Type 10(MVT-X

Understand that in heaven they only talk about the sea. How infinitely beautiful it is... About the sunset they saw...
About how the sun, plunging into the waves, became scarlet like blood. And we felt that the sea had absorbed the energy of the light into itself
and the sun was tamed, and the fire was already burning out in the depths. And you?... What do you tell them? After all, you have never been to the sea.
Up there they will call you a sucker...

new Japanese tank of the 4th generation

The first Japanese tank Type-89 Otsu.

Japanese tank building has always been one generation behind the world. This situation existed during the war, in the post-war years, and even in those times when Japan was the flagship of the scientific and technological revolution. And recently the Japanese decided to get ahead and be the first in the world to create a fourth-generation battle tank as the basis. The tank received an index Type-10.

The fact is that in 2004, for the first time in the entire post-war period, Japan abandoned the concept based solely on the principle of self-defense, and now nothing restrains it from developing its aggressive potential.
On February 13, 2008, a public demonstration of a new generation tank took place in Japan, which incorporated all the most modern design solutions in the field of tank building and was created taking into account the experience of fighting local conflicts in recent years. A prototype of a promising MBT was presented to journalists at the research center of the Japanese Ministry of Defense in the city of Sagamihara.
In appearance tank Type-10 traceable common features with such modern MBTs as Leopard 2A6 and Merkava Mk-4. But in terms of size and weight it is closer to Russian tanks.

Type-10 with the gun forward, it is 9485 millimeters long, 3.24 meters wide, and 2.3 meters high.
The mass of the tank is 44 tons, the crew is three people. The manned turret houses the main armament - a 120-mm smoothbore German Rheinmetall cannon, which has a barrel length of 44 calibers and is equipped with a conveyor-type automatic loader, a 7.62-mm coaxial Type-74 machine gun and a 12.7-mm Browning M2HB anti-aircraft machine gun. The gun is equipped with a powder gas ejector, a thermal casing and is stabilized in two planes.
The Japanese would not be Japanese if they had not paid special attention to the BIUS (combat information and control system) and TIUS (tank information and control system). The tank is also equipped with an effective panoramic viewing system.

Type-10 It is equipped with a 1200-horsepower eight-cylinder diesel engine, which allows the tank to reach a speed of 70 kilometers. The tank's transmission is automatic and continuously variable. The tank has active hydropneumatic suspension.

Type-10 absorbed all the most modern developments in the field of tank building. The tank is equipped with the C4I electronic system, which combines control, guidance, communications and reconnaissance capabilities. The system allows automatic exchange of information between tanks. According to a representative of the Ministry of Defense, the tank's fire control system allows it to effectively deal with small moving targets. This feature, combined with a modern modular composite armor system, is said to allow the tank Type-10 operate equally successfully in battle both with armies that have modern MBTs and with partisan formations, the main anti-tank weapons of which are hand-held anti-tank grenade launchers. In a Japanese television report about the new vehicle, significant attention was paid specifically to the “anti-terrorist” potential of the tank and its protection from different varieties RPG-7.
The first tank battalion, armed with tanks Type-10, was formed in December 2012. New tanks are sent primarily to Hokkaido, where the center of Japanese military efforts is located. The Japanese are just waiting for a favorable moment so that, when there is an internal turmoil in Russia or a powerful enemy attacks us, they can land troops on the Kuril Islands, on Sakhalin, and, if possible, in Primorye.
Japan currently has 890 tanks, 560 of which are obsolete Type-74s, and 320 are obsolete Type-90s. Tanks Type-10 There are only 13 vehicles available so far, but the production capabilities of the Mitsubishi company, as you know, are enormous, and the Japanese are quite capable of producing a significant number of tanks of this type.

In the 1930s Japanese armored units had the opportunity to test their strength in a combat situation - in China. In 1935, the mixed mechanized brigade operated near Shanghai, and in 1937, together with the 3rd Tank Regiment, in the north of the Republic of China. In Manchuria, only about 400 tanks were used at that time.

In battles with Soviet units on the Khalkhin Gol River in 1939, the Japanese deployed a group of medium tanks "type 89" under the command of Colonel Yoshimaro (two companies of 10 tanks each) from
of the 3rd Tank Regiment and a group of light tanks "Type 95" "Ha-Go" (three companies of 10 vehicles each) under the command of Colonel Tamada from the 4th Tank Regiment. The tanks were supported by artillery, anti-aircraft battery, sappers, transport units.

During the July battles, the complete superiority of Soviet armored vehicles over Japanese armored vehicles became clear. Due to their faster-firing guns, maneuverable BT-7 tanks and BA-10 armored vehicles had a better chance of surviving a direct collision than their opponents from the Land of the Rising Sun.

On December 7, 1941, the Japanese launched their invasion of the Philippines and Malaya. On December 10, the advanced units of the 14th Army of General Homme began landing on the island. Luzon, and on December 22 - 24 the main forces of the army landed. In the Philippines, Japanese tanks clashed with American tanks for the first time - since November 1941, a tank group of 180 M3 Stuart and 50 75-mm T12 self-propelled guns was stationed in Luzon. The Japanese landed units of the 4th and 7th tank regiments and several tank companies here. The tanks were delivered to the shore on landing barges and immediately disembarked from them. From the first clashes on December 22 and 31, 1941 until the last battle on April 7, 1942, the main role here was played by the light Ha-Go, although the medium Chi-Ha also took part in the fighting. Usually tanks led infantry attacks, sometimes making quick dashes to objects already captured by paratroopers to finally break enemy resistance.

Units of the 7th Tank Regiment captured several light Stuarts. The T12 self-propelled guns (on the chassis of half-track armored personnel carriers), which in 1944 - 1945, also became trophies of the Japanese. they were used in the Philippines against the Americans. The withdrawal of the American-Philippine group of troops to the fortifications on the Bataan Peninsula reduced the Japanese actions to an assault on the peninsula and the fortress island of Corregidor. In the battles on Bataan, the Chi-Has were more active, sometimes using smoke grenade launchers. After the capture of Bataan, an amphibious force was formed to land on Corregidor. Previous fights showed low efficiency 57-mm Chi-Ha guns in tank battles with highly mobile, maneuverable “Stuarts”, which are also capable of firing from long distances. Therefore, in addition to the “Chi-ha” company, the detachment included two “Shinhoto Chiha”, previously delivered to Bataan and assigned to the 7th Tank Regiment. It is interesting to note that the commander of this tank company, Major Matsuoka, operated a captured Stuart. The landing on Corregidor on May 5, 1942 was the combat debut of the Shinhoto Chi-ha.

The Japanese 25th Army under Lieutenant General Yamashita, which invaded Malaya and had 211 tanks consisting of the 1st, 6th and 14th tank regiments, quickly advanced towards the island. Singapore. The British considered it impossible to attack the island from the north, that is, from the land side, especially using tanks. The Japanese thought differently. The rugged, jungle-covered terrain really made it very difficult for the vehicles to operate; they had to move mainly in columns along sparse roads. Under these conditions, tanks were also used as a vehicle for transporting property. For camouflage, the crews used “skirts” made of palm leaves or other vegetation, attaching them to the hulls and turrets.

