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Type 97 Chi-Ha medium tank

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Type 97Chi-Ha
Type 97Chi-Hamedium tank on display at the Museum of the Great Patriotic War in Russia
TypeMedium tank
Place of originJapan
Service history
Used bySeeOperators
Wars
Production history
Designed1936
Unit cost126,000yen($33,856 USD) in August 1939, excluding armaments[1][2]
Produced1938–1943[3]
No.built1,162 (plus 930 ofType 97-Kai)[4]
VariantsType 97-KaiShinhōtō Chi-Ha[5]
Specifications (Type 97Chi-Haas of 1941[6])
Mass14.3 tonnes (15.8 tons) to 15.2 tonnes (16.8 tons)
Length5.50 m (18 ft 1 in)[6]
Width2.33 m (7 ft 8 in)[6]
Height2.21 m (7 ft 3 in)[6]
Crew4
Armor8–25 mm
(25 mm ongun mantlet)[6]
Main
armament
Type 97 57 mm tank gun[6]
Type 1 47 mm anti-tank gun(Shinhōtōvariant)
Secondary
armament
2 × 7.7 mmType 97 machine guns[6]
EngineMitsubishi SA12200VD air-cooled V-12diesel(21.7 litres)
170 hp (127 kW) at 2,000 rpm
Power/weight11.3 hp/tonne
SuspensionBell crank
Operational
range
210 km (130 mi)
Maximum speed38 km/h (24 mph)

TheType 97Chi-Ha(Chín bảy thức trung chiến xe チハ,Kyūnana-shiki chū-sensha Chi-ha or simply "Type 97/57")was amedium tankused by theImperial Japanese Armyduring theSecond Sino-Japanese War,theBattles of Khalkhin Golagainst theSoviet Union,and theSecond World War.It was the most widely producedJapanesemedium tank ofWorld War II.[7]

The 57 mm main gun, designed forinfantry support,was a carry over from theType 89 I-Go medium tank.Thesuspensionwas derived from theType 95 Ha-Golight tank, but used six road wheels instead of four.[7]The 170 hpMitsubishiair cooleddiesel enginewas a capable tank engine in 1938.[7]

The Type 97's low silhouette and semicircularradio antennaon theturretdistinguished the tank from its contemporaries. After 1941, the tank was less effective than mostAlliedtank designs.[8]In 1942, a new version of the Chi-Ha was produced with a larger three-man turret, and a high-velocityType 1 47 mm tank gun.It was designated theType 97-Kai( "improved" ) or Type 97Shinhōtō Chi-Ha(Japanese:Tân tháp đại bác チハ;"New turret Chi-Ha" ).[5]

History and development

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With theType 89 I-Gofast becoming obsolete in the late 1930s, the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) began a program to develop a replacement tank forinfantry support.Experience during theinvasion of Manchuriadetermined that the Type 89 was too slow to keep up withmotorized infantry.[9]The new medium tank was intended to be a scaled-up four-man version of theType 95 Ha-Golight tank,although with a two-man turret, thicker armor, and more power to maintain performance.[10]

TheTokyofactory ofMitsubishi Heavy Industriescompleted a prototype designatedChi-Ha.The second prototype was completed in June 1937. Although the requirement was for a 47 mm gun, it retained the same short-barreled 57 mm gun as the Type 89B tank. However, at the time IJA was also interested in the lighter and less expensiveType 97 Chi-Niprototype proposed by Osaka Army Arsenal, which had the same 57 mm main gun.[7]With the out-break of theSecond Sino-Japanese Waron 7 July 1937, the peacetime budgetary limitations were removed and the more capable and expensive MitsubishiChi-Hamodel was accepted as the new Type 97 medium tank by the army.[7]

Japanese tank designations

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Chi(チ) came fromChū-sensha(チュウセンシャ, "medium tank" ).[8]HaandNi,in Japanese army nomenclature, refer to model number 3 and 4, respectively from old Japanese Alpha betiroha.The Type was numbered 97 as an abbreviation of theimperial year2597, corresponding to the year 1937 in the standardGregorian calendar.[8]Therefore, the name "Type 97Chi-Ha"could be translated as" 1937's medium tank model 3 ".[8]

Design

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Type 97 Chi-Ha radio operator and vehicle Radio Set Type 96 Mark 4 Bo.

