.

www3.plala.or.jp...

that should help you

Japan doesn't have good tanks back in WWII, so the shermans have no problem killing their tanks, but in europe with german's panzer tanks, the sherman didn't work so well but it overwhelm germany with the amount of tanks USA have back in WWII.

Thanks for the replies, but I need some more info. Preferrably some website describing the japanese tanks with details.
Thanks for the link Char2c35t.
Thanks in advance

This has quite a bit of history of each type. It's a modeling site, but accurate info.

forum.japantoday.com...

Here's a better one;

www.geocities.com...

There is no actual translation for the Japanese sho shen sa but the roughl translation is medium or heavy vehicle that runs on tracks and this best describes a Japanese WWII tank.

The Japanese tanks of WWII were very much like the French Char 'B' at the start of the war - underpowered, underarmed and incorrectly used. However because of their small size, they were ideal for limited jungle fighting - in a close support role for the infantry.

The Japanese had a much differant policy of demonstrating their power in WWII. They much prefered to demonstrate this power by building several and some would say, impressive fleets. It was by using these vast fleets, together with massive air power that won for them, extensive victories in the early years of the war.

Their Army and to a lesser extent their Air Force, played second fiddle to the Imperial Japanese Navy and indeed were used in a support role only.

Many Japanese tanks (models) were little more than the equivalent of the German PzrKmpf I - a mobile machinegun post.

If you can get hold of a copy, try reading 'Japanese Weapons and Equipment of World War Two'. It was publish by the Aberdeen Proving Grounds and I suggest you contact them for further information.

A japanese WW2 tank... I don't know what it's named but it's japanese... Good point BTW... the Japanese don't have any good tanks for the moment...

towards the end of the war they have some decent tanks

as for the char 1b bis the 47mm was good enough to open up ANY german tank of the time and the 75mm didnt hurt either.

www3.plala.or.jp...




Type 3 Medium Tank "Chi-Nu"

Introduced Year : 1944
Weight : 18.8 ton
Dimensions: 5.73 x 2.33 x 2.61(h) m
Armor (max) : 50 mm
Speed (max) : 39 km/hr
Engine : Diesel Engine 240 PS/2000 rpm
Armaments : Type 3 75 mm x 1, Type 97 7.7 mm x 1
Crew : 5

yeah they didnt have the greatest tanks but where they where fighting they didnt need uber tanks

Hi.

I posted some more detailed descriptions on the following forum:


click me


Yours

tom!

WWII was neat for tanks. The American Sherman tanks ran into trouble against the German tanks, but the German tanks had trouble against the Russian tanks. Anyways, I love tracked vehicles

Hi.

Now some "What If...":

If the japanese industry had enough resources in 1943 maybe the U.S. forces had met these tanks in 1944 and 1945:

type 4 heavy tank Chi-To:

During the trials for better tanks after the Nomonhan-Incident the need for tanks with thicker armour was seen by the Tank School. As the standard suspension first used on the type 97 Chi-Ha was only usable for tanks up to 22 t the decision was made to develop a enlarged version of this suspension with 7 or 8 roadwheels for tanks up to 50 t weight.
Mitsubishi developed a larger superstructure from the type 1 Chi-He which was done in late 1943. In 1944 the 7 wheel version was ready for trials.

First design studies of the tank saw the use of a 57 mm tank gun in an enlarged 3 men turret.




As the development of the 57 mm anti tank/tank gun was a failure and the type 3 75 mm tank gun was a kind of interim solution until a tank gun was developed from the type 88 aa-gun the tank was tested without main armory in late 1944 and found very good.

Problems with the stability of the new type 5 75 mm tank gun made a redevelopment necessary and so the tank gun wasn´t ready before spring 1945. During trials after installation of the gun the tank named type 4 medium tank (it was in fact a heavy tank following japanese designations as the weight was more than 20 t) Chi-To was capable to penetrate the US medium M4´s frontal armour at 1200 m.




Due to a massive lack of raw materials only six prototypes were built and only two of them had the type 5 75 mm tank gun installed. The tank had almost the same abilities as the german Panzer V Panther minus the armour. Plans for an uparmouring of the tank were made for the serial production.