Tank losses were insignificant, which was greatly facilitated by the enemy's lack of anti-tank weapons and dominance Japanese aviation in the air.

The operation began on December 7, and already on the 11th the 1st Tank Regiment successfully attacked the Jitra defense line. According to the British, the appearance of Japanese medium tanks of the 6th Tank Regiment on January 7, 1942 near Kuala Lumpur in Silanogra “caused indescribable confusion.” Japanese tanks crossed the river and not only broke through the British defenses, but also captured rich booty, including serviceable armored vehicles and light armored personnel carriers. To support the units that crossed to Singapore on February 9, the Japanese drove tanks through the Strait of Johor along the railway dam. On February 15, Singapore was captured by Japanese forces, and tanks played a big role in this.

In the battles in Burma (January 21 - May 20, 1942), General Ida's Japanese 15th Army used tanks from the 1st, 2nd, and 14th Tank Regiments. On April 29, they cut the Burma Road, and on April 30, they entered the city of Lashio, an important communications hub. In Burma, Japanese tank crews took part in battles with the “Stuarts” of the British 7th Hussars. In addition, T-26s of the Chinese 200th Mechanized Division also operated here, but they did not participate in tank battles with the Japanese.

After the landing on August 7, 1942, the 1st Division Marine Corps USA on the island Guadalcanal (in the Solomon Islands group) and moving deeper into the island, the Japanese landed Sumimoshi on the island on October 16, reinforced by the 1st separate tank company, which was staffed by veterans of the 4th company of the 2nd tank regiment. After a series of local skirmishes, on October 26, the Japanese attempted to cross the Matenika River and attack American Marine positions on the opposite bank. Of the 12 "Chi-ha" that tried to ford the river, most were lost from the fire of 37-mm anti-tank guns. Actually, this is where the tank battles ended. The Japanese did not have time to transfer reinforcements from Rabaul and on February 1 - 7, 1943 they secretly evacuated from Guadalcanal.

The year 1943 was a turning point - both Germany in Europe and Japan in Asia and the Pacific were forced to switch to strategic defense. The Japanese garrisons on the Mariana Islands, which were part of the internal defense belt of the Land of the Rising Sun and were of strategic importance, were reinforced by units of the 9th tank regiment of Colonel Hideki Goto: 1st and 2nd companies (29 Ha-go and Chi tanks -ha") were on about. Guam, 3rd, 5th and 6th - on the island. Saipan. In addition, the Ha-Go of a separate tank company of the airborne detachment was stationed on the latter, and the 24th separate tank company (9 tanks) was stationed on Guam. There were also floating Ka-mi, and the anti-tank system used 47-mm Type 1 cannons.

On June 15, 1944, American troops landed on Saipan as part of the 2nd and 4th Marine Divisions with amphibious tanks, and on June 16, the 27th Infantry Division. The Japanese used their tanks to counterattack with the infantry, but suffered heavy losses from infantry anti-tank fire and M4 Sherman tanks. On June 16, Vice Admiral Nagumo ordered another counterattack. Under the command of Colonel Goto, 44 ​​tanks were sent to the island along with the 136th Infantry Regiment: “Ha-go”, “Chi-ha”, “Shinhoto Chi-ha” from the 9th tank regiment and “Ka-mi” from the landing force tank company. The tanks secretly landed in the rear of the American Marines entrenched on the western shore, but on the pebble beaches of Garapan they made a lot of noise with their tracks. The Marines managed to call in a platoon of Shermans and several MZ self-propelled anti-tank guns. The Japanese lost 11 tanks already on the beach. However, at 2 a.m. on June 17, 40 Japanese tanks with infantry on their armor (rare for the Japanese tactical technique) went on the attack. They had to move through open areas. Some of the tanks reached the Marine positions, but in the light of flares fired from the ships, the Americans knocked out several tanks with fire from Bazooka rocket launchers and 37-mm anti-tank guns. The rest, trying to get around the damaged vehicles, got stuck in swampy places and soft ground and turned out to be motionless targets. After a counterattack by the American Marines with tanks and self-propelled guns, the Japanese were left with only 12 tanks - 6 each “Chi-ha” and “Ha-go”. Some of them died on June 24 in an unequal battle with the Shermans (Company C of the 2nd Tank Battalion of the Marine Corps), the rest died a little later in clashes with the M5A1 Stuart of army units (according to other sources, from 37-mm fire anti-tank guns). Saipan was captured by the Americans only on July 9 and cost both sides heavy losses.

When the 3rd Marine Division and the U.S. 77th Infantry Division landed on Guam on June 21, Japanese forces on the island included 38 Ha-Go and Chi-Ha tanks massed along the western shore, where the Americans landed. In the first clashes, only “Ha-Go” participated, although “Shikha” would have brought more benefit - light tanks were quickly knocked out. 11 “Chi-ha” of the 2nd company of the 9th regiment, which was located at the beginning of the landing as part of the 48th separate mixed brigade at Agana, was pulled to Taraga on the northern bank. They were used to support infantry in night attacks. A successful attack was carried out, for example, by five Chi-Has on the night of August 8-9 on the position of the Marines, whose bazookas were disabled due to rain. But the very next day, American Shermans attacked a Japanese strong point, knocked out two tanks and captured seven - they were either faulty or had no fuel. On August 10, the Japanese stopped resistance on Guam.

Saipan and Guam became the sites of the most intensive use of Japanese tanks in the Pacific theater of operations. On June 16, they carried out their last massive attack on Saipan. The battles here also demonstrated the complete inconsistency of the Chi-Ha with the requirements of the time - these tanks were easily knocked out by fire from American bazookas, tank and anti-tank guns, and there were cases of these vehicles being hit by fire heavy machine guns and rifle grenades.

The medium tanks “Chi-ha” and “Shinhoto Chi-ha” arrived in the Philippines at the disposal of the 14th Army (14th Front) from Manchuria in January 1944 as part of units of the 2nd Tank Division. Soon the 11th Tank Regiment was reinforced by Shinhoto Chi-ha, renamed the 27th Separate Tank Regiment and sent to Okinawa. Thus, on about. Luzon was left with three tank regiments (each with one company of light tanks and one with two companies of medium tanks) - a total of 220 tanks, including the Shinhoto Chi-ha, as well as the self-propelled guns Ho-ni and Ho-ro. On Leyte Island there were light "Ha-Go" and several outdated medium "Type 94" of the 7th separate tank company. These forces were to face more than 500 American tanks and self-propelled guns.

