Heavy tanks of Japan during the Second World War. Japanese tanks from the Second World War. Memory of a tank

Good World Evil (Myth)

Development of armored forces in Japan
On November 25, 1936, Imperial Japan and Hitler's Germany signed the Anti-Comintern Pact. A year later, in 1937, Fascist Italy joined the agreement. The coalition of the Berlin-Rome-Tokyo axis began dividing spheres of influence. Japan, which had long dreamed of power over the "Great East Asia", and had already managed to capture Manchuria by this time, turned out to be the most ready of its allies for large-scale military action. In 1937, Japan launched an invasion of China. And it is no coincidence that it was in this year that the first tank was created in the land of the rising sun, which was expected to play a role the main strike weapon of the Japanese ground forces.

Light tank "Ha-go"
"Ha-Go" became the most popular Japanese tank of the 30s and 40s - a total of 1,300 vehicles were produced before 1943. Small and light tanks generally formed the basis of Japan's tank fleet in World War II. According to the views of the Japanese military leadership, tanks were intended to accompany infantry in battle in small units. In the 1935 training manual tank units it was stated that “the main purpose of tanks is combat in close cooperation with infantry.” Their main tasks were considered to be: fighting fire points and field artillery and making passages for infantry in obstacles. Tanks could be sent on "close raids" for Front edge enemy defense to a depth of no more than 600 m. At the same time, having violated his defense system, they had to return to their infantry and support its attack. The most maneuverable type of combat operations were "deep raids" together with cavalry, motorized infantry on vehicles, sappers and field artillery. In defense, tanks were used to carry out frequent counterattacks (mostly at night) or to fire from ambush. Fighting enemy tanks was allowed only when absolutely necessary. True, by the end of the war, Japanese instructions already considered tanks as the most effective anti-tank weapon. Light tanks were often buried in the ground in defense.

Type 97, aka "Chi-Ha" - medium tank Imperial Japanese Ground Forces.
Today's story is about the most famous Japanese tank of World War II. The most famous and most widely produced.

The Chi-Ha was one of the first Japanese tanks developed by Tomio Hara's team of engineers. Actually, this vehicle was a modification of the first two tanks put into service - the light Type 89 Chi-Ro and Type 95 Ha-Go. Taking into account the first experience in tank building, with all its successes and failures, Japanese engineers began simultaneously developing two subsequent models. One of them was called "Chi-Ha", aka "middle third", the second - "Chi-Ni", aka "middle fourth".

The reason for the simultaneous development of two machines was the following: Japanese ground army was then divided into two camps regarding tanks. One - headed by the Ministry of Defense, the General Staff ground forces and the Osaka Arsenal. They considered it more expedient to build as quickly and as many light tanks as possible, which were simpler and cheaper to produce. The second camp is the arsenal of the city of Sagami, numerous military experts and officers from the front. They considered it better to build fewer tanks, but more advanced ones - full-fledged ones
medium tanks with good armor, maneuverability and weapons. The two sides never came to a mutual agreement, so the engineers were given an order to develop two versions of the tank that would suit both sides. "Chi-Ha" had to meet the requirements of the Sagami arsenal - that is, be a well-protected medium tank, and "Chi-Ni" - the requirements General Staff, and be a lighter, cheaper car.

Medium tank "Type 01 Chi-He"
The Type 01 tank, also known as the Chi-He, was built on the basis of the Type 97 Chi-Ha tank and, in fact, was its modification.

Taking into account the combat experience of the Chi-Ha tank, Japanese designers decided to improve an impressive number of components of their armored vehicles. The reason for this was the not very impressive results of the Japanese Chi-Ha tanks when meeting with the American M3. New tank, "Type 01 Chi-He", also known as the "middle sixth", was supposed to receive a more powerful gun - the weakest point of all previous tanks, also a more powerful engine, and thicker armor.

So, given the sad experience of collisions with American tanks, Japanese engineers were forced to introduce a number of significant changes to the design of their armored vehicles. At that time, the Type 97 Chi-Ha and its modification, the Shinhoto Chi-Ha, were considered the best Japanese tanks. However, as it turned out, the Chi-Ha was armed with a turret gun that was too weak, unable to penetrate the thick armor of the Americans from a long distance. It was also decided that "Chi-Ha" did not have much reliable protection, both in the thickness of the armor and in the angle of inclination of the armor plates.

The first tank to receive these modifications was the Type 01 Chi-He.
Compared to its predecessor, the Chi-Ha tank, the Type 01 was slightly longer and slightly narrower. The increase in the thickness of the front armor plates, as well as their more obtuse angle of inclination, made the tank heavier by a little over two tons. The new car no longer had a forward-protruding pilothouse and shutters on the sides.

Japanese tank building dates back to the 20s of the last century. Right up to creation modern tank In the design of combat vehicles, several lines are clearly visible.

Firstly, due to a constant shortage of raw materials, tanks were never built in large numbers. The maximum was reached in 1942, then 1191 units were built per year, then the number constantly decreased. For comparison, over 24,000 tanks were produced in the USSR during this period, and 6,200 in Germany.

Secondly, to ensure dominance over the Pacific theater of operations, Japan gave priority in the construction powerful fleet and aviation, and ground forces was assigned the role of “cleaning up”.

Even the decree “Program of Emergency Measures to Achieve Victory,” adopted on January 25, 1945, gave priority to the construction of aircraft in the production of weapons. Therefore, for the successful transfer of tanks by ships, the latter had to be light in weight and dimensions. Due to both reasons, Japanese industry never produced heavy combat vehicles.