The Type 97 hull was of riveted construction with the engine in the rear compartment. The tank had a four-man crew including a driver, bow machine-gunner, and two men in the turret.[10]In the forward compartment, the driver sat on the right, and bow gunner on the left.[11]The commander's cupola was placed atop the turret. Internal communications were by 12 push buttons in the turret, connected to 12 lights and a buzzer near the driver.[11]

The Type 97 was equipped with aType 97 57 mmmain gun, the same caliber as that used for the earlierType 89 I-Gotank. The cannon was a short-barreled weapon with a relatively lowmuzzle velocity,but sufficient as the tank was intended primarily forinfantry support.[12]The main gun had no elevation gear, therefore, the gunner used his shoulder to elevate it.[13]

The tank carried two 7.7 mmType 97 machine guns,one on the front left of the hull and the other in a ball mount on the rear of the turret.[14]The turret was capable of full 360-degreetraverse,but the main gun was in a "semi-flexible mount" allowing a maximum 10-degree traverse independently of the turret.[15]

The thickest armor used was 25 mm on thegun mantletand 15–25 mm on the hull front.[6]Power was provided by an air-cooled "V-12 21.7 liter diesel Mitsubishi SA12200VD" engine, which provided 170 hp (127 kW).[6]

Development of the improvedShinhōtō Chi-Ha

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Main article:Type 97 ShinHōtō Chi-Ha medium tank
Type 97 Shinhōtō Chi-Ha medium tank

The shortcomings of the Type 97, with its low-velocity 57 mm gun, became clear during the 1939Battles of Khalkhin Golagainst theSoviet Union.[16]The 45 mm gun of the SovietBT-5andBT-7tanks[17]out-ranged the Japanese tank gun, resulting in heavy Japanese losses. This convinced the army of the need for a more powerful gun. Development of a new47 mm weaponbegan in 1939 and was completed by the end of 1941. It was designed specifically to counter the Soviet tanks.[5][18]A variant known as theType 1 47 mm tank gunwas produced. The gun's longer barrel generated much highermuzzle velocity,resulting in armor penetration superior to that of the 57 mm gun.[19]The 47 mm tank gun was mounted in a new, larger three-man turret creating a new version of the Type 97.[5]It was designated theType 97Shinhōtō Chi-Ha( "new turret" Chi-Ha) or Type 97-Kai( "improved" ). It replaced the original model in production in 1942. In addition "about 300" of the Type 97 tanks with the older model turret and 57 mm main gun were converted.[5]

Production

[edit]
Type 97 Chi-Ha, front-angle view with IJA officer

The Type 97 medium tank was manufactured byMitsubishi Heavy IndustriesandHitachiIndustries, as well as some limited production in the Army'sSagami Arsenal.The number of Type 97 medium tanks produced was slightly lower than of theType 95 Ha-Golight tanks, but larger than any other tank fielded byEmpire of Japan.[4]The following number of units were produced for the years 1938 to 1943:

Type 97 Chi-Ha tank[4](57 mm gun):

  • 1938: 110
  • 1939: 202
  • 1940: 315
  • 1941: 507
  • 1942: 28
  • Total: 1,162

Type 97-KaiShinhōtō Chi-Ha tank[4](47 mm gun):

  • 1942: 503
  • 1943: 427
  • Total: 930

Total production of the 57 mm & 47 mm gun Type 97 medium tanks was 2,092. Although production peaked in 1943 it was the last year any Type 97 was produced, as factories switched to the new tank designs, most notably theType 1 Chi-He medium tank.[20]

Further development

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Type 3 Chi-Nu medium tank

The last design that was based directly on Type 97 lineage was theType 3 Chi-Nu medium tankwith a75 mm main gunof which 144 were built from 1944 to 1945.[21]The Type 3 Chi-Nu retained the same chassis andsuspensionof the Type 97 based Type 1 Chi-He tank, but with a large new hexagonalgun turretand a commander's cupola.[22]TheType 4 Chi-Towas a separate design, the last Japanese medium tank design to be completed during the war, considered equivalent to the GermanPanther tank,but with only two known to be completed by war's end.[23]By that time, the Japanese industry had been badly crippled by the American bombing campaign; as a result, few of these newer vehicles were ever built.[24]

The IJA's need to supplement their tank units with artillery led to a need forself-propelled guns(SPGs). Subsequently, the Type 97 chassis was utilized to manufacture nearly a hundred SPGs, consisting primarily of 75 mm guns.[25]Since the IJA's 1930s-era tanks didn't have the firepower to penetrate the 1940s generation of Allied armor, a need fortank destroyersarose, and experiments ranging from 47 mm to 120 mm guns were conducted.[26]However, due to naval priorities, raw materials for any IJA production were limited.[27]

Combat history

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Type 97 Chi-Ha and Type 95 Ha-Go tanks of the Chiba Tank School during a military exercise (1940)

The Type 97 was deployed in China in combat operations in theSecond Sino-Japanese Warwith considerable success, as the ill-equippedNational Revolutionary Armyof theRepublic of Chinaforces were limited to only three tank battalions consisting ofBritishexports of the Vickers, GermanPanzer Is,and ItalianCV33tankettes.[28]

Its first real test in combat against opposing armor came with theBattles of Khalkhin Golin July 1939 against theSoviet Union.TheIJA1st Tank Corps consisting of the3rdand4thTank Regiments (Yasuoka Detachment) had been assigned to the Nomonhan region, under the command ofLt. GeneralYasuoka Masaomi.[29]Of the two regiments, only the 3rd Tank Regiment had been supplemented with four of the new Type 97 medium tanks. One was selected as the regimental commander's tank.