On October 20, 1944, four infantry divisions of the 6th American Army landed on the island. Leyte, and by December 28 the fighting there was already over. Medium Type 94s were lost while trying to recapture the runways. It is worth noting here that the struggle for the Pacific islands was not so much an attempt to take control of key points of sea communications as to seize airfields. After the Japanese tanks on Leyte Island were unable to carry out a single more or less successful counterattack and were mostly knocked out, General Yamashita decided to use them on Luzon as stationary firing points, distributing them among strongholds of infantry units and setting the task of delaying the advance American units. The tanks were dug in and carefully camouflaged; several reserve positions were prepared for them. For camouflage, the crews stretched wire mesh over the hull and turret, onto which they attached branches, leaves, and grass. The protection of the frontal part of the turret was increased by attaching spare tracks, which, in principle, was uncharacteristic for Japanese tank crews. The vehicles prepared in this way served as the core of strongholds that differed from each other in size and strength. Thus, the point at Urdaneta had 9 combat units, the Shigemi detachment at San Manuel - 45 (7th tank regiment, mainly Shinhoto Chi-ha), the Ida detachment at Munoz - 52 (6th tank regiment).

The landing of the 1st and 14th Corps of the 6th American Army on Luzon began on January 9, 1945. On January 17, a tank battle took place at Linman Hansen - the Shermans of Company C of the 716th American Tank Battalion knocked out 4 Shinhoto Chi -ha" of the Japanese 7th Tank Regiment. On January 24, the same American tank company attacked the Shigemi detachment at San Manuel with the support of 105 mm M7 self-propelled howitzers.

On the early morning of January 28, the 30 remaining vehicles of this detachment, accompanied by infantry, launched a counterattack, but most were hit by fire from tanks and self-propelled guns, and the Americans themselves lost only three Shermans and one M7. On January 30, a column of 8 “Chi-ha” and 30 cars breaking out from encirclement was shot at Umungan.

The Ida detachment also fought surrounded by battles from February 1st. The attempt to break through was stopped by fire American artillery and light tanks - “Stuarts”. All Japanese tanks were knocked out. The 10th Tank Regiment was also unlucky - on January 29, its column came under fire self-propelled units M10 of the 637th American anti-tank battalion, which knocked out four Shinhoto Chi-ha. By May 5, the Americans destroyed 203 “Chi-ha” and “Shinhoto Chi-ha”, 19 “Ha-go”, 2 “Ho-ro” in the Philippines. The 2nd Panzer Division carried out the order, delaying the American advance into the interior of the island, but paid too much for it high price- she simply ceased to exist.

After the capture of the Philippines, the focus of the American command shifted to the islands of Formosa, Okinawa and Iwo Jima, which could serve as air bases for a direct attack on the Japanese islands. On February 19, 1945, the American 5th Amphibious Corps, supported by 200 amphibious tanks, began landing on Iwo Jima. The 27th Japanese Tank Regiment was stationed here, which had 28 tanks - mainly Chi-Ha and Shinhoto Chiha. Lieutenant Colonel Nishi, who commanded them, intended to use the Shinhoto Chi-ha as roving anti-tank guns, which was generally consistent with the situation and the capabilities of the tanks. However, more often they were used in entrenched stationary positions. Unable to retreat, these tanks were soon hit by artillery fire or bazookas from the 1st Independent Tank Company, US Marines. However, at least one strong point, in which there were three Shinhoto Chi-has, offered very stubborn resistance. It is no coincidence that the battles small island went until March 26th. Following this, on April 1, the Americans landed four divisions of the 3rd Airborne Corps and the 24th Corps on the western coast of Okinawa. The landing force included more than 800 tanks and self-propelled guns, as well as a large number of amphibious tanks and armored personnel carriers. The Japanese 32nd Army had here only units of the 27th Tank Regiment already mentioned above, located in the northern part of the island - a total of 13 "Ha-go" and 14 "Shinhoto Chi-ha".

Almost all of these vehicles were lost during the attempted counterattack on May 5th. The fighting in Okinawa continued until June 21, but tanks no longer took part in the most fierce battles.

After the defeat of the 2nd Tank Division in the Philippines, the Japanese command did not risk the remaining units and transfer additional tanks to Okinawa (and the very possibility of this, due to the complete dominance of the Americans at sea, was more than doubtful), although the island was considered ethnically Japanese territory. Thus ended the fighting of Japanese tank forces in the Pacific.

On the continent, fighting took place in Burma and China. In Burma, after several “test” operations in 1943, the Allies went on the offensive early next year. By the beginning of the battles with the British-Indian and American-Chinese forces, the Japanese tank forces consisted of only the 14th Tank Regiment. Moreover, his 4th company was armed with captured “Stuarts”, but after battles with British tanks, the company was reinforced with “Shinhoto Chi-ha”. With this composition, this unit took part in battles with the Americans near Myitkyina in the first days of August 1944. In March 1945, the last Japanese tanks in Burma were lost in clashes with Shermans on the Myitkyina-Mandalay road. By May 6, the Allies had completely retaken Burma.

The Japanese 3rd Tank Division was based in China, which included the 5th (8th and 12th regiments) and 6th (13th and newly formed 17th regiment) tank brigades. In 1942 - 1943 The Japanese used tanks sporadically in counter-guerrilla operations, in private attacks on the 8th People's Liberation Army of China in the Border Region, and against Kuomintang troops in the Ichang area. The 8th regiment in 1942 was transferred to the island. New Britain.

During the autumn offensive of 1943 in China, units of the 3rd Tank Division were used to capture airfields, from which at that time B-29 bomber raids began on industrial facilities in Manchuria and the island. Kyushu. In 1944, the 6th Tank Brigade was withdrawn from the division and sent to the Mongolian border, so that of the actual tank units, the 3rd Division retained only the 12th Regiment. In this form it was assigned to the 12th Army. After the inclusion of two more motorized infantry regiments, the division became more mechanized or reinforced motorized than tank. But it was precisely at this time that decisive tasks began to be set before tank units.

In April 1944, an offensive began against Kuomintang troops in the direction of Luoyang, Xin'an and along the Hankou-Changsha-Henyang-Canton railway. Its task was to seize the highway leading to the Korean coast and towards Hanoi, the subsequent defeat of the Chinese troops and the connection of the Northern, Central and Southern fronts of the Japanese expeditionary forces. The 12th Army operated as part of this “Operation No. 1”. The 3rd Armored Division, following behind the infantry along with the 4th Cavalry Brigade, took part in a number of battles. At the same time, tanks, motorized infantry and cavalry conducted maneuverable actions, carried out envelopments, and long-distance (up to 60 km per day) outflanking marches. With their active participation, Linzhou was captured on May 5, and Loyang on May 25. By mid-autumn, the Japanese occupied more than 40 cities, including Changsha, Henyang, Guilin, Shaozhou, Nanying, and airfields near Henyang, Liuzhou, and Gangxiang. This success was largely due to the weakness of the enemy anti-tank missile defense. When storming populated areas, tanks were used to fire at the gates or breaches in the walls surrounding most Chinese cities from machine gun range. After the infantry entered the city, some of the tanks acted in front of it, while others were sent around to cut off the enemy’s escape routes. The 3rd Tank Division and the 4th Cavalry Brigade also took part in the attack on the American air base near the river. Laohahe in the spring of 1945 In the operation that began on March 22 and the capture of airfields, the 3rd Panzer Division performed rather auxiliary tasks, but the tankers played an important role in consolidating the success and repelling Chinese counterattacks (for example, in April in Sichuan). After this, the 3rd Division with the rest of its forces was pulled north, to Beiping (future Beijing). Interestingly, after the Japanese surrender, the 3rd Armored Division was not completely disarmed - the Americans and the Kuomintang used it to protect Peiping from being captured by the People's Liberation Army until it was replaced by the Kuomintang 109th Division in November 1945.