Japanese strategists believed that there could be no tank battles on the islands, so for a long time tanks were armed only with machine guns to destroy manpower and suppress enemy firing points. By the way, the strategists turned out to be right - tank battles on the islands were extremely rare.

Use of tanks by the Japanese Army

The regulations and instructions of the Japanese Army assigned tanks the role of short-range reconnaissance and infantry support in battle and, therefore, large tank units were not created until 1941.

The main task of tanks, as stated in the 1935 regulations, is to “fight in close cooperation with the infantry.” That is, as already mentioned, the destruction of enemy personnel, the fight against his firing points, the suppression field artillery, not suppressed during air and artillery bombardment, as well as a breakthrough in the defensive line of infantry passages.

Limited interaction between tanks and aviation and field artillery was allowed. Sometimes tank units or just one tank were sent beyond the enemy’s front line of defense to a maximum depth of 600 m, in so-called “close raids.” After a breach of the defense system, the tanks had to immediately return to the infantry to support their attack.

As a kind of reconnaissance, small tanks were used in the first echelon, which revealed the enemy’s fire system, followed by medium and light tanks with infantry. Objectively, such a system of warfare became outdated after, but in conflicts in Burma, China, Malaya and other countries it brought certain results. Sometimes tanks were used as part of joint groups for deep raids; in addition to tank units, the group included motorized infantry, cavalry and sappers in field artillery vehicles. During the march, tanks with the task of destroying the enemy interfering with the advance could be assigned to the vanguard. At the same time, they had to move either “leaps” ahead of the vanguard or on a parallel course. During outpost security, 1-2 tanks could be allocated to the post.

During defense, they were used to carry out counterattacks or fire from ambushes, and were often used as fixed firing points. Direct battles with enemy tanks were strictly prohibited and allowed only as a last resort.

Personnel tank troops Overall he was quite well prepared. Drivers, radio operators, artillerymen, and gunners were trained in special schools for 2 years. Tank commanders were recruited from among the combined arms, who would not part with their sword even inside the tank. To comply, they only underwent retraining for 3-6 months.

In general, in the characteristics of the military actions of the Japanese army, notes characteristic of the military concepts of the USSR and Germany were visible - maneuverability and surprise, but a small number and low specifications tanks were forced to consider the latter rather as positional weapons.

Designation of Japanese tanks

To designate military equipment and weapons in Japan, two interchangeable options were used: numerically or using hieroglyphs.

At numerical designation the year the model was adopted into service was used according to the chronology “from the foundation of the Empire” (660 BC). Before the “round” year of 1940 (3000 according to the Japanese calendar), the full designation (four digits) or the last two were used, so the 1935 model was called “type 2595”, “2595” or “95”, and for the 1940 model - “type 100". Starting from 1941, only the last digit was used in the designation: model 1942. - “type 2”, 1943 - “type-3”, etc.

Another designation option used names consisting of a hieroglyph indicating the type of combat vehicle and a counting hieroglyph.

For example, "Ke-Ri" and "Ke-Ho". Here the numerical value corresponded to the development number, and not the year of adoption. It goes without saying that there were exceptions, for example, “Ka-Mi” consists of the word “floating” and the beginning of the name of the company “Mitsubishi”, and “Ha-Go” is made up of the “counting” hieroglyph and the word “model”. Sometimes some cars were named after the names of companies and arsenals - “Osaka”, “Sumida”. Some documents, including Japanese ones, use Latin abbreviations to designate tanks and armored vehicles, as in prototypes.

If we talk about Japanese tanks in general, they were distinguished by their low weight and weak armor. With a specific pressure of 0.7-0.8 kg/cm2, they had good maneuverability. But at the same time they had weak fire support, primitive means of observation and were provided with poor communication devices.

Until 1940, when welding was used, tanks were assembled using rivets on the frame. Taking into account the short stature of the tankers, the internal space was compressed to the maximum. Repair and maintenance of components and assemblies was facilitated by the abundance of hatches, which at the same time weakened the armor plates.

Among the positive characteristics, it can be noted that the Japanese were the first in the world to use forward machine guns and diesel engines; different classes of vehicles used the same commander's cupolas, the same suspension design, etc., which greatly facilitated the training of personnel.

History of Japanese tank building

Japan's first own tank was the experimental double-turret tank "Chi-i" (medium first) weighing 18 tons, built in 1927 by the Osaka arsenal. Before this, foreign-made tanks were used, the French M21 Chenillet, Renault FT-18, NC-27, Renault NC-26, English Mk.IV, Mk.A Whippet, MkC, Vickers, Vickers were purchased 6-ton." All purchased samples were carefully analyzed by the designers. So in the French ones (they went into production as “Otsu”) the engine was replaced with a diesel one. By the way, the French NC-27 (“Otsu”) and Renault FT-18 (“Ko-gata”) were used by the army until 1940.

In addition to the two-turret "Chi-i", the 18-ton three-turret tank "Type 2591" and in 1934 the three-turret "Type 2595" were created in 1931. If these vehicles were at least actually created, then the creation of the “Type 100” or “O-i” (the large first) stopped at design work; the three-turret vehicle weighing 100 tons was planned to be used to break through fortified areas. At this point, experiments with the creation of multi-turret tanks ended, several built "2591" tanks were used in China.

Based on the Vickers Mk.S tanks in the early 30s. The medium tank “I-go” (“first model”) or “89 Ko” was created. It became the first production tank; 230 were produced from 1931-1937.

Japanese tank building received a significant boost after the Supreme Command made a decision on large-scale mechanization of the army in 1932, which was followed by corresponding orders from industry.

The Japanese managed to avoid the craze for wedges. After analyzing the purchased Carden-Loyd wedge, the Japanese created the Type 2592 small tank. It used the suspension proposed by the most famous Japanese tank designer, Tomio Hara. The model turned out to be so successful that several new models were subsequently built on it.

