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Heavy Tanks in Japanese Service
Multi-Turret Designs
During the 1930s, the Japanese Army field tested a number of heavy, thickly
armored (by Japanese standards, anyway) vehicles equipped with multiple
turrets and designed to exploit an armored breakthrough strategy. These were
developed, in truth, partly because the Japanese were fascinated by the
concept of big, powerful senshan, but also because Japanese Intelligence had
long been aware of Stalin's "land cruiser" programs, which produced a number
of functional mass produced multi-turreted heavy tanks during the same period.
In any event, the Japanese experience of heavy tank experimentation was not a
positive one. Japan's earliest "heavy tanks", First World War era Mark IV tanks
purchased from the British, were found to be mechanically suspect and totally
unsuited to the terrain of the Home Islands, let alone the Chinese and
Manchurian theatres. When the Japanese developed their own heavy designs,
there was very little change in this regard. Heavy tanks of the era tended to be
quite prone to mechanical failure; they were also extremely difficult to produce
in a country which had only recently modernized its industrial base. An added
complication was that top speeds rarely exceeded about 13mph; this was
deemed unacceptable by the Imperial General Staff, who viewed slow vehicles
as detrimental to their infantry blitzkrieg doctrine.
Only one heavy tank of the multi-turret class seems to have been field tested
under combat conditions. This was the Type 95 Heavy Tank, developed in 1934.
It was quite an interesting vehicle, with a top speed of 13.7mph and three
distinct turrets. The largest of these held a 70mm gun and 6.5mm LMG in the
rear; a second, mounted just below and to the fore of the 70mm turret, mounted
a 37mm. To the rear of the vehicle, the third turret housed an additional 6.5mm
LMG. Curiously, the Type 95 Heavy had no forward facing machine guns.
The Type 95 Heavy was field tested in China and/or Manchuria on a number of
occasions, showed up in the occasional state photograph, but seems to done
its greatest duty as a sort of show vehicle for the Imperial Army to prove its
martial prowess. In practice, the Army seems to have despised the design,
finding it to be far too slow and, therefore, far too vulnerable on the vast
battlefields of China and Manchuria.
Most likely, the single Type 95 Heavy saw very little, if any, combat. During the
actions in Manchuria in the 1945 campaign, however, a number of prototype
vehicles were thrown in the path of the advancing Soviets in an attempt to slow
them down. It is certainly at least marginally possible that the Type 95 saw
action in these desperate attacks.
During the 1930s, the Japanese Army field tested a number of heavy, thickly
armored (by Japanese standards, anyway) vehicles equipped with multiple
turrets and designed to exploit an armored breakthrough strategy. These were
developed, in truth, partly because the Japanese were fascinated by the
concept of big, powerful senshan, but also because Japanese Intelligence had
long been aware of Stalin's "land cruiser" programs, which produced a number
of functional mass produced multi-turreted heavy tanks during the same period.
In any event, the Japanese experience of heavy tank experimentation was not a
positive one. Japan's earliest "heavy tanks", First World War era Mark IV tanks
purchased from the British, were found to be mechanically suspect and totally
unsuited to the terrain of the Home Islands, let alone the Chinese and
Manchurian theatres. When the Japanese developed their own heavy designs,
there was very little change in this regard. Heavy tanks of the era tended to be
quite prone to mechanical failure; they were also extremely difficult to produce
in a country which had only recently modernized its industrial base. An added
complication was that top speeds rarely exceeded about 13mph; this was
deemed unacceptable by the Imperial General Staff, who viewed slow vehicles
as detrimental to their infantry blitzkrieg doctrine.
Only one heavy tank of the multi-turret class seems to have been field tested
under combat conditions. This was the Type 95 Heavy Tank, developed in 1934.
It was quite an interesting vehicle, with a top speed of 13.7mph and three
distinct turrets. The largest of these held a 70mm gun and 6.5mm LMG in the
rear; a second, mounted just below and to the fore of the 70mm turret, mounted
a 37mm. To the rear of the vehicle, the third turret housed an additional 6.5mm
LMG. Curiously, the Type 95 Heavy had no forward facing machine guns.