Quite typical of the then situation in China - the disarmament of Japanese troops here ended only in February 1946. By the beginning of the Manchurian offensive operation of the Soviet troops in 1945, the Kwantung Army under the command of General Yamada, numbering more than 1 million people, included the 1st and 9th separate tank brigades, based respectively in the areas of the cities of Shahe (south of Mukden) and Telin (northwest of Mukden), 35th Tank Regiment along with the 39th infantry division located near the city of Sypingai. The 9th Brigade served as the tank reserve of the Kwantung Army. These areas were located in the zone of the 3rd Western Manchurian Front. Japanese tank forces were significantly weakened by losses in the autumn offensive of 1944 in China and the transfer of some units and equipment to the Japanese Islands.

In total, the Kwantung group, together with the 17th Korean Front, had 1,215 tanks by August 1945. Soviet troops numbered 1.7 million people and 5.2 thousand tanks and self-propelled guns.

On August 9, Soviet troops of the Transbaikal, 1st Far Eastern and part of the forces of the 2nd Far Eastern front went on the offensive. In the battles with the Red Army in August - September, Japanese tanks practically did not show themselves at all and were captured mainly in parks. The troops of the Transbaikal and 1st Far Eastern Fronts, for example, received up to 600 serviceable Japanese tanks.

“Chi-ha” and “Shinhoto Chi-ha” of the 11th Tank Regiment, together with units of the 91st Infantry Division, were on the Shumshu and Paramushir islands of the Kuril ridge, occupied by troops of the 5th Japanese Front. They took part in battles with Soviet troops of the 2nd Far Eastern Front, which carried out the Kuril landing operation. In addition, in the Kuril Islands the Japanese had two separate tank companies. To counter the Soviet landing (101st Rifle Division with a Marine Battalion) on the island. Shumshu On August 18 - 20, 1945, the Japanese additionally transferred tanks from the island. Paramushir. Artillery support for the Soviet landing was provided by ships of the Pacific Fleet. The fierceness of the fighting is evidenced by the remains of the Shinhoto Chi-ha, which are still rusting on the island. Shumshu and Paramushir were cleared of the Japanese on August 23, and all the Kuril Islands by September 1. On September 2, Japan surrendered.

A few words about the tanks intended for the defense of the Japanese islands. In the spring of 1945, the United Army of National Defense had 2,970 tanks consisting of two divisions, six brigades and several individual mouth. The 1st and 4th tank divisions constituted a mobile reserve stationed north of Tokyo, the American-British landing force on the island. Kyushu was planned for November 1945, and Honshu for the spring of 1946. It was to include three armored divisions, as well as a significant number of independent tank battalions. Surely the superiority would again be on the side of the Americans, but the Japanese tank units located in the metropolis, fully manned and well equipped, would apparently offer more serious resistance than in other places. However, these are pure assumptions - the surrender prevented these battles. The Japanese tanks were handed over intact to the American occupation forces. After the surrender of Japan, "Chi-ha" and "Shinhoto Chi-ha" continued their military service— during the Third Civil War in China (1945 - 1949).

Serviceable vehicles taken from the Kwantung Army, including 350 Chi-Has, were transferred by Soviet troops to the People's Liberation Army. On the other hand, Chiang Kai-shek's Kuomintang troops received a significant number of Japanese tanks, with the assistance of the Americans. The limited number of combat vehicles on both sides determined their use for direct infantry support when attacking individual strong points. The Chinese People's Liberation Army entered Peiping (Beijing) on ​​January 31, 1949 and Nanjing on April 23 on Japanese tanks, including the Chi-Ha.

In Japan itself, the surviving “Chi-ha” and “Chi-he” remained in service until the 60s. However, in these years they played more of a role as training vehicles, since the basis of the armament of the “security corps” and then the “self-defense forces” of Japan were then American-made tanks.

"Chi-He"

Regarding Japanese tanks from the Second World War, there is a widespread opinion that they were completely behind their foreign competitors. It is true, but only partly. The fact is that the Japanese military and engineers, seeing the enemy’s armored vehicles, including potential ones, still made attempts to make a tank with relevant characteristics. Simultaneously with the Shinhoto Chi-Ha medium tank, a new armored vehicle was being developed, the design of which took into account all the shortcomings of the original Chi-Ha and its predecessors. The Type 1 or Chi-He project finally began to resemble European tanks of the time, both in design and combat performance.

First of all, it is necessary to note the updated design of the armored hull. For the first time in Japanese tank building, most of the parts were welded; rivets were used only in some places of the structure. In addition, in comparison with the Chi-Ha, the new Type 1 received more serious armor. The frontal rolled armor plates of the tank were 50 millimeters thick, the sides were twice as thin. The turret's forehead was made of a 25 mm plate and was partially covered by a 40 mm thick gun mantlet. Of course, in comparison with foreign tanks, the level of protection of the Chi-He did not look like something unique, but for the Japanese military industry it was a significant step forward. When designing the Type 1, the designers were faced with the task of increasing protection and firepower while maintaining the weight of the vehicle. For this reason, the frame of the tank was simplified as much as possible, and in some places the structure was completely removed; the contours of the hull and a number of internal mechanisms also underwent changes. As a result of all the changes, the new medium tank gained only a couple of tons in weight relative to the Chi-Ha. The combat weight of the Chi-He was 17.5 tons. The increased weight required the installation of a new engine; it became the Type 100 produced by Mitsubishi. The 240-horsepower engine provided the tank with a specific power of about 13-14 Horse power per ton of weight. This was enough for a maximum highway speed of 45 km/h. Other driving characteristics remained at the level of previous tanks.

Another step towards bringing the tank to the form generally accepted in the rest of the world was the installation of a radio station on all vehicles and the introduction of a fifth person into the crew. Maintaining radio communications was the responsibility of the tank commander, who was relieved of his duties as a gunner. Aiming the gun now became the task of an individual crew member. The workplaces of the commander, gunner and loader were located in fighting compartment, which required increasing the volume of the tower. However, the armament remained almost identical to the previous Shinhoto Chi-Ha tank. The main caliber of the Chi-He is the 47-mm Type 1 cannon. Despite the name, this weapon was not the same one that was installed on the Shinhoto Chi-Ha. Before installation on the Type 1 tank, the gun underwent major modernization. First of all, the recoil devices have undergone significant changes. The suspension system, in turn, retained its main features, but was also improved. Changing the mounting trunnions in practice led to a decrease in the width of the horizontal sector in which the gun could move. On the Chi-He, the gun barrel deviated from the longitudinal axis only 7.5° to the sides. The ammunition load of the Type 1 tank was similar to the supply of Shinhoto Chi-Ha shells - 120 unitary rounds of two types. The additional armament of the Chi-He consisted of two 7.7-mm machine guns, located according to the traditional layout for Japanese tanks. One was mounted on axles in the loophole of the frontal plate, the other - in the rear of the turret.