In 1935, the industry began producing the most famous light tanks, the Ha-Go, and from 1937, the medium tanks, the Chi-Ha. Both models were the main ones in the Japanese tank fleet until the end.

Planning military operations on the islands required the presence of floating combat vehicles for landing. Work on the creation of such machines has been carried out with varying degrees of success since the late 20s, but the peak came at the end of World War II. In 1934, there was an attempt to create an amphibious tank by giving the body a displacement shape “2592” or “A-I-Go”, from 1941. the floating “Type 2” or “Ka-mi” was introduced commercially, from 1943 “Type 2” or “Ka-chi”, and in 1945. "Type 5" or "To-Ku" appeared.

After the transition to strategic defense, tank production has increased significantly, some models have undergone modernization, some have been discontinued and replaced with new models. This is how the lungs appeared: 1943 - modernized "Ha-go" - "Ke-ri" (light sixth), 1944 - "Ke-nu" (light tenth), 1944 - "Ke-Ho" (light fifth); and middle ones: 1941 modification of “Chi-ha” - “Chi-He” (middle sixth), 1944 - “Chi-to” (middle seventh), 1945 - in a single copy “Chi-Ri” (middle ninth), 1945 - "Chi-Nu" (middle tenth).

Modern Japanese tanks

After the end of World War II, under American occupation forces, the production of armored vehicles in Japan completely ceased. Its restoration began with the creation of the “self-defense forces,” which at first were armed with the American M24 and M4. It should be noted that all post-war tank building in Japan is under the strong influence of the United States. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries became the main developer of tanks.

The first post-war tank was the Type 61, which remained in service until 1984. The tank featured pre-war traditions, such as a rear-mounted engine with front-wheel drive. Starting in 1962, development began on the main battle tank, which became the serial “74”. First of all, to counter the Soviet T-72, the third generation tank 90 was adopted into service in 1989. On February 13, 2008, Japan introduced the latest generation tank, the Type 10. In appearance, the Type 10 resembles the Merkava Mk-4 and Leopard 2A6, but in terms of dimensions and weight it is closer to Russian tanks. In principle, this is only a prototype and it may go into production with some changes.

Twenty years before the start of the war with China and the subsequent offensive throughout Southeast Asia, the Empire of Japan began the formation of its armored forces. The experience of the First World War showed the promise of tanks and the Japanese took note of it. The creation of the Japanese tank industry began with a careful study of foreign vehicles. To achieve this, starting in 1919, Japan purchased from European countries small batches of tanks various models. In the mid-twenties, the French Renault FT-18 and the English Mk.A Whippet were recognized as the best. In April 1925, the first Japanese tank group was formed from these armored vehicles. Subsequently, the purchase of foreign samples continued, but was not particularly large in size. Japanese designers have already prepared several of their own projects.

Renault FT-17/18 (The 17 had an MG, the 18 had a 37mm gun)

Mk.A Whippet tanks of the Imperial Japanese Army

In 1927, the Osaka Arsenal presented the world with the first Japanese tank of its own design. had combat mass 18 tons and was armed with a 57 mm cannon and two machine guns. The weapons were mounted in two independent towers. It is quite obvious that the first attempt at independently creating armored vehicles was not particularly successful. The Chi-I tank was, overall, not bad. But not without the so-called. childhood illnesses, which was excusable for the very first design. Taking into account the experience of testing and trial operation among the troops, four years later another tank of the same weight was created. The Type 91 was equipped with three turrets containing 70 mm and 37 mm cannons, as well as machine guns. It is noteworthy that the machine gun turret, being intended to defend the vehicle from the rear, was located behind the engine compartment. The other two turrets were located in the front and middle parts of the tank. The most powerful weapon was mounted on a large middle turret. The Japanese used this armament and layout scheme on their next medium tank. The Type 95 appeared in 1935 and was even built in a small series. However, a number of design and operational features ultimately led to the abandonment of multi-tower systems. All further Japanese armored vehicles were either equipped with a single turret, or made do with a wheelhouse or machine gunner's armored shield.

The first Japanese medium tank, which was called 2587 “Chi-i” (sometimes called “medium tank No. 1”)

"Special tractor"

After abandoning the idea of ​​a tank with several turrets, the Japanese military and designers began to develop another direction of armored vehicles, which eventually became the basis for a whole family of combat vehicles. In 1935, the Japanese Army adopted the Type 94 light/small tank, also known as the TK (short for Tokubetsu Keninsha - literally "Special Tractor"). Initially, this tank with a combat weight of three and a half tons - because of this, in the European classification of armored vehicles it is listed as a wedge - was developed as a special vehicle for transporting goods and escorting convoys. However, over time the project developed into a full-fledged light combat vehicle. The design and layout of the Type 94 tank subsequently became classic for Japanese armored vehicles. The TK hull was assembled on a frame made from corners of rolled sheets; the maximum thickness of the armor was 12 millimeters on the upper part of the forehead. The bottom and roof were three times thinner. In the front part of the hull there was a motor-transmission compartment with a Mitsubishi “Type 94” gasoline engine with a power of 35 Horse power. Such a weak engine was enough for a speed of only 40 km/h on the highway. The tank's suspension was designed according to the design of Major T. Hara. Four track rollers were attached in pairs to the ends of the balancer, which, in turn, was mounted on the body. The shock-absorbing element of the suspension was a coil spring installed along the body and covered with a cylindrical casing. On each side, the chassis was equipped with two such blocks, with the fixed ends of the springs located in the center of the chassis. The armament of the “Special Tractor” consisted of one “Type 91” machine gun of 6.5 mm caliber. The Type 94 project was generally successful, although it had a number of shortcomings. First of all, complaints were caused by weak protection and insufficient weapons. Just one rifle-caliber machine gun was an effective weapon only against a weak enemy.

