japanese tanks Japanese Amphibious Tank Line

[Jermster_91@psn 1,081]

During the 1930s and 1940s, Japan produced several amphibious tank designs, including the Type 1 Mi-Sha, Type 2 Ka-Mi, Type 3 Ka-Chi and Type 5 To-Ku .

 

All were for use by the Japanese Special Naval Landing Forces. The Type 1 was an early experimental design, which led to the Type 2 Ka-Mi, which was the first production Japanese amphibious tank; although beginning in 1942 only 182 to 184 units were built. The Type 3 Ka-Chi was based on an extensively modified Type 1 Chi-He tank and was a larger and more capable version of the earlier Type 2 Ka-Mi amphibious tank. Only 19 Type 3 Ka-Chi tanks were built during the war. The tanks were used later in the war as dug-in pillboxes on Pacific islands.

 

Type 2 Ka-Mi

 

Production history

Designed             1941

Number built     182 to 184

Specifications

Weight                 12.5 tons (9.15 tons without flotation pontoons)

Length 7.42 meters (4.80 meters without flotation pontoons)

Width    2.8 meters

Height   2.34 meters

Crew     5

Armor   6–12 mm front

Main

armament

                Type 1 37 mm gun

Secondary

armament

                2 × Type 97 7.7 mm machine guns

Engine Mitsubishi A6120VDe air-cooled inline 6-cylinder diesel

115 hp (84.6 kW)

Suspension         Bell crank

Operational

range

                170 km (land); 140 km (water)

Speed   37 km/h (land); 10 km/h (water)

 

Spoiler

History and development

As early as 1928, the Japanese Army had been developing and testing amphibious tanks and created several experimental models such as the SR-II, the Type 1 Mi-Sha and the Type 92 A-I-Go which either never made it off the drawing board or were produced only as one-off prototypes for concept testing. In 1940, The Navy took over development of amphibious vehicles and two years later came up with the Type 2 Ka-Mi. The Type 2 Ka-Mi was designed for the Navy's Special Naval Landing Forces for the amphibious invasion of Pacific Islands without adequate port facilities, and for various special operations missions. The Type 2 Ka-Mi tanks were organized into "several amphibious tank units". Only 182 to 184 units of the Type 2 Ka-Mi were built, beginning in 1942.

 

Design

The Type 2 Ka-Mi was based on the army's Type 95 Ha-Go light tank, but with an all-welded hull with rubber seals in place of the riveted armor. It was intended to be water-tight. Large, hollow pontoons made from steel plates were attached to the front glacis plate and rear decking to give the necessary buoyancy.[5] The front pontoon was internally divided into two "symmetrical sections" and each one was divided into three separate watertight compartments to minimize the effects of damage from flooding and shellfire.[6] The pontoons were attached by a system of "small clips" with a release inside the tank, to be engaged once it landed for ground combat operations.

 

The Type 2 Ka-Mi's gun turret with a high-velocity Type 1 37 mm gun and a coaxial Type 97 light machine gun. A second Type 97 light machine gun was located in the tank's bow.

 

The Type 2 Ka-Mi was capable of attaining speeds of 10 km/h in the water with a range of 140 km through two propellers situated at the rear of the hull, powered by the tank's engine.[9] Steering was in the control of the tank commander, who operated a pair of rudders from the turret through cables. The crew included an onboard mechanic.

 

References

Tomczyk, Andrzej (2003). Japanese Armor Vol. 3. AJ Press.

Zaloga, Steven J. (2007). Japanese Tanks 1939–45. Osprey.

 

Type 3 Ka-Chi

 

Production history

Designed             1942–1943

Specifications

Weight                 28.7 tons (with pontoons)

Length 10.3 meters (with pontoons)

Width    3 meters

Height   3.82 meters

Crew     7

Armor   10–50 mm

Main

armament

                1x Type 1 47 mm tank gun

Secondary

armament

                2× Type 97 7.7 mm machine gun

Engine Mitsubishi Type 100 air cooled

V-12 diesel

240 hp (179 kW)

Suspension         Bell crank

Operational

range

                320 kilometers

Speed   32 km/h on land and 10 km/h in water

 

Spoiler

History and development

The success of the Type 2 Ka-Mi design pleased the planners in the Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff, and it was determined that a larger version with stronger armor and armament would be useful in future amphibious warfare operations. The Type 3 Ka-Chi prototype was completed in late 1943 and the first units entered service that same year.

 

However, only 19 Type 3 Ka-Chi's were built from 1943 to 1945. The main priorities of the Navy were in warship and aircraft production, and lacking in any definite plans for additional amphibious operations, production of the Type 3 Ka-Chi remained a very low priority.