Major design work on the Type 1 theme was completed before the attack on Pearl Harbor. However, then the matter ended with the construction and testing of the prototype. Serial production of the Chi-He began only in mid-1943. Naturally, by this time Japan could no longer afford the construction of particularly large batches of new armored vehicles. As a result, no more than 170-180 Type 1 tanks were assembled, and about a year after its start, serial construction ceased. During its service with the troops, the new tank received mixed reviews. On the one side, good booking Under certain conditions, the front of the hull protected the tank even from American 75 mm guns. On the other hand, the 47-mm cannon still could not compete with the weapons of enemy tanks and artillery. Therefore, “Type 1” was unable to have any tangible impact on the course of the battles. Perhaps something would have changed if this tank had been built in more, but there is reason to doubt this too.

"Chi-Nu"

Understanding the not very bright prospects of the Type 1, the Japanese command instructed tank builders to make another medium tank capable of properly fighting enemy armored vehicles. The “Type 3” or “Chi-Nu” project implied the replacement of weapons with the “Type 1”. The Type 90 field gun with a caliber of 75 millimeters was chosen as the new main one. It was developed in the early thirties based on the French Schneider gun. In turn, on the basis of the Type 90, a new gun was designed, designed specifically for installation on the Chi-Nu tank. This modification of the gun was called “Type 3”.

Due to the need to replace only the gun, the design of the Type 3 tank was taken practically unchanged from the Type 1. All improvements concerned improving the manufacturability of the assembly and ensuring the installation of a new, larger tower. The latter was a welded unit with a hexagonal shape in plan. The tower was welded from rolled sheets with a thickness of 50 mm (front) to 12 (roof). In addition, additional protection for the frontal projection was provided by a 50-mm gun mantlet. The “consequences” of installing a new large tower are interesting. Its front part covered most of the driver's hatch. For this reason, the entire Chi-Nu crew had to enter and exit the tank through two hatches in the turret roof and one in its left side. In addition, for servicing the gun and loading ammunition, there was another fairly large hatch at the rear of the turret. All changes led to an increase in the tank's combat weight. “Chi-Nu” weighed 18.8 tons when ready for combat. At the same time, driving performance has decreased slightly. The 240-horsepower diesel Type 100 could provide a maximum speed of only about 40 kilometers per hour, which was less than the corresponding figure for the Chi-He tank.

When converting the Type 90 gun into the Type 3 state, no significant design changes occurred. The gun was still equipped with a hydraulic recoil brake and a spring knurl. At the same time, the authors of the project had to resort to a little trick. Since they were required to quickly modify the gun, they did not change its layout. The recoil devices remained in place, in front under the barrel. Because of this, a special armored tray had to be installed on the front of the turret to protect the recoil brake cylinders. The gun's considerable weight and considerable dimensions forced us to abandon the idea of ​​additional fine aiming without rotating the turret. On the Type 3, the gun could only swing vertically from -10° to +15° from the horizontal axis. The new tank's ammunition mounts contained 55 shells of two types, high-explosive fragmentation and armor-piercing. The latter, having an initial speed of 680 m/s at a distance of a kilometer, penetrated 65-70 millimeters of armor. The Chi-Nu's secondary armament consisted of only one machine gun in the front of the hull.

There is no exact data regarding the production of Type 3 medium tanks. According to one source, they began to be collected in mid-1943. Other literature indicates the fall of 1944 as the start of construction. The same strange situation is observed in estimates of the number of assembled cars. According to various sources, from 60 to 170 units were manufactured. The reason for such large discrepancies is the lack of necessary documents, which were lost in the last stages of the war. In addition, there is no information about the combat use of Type 3 tanks. According to available information, all tanks built were supplied to the 4th tank division, which until the end of the war did not take part in hostilities outside Japanese islands. The use of "Chi-Nu" in the battles for Okinawa is sometimes mentioned, but in known American documents there is no information about the appearance of new technology No. Probably all “Type 3” remained at the bases without having time to fight. After the end of World War II, a number of Chi-Nu tanks were used Japanese Forces self-defense.

"Chi-Nu", as well as several "Ho-Ni III" in the background, from the 4th Panzer Division

"Ka-Mi"

There were several interesting projects in Japanese tank building, which for a number of reasons were not particularly widely implemented. An example is the “Chi-Nu” described above. Another “small-scale” project appeared in connection with the peculiarities of the war in the Pacific Ocean. In preparing for the attack to the south, the Japanese command was faced with the issue of amphibious landings on the islands and the continental coast. Infantry support by tanks was carried out exclusively with the help of tank landing boats and ships. In particular, and therefore, most Japanese armored vehicles had a combat weight of less than 20 tons. For obvious reasons, military leaders wanted to get rid of the need to attract additional forces. Work towards creating an amphibious tank began in the late twenties, but then everything was limited to theory and a few experiments. Only in 1940 did full-fledged design work begin. The Type 2 or Ka-Mi tank was to become the main means of fire support for troops landing on the coast. The technical specifications implied the following use of an amphibious tank: a landing ship delivers armored vehicles to a certain distance from land, after which they reach the shore under their own power. It seems like nothing special. However, the Mitsubishi designers were required to ensure both good seaworthiness of the tank and sufficient combat qualities. This was allowed to be done in any suitable way.

"Ka-Mi" is afloat. The similarity of the tank to a small ship speaks volumes about its seaworthiness.

The basis for “Ka-Mi” was taken light tank"Type 95" ("Ha-Go"). The chassis of the old tank was modified for use in water. Housings with springs of the T. Hara system were hidden inside the housing. The building itself has undergone major changes. Unlike the Type 95, the Type 2 was assembled almost entirely by welding. Rivets were used only in those parts of the structure where a hermetic connection of parts was not required. The body was welded from rolled sheets up to 14 millimeters thick. A characteristic feature of the new tank was the shape of the hull. Unlike its land counterparts, the sea "Ka-Mi" did not have large quantity mating surfaces. In fact, the body was a simple box with several bevels. The arrangement of the engine and transmission was traditional for Japanese tanks of the second half of the thirties. The 120-horsepower diesel engine was placed in the stern, the transmission in the bow. In addition, two propellers were installed at the rear of the tank. At the same time, to save weight and ease of engine maintenance, there was no partition between the engine and fighting compartments. In terms of repairs, it was quite convenient. But in a combat situation, the roar of the engine greatly disturbed the crew. For this reason, it was necessary to equip the Ka-Mi with a tank intercom. Without it, the test tank crews could not hear each other. A new turret was mounted on the relatively wide top plate of the hull. It had a conical shape and accommodated the workplaces of two crew members: the commander and the gunner. The loader, mechanic and driver, in turn, were located inside the body.

The main armament of the floating Ka-Mi was 37-mm cannons. In the first series these were “Type 94”, installed on the “Ha-Go”, but then they were replaced by “Type 1”, which had a longer barrel. The gun's ammunition load was 132 rounds. Guidance in the horizontal plane was carried out both by rotating the turret and by shifting the gun itself within five degrees from the axis. Vertical aiming – from -20° to +25°. Additional weapons of the “Type 2” were two 7.7 mm machine guns. One of them was paired with a cannon, and the second was located in the front of the hull. Before starting several landing operations some Ka-Mi were equipped additional equipment for the use of torpedoes. Two such ammunition were attached to the sides of the tank on special brackets and dropped using an electrical system.