"Type 94" "TK" captured by the Americans

"Type 97"/"Te-Ke"

The terms of reference for the next armored vehicle implied more high levels protection and firepower. Since the Type 94 design had a certain potential for development, the new Type 97, also known as Te-Ke, in fact became its deep modernization. For this reason, the suspension and hull design of the Te-Ke were almost completely similar to the corresponding Type 94 units. At the same time, there were differences. The combat weight of the new tank increased to 4.75 tons, which, combined with a new, more powerful engine, could lead to serious changes in balancing. To avoid putting too much stress on the front road wheels, the OHV engine was placed at the rear of the tank. The two-stroke diesel engine developed power up to 60 hp. At the same time, the increase in engine power did not lead to an improvement in driving performance. The speed of the Type 97 remained at the level of the previous TK tank. Moving the engine to the stern required changing the layout and shape of the front part of the hull. Thus, thanks to the increase in free volumes in the nose of the tank, it was possible to create a more ergonomic workplace for the driver with a more comfortable “wheelhouse” protruding above the front and top sheets of the hull. The Type 97's level of protection was slightly higher than that of the Type 94. Now the entire body was assembled from 12 mm sheets. Besides, top part the sides of the hull had a thickness of 16 millimeters. This interesting feature was due to the angles of inclination of the sheets. Since the frontal one was located at a greater angle to the horizontal than the side ones, different thickness allowed us to provide the same level of protection from all angles. The crew of the Type 97 tank consisted of two people. They did not have any special observation devices and used only viewing slits and sights. The tank commander's workplace was located in the fighting compartment, in the turret. At his disposal was a 37 mm cannon and a 7.7 mm machine gun. The Type 94 gun with a wedge breech was loaded manually. Ammunition of 66 armor-piercing and fragmentation shells laid along the sides, inside the tank hull. Penetration armor-piercing projectile was about 35 millimeters from a distance of 300 meters. The Type 97 coaxial machine gun had more than 1,700 rounds of ammunition.

Type 97 Te-Ke

Serial production of Type 97 tanks began in 1938-39. Before its cessation in 1942, about six hundred combat vehicles were assembled. Having appeared at the very end of the thirties, “Te-Ke” managed to take part in almost all military conflicts of that time, from the battles in Manchuria to the landing operations of 1944. At first, the industry could not cope with the production of the required number of tanks, so they were distributed between units with special care. The use of the Type 97 in battles was met with varying degrees of success: the weak armor did not provide protection from a considerable part of enemy firepower, and its own weapons could not provide the necessary firepower and effective fire range. In 1940, an attempt was made to install a new gun with a barrel on the Te-Ke. longer length and the same caliber. The initial velocity of the projectile increased by one hundred meters per second and reached a level of 670-680 m/s. However, over time it became clear that this weapon was also insufficient.

"Type 95"

A further development of the theme of light tanks was the “Type 95” or “Ha-Go”, created a little later than the “Te-Ke”. In general, it was a logical continuation of previous cars, but not without major changes. First of all, the design of the chassis was changed. On previous machines, the idler also played the role of a road wheel and pressed the track to the ground. On the Ha-Go, this part was raised above the ground and the caterpillar acquired a more familiar appearance for tanks of that time. The design of the armored hull remained the same - frame and rolled sheets. Most of the panels were 12 millimeters thick, which is why the level of protection remained the same. basis power plant The Type 95 tank had a six-cylinder two-stroke diesel engine with a power of 120 hp. Such engine power, despite a combat weight of seven and a half tons, made it possible to maintain and even improve the vehicle’s speed and maneuverability compared to previous ones. Maximum speed"Ha-Go" on the highway was 45 km/h.

The main weapon of the Ha-Go tank was similar to that of the Type 97. It was a 37 mm Type 94 cannon. The gun suspension system was made in a rather original way. The gun was not fixed rigidly and could move in both vertical and horizontal planes. Thanks to this, it was possible to roughly aim the gun by turning the turret and adjust the aiming using its own rotation mechanisms. The gun's ammunition - 75 unitary shells - was placed along the walls of the fighting compartment. The additional armament of the Type 95 was initially two 6.5 mm Type 91 machine guns. Later, with the transition of the Japanese army to a new cartridge, their place was taken by Type 97 machine guns of 7.7 mm caliber. One of the machine guns was installed in the rear of the turret, the other in a swinging installation in the front plate of the armored hull. In addition, on the left side of the hull there were embrasures for firing from the crew’s personal weapons. The Ha-Go crew, for the first time in this line of light tanks, consisted of three people: a driver mechanic, a gunner technician and a gunner commander. The responsibilities of the gunner technician included control of the engine and firing from the front machine gun. The second machine gun was controlled by the commander. He loaded the cannon and fired from it.

The first experimental batch of Ha-Go tanks was assembled back in 1935 and immediately went to the troops for trial operation. In the war with China, due to the weakness of the latter’s army, the new Japanese tanks did not achieve much success. A little later, during the battles at Khalkhin Gol, the Japanese military finally managed to test the Type 95 in a real battle with a worthy enemy. This test ended sadly: almost all of the Kwantung Army's "Ha-Go" were destroyed by tanks and artillery of the Red Army. One of the results of the battles at Khalkhin Gol was the recognition by the Japanese command of the inadequacy of 37-mm guns. During the battles, Soviet BT-5s, equipped with 45-mm guns, managed to destroy Japanese tanks even before they came within striking distance. In addition, the Japanese armored formations included many machine-gun tanks, which clearly did not contribute to success in battles.