The Type 95 Heavy was field tested in China and/or Manchuria on a number of
occasions, showed up in the occasional state photograph, but seems to done
its greatest duty as a sort of show vehicle for the Imperial Army to prove its
martial prowess. In practice, the Army seems to have despised the design,
finding it to be far too slow and, therefore, far too vulnerable on the vast
battlefields of China and Manchuria.
Most likely, the single Type 95 Heavy saw very little, if any, combat. During the
actions in Manchuria in the 1945 campaign, however, a number of prototype
vehicles were thrown in the path of the advancing Soviets in an attempt to slow
them down. It is certainly at least marginally possible that the Type 95 saw
action in these desperate attacks.
Type 4 Chi-To
After a series of false starts, the Japanese Army finally re-initiated its heavy
tank program in early 1944. German heavy tanks were carefully evaluated,
multiple foreign designs consulted, and German veterans shipped in at great
danger in order to advise in the design of a new vehicle capable of
maneuvering and operating successfully as a heavy tank in the rather unusual
terrain conditions of the Asia-Pacific theatre.
The end result of this work was the Type 4 Chi-To, a thirty ton, all welded
heavy tank with a maximum armor thickness of about 75mm. The main armament
was essentially a copy of the German Pak 75, even going so far as to copy the
German anti-aircraft sites of the original. It was housed in a large, powered
turret along with a coaxial machine gun. A single LMG was also mounted in the
bow. Unusually, there was no LMG mounted to the rear of the turret in the
Type 4. As in most vehicles of the era, a provision was also made for an
optional anti-aircraft machine gun, but this is one of the few vehicles in the
Japanese arsenal in which photographs consistently depict it fitted. This may,
indeed, reflect the increasingly desperate straights of the Japanese. Because
of fuel shortages, the Type 4 was also one of the very few vehicles in the
Japanese arsenal to have been designed from the beginning as a diesel.
Only six Type 4 Chi-To tanks were completed prior to the end of the war. As in
the case of the Type 3 Chi-Nu, all crews were hand-picked, and it was hoped
that the Chi-To would support massive armored assaults to drive the Allies back
into the sea. In the event, the Allied invasion of Japan never happened,
Japanese resources did not allow for the shipment of heavy vehicles overseas,
and no such maneuvers took place.
At least one variant of the Type 4 was actually designed, complete with
prototype, despite the fact that the production run of the Type 4 was itself
extremely limited. This was the Type 5 Chi-Ri, which utilized a lengthened hull,
replaced the hull LMG with a 37mm anti-tank gun, and featured a German
designed aircraft engine as a means of propulsion. The weapon never got
beyond the prototype stage, and it is doubtful that the prototype was even
armed prior to the end of the war.
In any event, it is highly unlikely that the Type 4 ever saw combat. Some
surviving examples were used during the 1950s as inspiration for Japan's
post-war armored vehicle designs, which are currently considered to be among
the best in the world. Certainly, the Type 4 was an impressive, modern design
that would have given as well as it received, given the opportunity.
After a series of false starts, the Japanese Army finally re-initiated its heavy
tank program in early 1944. German heavy tanks were carefully evaluated,
multiple foreign designs consulted, and German veterans shipped in at great
danger in order to advise in the design of a new vehicle capable of
maneuvering and operating successfully as a heavy tank in the rather unusual
terrain conditions of the Asia-Pacific theatre.
The end result of this work was the Type 4 Chi-To, a thirty ton, all welded
heavy tank with a maximum armor thickness of about 75mm. The main armament
was essentially a copy of the German Pak 75, even going so far as to copy the
German anti-aircraft sites of the original. It was housed in a large, powered
turret along with a coaxial machine gun. A single LMG was also mounted in the
bow. Unusually, there was no LMG mounted to the rear of the turret in the
Type 4. As in most vehicles of the era, a provision was also made for an
optional anti-aircraft machine gun, but this is one of the few vehicles in the
Japanese arsenal in which photographs consistently depict it fitted. This may,
indeed, reflect the increasingly desperate straights of the Japanese. Because
of fuel shortages, the Type 4 was also one of the very few vehicles in the
Japanese arsenal to have been designed from the beginning as a diesel.
