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Tankettes in Japanese Service
Type 94 Te-Ke
Despite lacking a serious cavalry tradition, the Japanese seem to have been
utterly fascinated by the concept of the tankette, though perhaps initially more
as a utility and support vehicle than in the mold of the "new cavalry" as it had
been envisioned in most of Europe. In the 1920s, the Japanese purchased a
small number of British Carden-Lloyd tankettes, the same vehicles upon which
the design of the Italian CV series were based. These vehicles greatly
interested in the Japanese Army, and a number of experiments were carried out
to determine whether the production of such a vehicle would be feasible as part
of the domestic armaments program.
The project gained life again in 1932-33, when the circumstances surrounding
the Shanghai incident prompted the Japanese Army to formally request an
armored munitions carrier capable of operating as a support weapon and acting
as an artillery tractor when necessary. In truth, the vehicle was also intended
as a delivery agent for the deployment of chemical and biological weapons, but
this portion of the project was concealed from the public, and has only recently
come to light.
In 1934, the result of the work on such a vehicle was standardized as the Type
94 Te-Ke. Weighing in at around 3.5 tons, the Te-Ke had a maximum speed of
25mph, with a crew of two (the commander acted as gunner). The engine was
a domestically produced air-cooled gasoline model, although a diesel prototype
was developed. The turret was armed with a light machine gun (both 6.5 and
7.7mm versions were used), and a rear towing hitch was provided for carrying
ammunition, and towing guns. A chemical dispensing trailer was also quietly
developed. This last item may have seen action during the China campaign.
While it had always been intended as a supply carrier and command vehicle, the
Type 94 was frequently used as a reconnaissance vehicle and even as an
armored attack platform in its own right. In these last two roles it was
particularly vulnerable, as the Type 94's armor could be penetrated by high
powered rifle rounds at short range, and heavy machine guns were found to be
a serious problem. Another problem seems to have been the wheel base, which
was too narrow and too weak to support the high speed demanded of the drive
train; thrown tracks were a problem whenever the vehicle operated at high
speed, particularly in turns. A second version of the vehicle, with a slightly
wider hull, was produced but the problem was,apparently, never completely
corrected.
One variant seems to have been deployed occasionally, though it was never
assigned a specific model number. This replaced the LMG turret with the 37mm
turret of the Type 95 Ha-Go. Said variant was reported in at least one
engagement, at Pelelieu. It may also have seen service in China and Manchuria.
One interesting innovation was the use of asbestos lining in the turret, to reduce
the amount of heat generated by the engine. This had been seen as a problem
while testing the Carden-Lloyd vehicles, and the Japanese were very keen to
fix it. Whether for comfort or for fire protection isn't clear, but I would suggest
the latter rather than the former.
The Type 94 was used in every theatre of the Asia-Pacific War, but was most
often reported in China, Burma, and Malaya. A number of Type 94s took part in
the conquest of Timor, and played a rather prominent role in the surrender of the
larger part of the Australian and Dutch forces there. Several Type 94 tankettes
also took part in the famous Japanese armored assault on the airfield at Pelelieu
in 1944.
Frequently, the Type 94 is mis-identified as a "Type 92" tankette. In fact, there is
no such beast. One source argues that this confusion stems from the fact that
early models of the Type 94 had a slightly different hull profile.
Despite lacking a serious cavalry tradition, the Japanese seem to have been
utterly fascinated by the concept of the tankette, though perhaps initially more
as a utility and support vehicle than in the mold of the "new cavalry" as it had
been envisioned in most of Europe. In the 1920s, the Japanese purchased a
small number of British Carden-Lloyd tankettes, the same vehicles upon which
the design of the Italian CV series were based. These vehicles greatly
interested in the Japanese Army, and a number of experiments were carried out
to determine whether the production of such a vehicle would be feasible as part
of the domestic armaments program.
The project gained life again in 1932-33, when the circumstances surrounding
the Shanghai incident prompted the Japanese Army to formally request an
armored munitions carrier capable of operating as a support weapon and acting
as an artillery tractor when necessary. In truth, the vehicle was also intended
as a delivery agent for the deployment of chemical and biological weapons, but
this portion of the project was concealed from the public, and has only recently
come to light.
In 1934, the result of the work on such a vehicle was standardized as the Type
94 Te-Ke. Weighing in at around 3.5 tons, the Te-Ke had a maximum speed of
25mph, with a crew of two (the commander acted as gunner). The engine was
a domestically produced air-cooled gasoline model, although a diesel prototype
was developed. The turret was armed with a light machine gun (both 6.5 and
7.7mm versions were used), and a rear towing hitch was provided for carrying
ammunition, and towing guns. A chemical dispensing trailer was also quietly
developed. This last item may have seen action during the China campaign.