"Ha-Go", captured by American troops on the island of Io

Subsequently, the Ha-Go tanks encountered American equipment and artillery in battle. Due to the significant difference in calibers, the Americans were already using tank guns 75 mm caliber - Japanese armored vehicles often carried big losses. By the end of the war Pacific Ocean Light tanks "Type 95" were often converted into stationary firing points, however, their effectiveness was low. Last fights with the participation of the Type 95 took place during the Third Chinese Civil War. Captured tanks were transferred to the Chinese military, with the USSR sending captured armored vehicles to the People's Liberation Army, and the USA to the Kuomintang. Despite the active use of the Type 95 after the Second World War, this tank can be considered quite lucky. Of the more than 2,300 tanks built, only a dozen and a half have survived to this day in the form of museum exhibits. Several dozen more damaged tanks are local landmarks in some Asian countries.

Medium "Chi-Ha"

Soon after the start of testing the Ha-Go tank, Mitsubishi presented another project, dating back to the early thirties. This time, the good old TK concept became the basis for a new medium tank, called the Type 97 or Chi-Ha. It is worth noting that “Chi-Ha” had few similarities with “Te-Ke”. The coincidence of the digital development index was due to some bureaucratic issues. However, things were not done without borrowing ideas. The new Type 97 had the same layout as previous vehicles: engine in the rear, transmission in front and fighting compartment between them. The design of "Chi-Ha" was carried out using a frame system. The maximum thickness of rolled hull sheets in the case of the Type 97 increased to 27 millimeters. This provided a significant increase in the level of protection. As practice later showed, the new thicker armor turned out to be much more resistant to enemy weapons. For example, American heavy machine guns The Browning M2 confidently hit Ha-Go tanks at distances of up to 500 meters, but they only left dents on the Chi-Ha's armor. More solid armor led to an increase in the tank's combat weight to 15.8 tons. This fact required the installation of a new engine. On early stages Two engines were considered for the project. Both had the same power of 170 hp, but were developed by different companies. As a result, the Mitsubishi diesel was chosen, which turned out to be slightly more convenient to manufacture. And the ability to quickly and conveniently communicate between tank designers and engine engineers did its job.

Taking into account the current trends in the development of foreign tanks, Mitsubishi designers decided to equip the new Type 97 with more powerful weapon than previous tanks had. A 57-mm Type 97 cannon was installed on the rotating turret. Like the Ha-Go, the gun could swing on axles not only in the vertical plane, but also in the horizontal, within a sector 20° wide. It is noteworthy that fine horizontal aiming of the gun was carried out without any mechanical means - only by the physical strength of the gunner. Vertical aiming was carried out in the sector from -9° to +21°. The standard gun ammunition included 80 high-explosive fragmentation rounds and 40 armor-piercing shells. Armor-piercing ammunition weighing 2.58 kg penetrated up to 12 millimeters of armor per kilometer. At half the distance, the penetration rate increased by one and a half times. The Chi-Ha's additional armament consisted of two Type 97 machine guns. One of them was located in the front of the hull, and the other was intended for defense against attack from behind. The new gun forced the tank builders to increase the crew once again. Now it consisted of four people: a driver, a gunner, a loader and a commander-gunner.

In 1942, based on the Type 97, the Shinhoto Chi-Ha tank was created, which differed from the original model new gun. The 47-mm Type 1 gun made it possible to increase the ammunition load to 102 rounds and at the same time increase armor penetration. The 48-caliber barrel accelerated the projectile to such speeds that it could penetrate up to 68-70 millimeters of armor at a distance of up to 500 meters. The updated tank turned out to be more effective against armored vehicles and enemy fortifications, and therefore mass production began. In addition, a considerable part of the more than seven hundred Shinhoto Chi-Has produced were converted during repairs from simple Type 97 tanks.

The combat use of the Chi-Ha, which began in the very first months of the war in the Pacific theater of operations, until a certain time showed sufficient effectiveness of the solutions used. However, over time, when the United States entered the war, already having such tanks as the M3 Lee in its troops, it became clear that all the light and medium tanks Japan had simply could not fight them. To reliably destroy American tanks, precise hits were required in certain parts of them. This was the reason for the creation of a new turret with a Type 1 cannon. One way or another, none of the Type 97 modifications could compete on equal terms with the equipment of the enemy, the USA or the USSR. As a result of this, out of approximately 2,100 units, only two complete Chi-Ha tanks have survived to this day. Another dozen have been preserved in damaged form and are also museum exhibits.

Japanese tanks 1939-1945

In 1940, work began on a deep modernization of the Chi-Ha medium tank, and as a result, the designers got a completely new vehicle - Type 1 Chi-He. One of the most important differences“Chi-He” had a body from its predecessor: for the first time in Japan it was made not riveted, but welded. This in itself had a positive effect on the survivability of the vehicle in combat conditions. In addition, the thickness of the hull armor has increased, reaching 50 mm at the forehead and 20 mm on the sides and rear. A new three-man turret was installed on the tank, and a fifth crew member appeared - the loader. This made the tank commander's job easier. The Chi-He was equipped with a 47 mm Type 1 cannon, developed on the basis of an anti-tank gun, but with improved recoil devices and trigger. The shell of this gun pierced armor up to 68 mm thick at a distance of 500 meters. The same gun was installed on the Shinhoto Chi-Ha. The increased thickness of the armor led to an increase in the mass of the Chi-He by one and a half tons compared to the Chi-Ha. The new Mitsubishi diesel with a capacity of 240 horsepower not only compensated for this increase, but also allowed the Chi-He to reach speeds of up to 44 km/h. The production of the new tank began in 1941 by Mitsubishi and the Sagami Arsenal. At the same time, the production of “Chi-Ha” did not stop. Until 1945, 601 Type 1 Chi-He tanks were built. Some vehicles remained in service with the Japanese Self-Defense Forces until the late 1960s.