Only six Type 4 Chi-To tanks were completed prior to the end of the war. As in
the case of the Type 3 Chi-Nu, all crews were hand-picked, and it was hoped
that the Chi-To would support massive armored assaults to drive the Allies back
into the sea. In the event, the Allied invasion of Japan never happened,
Japanese resources did not allow for the shipment of heavy vehicles overseas,
and no such maneuvers took place.
At least one variant of the Type 4 was actually designed, complete with
prototype, despite the fact that the production run of the Type 4 was itself
extremely limited. This was the Type 5 Chi-Ri, which utilized a lengthened hull,
replaced the hull LMG with a 37mm anti-tank gun, and featured a German
designed aircraft engine as a means of propulsion. The weapon never got
beyond the prototype stage, and it is doubtful that the prototype was even
armed prior to the end of the war.
In any event, it is highly unlikely that the Type 4 ever saw combat. Some
surviving examples were used during the 1950s as inspiration for Japan's
post-war armored vehicle designs, which are currently considered to be among
the best in the world. Certainly, the Type 4 was an impressive, modern design
that would have given as well as it received, given the opportunity.
Type 1 Chi-He
Originally intended as a replacement for the Type 97 Chi-Ha, the Chi-He was
delayed not once, but twice. The first delay occurred when it was discovered
that Japan's tank production facilities would need to be completely re-tooled in
order to produce the larger, all welded hull of the Type 1. As a result, production
was extremely limited for the first run.
In 1942, Japan's single largest tank production run took place, but re-tooling of
the factories was not ready until the second half of the year, at which point it
was declared that aircraft production would be the priority of all production
facilities not already given over to the shipyards. In total, about three hundred
examples would be produced prior to the end of the war.
As a result, a little less than six hundred examples appeared, about half of
which were deployed outside the home islands. Therefore, numbers were
never sufficient to completely replace the Type 97. Nevertheless, a large
number of turrets were produced, and this resulted in the hybrid Type 97
Shinhoto.
The Type 1 was a marked improvement over the Type 97. Its superstructure,
hull, and main armament were a radical departure from previous Japanese
designs. While the vehicle did retain the excellent low ground pressure ratio
found in most Japanese vehicles, balance was considerably improved, the hull
superstructure took on a completely new appearance, and the entire vehicle
was welded, something which had only been attempted previously with
tankettes.
While the welded armor plate was not as heavy as that of the M4 Sherman, it
was a considerable step forward in armor protection for the Japanese, finally
producing a vehicle which could provide adequate protection against Allied
anti-tank rounds. Notably, the vehicle was also significantly larger than other
Japanese vehicles, with a crew of five.
The standard Type 1 armament was the newly redesigned Type 1 47mm
Anti-Tank Gun, based upon Japan's 47mm Infantry Gun. Coaxial, hull, and rear
mounted turret machine guns were also installed.
The Chi-He first saw combat in 1942, and was found in places such as
Guadalcanal, but large numbers were not employed against the Allies until the
late war period. Several examples were involved, for example, in the battles on
Luzon. In general, performance of the Chi He was quite good, but the small
numbers deployed and Japanese armor doctrine prevented the Type 1 from
perhaps making a bigger impact upon the course of the war.
It should be noted that, whilst the Type 1 Chi-He was actually used in combat,
very few miniatures manufacturers produce a Type 1 model. Conversions are
probably possible, as the Allies frequently misidentified the Chi-He as an
"over-sized Chi-Ha". Fortunately for the Japanese, this was gross
understatement.