Data:

Built by:
Mitsubishi

- Weight:
30 t

crew:
5 men

armour:
superstructure: frontal 75 mm, sides 35 mm, back 25 mm
turret: frontal 75 mm, sides/back 50 mm

lenght:
6420 mm

width:
2870 mm

height:
2870 mm

ground clearance:
420 mm

fording:
1200 mm

trench crossing:
2700 mm

gradient:
35°

engine:
Mitsubishi type 4 12-cylinder diesel

Power:
400 HP at 1800 rpm

speed on road:
45 km/h

range:
250 km

power/weight ratio:
13,8 HP/t

armament turret:
1 X type 5 75 mm tank gun
1 X type 97 7,7 mm mg coaxial

hull armament:
1 X type 97 7,7 mm mg




type 5 heavy tank Chi-Ri:

In 1944 the decision was made to built a heavy tank based on the informations gathered from the german Tiger and Panther tanks bought in 1943 and issued to the Wehrmacht after trials in Germany.

The use of a 88 mm tank gun was decided and such a tank gun was developed from the type 99 88 mm aa-gun. The tank was planned with a weight of 45 t and so the new 8 wheel suspension was taken.
The hexagonal turret of the type 3 medium tank was enlarged and a mg port were installed on either side of the turret.




A type 1 37 mm tank gun and a machine gun was installed on the left in the hull next to the driver. In summer 1945 a prototype was built and movement trials were made. The development of the type 5 88 mm tank gun was delayed and so for shooting trials a type 5 75 mm tank gun was installed. The tank was named type 5 medium tank Chi-Ri.




On the trial vehicle the armour thickness was limited. For the production series maximum armour thicknesses of 105 mm and later 130 mm were planned. Additionally the installation of the 105 mm tank gun tested in summer 1945 was prepared. Further design studies for a successor with 150 mm maximum armour and a modified 120 mm naval gun or 127 mm twin naval gun were also made.




As there was limited time a BMW 12-cylinder water-cooled gasoline engine was used for the prototype. A diesel motor had to be developed. The surrender of Japan stopped all further development. Equipped with the type 5 105 mm tank gun this vehicle would have been capable to destroy all other tanks on the battlefield. The prototype was tested at Aberdeen Profing Ground and scrapped in 1946.

Data:

Built by:
Mitsubishi

- Weight:
37 t

crew:
5 men

armour:
superstructure: frontal 75 mm, sides 35 mm, back 25 mm
turret: frontal 75 mm, sides/back 50 mm

lenght:
7300 mm

width:
3050 mm

height:
3050 mm

track width:
600 mm

ground clearance:
400 mm

fording:
1200 mm

trench crossing:
2800 mm

gradient:
30°

engine:
BMW 12-cylinder water-cooled gasoline

Power:
600 HP at 1500 rpm

speed on road:
45 km/h

range:
250 km

power/weight ratio:
16,2 HP/t

armament turret:
1 X type 5 88 mm tank gun (planned)
1 X type 97 7,7 mm mg coaxial
1 X type 97 7,7 mm mg interchangeable

hull armament:
1 X type 1 37 mm tank gun
1 X type 97 7,7 mm mg




type 5 tank hunter Na-To:

Based on the chassis of the type 4 Chi-To a series of vehicles were planned. The motor was moved to the front and protected by 12 mm armour plates. The driver and a wireless operator were placed in a cabin behind the motor. The rear of the vehicle could be used as transport platform or platform for different weapons.




One version was equipped with a type 5 75 mm tank gun in a special gun mount and produced as type 5 tank hunter Na-To. During trials the tank destroyer was found very effective.



Until May 1945 between 6 and 10 vehicles were built and sent to China for service trials.




Data:

Built by:
Osaka Army Arsenal

- Weight:
15 t

crew:
7 men

armour:
superstructure: frontal 12 mm, sides 12 mm, back 12 mm
fighting compartment: frontal 12 mm, sides/back 10 mm,

lenght:
5800 mm

width:
2400 mm

height:
2750 mm

engine:
Mitsubishi 8-cylinder gasoline

Power:
165 HP at 2000 rpm

speed on road:
40 km/h

power/weight ratio:
11 HP/t

armament fighting compartment:
1 X type 5 75 mm tank gun




type 5 tank destroyers Ho-Ri I and Ho-Ri II:

In 1945 a 105 mm tank gun became ready for production.



Based on the type 5 heavy tank designs for a heavy tank destroyer were made influenced by reports of the german Jagdpanther and Jagdtiger.



Two different prototypes were ordered for late 1945:







Yours

tom!