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Japanese Armor Classification and Terminology
Model Numbers
Japan's vehicle numbering system is a somewhat muddled and complex
affair, but it can be greatly simplified by understanding that Japanese
model numbers have nothing to do with weight or class, but rather, with a
numbering system based upon traditional dates related to the foundation
of the modern Japanese state.
Prior to 1926, these dates were based upon years passed since the
accession of the reigning emperor. In 1926, however, Japanese law
mandated that the dating system change to a program based upon the
traditional foundation of Japan as an independent nation, reckoned at
approximately 2,586 years as of 1926.
Thereafter, Japanese weapons of all types were classified based upon
this new system, using the last two digits of the four digit year. Thus, a
vehicle, weapon, even a helmet design produced in 1926 would be
classified as a 'Type 86' so-and-so.
Confused yet? Because it gets more convoluted.
The new dating system was neither universally adopted nor universally
popular. In the first place, many weapons systems, uniform patterns,
radios, what have you had already been developed, and a great many of
these were produced using the dating system. Thus, the Type 38 Arisaka
Rifle had been developed in year 38 of the reign of the Meiji Emperor, and
the new dating system did not change this terminology.
Nevertheless, when the modern rifle developed in the 1930s for
replacement of the Type 38 was finally accepted for general service in
1939, it was given a model number based upon the new system, so that
the Type 99 Rifle, though a natural evolution of the Type 38, was given an
entirely different (and confusing) model number.
And it gets even better.
The Japanese Military was very fond of pre-planning projects. Names for
weapons systems, even conceptual weapons systems, were developed
YEARS before even a prototype was prepared, so that numbers were
sometimes assigned based upon the year in which the need for such a
weapon first became apparent. This was particularly common in the
production of aircraft, and most importantly for the purposes of our
discussion, in the production of tanks. Confusingly, this was not followed
consistently, nor (strangely), were new iterations or developments of
previous designs given unique names.
Thus, the Type 97 Chi-Ha medium tank, while not ready for general
service until 1939, was initially conceived in 1937 and assigned the
model number for that particular year (2597). Later, the Chi-He Medium
tank, conceived in 1941, was given the designator 'Type 1 Medium Tank'
(developed in the year 2601), despite the fact that it was not actually
produced until 1942. This number was,occasionally, appended with a
character designator, so that the Type 89 Chi-Ro-Otsu can be read as:
Year 2589 (1929) Medium Tank (Chi), Ro-Otsu variant.
To add yet further confusion, it must be stated that many Japanese
armored vehicles of different types were conceived or developed in the
same year, so that the Type 97 designator actually applies to more than
one type of vehicle, of more than one type of size. As a means of
extricating themselves from hopeless confusion, Japanese tankers
frequently applied nicknames to their vehicles, and these have carried
over into the lingua franca of military historians and wargamers.
Thus, the Type 97B with with the improved turret is probably better known
in the Western World as the Shinhoto, or "New Turret", as it was called by
the men who crewed the vehicle.
Weight Classifications
By Western standards, Japanese armor was extremely light, both in
weight and in terms of armor protection. Japanese weight classifications
were as follows.
Tankettes were tanks of up to 5 tons.
Light Tanks were tanks of 5 to 10 tons.
Medium Tanks were tanks of 10 to 20 tons.
Heavy Tanks were tanks of over 20 tons.
Linguistic Terminology
The Japanese Armed Forces had no word for armored fighting vehicles,
and so a new word was created, using the words for battle (Sen) and
wagon (Sha). The result was what has since become common parlance
in Japanese military circles for tanks -
Sensha, "Battle Wagon".The plural of this term is Senshan.
The term, incidentally, was also applied to battleships..
Nothing simple with the Japanese military.
Generic type names, based upon written Japanese characters, were
applied to each weight classification. These, however, were not always
followed in practice.
Tankettes were known as Choki Sensha
Light Tanks were known as Ki Sensha
Medium Tanks were known as Chi Sensha
Heavy Tanks, were known as Ju Sensha
There were, apparently, no special prefixes employed for Armored Cars,
which were instead generally referred to by their make and manufacturer
(Sumida, Osaka, etc.) Self-Propelled guns, however, were designated by
type with Japanese character names. Ho type Self-Propelled guns were
armed with Howitzers, but the prefix Ho was also used to refer to prime
movers and half-tracks. Ha type self-propelled guns were armed with
mortars. So type self-propelled guns were anti-aircraft pieces.
Quite a few additional terms existed. Those which might be encountered
by wargamers include armored recovery vehicles, designated Se, and
command variants, frequently referred to with the Shi prefix.
.