Originally intended as a replacement for the Type 97 Chi-Ha, the Chi-He was
delayed not once, but twice. The first delay occurred when it was discovered
that Japan's tank production facilities would need to be completely re-tooled in
order to produce the larger, all welded hull of the Type 1. As a result, production
was extremely limited for the first run.
In 1942, Japan's single largest tank production run took place, but re-tooling of
the factories was not ready until the second half of the year, at which point it
was declared that aircraft production would be the priority of all production
facilities not already given over to the shipyards. In total, about three hundred
examples would be produced prior to the end of the war.
As a result, a little less than six hundred examples appeared, about half of
which were deployed outside the home islands. Therefore, numbers were
never sufficient to completely replace the Type 97. Nevertheless, a large
number of turrets were produced, and this resulted in the hybrid Type 97
Shinhoto.
The Type 1 was a marked improvement over the Type 97. Its superstructure,
hull, and main armament were a radical departure from previous Japanese
designs. While the vehicle did retain the excellent low ground pressure ratio
found in most Japanese vehicles, balance was considerably improved, the hull
superstructure took on a completely new appearance, and the entire vehicle
was welded, something which had only been attempted previously with
tankettes.
While the welded armor plate was not as heavy as that of the M4 Sherman, it
was a considerable step forward in armor protection for the Japanese, finally
producing a vehicle which could provide adequate protection against Allied
anti-tank rounds. Notably, the vehicle was also significantly larger than other
Japanese vehicles, with a crew of five.
The standard Type 1 armament was the newly redesigned Type 1 47mm
Anti-Tank Gun, based upon Japan's 47mm Infantry Gun. Coaxial, hull, and rear
mounted turret machine guns were also installed.
The Chi-He first saw combat in 1942, and was found in places such as
Guadalcanal, but large numbers were not employed against the Allies until the
late war period. Several examples were involved, for example, in the battles on
Luzon. In general, performance of the Chi He was quite good, but the small
numbers deployed and Japanese armor doctrine prevented the Type 1 from
perhaps making a bigger impact upon the course of the war.
It should be noted that, whilst the Type 1 Chi-He was actually used in combat,
very few miniatures manufacturers produce a Type 1 model. Conversions are
probably possible, as the Allies frequently misidentified the Chi-He as an
"over-sized Chi-Ha". Fortunately for the Japanese, this was gross
understatement.
Type 3 Chi-Nu
The Chi-Nu was conceived in 1943 as part of the IJA decision to radically alter
established armor doctrine. As a part of this program, the need was envisioned
for a powerful vehicle of moderate complexity which could operate efficiently
against Allied armor formations but survive the radically difficult terrain of the
Pacific theatre and the mountainous terrain of the Burma and China theatres
with equal ease.
The first prototypes were produced relatively quickly, helped along by the gift
from Hitler of a small number of Tiger and Panther tanks, and a program which
featured cooperative training exercises with Germany's most elite tank
regiments. (Oddly enough, at least one Japanese crew seems to have taken
part in the Ardennes offensive in late 1944.)
Initially, the Japanese had intended to produce a tank using a more or less exact
copy of the German 8.8 gun, but machining problems and the continually
escalating need for easily produced components in wake of an increasing
shortage of effective aircraft and warships resulted in the adoption of a slightly
earlier model weapon based upon the French 75mle Schneider. Initial tests
proved quite promising, and a new turret was designed to use the 75, while the
8.8 project was set aside for future use.
The hull of the Type 3 was a welded, up-armored version of the Type 1
chassis, which was provided with sufficient protection exceeding the M4A2
Sherman, with a maximum thickness of about 50mm. The mounting points of
machine guns are somewhat debated by the sources; photographic evidence
seems to point to a hull and coaxial machine gun, but some Japanese
illustrations depict two side mounted machine guns in the over-sized turret as
well as the standard LMG mounting in the rear of the turret. The illustration
provided here, in fact, makes just such a suggestion.
Production of the Type 3 began in early 1944, but was delayed considerably.