 

Design

The Type 3 Ka-Chi was based a heavily modified version of the chassis of the Army's Type 1 Chi-He medium tank, and thus featured considerably better armored protection and firepower than the earlier Type 2 Ka-Mi.  It had smooth sides that faired into front and rear flotation pontoons made of sheet-metal. The front pontoon had a curved 'bow' shape and both pontoons could be jettisoned from inside the tank once the tank had landed. However, in practice, the pontoons were usually retained, as they provided some marginal additional protection against enemy fire. The undercarriage used the Hara system, as did the Type 1 Chi-He, with the addition of 2 more road-wheels and two more return rollers on each side. The hull was welded and water-proofed "with rubber seals and gaskets". The water propulsion was provided by twin-screws and it had two steering screws. The Type 3 Ka-Chi also had a distinctive large snorkel behind the turret for aerating the diesel engine more efficiently and keeping the exhaust free of water.

 

The main gun of Type 3 Ka-Chi was the Type 1 47 mm tank gun with barrel length of 2.250 meters (L/48), EL angle of fire by −15 to +20 degrees, AZ angle of fire of 20 degrees, muzzle velocity by 810 m/s and penetration of 55 mm/100 m, 30 mm/1,000 m. This was the same 47 mm gun used on the army's Type 97-Shinhoto Chi-Ha. Secondary armament was a coaxial Type 97 heavy tank machine gun and a hull mounted weapon of the same type. The gun turret was designed with an extended circular cupola to keep the hatch above water. The vehicle required a crew of seven, one of whom (as with the Type 2 Ka-Mi) served as on-board mechanic.

 

References

Tomczyk, Andrzej (2003). Japanese Armor Vol. 3. AJ Press.

Zaloga, Steven J. (2007). Japanese Tanks 1939–45. Osprey Publishing

 

Type 5 To-Ku

 

Production history

Designed             1945

Specifications

Weight                 29.1 tons

Length 10.8m (with floats)

Width    3.0m

Height   3.38m

Crew     7

Armor   10-50 mm

Main

armament

                Type 1 47 mm gun and 25 mm gun

Secondary

armament

                2x 7.7 mm Type 97 MG's

Engine water-cooled 12-cylinder Mitsubishi diesel

240 hp[1]

Power/weight   8 hp/1 ton

Suspension         bell crank

Operational

range

                320 km (unknown if referring to sea or land)

Speed   32 km/h (land) 10 km/h (water)

 

Spoiler

The To-Ku was large and heavy; it boasted extensive armor protection with 50 mm of armor plate in the front hull. The turret was a modified version of the one used on the Type 97 Shinhoto Chi-Ha medium tank and fitted with a Type 1 25 mm gun and a rear facing Type 97 7.7 mm machine gun. The front hull mounted a Type 1 47 mm tank gun and a Type 97 7.7 mm machine gun. The chassis was based on the Type 5 Chi-Ri medium tank and the suspension, pontoons and propulsion system were substantially the same as the Type 3 Ka-Chi. Only one prototype was built of this amphibious tank.

References

Tomczyk, Andrzej (2003). Japanese Armor Vol. 3. AJ Press.

 

[SAUBER_KH7 3,326]

Open for Discussion.

[SaitaniUmetarou 174]

Having more amphibious tanks will make Japanese tree more unique.

 

1+ from me

[OddballE8 3,878]

I like it.

As long as they can keep those pontoons on, so they're actually amphibious.
 

[Fatbeardedfish 105]

Since some people don't want to pontoons and the devs may not want to model the pontoons being detachable, there could be 2 of the tanks in a folder one with pontoons one without i.e., Ka-Mi without pontoons first in the folder, then Ka-Mi with pontoons second in the folder.

[TheElite96 5,839]

3 hours ago, Fatbeardedfish said:

Since some people don't want to pontoons and the devs may not want to model the pontoons being detachable, there could be 2 of the tanks in a folder one with pontoons one without i.e., Ka-Mi without pontoons first in the folder, then Ka-Mi with pontoons second in the folder.

Pretty good idea...

[vikingrGER 2,124]

Yeah, it's funny like nations like the US and USSR got both 2 amphibious tanks, while Japan, who was pretty active in this branch, don't come up with a single (working) one.

[PawIick 4]

Lets make the emperor proud, take my vote.

[Jermster_91@psn 1,081]

So far the only countries that don't have an amphibious vehicle of some sort are Germany, Great Britain and Japan. It would be nice to see another country be able to use amphibious tanks.

[Baka_9_Cirno 55]

Well, they are one of JGF's specialty, so why not?

+1

[Jan_Gustl_WT 1,746]

I support this because amphibious tanks are interesting designs

+1

[The75thsoul 533]

I would love to see the Japanese line be more fleshed out 

+1

[DavidXD 1,355]

Interesting vehicles.

I support !

[Josh_Yong 328]

Very nice 

1+

 

[Smin1080p 60,444]

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