While it had always been intended as a supply carrier and command vehicle, the
Type 94 was frequently used as a reconnaissance vehicle and even as an
armored attack platform in its own right. In these last two roles it was
particularly vulnerable, as the Type 94's armor could be penetrated by high
powered rifle rounds at short range, and heavy machine guns were found to be
a serious problem. Another problem seems to have been the wheel base, which
was too narrow and too weak to support the high speed demanded of the drive
train; thrown tracks were a problem whenever the vehicle operated at high
speed, particularly in turns. A second version of the vehicle, with a slightly
wider hull, was produced but the problem was,apparently, never completely
corrected.
One variant seems to have been deployed occasionally, though it was never
assigned a specific model number. This replaced the LMG turret with the 37mm
turret of the Type 95 Ha-Go. Said variant was reported in at least one
engagement, at Pelelieu. It may also have seen service in China and Manchuria.
One interesting innovation was the use of asbestos lining in the turret, to reduce
the amount of heat generated by the engine. This had been seen as a problem
while testing the Carden-Lloyd vehicles, and the Japanese were very keen to
fix it. Whether for comfort or for fire protection isn't clear, but I would suggest
the latter rather than the former.
The Type 94 was used in every theatre of the Asia-Pacific War, but was most
often reported in China, Burma, and Malaya. A number of Type 94s took part in
the conquest of Timor, and played a rather prominent role in the surrender of the
larger part of the Australian and Dutch forces there. Several Type 94 tankettes
also took part in the famous Japanese armored assault on the airfield at Pelelieu
in 1944.
Frequently, the Type 94 is mis-identified as a "Type 92" tankette. In fact, there is
no such beast. One source argues that this confusion stems from the fact that
early models of the Type 94 had a slightly different hull profile.
Type 97 Te-Ke
The Type 97 was developed as a direct replacement for the Type 94, following
the development of a diesel prototype in 1937. The Type 97 was a considerable
improvement over its predecessor, with a wider wheelbase, a slightly more
practical turret design, and a more effective engine. Armor protection was still
riveted, but the quality thereof was somewhat improved, though the thickness
of plate was essentially the same. In addition, the asbestos lining successfully
tested in the Type 94 was installed throughout, and adapted as standard to all
Japanese vehicles in the field.
The Type 97 retained a two man crew, but armament was altered to
accommodate the 37mm anti-tank gun then being successfully utilized by the
Type 95 Ha-Go. Because of a shortage of these weapons, some examples of
the Type 97 shipped with 7.7mm light machine guns, but all other features
remained essentially the same.
One unforseen design flaw of the Type 94 had been that, when the turret was
turned to face forward, the driver's hatch could not be opened. This was
corrected, and a rear access door was added as well, allowing both members
of the crew to quickly enter or exit the Type 97. One feature which was
retained, however, was the use of a towing hitch for the Type 97; the Type 97
was not, apparently, used in the role of ammunition carrier or gun tractor quite
as frequently as had been the Type 94, but it was more than capable of doing
so.
While quite an improvement over its predecessor, the Type 97 was still,
ultimately, a tankette, and crews who made the mistake of closing with heavier
vehicles rarely lived to regret it.
The Type 97 was developed as a direct replacement for the Type 94, following
the development of a diesel prototype in 1937. The Type 97 was a considerable
improvement over its predecessor, with a wider wheelbase, a slightly more
practical turret design, and a more effective engine. Armor protection was still
riveted, but the quality thereof was somewhat improved, though the thickness
of plate was essentially the same. In addition, the asbestos lining successfully
tested in the Type 94 was installed throughout, and adapted as standard to all
Japanese vehicles in the field.
The Type 97 retained a two man crew, but armament was altered to
accommodate the 37mm anti-tank gun then being successfully utilized by the
Type 95 Ha-Go. Because of a shortage of these weapons, some examples of
the Type 97 shipped with 7.7mm light machine guns, but all other features
remained essentially the same.
One unforseen design flaw of the Type 94 had been that, when the turret was
turned to face forward, the driver's hatch could not be opened. This was
corrected, and a rear access door was added as well, allowing both members
of the crew to quickly enter or exit the Type 97. One feature which was
retained, however, was the use of a towing hitch for the Type 97; the Type 97
was not, apparently, used in the role of ammunition carrier or gun tractor quite
as frequently as had been the Type 94, but it was more than capable of doing
so.
While quite an improvement over its predecessor, the Type 97 was still,
ultimately, a tankette, and crews who made the mistake of closing with heavier
vehicles rarely lived to regret it.
SENSHAN - Japanese Armored Vehicles of the Second World War