While the factories were, at this point, capable of handling all welded
construction in armored vehicles, other priorities continued to be critical and the
Chi-Nu was only produced in limited quantities prior to the end of the war, with a
total of about sixty-six units completed.
Much debate surrounds the combat record of the Chi-Nu, though it seems fairly
clear that the Chi-Nu was never deployed outside the immediate vicinity of the
Home Islands. Some have argued that the Chi-Nu saw action at Okinawa and/or
Iwo Jima, but there is no corroborating evidence for this, and it must be
regarded as speculative at best. At best, it is absolutely beyond disproof that
the Japanese had intended to use the Chi-Nu in defense against the impending
Allied invasion, and a number of them were found in camouflaged positions at
the time of the American occupation.
The chief problem seems to have been not that the Japanese were unwilling to
deploy the Chi-Nu, or that it was unsatisfactory as a vehicle as some have
alleged, but that Japan, which had lost nearly eighty-five percent of its merchant
carrying capacity by late 1944, simply lacked the necessary tonnage to ship the
Chi-Nu to island outposts.
If engaged in combat, the Chi-Nu would most likely have been quite a formidable
opponent, particularly given the extraordinary measures taken to train Japanese
tankers in German armor doctrine. At best, however, this would probably have
been too little, too late. Of course, with Operation Olympic, anything would be
possible.
The Chi-Nu was conceived in 1943 as part of the IJA decision to radically alter
established armor doctrine. As a part of this program, the need was envisioned
for a powerful vehicle of moderate complexity which could operate efficiently
against Allied armor formations but survive the radically difficult terrain of the
Pacific theatre and the mountainous terrain of the Burma and China theatres
with equal ease.
The first prototypes were produced relatively quickly, helped along by the gift
from Hitler of a small number of Tiger and Panther tanks, and a program which
featured cooperative training exercises with Germany's most elite tank
regiments. (Oddly enough, at least one Japanese crew seems to have taken
part in the Ardennes offensive in late 1944.)
Initially, the Japanese had intended to produce a tank using a more or less exact
copy of the German 8.8 gun, but machining problems and the continually
escalating need for easily produced components in wake of an increasing
shortage of effective aircraft and warships resulted in the adoption of a slightly
earlier model weapon based upon the French 75mle Schneider. Initial tests
proved quite promising, and a new turret was designed to use the 75, while the
8.8 project was set aside for future use.
The hull of the Type 3 was a welded, up-armored version of the Type 1
chassis, which was provided with sufficient protection exceeding the M4A2
Sherman, with a maximum thickness of about 50mm. The mounting points of
machine guns are somewhat debated by the sources; photographic evidence
seems to point to a hull and coaxial machine gun, but some Japanese
illustrations depict two side mounted machine guns in the over-sized turret as
well as the standard LMG mounting in the rear of the turret. The illustration
provided here, in fact, makes just such a suggestion.
Production of the Type 3 began in early 1944, but was delayed considerably.
While the factories were, at this point, capable of handling all welded
construction in armored vehicles, other priorities continued to be critical and the
Chi-Nu was only produced in limited quantities prior to the end of the war, with a
total of about sixty-six units completed.
Much debate surrounds the combat record of the Chi-Nu, though it seems fairly
clear that the Chi-Nu was never deployed outside the immediate vicinity of the
Home Islands. Some have argued that the Chi-Nu saw action at Okinawa and/or
Iwo Jima, but there is no corroborating evidence for this, and it must be
regarded as speculative at best. At best, it is absolutely beyond disproof that
the Japanese had intended to use the Chi-Nu in defense against the impending
Allied invasion, and a number of them were found in camouflaged positions at
the time of the American occupation.
The chief problem seems to have been not that the Japanese were unwilling to
deploy the Chi-Nu, or that it was unsatisfactory as a vehicle as some have
alleged, but that Japan, which had lost nearly eighty-five percent of its merchant
carrying capacity by late 1944, simply lacked the necessary tonnage to ship the
Chi-Nu to island outposts.