Type 2 "Ka-mi" (101st Special Marine Amphibious Unit), with pontoons removed, aboard a transport transporting reinforcements to Saipan

The original Ha-Go underwent many changes, the purpose of which was to ensure proper seaworthiness. In particular, the shape of the upper part of the hull was determined by the peculiarities of the chosen method of ensuring buoyancy. Since the tank itself could not float normally on its own, they proposed installing special pontoons on it. A structure with a volume of 6.2 cubic meters was attached in the front part, and a volume of 2.9 in the rear. At the same time, the front pontoon was shaped like the bow of a watercraft, and the rear one was equipped with a boat-type plate rudder and its control system. To ensure survivability, the front pontoon was divided into six sealed sections, the rear - into five. In addition to the pontoons, a snorkel turret was installed above the engine compartment before moving through the water. Beginning in 1943, the kit for swimming began to include a lightweight metal structure designed for installation on a tank turret. With its help, the commander of a combat vehicle could monitor the situation not only through observation devices. Upon reaching the shore, the tankers had to discard pontoons and turrets. The reset procedure was carried out using a screw mechanism located inside the machine. In the first series, the Ka-Mi tanks were equipped with only two pontoons. Later, based on the results of combat use, the front one was divided into two independent parts. Thanks to this, the tank, having dropped its air tanks, could continue moving forward. The front pontoons were moved apart by the tank. Previously, they had to go around them.

The combat weight of the Type 2 tank was nine and a half tons. Suspended pontoons added another three thousand kilograms. With such a weight, the tank had a maximum speed on land of 37 kilometers per hour, and on water it accelerated to ten. Stock diesel fuel enough for a 170-kilometer march or a hundred-kilometer voyage. The amphibious tank could be used for an over-the-horizon landing and, in fact, the only limitation on landing the Ka-Mi was the situation at sea, waves, etc.

Japanese Type 2 Ka-Mi amphibious tanks captured on Shumshu Island. Two battalions of Japanese marines (rikusentai), which had 16 tanks of this type, were based on the islands of Paramushir and Shumshu

Serial production of the Ka-Mi began at the end of 1941. The pace of construction was relatively slow, which made it impossible to quickly re-equip the relevant Marine units. Nevertheless, the Type 2 tanks, even in quantities of several dozen, managed to receive good reviews. Which, however, were not overshadowed too much powerful weapons. Over time, the number of tanks in the army increased, but the pace of construction still remained unacceptable. As it turned out, one of the consequences of the original design of the tank was the high labor intensity of production. Therefore, the first landing operation with the massive use of Ka-Mi took place only in June 1944, it was a landing on the island of Saipan (Mariana Islands). Despite the surprise of the attack and the darkness of the night, the Americans quickly dealt with the advancing enemy. The combat use of Type 2 continued until the very end of the war. IN recent months Due to the lack of landing operations, these tanks were used as ordinary ground armored vehicles and stationary firing points. Of the 180 amphibious tanks built, only eight have survived to this day. One of them is in the tank museum of the city of Kubinka, the rest are in the countries of Oceania.

Self-propelled guns based on the Chi-Ha tank

Until a certain time, there was no place for self-propelled artillery in the strategic fabrications of the Japanese command. For a number of reasons, infantry support was assigned to light and medium tanks, as well as field artillery. However, since 1941, the Japanese military has initiated the creation of self-propelled gun mounts several times. These projects did not have a great future, but are still worth considering.

"Type 1" ("Ho-Ni I")

The first was the Type 1 (“Ho-Ni I”) installation, designed to combat enemy combat vehicles and fortifications. On the chassis of the Chi-Ha medium tank, in place of the turret, an armored conning tower with a frontal plate 50 millimeters thick was installed. This cabin design was used on all subsequent Japanese self-propelled guns of that time. Only the guns and their installation systems changed. In the control room of a 14-ton combat vehicle they placed field gun"Type 90" caliber 75 millimeters. Rough aiming of the gun horizontally was carried out by turning the entire machine. Thin - with a rotating mechanism, within a sector 40° wide. Angles of descent/elevation – from -6° to +25°. The power of such weapons was sufficient to destroy all American tanks at distances of 500 meters. At the same time, the attacking Japanese self-propelled guns were themselves at risk of retaliatory fire. Since 1942, 26 Type 1 self-propelled guns have been built. Despite their small numbers, these artillery mounts were actively used in most operations. Several units survived until the end of the war, when they became American trophies. One copy of Ho-Ni I is in the Aberdeen Museum.

Self-propelled gun "Ho-ni II"

The next serial Japanese-made self-propelled gun was the Ho-Ni II, also known as Type 2. A 105-mm howitzer “Type 99” was installed on a chassis with a wheelhouse, completely taken from the “Type 1”. This self-propelled gun was primarily intended for firing from closed positions. However, sometimes, due to the situation, it was necessary to shoot at direct fire. The power of the gun was enough to destroy any American tanks at a distance of about a kilometer. Fortunately for the Americans, only 54 such gun mounts were built in 1943-45. Eight more were converted from serial Chi-Ha tanks. Due to the small number of self-propelled guns, the Ho-Ni II could not have a significant impact on the course of the war.

Self-propelled gun "Ho-Ni III"

A further development of "Type 1" became "Type 3" or "Ho-Ni III". The main weapon of this self-propelled gun was the Type 3 tank gun, developed for the Chi-Nu. The cannon's ammunition load of 54 rounds theoretically allowed the Ho-Ni III self-propelled gun to become a serious combat weapon. However, all three dozen self-propelled guns built were transferred to the 4th Tank Division. Due to the specific goals of this unit - it was intended for the defense of the Japanese archipelago - all Ho-Ni IIIs waited until the end of the war almost without losses, and then became part of the Self-Defense Forces.

Artillery support tank for amphibious assault forces armed with a 120 mm short-barreled cannon. Produced in a small series based on "Chi-ha"

In addition to the Ho-Ni family, there was another self-propelled artillery installation based on the Chi-Ha tank. It was a Ho-Ro/Type 4 self-propelled gun. It differed from other Japanese self-propelled guns in the design of its armored cabin, as well as in its armament. “Ho-Ro” was the most powerful self-propelled gun of the Japanese Empire: the 150-mm howitzer “Type 38” could ensure the destruction of almost any target. True, Type 4 self-propelled guns also did not become widespread. The entire series was limited to only 25 cars. Several of the first production Ho-Ros managed to take part in the Battle of the Philippines. However, later all available self-propelled howitzers were transferred to the 4th Panzer Division. As part of this unit, the Type 4 self-propelled guns managed to fight only in Okinawa, where several units were destroyed by attacks by American troops.

