Japan was one of the leading powers during World War II. The scale of the strategic plans of its leadership had to be confirmed by the high quality of technology. Therefore, in the 30s, the Japanese created many models of tanks that fought for several years without interruption on the Pacific front of World War II.
Buy Western models
The idea of creating their own tanks appeared in Japan after the First World War. This conflict showed the promise of this modern type of weapon. Since the Japanese did not have their own industry necessary for the production of tanks, they began to get acquainted with the developments of the Europeans.
To Tokyo, this was a familiar method of modernization. The Land of the Rising Sun spent several centuries in total isolation and only in the second half of the 19th century began to develop intensively. From scratch, new branches of the economy and industry appeared. Therefore, the task of conducting a similar experiment with tanks was not so fantastic.
The first French Renault FT-18s were purchased in 1925, which at that time were considered the best cars of their kind. These models were adopted by the Japanese for service. Very soon, engineers andthe designers of this country, having gained Western experience, have prepared several of their pilot projects.
Chi-I
The first Japanese tank was assembled in Osaka in 1927. The car was named "Chi-I". It was an experimental model that never made it to mass production. However, it was she who became the very “first lump”, which turned out to be the starting point for Japanese specialists for further technical research.
The model had a cannon, two machine guns, and its weight was 18 tons. Its design feature consisted in several towers on which guns were mounted. It was a bold and controversial experiment. The first Japanese tank was also equipped with a machine gun designed to protect the vehicle from the rear. Because of this feature, it was installed behind the engine compartment. Tests showed that the multi-turreted design was unsuccessful in terms of combat effectiveness. In the future, Osaka decided to abandon the implementation of such a system. The Japanese "Chi-I" tank has remained a historical model that has never been in a real war. But some of its features were inherited by cars later used on the fields of World War II.
Type 94
Mostly Japanese World War II tanks were developed in the 30s. The first model in this series is the Tokushu Ken'insha (abbreviated as TK, or "Type 94"). This tank was notable for its small dimensions and weight (only 3.5 tons). It was used not only in combat, but alsoauxiliary purposes. Therefore, in Europe, "Type 94" was considered a wedge.
As an auxiliary vehicle, the TC was used to transport goods and help convoys. According to the designers' idea, this was the original purpose of the machine. However, over time, the project evolved into a full-fledged combat model. Almost all subsequent Japanese tanks of the Second World War inherited from the "Type 94" not only the design, but also the layout. In total, more than 800 units of this generation were produced. "Type 94" was mainly used during the invasion of China, which began in 1937.
The post-war fate of Tokushu Keninsha is curious. Part of the fleet of these models was captured by the Allies, who defeated the Japanese after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The tanks were handed over to the Chinese - the Communist People's Liberation Army and the Kuomintang troops. These parties were hostile to each other. Therefore, the "Type 94" was tested for several more years on the fields of the Chinese civil war, after which the PRC was formed.
Type 97
In 1937, the "Type 94" was declared obsolete. Further research by engineers led to the emergence of a new machine - a direct descendant of Tokushu Keninsha. The model was called "Type 97" or "Te-Ke" for short. This Japanese tank was used during the fighting in China, Malaya and Burma until the very end of World War II. In fact, it was a deep modification of the "Type 94".
The crew of the new car consisted oftwo people. The engine was located at the rear, and the transmission was at the front. An important innovation compared to its predecessor was the unification of the combat and management departments. The vehicle received a 37mm cannon inherited from the TK.
New Japanese tanks in the field were first tested in battles on the Khalkhin Gol River. Since they did not participate in the first attacks on Soviet positions, most of the Te-Ke managed to survive. Almost all active combat units of this type were deployed to the Pacific theater of World War II. These small tanks were used especially effectively for reconnaissance of enemy positions. They were also used as machines that organize communication between different parts of the front. The small size and weight made the Type 97 an indispensable weapon for infantry support.
Chi-Ha
Interestingly, almost all Japanese tanks of World War II were developed by Mitsubishi employees. Today, this brand is known primarily in the automotive industry. However, in the 30-40s, the company's factories regularly produced reliable vehicles for the army. In 1938, Mitsubishi began production of the Chi-Ha, one of Japan's main medium tanks. Compared to its predecessors, the model received more powerful guns (including 47 mm guns). In addition, it featured improved aiming.