If engaged in combat, the Chi-Nu would most likely have been quite a formidable
opponent, particularly given the extraordinary measures taken to train Japanese
tankers in German armor doctrine. At best, however, this would probably have
been too little, too late. Of course, with Operation Olympic, anything would be
possible.
SENSHAN - Japanese Armored Vehicles of the Second World War
Project "Oni", Project "O-I"
Very little is known about this particular design. It occurred as a direct result of
Japan's observation of successful German heavy tanks, particularly against
overwhelming odds. It may also have been partly influenced by the Soviet
development of the IS-1 and IS-2 series of super heavy vehicles, which were
seen as serious threats to the war effort in China, should the Soviets break the
truce. Of course, sheer machismo may also be the culprit.
The project to develop a Japanese super-tank was known either as Project Oni,
or Project O-I. It may also have been known by both names. Frankly, sources
conflict. What we do know is that the armament particulars were fairly
impressive - most notably, a 105mm anti-tank gun was to be turret mounted, and
this weapon would have been "supported" with one or any of the following:
a) A hull mounted copy of the German 8.8 (some sources say two)
b) A hull mounted heavy flamethrower
c) A turret mounting a 47mm Ant-Tank Gun
The single prototype begun seems to have been intended for the second option.
I believe that the term "Oni", which has been attached to the project, may have
referred specifically to the heavy flamethrower variant, based upon the
connotation of the term "Oni" (evil spirit or demon) and the Japanese distaste of
and distrust for flame weapons in general. This is, of course, mere conjecture
on my part.
This very strange project was perhaps a pipe dream, at best, given Japan's
weak logistical trail in 1944-45, but we do know that the vehicle was actually
built, in prototype form. Beyond that, the vehicle completely disappears from
history. A long treasured story of obscure trivia fanatics says that the hull and
turret were shipped separately to Manchuria. Perhaps this makes sense, if the
Japanese had hoped to hide the design from invading Allied forces, or perhaps
the Japanese had intended to use it against the advancing Soviets. At any rate,
the vehicle was never reported in combat by the Soviets (or anyone else, as far
as I know), and it is, in short, a complete mystery. A sort of Japanese "Maus", if
you will.
Very little is known about this particular design. It occurred as a direct result of
Japan's observation of successful German heavy tanks, particularly against
overwhelming odds. It may also have been partly influenced by the Soviet
development of the IS-1 and IS-2 series of super heavy vehicles, which were
seen as serious threats to the war effort in China, should the Soviets break the
truce. Of course, sheer machismo may also be the culprit.
The project to develop a Japanese super-tank was known either as Project Oni,
or Project O-I. It may also have been known by both names. Frankly, sources
conflict. What we do know is that the armament particulars were fairly
impressive - most notably, a 105mm anti-tank gun was to be turret mounted, and
this weapon would have been "supported" with one or any of the following:
a) A hull mounted copy of the German 8.8 (some sources say two)
b) A hull mounted heavy flamethrower
c) A turret mounting a 47mm Ant-Tank Gun
The single prototype begun seems to have been intended for the second option.
I believe that the term "Oni", which has been attached to the project, may have
referred specifically to the heavy flamethrower variant, based upon the
connotation of the term "Oni" (evil spirit or demon) and the Japanese distaste of
and distrust for flame weapons in general. This is, of course, mere conjecture
on my part.
This very strange project was perhaps a pipe dream, at best, given Japan's
weak logistical trail in 1944-45, but we do know that the vehicle was actually
built, in prototype form. Beyond that, the vehicle completely disappears from
history. A long treasured story of obscure trivia fanatics says that the hull and
turret were shipped separately to Manchuria. Perhaps this makes sense, if the
Japanese had hoped to hide the design from invading Allied forces, or perhaps
the Japanese had intended to use it against the advancing Soviets. At any rate,
the vehicle was never reported in combat by the Soviets (or anyone else, as far
as I know), and it is, in short, a complete mystery. A sort of Japanese "Maus", if
you will.