Japan's vehicle numbering system is a somewhat muddled and complex
affair, but it can be greatly simplified by understanding that Japanese
model numbers have nothing to do with weight or class, but rather, with a
numbering system based upon traditional dates related to the foundation
of the modern Japanese state.
Prior to 1926, these dates were based upon years passed since the
accession of the reigning emperor. In 1926, however, Japanese law
mandated that the dating system change to a program based upon the
traditional foundation of Japan as an independent nation, reckoned at
approximately 2,586 years as of 1926.
Thereafter, Japanese weapons of all types were classified based upon
this new system, using the last two digits of the four digit year. Thus, a
vehicle, weapon, even a helmet design produced in 1926 would be
classified as a 'Type 86' so-and-so.
Confused yet? Because it gets more convoluted.
The new dating system was neither universally adopted nor universally
popular. In the first place, many weapons systems, uniform patterns,
radios, what have you had already been developed, and a great many of
these were produced using the dating system. Thus, the Type 38 Arisaka
Rifle had been developed in year 38 of the reign of the Meiji Emperor, and
the new dating system did not change this terminology.
Nevertheless, when the modern rifle developed in the 1930s for
replacement of the Type 38 was finally accepted for general service in
1939, it was given a model number based upon the new system, so that
the Type 99 Rifle, though a natural evolution of the Type 38, was given an
entirely different (and confusing) model number.
And it gets even better.
The Japanese Military was very fond of pre-planning projects. Names for
weapons systems, even conceptual weapons systems, were developed
YEARS before even a prototype was prepared, so that numbers were
sometimes assigned based upon the year in which the need for such a
weapon first became apparent. This was particularly common in the
production of aircraft, and most importantly for the purposes of our
discussion, in the production of tanks. Confusingly, this was not followed
consistently, nor (strangely), were new iterations or developments of
previous designs given unique names.
Thus, the Type 97 Chi-Ha medium tank, while not ready for general
service until 1939, was initially conceived in 1937 and assigned the
model number for that particular year (2597). Later, the Chi-He Medium
tank, conceived in 1941, was given the designator 'Type 1 Medium Tank'
(developed in the year 2601), despite the fact that it was not actually
produced until 1942. This number was,occasionally, appended with a
character designator, so that the Type 89 Chi-Ro-Otsu can be read as:
Year 2589 (1929) Medium Tank (Chi), Ro-Otsu variant.
To add yet further confusion, it must be stated that many Japanese
armored vehicles of different types were conceived or developed in the
same year, so that the Type 97 designator actually applies to more than
one type of vehicle, of more than one type of size. As a means of
extricating themselves from hopeless confusion, Japanese tankers
frequently applied nicknames to their vehicles, and these have carried
over into the lingua franca of military historians and wargamers.
Thus, the Type 97B with with the improved turret is probably better known
in the Western World as the Shinhoto, or "New Turret", as it was called by
the men who crewed the vehicle.
Weight Classifications
By Western standards, Japanese armor was extremely light, both in
weight and in terms of armor protection. Japanese weight classifications
were as follows.
Tankettes were tanks of up to 5 tons.
Light Tanks were tanks of 5 to 10 tons.
Medium Tanks were tanks of 10 to 20 tons.
Heavy Tanks were tanks of over 20 tons.
Linguistic Terminology
The Japanese Armed Forces had no word for armored fighting vehicles,
and so a new word was created, using the words for battle (Sen) and
wagon (Sha). The result was what has since become common parlance
in Japanese military circles for tanks -
Sensha, "Battle Wagon".The plural of this term is Senshan.
The term, incidentally, was also applied to battleships..
Nothing simple with the Japanese military.
Generic type names, based upon written Japanese characters, were
applied to each weight classification. These, however, were not always
followed in practice.
Tankettes were known as Choki Sensha
Light Tanks were known as Ki Sensha
Medium Tanks were known as Chi Sensha
Heavy Tanks, were known as Ju Sensha
There were, apparently, no special prefixes employed for Armored Cars,
which were instead generally referred to by their make and manufacturer
(Sumida, Osaka, etc.) Self-Propelled guns, however, were designated by
type with Japanese character names. Ho type Self-Propelled guns were
armed with Howitzers, but the prefix Ho was also used to refer to prime
movers and half-tracks. Ha type self-propelled guns were armed with
mortars. So type self-propelled guns were anti-aircraft pieces.
Quite a few additional terms existed. Those which might be encountered
by wargamers include armored recovery vehicles, designated Se, and
command variants, frequently referred to with the Shi prefix.
.
SENSHAN - Japanese Armored Vehicles of the Second World War