Based on materials from sites:
http://pro-tank.ru/
http://wwiivehicles.com/
http://www3.plala.or.jp/
http://armor.kiev.ua/
http://aviarmor.net/
http://onwar.com/

At worst, someone remembers American Sherman tanks and British heavy tanks"Churchill". Meanwhile, many do not even know that Imperial Japan, Germany's main Pacific ally, also had tank forces. Of course, compared to the tank forces of the USSR, Germany, the USA or Great Britain, the Japanese tank fleet during the Second World War was more than modest, but still its development is of some interest to lovers of history and military equipment.

Japan acquired tanks back in the mid-20s. The first Japanese tank units were equipped with imported British and French combat vehicles. It is known, for example, that at that time the Japanese army had about two dozen French FT-17 light tanks. At the same time, the Japanese began developing their own vehicles based on the foreign models they had in service.

These were the first steps towards the beginning of the development of tank production. The first tanks created by the Japanese in the late 20s were completely unsuitable for adoption and the army abandoned them. Work on creating our own tank fleet, however, continued. At the end of 1929, the first serial Japanese tank, the Type-89, appeared. The armor of the new combat vehicle was quite weak - the frontal projection was only 17mm. However, such weak armor was typical for many tanks of the late 20s and early 30s. The tank was armed with a 57 mm cannon with mediocre ballistics. All other parameters of the tank also left much to be desired. However, in general, at that time it corresponded to world standards of the late 20s.

Tank production in Japan in 1939 - 1945

Despite the weak characteristics of the new vehicle, it was the first Japanese tank to enter service with the Imperial Army. It will be produced until 1939, but the total number of units produced against the backdrop of Europe and the USSR certainly looks ridiculous - only about 400 tanks. By 1931, the Japanese had completed a prototype of another tank, which would later be called the Type-92. This tank was armed only with 13mm and 6mm machine guns. The armor was only 6mm and did not always save even from small caliber bullets. The tank was designed in accordance with the requirements of cavalry and had fairly good speed and mobility, but its armor and armament were already frankly weak even for the early 30s. However, the tank was produced until the mid-30s and the total production amounted to over 150 tanks.

Simultaneously with the Type-92, the production of the Type-94 TK wedge was underway, which was supposed to become something of a mobile supply unit for the Japanese troops. It was planned that the main function of the Type-94 TK would be the transportation of ammunition, fuel and food to remote garrisons, as well as supplying active armies or transporting infantry in the combat area. As practice has shown, the wedge was used not only for transporting cargo and soldiers, but also as a means of fighting the enemy, provided that he did not have anti-tank defense, and also as a reconnaissance armored vehicle. The production of these wedges by Japanese standards was quite large - about 800 units.

The obviously weak characteristics of the armor and armament of the tanks being produced prompted the Japanese to make further efforts to develop their armored forces. In 1935 it was put into service new lightweight tank, called "Ha-Go" (Type-95). The tank also had weak armor - only 12mm in the frontal projection of the hull, and had a 37mm gun. The Japanese cavalry leadership remained quite satisfied with the speed parameters of the tank, without taking into account the armament and armor, which did not suit the representatives of the infantry command. And yet, this tank would eventually become the most massive Japanese combat vehicle of World War II - over 2,000 tanks of this type would be produced during the war years. Japan in the 30s continued to increase its efforts to improve its tank fleet and the result of this was the appearance of the Chi-Ha (Type 97) medium tanks by the end of the 30s. This tank, along with the Ha-Go, will become one of the most popular Japanese tanks of the Second World War. In all theaters of combat, these tanks will be present in the ranks of Japanese troops. The tank was armed with a 57-mm semi-automatic cannon, was better armored than all its predecessors (hull front - 27mm), and also had good dynamic characteristics- indicators of speed and mobility. Overall, this tank was the most successful solution in Japanese tank building.

Listed above are the main types of tanks that were used by Japan during World War II. Alas, due to limited resources, as well as other factors, the Japanese leadership gave preference to the development of shipbuilding and military aviation to the detriment of the tank industry. This was explained by the fact that Japan had to pay great attention to covering its sea supply channels, and for this it was necessary to maintain a large naval and cargo fleet, as well as have aircraft carriers and carrier-based aircraft. In addition, on the islands of the Pacific Ocean, the jungle and swampy terrain did not allow tanks to operate as they did in Europe, the conditions for their use were fundamentally different and they did not play such a decisive role in the battles of the Pacific campaign as they played during the battles in Europe.

All these factors led to the fact that by the mid-40s, Japan seriously lagged behind all major military powers participating in the war in the production of tanks. The gap was not only quantitative, but also qualitative - the combat value of Japanese tanks in the middle of the war was already catastrophically low. As the Americans gradually gained the upper hand in the Pacific confrontation, Japan's ability to replenish its tank fleet also narrowed. Dwindling resources were used for the needs of the navy and aviation. Tank production was rapidly declining. In the last year of the war, Japan was able to produce only 145 tanks. In total, during the 30s and 40s, Japanese industry gave the army 6450 tanks. Compared to the volume of tank production in the USA, USSR or Germany, these are, of course, very modest figures.

Type 97 Chi-Ha is a Japanese medium tank that was very actively used at the time along with the more obsolete . In terms of mass, the Chi-Ha was rather light - it could only be classified as medium according to the Japanese classification.

The history of the creation of Chi-Ha

By the mid-30s of the 20th century, Japan's main medium tank, the Type 98, was completely obsolete. The Japanese command revised the requirements for medium tanks and ordered the development of more maneuverable vehicles. In 1936, the final technical specifications for the new medium tank were formulated - it was supposed to be faster, more secure, smaller, and at the same time retain the same weapons. Two prototypes were made - “Chi-ha” from Mitsubishi and “Chi-ni” from the Osaka Arsenal.

In 1936-1937 prototypes were tested, and at first preference was given to the lighter and cheaper “Chi-Ni”. But after the first major military clashes with China, it became obvious that the maneuverable and armored Chi-Ha would perform better. As a result, it was accepted into service, designated as “Type 2597”. In 1937, the tank began to be mass-produced.

Performance characteristics (TTX)

general information

• Classification: medium tank, although by world standards it was more of a light tank;
• Combat weight - 15.8 tons;
• Layout – transmission compartment in front, engine compartment in rear;
• Crew – 4 people;
• Years of production – 1938-1943;
• Years of operation – 1938-1945;
• Quantity produced: 2123 pieces.

Dimensions

• Case length – 5500 millimeters;
• Case width – 2330 millimeters;
• Height – 2380 millimeters;
• Ground clearance - 420 millimeters.

Booking

• Armor type – surface-hardened rolled steel;
• Body forehead (middle) - 10/82°-20/65° mm/degree;
• Hull side (top) - 20/25-40° mm/degree;
• Hull stern (top) - 20/67° mm/degree;
• Bottom – 8.5 mm;
• Housing roof – 10-12 mm;
• Tower forehead - 25/10° mm/degree;
• Tower side - 25 / 10...12° mm/degree;
• Feed cutting - 25/12° mm/degree;
• Tower roof – 10 mm.