From 1938 to 1944, Japanese engineers were modernizing a number of serial tanks, but for the most part the matter did not progress beyond the construction of one or more prototypes. Thus, on the basis of the Ke-Ni light tank, a new model was created - Type 2 "Ke-To", built in only a few copies. On the basis of "Ha-Go" in 1943 it was designed light tank"Ke-Ri" with a 57 mm gun in a new turret. This car was also produced only in a small series. There were other projects, but the limited space of the article does not allow us to talk about them.

In 1944, work on the new Type 5 Ke-Ho light tank was completed. Its layout and armament resembled the Chi-He, but it was equipped with a two-man turret and a 150 horsepower diesel engine. Chassis had six double rollers on each side. The thickness of the Ke-Ho armor was 25 mm in the frontal part, and 12 mm along the sides and in the stern. The tank weighed 8.4 tons. Based on the test results, the tank was considered successful, but they did not have time to set up mass production before the surrender in Japan.

In 1943, the Osaka Arsenal developed a new 75 mm Type 3 gun, equipped with muzzle brake. From a distance of 100 meters it could penetrate 90 mm armor, and from 1000 meters - 65 mm. This weapon was equipped with a new medium tank, which entered service in 1943 under the designation Type 3 “Chi-Nu”. Structurally and in terms of the layout of the modules, it repeated the “Chi-He”, weighed 18.8 tons and could reach speeds of up to 39 km/h. Only 60 tanks of this type were built before the end of the war. All of them were stationed on the Japanese Islands and did not take part in hostilities. However, compared to other Japanese production vehicles of that time, the Type 3 Chi-Nu was the most powerfully armed tank.

The new model of the Type 4 “Chi-To” medium tank did not have time to go into mass production. Compared to the Chi-Nu, it was significantly better armored (the thickness of the armor “in the forehead” of the hull was 75 mm, on the sides - up to 35 mm) and was equipped with a long-barreled 75-mm cannon, developed on the basis of an anti-aircraft gun. In addition to the cannon, the tank was armed with two Type 97 machine guns of 7.7 mm caliber. Compared to earlier models of medium tanks, the Chi-To weighed much more - about 35 tons. Moreover, thanks to the 400-horsepower diesel engine, the tank could accelerate to 45 km/h. The modified chassis design and wider tracks provided the Chi-To with good maneuverability. A total of 5 copies of this machine were built before 1944.

Based on the Type 4 "Chi-To" design, two samples of the "Chi-Ri" medium tank were developed and built. This vehicle was armed with two guns at once. A 75 mm cannon, similar to that mounted on the Chi-To medium tank, was placed in a rotating turret. A 37-mm cannon (from the Ke-To tank) was placed in the front plate of the hull. On the second copy, the 37 mm cannon was replaced with a machine gun. The tank's hull was welded, and the armor plates on the sides were positioned at a slight angle. There is a version that when designing the hull, Japanese engineers were “inspired” by the German “Panther”. The tank was equipped with a Kawasaki diesel engine, built under license from BMW. Compared to the Chi-To, the hull armor on the sides and rear was strengthened and reached 50 mm. The maximum speed of the car is 45 km/h.

Tactics and organization of Japanese armored forces

The active formation of tank units and subunits began in Japan simultaneously with the conduct of active hostilities. In 1931, the Kwantung Army was formed on the territory of Manchuria and exercises were conducted, as a result of which the first regulations and instructions for armored forces were developed. During these years, the Gunzhin Tank Brigade was the main experimental unit that determined the tactical and technical requirements.

In the 1930s, tanks and armored vehicles were considered by the Japanese army as a means of close reconnaissance and escorting infantry in battle. There were no formations of large independent armored units during these years; tanks served to reinforce infantry divisions.

Nevertheless, back in the early 1930s, there was a lot of talk in Japan that, at least in Manchuria, it was still necessary to create large motorized formations that would not be inferior to units of Japan’s main rival, the Red Army. In practice, it was not possible to realize this plan, and throughout the Sino-Japanese War, tank regiments were divided into squadrons, and sometimes even individually and assigned to infantry units.

Japanese military tank theories were influenced by three military conflicts: the Italian use of armored vehicles in Abyssinia in 1935-1936, the Spanish Civil War of 1936-1939, and the conflict on the Khalkhin Gol River in 1939. By 1940, the Japanese began to consider tanks not only as a means of strengthening infantry and cavalry, but also as a weapon for deep penetration into enemy defenses. A new field manual was written, recognizing tanks as independent combat missions. As a result, the structure of the divisions also underwent changes. Thus, in the Kwantung Army, instead of a mixed mechanized brigade, two tank groups (or brigades) appeared, each of which included three tank regiments. Some infantry divisions received mechanized units.

Towards the start of full-scale operations in the Pacific Ocean Japanese army had 18 separate tank regiments, each of which staffing table included four companies. In addition, tank companies appeared in infantry divisions- as a rule, from 9 Type 95 “Ha-Go” machines. The 1st and 4th special airborne detachments were also replenished with similar companies. Imperial Navy. There were separate tank companies in the reserve of the main command.

Tank units were assigned to armies in preparation for the offensive. Two regiments took part in the operation of the 14th Army against the Philippines, three regiments in the battles of the 15th Army for Thailand and Burma and the 25th Army for Malaya.