"Chi-Ha" were used in combat from the very first days after their appearance on the assembly line. At the initial stage of the war with China, theyremained an effective tool in the hands of Japanese tankers. However, after the United States was drawn into the conflict, the Chi-Ha had a serious combat competitor. These were tanks of the M3 Lee type. They easily coped with all Japanese cars of the light and medium segment. Largely because of this, out of more than two thousand Chi-Ha units, only a dozen representatives of this model remain today as museum exhibits.
HaGo
If we compare all the Japanese tanks of World War II, we can distinguish two of the most basic and common models. This is the above-described "Chi-Ha" and "Ha-Go". This tank was mass-produced in 1936-1943. In total, more than 2300 units of this model were produced. Although it is difficult to single out the best Japanese tank, it is the Ha-Go that has the most rights to this title.
The first sketches of it appeared in the early 30s. Then the Japanese command wanted to get a car that could become an effective auxiliary tool for cavalry attacks. That is why "Ha-Go" was distinguished by such important qualities as high cross-country ability and mobility.
Ka-Mi
An important feature of the "Ha-Go" was that this tank became the basis for numerous modifications. All of them were experimental and therefore not widely used. However, this does not mean that there were no competitive models among them.
High quality, for example, was "Ka-Mi". He wasunique in that it remained the only mass-produced amphibious Japanese tank of World War II. The development of this modification of "Ha-Go" began in 1941. Then the Japanese command began to prepare a campaign to advance to the south, where there were many small islands and archipelagos. In this regard, it became necessary to land an amphibious assault. Japanese heavy tanks could not help in this task. Therefore, Mitsubishi started the development of a fundamentally new model, based on the most common tank of the Land of the Rising Sun "Ha-Go". As a result, 182 Ka-Mi units were produced.
Use of amphibious tanks
The running gear of the old tank has been improved so that the vehicle can be used effectively on the water. For this, in particular, the body was significantly changed. Due to their originality, each "Ka-Mi" was going slowly and for a long time. For this reason, the first major operation using amphibious tanks did not take place until 1944. The Japanese landed on Saipan, the largest of the Mariana Islands. By the end of the war, when the imperial army did not advance, but, on the contrary, only retreated, its landing operations also ceased. Therefore, "Ka-Mi" began to be used as a conventional ground tank. This was facilitated by the fact that in its design and running characteristics it was universal.
In 1944, photos of Japanese tanks floating along the coast of the Marshall Islands went around the world. By that time, the empire was already close to defeat, and even the appearancefundamentally new technology could not help her in any way. Nevertheless, the Ka-Mi themselves made a great impression on the opponents. The hull of the tank was spacious. Five people were placed in it - a driver, a mechanic, a gunner, a loader and a commander. Externally, the Ka-Mi immediately caught the eye because of its two-man turret.
Chi-He
"Chi-Hu" appeared as a result of work on bugs related to the characteristics of Chi-Ha. In 1940, Japanese designers and engineers decided to catch up with Western competitors in the simplest way by copying foreign technologies and developments. Thus, all the amateur performance and originality of the Eastern specialists were put aside.
The result of this maneuver was not long in coming - the "Chi-He" more than all its Japanese "relatives" both externally and internally began to resemble European counterparts of that time. But the project came too late. In 1943-1944. only 170 "Chi-He" were produced.
Chi-Nu
The continuation of the ideas embodied in "Chi-Heh" was "Chi-Nu". It differed from its predecessor only in improved weapons. The design and layout of the hull remained the same.
The series was not numerous. At the final stage of the Second World War in 1943-1945. only about a hundred "Chi-Nu" were produced. According to the idea of the Japanese command, these tanks were to become an important defense force.countries during the landing of American troops. Due to the atomic bombings and the imminent surrender of the state leadership, this foreign attack never happened.
O-I
What was different about Japanese tanks? The review shows that among them there were no models of the heavy class according to the Western classification. The Japanese command preferred light and medium vehicles, which were easier and more efficient to use in conjunction with the infantry. However, this did not mean at all that there were no projects of a fundamentally different type in this country.
One of these was the idea of a super-heavy tank, which was tentatively named "O-I". This multi-turreted monster was supposed to accommodate a crew of 11 people. The model was designed as an important weapon for the upcoming attacks on the USSR and China. Work on the "O-I" began in 1936 and, one way or another, was carried out until the defeat in World War II. The project was either closed or restarted. Today there is no reliable data that at least one prototype of this model was produced. "O-I" remained on paper, as did Japan's idea of its regional dominance, which led it to a disastrous alliance with Nazi Germany.
