Type Medium tank Designed 1939-1941 Weight 16 tonnes (18 tons) | Place of origin Empire of Japan No. built 930 | |
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Length 5.50 metres (18 ft 1 in) | ||
The Type 97 ShinhoTo Chi-Ha was a Japanese medium tank used in World War II that was an upgrade to the original Type 97 Chi-Ha. The new version was designated Type 97-Kai ("improved") or Shinhoto Chi-Ha ("new turret" Chi-Ha). This design was probably the best tank Japan produced in any large quantity up to 1945.
Contents
Development
Japanese Army observers had watched tank developments in Europe and studied as avidly as any European military the operational experiences gained by German, Soviet, and Italian tanks in the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). In order to improve the anti-tank capability of the Type 97 Chi-Ha, a new enlarged three-man turret armed with a high-velocity 47 mm gun was combined with the Chi-Ha's hull; hence the new name Kai ("improved") or ShinHoTo ("New Turret"). In 1942, it replaced the original model Type 97 in production. In addition "about 300" of the Type 97 tanks with the older model turret and 57 mm main gun were converted.
History
When the Type 97 entered service, properly equipped and supported mechanized infantry units were realized. The Type 97 ShinHoTo first saw action at Corregidor Island of the Philippines in 1942. The Japanese commanders showed a "skillful and imaginative use of tanks" during the early string of victories of the Japanese military forces. The skill with which they maneuvered their mechanized infantry divisions was best seen in Malaya, where the lighter weight of Japanese medium tanks allowed for a rapid ground advance so heavily supported by armor that British defenders never had a chance to establish effective defense lines.
While vulnerable to opposing Allied tanks (US M3 Lee/British M3 Grant, M4 Sherman and Soviet T-34), the 47 mm high-velocity gun did give the Type 97 ShinHoTo a fighting chance against them. The 47 mm gun was effective against light tanks and against the sides and rear of the Sherman tank. For this reason, some ShinHoTo Chi-Has were dug in concerned positions to ambush the American tanks and others were dug in to form the core of "strong points" both on Luzon and Iwo Jima in 1945. The Type 97 ShinHoTo Chi-Ha served against allied forces throughout the Pacific and East Asia as well as the Soviets during the July-August 1945 conflict in Manchuria.
Short Barrel 120 mm Gun Tank
The Short Barrel 120 mm Gun Tank was one variant produced late in the war for the Imperial Japanese Navy. They wanted a gun tank similar to the Type 2 Ho-I for close support but with greater fire-power. The standard 47 mm main tank gun was replaced with a short barrel naval 12 cm (120 mm) "anti-submarine" gun with a muzzle brake added. In addition, it had a small storage compartment added onto the back of the ShinhoTo Chi-Ha turret. Only "about a dozen" were produced for deployment by the Japanese Special Naval Landing Forces.
There was also a prototype developed by the Imperial Japanese Navy known as the Naval 12 cm SPG (self-propelled gun) or Long Barrel 120 mm SPG. The gun was mounted onto a Type 97 Chi-Ha chassis. The gun was not housed in a turret like the Short Barrel 120 mm version and did not have a casemate. The fate of the one completed prototype, which was based at the Tateyama Naval Gunnery School at the end of the war, is unknown.