In 1942, based on German combat experience in Africa and Europe, Japan began to enlarge its tank units. From now on, medium tanks were to become the main striking force in them. In March 1942, a decision was made to form tank groups, which were actually divisions. Each division was to consist of two tank brigades, infantry and artillery regiments, engineer battalion, reconnaissance battalion, Quartermaster and Support Battalion. Each division was assigned a communications company. The Chi-Ha and Type 89 tanks were assigned infantry support tasks. The Shinhoto Chi-Ha vehicles had to fight the enemy tanks.

During 1943, further reform of the tank regiments took place. Some of them received an additional company, others, on the contrary, were reduced in composition. In any case, the Japanese had to fight in very specific conditions that did not allow them to use tanks and armored vehicles in large numbers.

On the defensive, the Japanese used tanks for counterattacks or ambush fire. Engagement with enemy tanks was permitted only as a last resort. By the end of the war, the views of the Japanese command had changed, and tanks began to be seen as the most effective ground-based anti-tank weapon.

After 1941, much attention in Japanese armored forces began to focus on training soldiers for battles in the jungle, hot areas, mountains, in the absence of any developed road network. Methods of using tanks in amphibious operations were studied. The actions of small mobile groups consisting of various types of troops were practiced. Against a poorly armed enemy, this tactic proved to be very effective. But with such opponents as the USSR and the USA, it worked much worse, mainly due to better technical equipment armies of these states and large quantity guns that could fight the relatively weakly protected tanks of Japan.

Japanese tanks after World War II

After the surrender in 1945, Japan “fell out” of the process of creating tanks for a long time. However, the growing cold war led to the fact that in the 1950s the Americans began to supply a limited number of armored vehicles to the Japanese Self-Defense Forces. Since 1950, about 250 M4A3E8 tanks have been received from the United States. 375 examples of the M24 Chaffee were delivered in 1952.

In 1954, the Japanese Self-Defense Forces initiated the development of a new tank. Tactical and technical requirements were formulated that took into account the specifics of the potential theater of operations in which the new tank was to fight. The tank had to be built compact enough and relatively light so that it could be delivered to the battlefield on a special truck. It was planned to install a 90-mm gun as the main weapon.

Within the framework of this concept, several tank projects were developed. The first of these was the STA-1 project. This machine was equipped with a Mitsubishi DL10T water-cooled diesel engine, and later it was equipped with a Mitsubishi 12HM-21WT diesel engine, which had significantly fewer overheating problems. According to the requirements, a 90 mm cannon was used as the main weapon. The tank was only 2.2 meters high. The car did not go into mass production. One of the reasons for refusing further development was the very unsuccessful loading system.

In parallel with STA-1, work was underway on another prototype - STA-2. It also did not go into production, but based on the first and second STA, experimental tanks STA-3 and STA-4 were built. In general, they were very similar to their predecessors. However, the STA-3 had a semi-automatic loading system for the gun, which increased the rate of fire.

Three years of work on the STA-3 and STA-4 ended in 1961 with the appearance and launch into mass production of the Type 61 main battle tank. It weighed 35 tons. Its main armament was a 90 mm rifled gun with initial speed projectile about 910 m/s. Two Browning machine guns of 7.62 and 12.7 mm caliber were used as auxiliary weapons. The thickness of the frontal armor of the hull was 55 mm, the turret - 114 mm. The tank reached speeds of up to 45 km/h. From 1961 to 1975, 560 Type 61 tanks were built.

In 1964, design work began on STB tanks. According to the requirements, new fighting machine had to weigh 38 tons and reach a speed of at least 50 km/h. It was planned to use a 105-mm Royal Ordnance L7 gun made in Great Britain as the main armament.

In 1968, work began on the STB-1 prototype. A year later, a prototype of the tank entered testing, which continued for another year, until September 1970. In October 1970, the STB-1 was shown publicly for the first time at a parade of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces. However, the tank did not go into mass production due to a number of design flaws. Work on the STB project continued until the STB-6 prototype was put into service under the designation Type 74 in 1973. However, this tank is already beyond the time frame of our material.

Summarize. The Japanese armored school was original and developed dynamically. In the period from the 30s to the end of World War II, the Japanese developed dozens of unique projects, the vast majority of which existed not on paper, but in metal - even if only in one or several prototypes. The designers took into account that the vehicles would have to fight in hot climates, mountainous terrain and jungles. In fact, Japanese tanks were second only to the equipment of the most powerful opponents of the Land of the Rising Sun: Soviet Union, USA and UK. At the same time, some models of equipment developed in Japan towards the end of World War II could well compete with the Shermans, Pershings and Thirty-Fours. But for their mass production, the Japanese did not have enough industrial capacity, resources and time. And even after almost a ten-year forced break, when Japan again began designing its own tanks in the mid-50s, these vehicles turned out to be no worse than their foreign counterparts.

Japan was one of the leading forces during World War II. Scale strategic plans its leadership had to be confirmed by the high quality of technology. Therefore, in the 30s, the Japanese created many models of tanks, which fought without interruption for several years on the Pacific front of World War II.

Purchasing 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.

This was a familiar method of modernization for Tokyo. The Land of the Rising Sun spent several centuries in total isolation and only began to develop intensively in the second half of the 19th century. New sectors of the economy and industry emerged from scratch. Therefore, the task of conducting a similar experiment with tanks was not so fantastic.

The first to be purchased in 1925 were the French Renault FT-18, which at that time were considered the best cars of a kind. These models were adopted by the Japanese. Very soon, the engineers and designers of this country, having gained Western experience, prepared several of their own pilot projects.

