Place of origin Empire of Japan Produced 1939 Armor 5–25 mm | Designed 1939 Crew 4 | |
Main
armament Experimental Type 97 47 mm cannon | ||
The experimental Type 98 Chi-Ho was an experimental prototype Japanese medium tank. It was developed on orders from the Imperial Japanese Army. It was completed in July 1939 (Showa 14). "Chi Ho" indicates that it is designated as the 5th (I, Ro, Ha, Ni, Ho) medium (Chi) tank.
In the late 1930s, the Imperial Japanese Army was in search for a successor to the Type 89 Medium Tank. The experimental Type 97 Chi-Ni medium tank was considered as meeting the requirement of a "light and low-cost tank which can be deployed in large numbers"; while the Chi-Ha (later the Type 97 Chi-Ha) was thought as the more effective fighting vehicle. With the outbreak of the Sino-Japanese war, the army`s budget drastically increased which resulted in the contest over which was to become the successor, with the Chi-Ha being selected.
However, the army chief staff did not give up on the idea of a low-cost light tank and thus this vehicle was developed. By being completed in Showa year 14 (Imperial year 2699) the naming convention at the time would suggest the tank being named the type 99 but the unofficial type 98 name probably stuck after regular use by those involved in the tanks planning.