Armament

• Make and caliber of gun – Type 97, 57 millimeters;
• Gun type - rifled;
• Barrel length - 18.4 calibers;
• Gun ammunition - 120;
• Angles VN: -9…+21;
• Sight – telescopic;
• Machine guns - 2 × 7.7 mm Type 97.

Mobility

• Engine type - Twelve-cylinder diesel V-shaped, liquid-cooled;
• Power – 170 horsepower;
• Highway speed – 38 km/h;
• Cross-country speed – 19 km/h;
• Cruising range on the highway – 210 km;
• Specific power – 10.8 hp/t;
• Suspension type – Khara;
• Climbability - 30-35 degrees;
• The wall to be overcome is 1 meter;
• The ditch to be overcome is 2.5 meters;
• The ford that can be overcome is 1 meter.

Chi-Ha modifications

So the Chi-Ha was very successful and popular, so several modifications were built on its basis, which were actively used along with the base tank.

Shinhoto Chi-Ha

When Japanese troops clashed with Soviet troops at the Khalkhin Gol River, it became clear that tank guns should primarily have anti-tank properties. So in 1939, the “ShinhoTo Chi-Ha” was developed - a modification with a new turret and a 47 mm cannon. It had a smaller caliber, but due to its length, the projectile was given a high initial velocity, so the new gun penetrated tank armor much better. Shinhoto were produced along with regular Chi-Ha until 1943.

Chi-Ha with a 120 mm cannon

On the basis of the Shinhoto, by order of the Marine Corps, they created a variation with a short-barreled naval gun with a caliber of 120 millimeters. This tank was produced after 1942 in small quantities.

Chi-Kee

It was command tank- the tower was occupied by radio equipment and there was a 57-mm gun in it, and in place of one machine gun a 37-mm cannon was installed.

Vehicles based on Type 97 Chi-Ha

In addition to various modifications based on the Chi-Ha tank, other vehicles were also created.

Anti-tank:

• Ho-Ro is a self-propelled howitzer. Instead of a turret, a 150 mm howitzer was installed. Only about 12 were produced;
• Ho-Ni is a whole series of self-propelled guns. The design was similar to the Ho-Ro, but the Ho-Ni III had a closed conning tower. Mainly used for fire support. They were the only more or less mass-produced self-propelled guns in Japan during World War II (about 170 were produced).

Special:

• Ka-Ha is a machine for destroying wired communication lines through the action of a dynamo with a direct current generator. The creators assumed that it would destroy communications via telegraph wire. A total of four such machines were built, but there is no data on their use;
• Ka-So is an armored vehicle for artillery observers. It had no weapons in the tower;
• Ho-K is a logging machine used in the jungles of New Guinea;
• Chi-Yu is an armored mine sweeper with a turret and weapons.

Repair and technical

• Se-Ri is a repair and recovery vehicle. A small conical turret with a machine gun was placed on it, and on the stern there was a crane with a lifting capacity of 5 tons. Only a couple of copies were produced;
• T-G is an armored bridge laying vehicle that made it possible to assemble a bridge using two missiles - the bridge literally flew out of the vehicle in a few seconds. At the same time, the resulting bridge could hold Japanese tanks, but failed under American ones. However, the T-G was never mass-produced.

Combat use

Chi-Ha tanks had not yet been used in the battles at Khalkhin Gol, but were only tested at the front. After the defeat, it was decided to replace many of the Ha-Go with the Type 97 Chi-Ha, so they began to be produced more actively.

In 1941, the Japanese invaded Malaya and the Philippines. They mostly took part in battles with American tanks, but medium-sized Chi-Has were also used by Japanese troops to accompany infantry and finally break the enemy.

In the battles on Bataan, the Chi-Has were used much more actively, but in the end it turned out that their 57-mm weapons were ineffective against the American Stuarts. Therefore, two Shinhoto Chi-Has were transferred to the islands. This modification was first used in the landing on Corregidor, May 5, 1942.

In Malaya, the Chi-Ha was also used actively and very successfully, mainly due to the fact that the enemy did not have anti-tank weapons. Tanks played a special role in the capture of Singapore on February 15.

In 1943, Japan in the Pacific and Asia was forced to move from offensive to defensive. To achieve this, all units were actively equipped with tanks, both “Chi-Ha” and “Ha-Go”, as well as amphibious and other modifications.

In the battles on the island of Saipan in July 1944, Japanese tank forces clashed with American tanks. As a result, many Japanese vehicles were lost under fire from M4s and M3 anti-tank guns. Much the same thing happened on the island of Guam.

In the Pacific theater of operations, these two islands became the sites of the most active use of Japanese tanks. It was here that it became clear that the Chi-Has were already outdated - they were too easily penetrated by American cannons and even heavy machine guns.

Philippines and Japanese islands

In the Philippines, Japanese tanks also did not perform very well - in battles with American tanks, especially Shermans and self-propelled guns, many Chi-Has and Shinhoto Chi-Has were lost. Japanese tanks also failed in the defense of Iwo Jima, Okinawa and Formosa. True, one stronghold with three Shinhoto Chi-Has managed to put up stubborn resistance - the fighting on the island of Iwo Jima lasted from February to March 26. But in the end, the resistance was still crushed. Tanks hardly took part in the fierce battles on Okinawa. Moreover, because of the defeat in the Philippines, the Japanese did not risk transferring tanks to Okinawa.

Continental battles

On the continent, the Chi-Ha fought in Burma and China. In Burma, the last Japanese tanks were killed in a clash with Shermans in March 1945. In China, tanks acted more successfully, mainly due to the enemy’s weak anti-tank defense. By the way, when Japan surrendered, the third tank division operating in China was not completely disarmed - it was used to defend Peiping from the National Liberation Army.

When did the Manchurian War begin? offensive Soviet troops, the Kwantung Army had several tank brigades and regiments armed mainly with "Chi-Ha" and "Shinhoto Chi-Ha". In total there were 1215 tanks in the group. In general, their use was unsuccessful, and they were defeated. The same thing awaited Japanese tanks on the Kuril Islands - the remains of the Shinhoto Chi-Ha can still be seen on Paramushir Island.

After Japan surrendered, Chi-Has were used in the Third civil war in China, on both sides. They were mainly used to support infantry. In Japan itself, the Chi-Has were in service until the 60s, but were used more as training vehicles.

Memory of a tank

Museums today house three Chi-Ha tanks, and there are also 11 vehicles that were heavily damaged in battle:

• Indonesia, Malanga, National Museum;
• PRC, Beijing - People's Revolutionary Museum;
• Japan, Yasukuni Shrine;
• Japan, Tank School of the Imperial Japanese Army;
• Russia, Ivanovskoye village in the Moscow region, Military Technical Museum. The tank is on the move;
• Russia, Kuril Islands, Shumshu Island. Several damaged tanks;
• On the islands of Guadalcanal, Saipan and Duke of York Island there are 9 Chi-Ha tanks abandoned by crews or damaged in battle.

Tank photos

Tank in culture

Despite its widespread use, the Chi-Ha tank has no significant mentions in popular culture. He is not mentioned in films or fiction, but it can be found in game World of tanks as a Japanese medium tank of the third tier and as a medium tank of the first rank.