"Chi-I"

The first Japanese tank was assembled in Osaka in 1927. The machine was named "Chi-I". It was an experimental model that never came to fruition serial production. However, it was she who became the “first lump”, which turned out to be the starting point for further technical research for Japanese specialists.

The model had a cannon, two machine guns, and its mass was 18 tons. Her design feature consisted of 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-turret design was unsuccessful in terms of combat effectiveness. Subsequently, Osaka decided to abandon the implementation of such a system. The Japanese "Chi-I" tank remained a historical model that never saw action in a real war. But some of its features were inherited by machines later used on the fields of World War II.

"Type 94"

Mostly Japanese ones were developed in the 30s. The first model in this series is the Tokushu Keninsha (abbreviated TK, or "Type 94"). This tank was distinguished by its small dimensions and weight (only 3.5 tons). It was used not only for combat, but also for auxiliary purposes. Therefore, in Europe, the Type 94 was considered a wedge.

As an auxiliary vehicle The transport vehicle was used to transport goods and assist convoys. This was the original purpose of the machine as intended by the designers. However, over time, the project evolved into a full-fledged combat model. Almost all subsequent Japanese ones inherited from the Type 94 not only the design, but also the layout. In total, more than 800 units of this generation were produced. The Type 94 was primarily 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 nuclear tanks were handed over to the Chinese Communists and 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 new car- direct descendant of Tokushu Keninsha. The model was called "Type 97" or "Te-Ke" for short. This Japanese tank was used during battles in China, Malaya and Burma until the very end. In fact, it was a deep modification of the Type 94.

The crew of the new car consisted of two people. The engine was located at the rear and the transmission at the front. An important innovation compared to its predecessor was the unification of the combat and management departments. The vehicle received a 37-mm cannon, inherited from the TK.

New Japanese tanks were first tested in the field in battles on the Khalkhin Gol River. Since they did not participate in the first strikes on Soviet positions, most of the Te-Ke managed to survive. Almost all active combat units of this type were transferred to the Pacific theater of World War II. These small tanks were especially effective for reconnaissance of enemy positions. They were also used as machines that organized communication between in different parts front. Its 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 the main Japanese medium tanks. Compared to its predecessors, the model received more powerful guns (including 47 mm cannons). 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, they remained an effective weapon in the hands of Japanese tankers. However, after the United States was drawn into the conflict, Chi-Ha had a serious combat competitor. These were M3 Lee tanks. They coped with all Japanese attacks without much difficulty. lung machines and middle segment. Largely because of this, out of more than two thousand Chi-Ha units, only a dozen representatives of this model remain as museum exhibits today.

"Ha-Go"

If we compare all the Japanese tanks of World War II, we can identify two of the most basic and widespread models. This is the already described “Chi-Ha” and “Ha-Go”. This tank was mass-produced in 1936-1943. In total, more than 2,300 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.

His first sketches appeared in the early 30s. Then the Japanese command wanted to get a car that could become effective auxiliary for cavalry attacks. That is why "Ha-Go" was so different important qualities, How 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". It was unique 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 attack the south, where there were many small islands and archipelagos. In this regard, the need arose for an amphibious landing. Japanese heavy tanks There was no way they could help with this task. Therefore, Mitsubishi started developing a fundamentally new model, based on the most common tank in the Land of the Rising Sun, the Ha-Go. As a result, 182 Ka-Mi units were produced.

Use of amphibious tanks

The chassis of the previous tank was improved so that the vehicle could be used effectively on water. For this purpose, in particular, the body was significantly modified. Because of its originality, each “Ka-Mi” was assembled slowly and for a long time. For this reason, the first major operation using amphibious tanks did not occur until 1944. The Japanese landed on Saipan - the largest of the By the end of the war, when the imperial army did not advance, but, on the contrary, only retreated, its landing operations. Therefore, the Ka-Mi began to be used as a regular ground tank. This was facilitated by the fact that it was universal in its design and driving characteristics.

In 1944, photographs of Japanese tanks sailing along the coast of the Marshall Islands spread around the world. By that time, the empire was already close to defeat, and even the emergence of fundamentally new technology could not help it. Nevertheless, the Ka-Mi themselves produced great impression on opponents. The tank's hull was spacious. It could accommodate five people - driver, mechanic, gunner, loader and commander. Externally, the Ka-Mi was immediately noticeable due to its two-man turret.

"Chi-He"

"Chi-He" appeared as a result of work on the errors associated with the characteristics of Chi-Ha. In 1940, Japanese designers and engineers decided to catch up with Western competitors by the most in a simple way copying foreign technologies and developments. Thus, all the initiative and originality of Eastern specialists was put aside.

The result of this maneuver was not long in coming - “Chi-He”, more than all its Japanese “relatives”, both externally and internally began to resemble European analogues of that time. But the project was implemented too late. In 1943-1944. Only 170 Chi-He were produced.

"Chi-Nu"

The continuation of the ideas embodied in “Chi-He” became “Chi-Nu”. It differed from its predecessor only in improved weapons. The design and layout of the body remains the same.

The series turned out to be few in number. 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 force in the country's defense during the landing of American troops. Due to the atomic bombings and the imminent capitulation of the government leadership, this foreign attack never happened.

"O-I"

How were Japanese tanks different? 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 infantry. However, this did not mean 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 received the draft name "O-I". This multi-turret monster was supposed to accommodate a crew of 11 people. The model was designed as an important weapon for impending attacks on the USSR and China. Work on O-I began in 1936 and continued one way or another until the defeat in World War II. The project was either closed or resumed. Today there is no reliable data that at least one was produced prototype this model. "O-I" remained on paper, like Japan's idea of ​​​​its regional dominance, which led it to a disastrous alliance with Hitler's Germany.