During fierce fighting against theRed Army,the 3rd Tank Regiment was assaulting an objective ringed with strung coiled wire (piano wire).[30]The regimental commander,Lt Col.Yoshimaru Kiyotake's Type 97 tank became entangled up to its drive sprockets. Struggling to extract itself from the tank trap, Yoshimaru managed to move his tank rearward about 40 metres, when his machine stopped completely.[31]Exposed toSovietdefensive positions, Yoshimaru's Type 97 was subjected to the fire of a dozen SovietBT-7tanks andanti-tankguns.[31]Soviet shells struck the tank's drive gear, hull, and the engine area, causing the vehicle to erupt into flames. When the fire reached the tank ammunition, the tank exploded, tearing off the turret and throwing it several feet away from the hull.[32]Only the tank's gunner, who abandoned it, prior to the explosion, was uninjured. Yoshimaru's commander's body was recovered after the battle.[33]

World War II

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Type 97 Chi-ha and Shinhōtō Chi-ha tanks from Japanese 11th Tank Regiment, Shumshu Island

From 8 December 1941 and into early 1942, during theBattle of Malayaand theBattle of Singapore,Type 97 tanks were used by the 3rd Tank Group's 1st, 6th, and 14th Tank Regiments under the command of Lieutenant-GeneralYamashita.The 1st Tank Regiment was attached to theIJA 5th Division,which was among the first Japanese military units to land atSongkhlain southernThailand.One of its medium-tank companies was the 3rd Tank Company under First Lieutenant Yamane's command (comprising ten Type 97 medium tanks and twoType 95 Ha-Golight tanks), forming part of the "Saeki Detachment". The company was in the vanguard of the attack on northern British Malaya at the end of 1941. Later on, this same unit would be involved in forcing the defending British forces to abandon much of northern Malaya in the decisiveBattle of Jitraat the start of 1942.

One key to the overall Japanese military successes in Malaya and Singapore was the unexpected appearance of their tanks in areas where the British did not believe tanks could be fielded. The thick and wet jungle terrain did not turn out to be a decisive obstacle for the generally light Japanese tanks.

Later on, the 2nd and 14th Tank Regiments participated in theBurmaCampaign from 1942.

Damaged Type 97 Shinhōtō Chi-Ha,Battle of Iwo Jima

The Type 97 Shinhōtō Chi-Ha tanks were first used in combat in thebattle of Corregidorin 1942.[34]The updated 47 mm gun was easily capable of dealing with the armor of the AmericanM3 Stuartlight tanks, although in later combat service it was shown only to be effective against the sides and rear of theM4 Shermanmedium tank.[35]

During theBattle of Saipanon the night of 16–17 June, Type 97s of the 9th Tank Regiment, joined with Type 95s of the 136th Infantry Regiment in an all-out counterattack against the established beachhead byAmerican Marinesthat had landed the day before. Led by the 44 tanks from the 9th, the Type 97s and Type 95s were knocked out by a Marine platoon of M4A2 tanks, several M3 75mm half-tracks,bazookasand 37mm antitank guns. It was the largest Japanese armor attack of thePacific Theater of Operations.[36]However, the Japanese Army seldom made major armored attacks during thePacific Wardue to the limited maneuvering areas that prevailed onislandsin the SouthPacific Ocean.Terraindictated the battle and IJA tanks were emplaced in hulldefiladepositions or even buried up to their turrets.[37]

During theBattle of Guam,29 Type 97 and Type 95 tanks of the IJA 9th Tank Regiment and nine Type 95s of the 24th Tank Company were lost to bazooka fire or M4 tanks.[38]At theBattle of Okinawa,13 Type 95s and 14 Type 97 Shinhōtō Chi-Ha tanks of the understrength IJA 27th Tank Regiment faced 800 American tanks of eight US Army and two USMC tank battalions.[39]The Japanese tanks were defeated in their counter-attacks of 4–5 May 1945. Similar conditions were repeated in the Kwantung Army's defense against theSoviet invasion of Manchuria,although there was little tank-versus-tank action. The SovietRed Armycaptured 389 tanks.[40]

After World War II

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Type 97 medium tanks used by the Chinese CommunistPeople's Liberation Armymoving into the Chinese city ofShenyangduring theLiaoshen campaignin 1948
Demilitarized Type 97 tank with dozer blade

Some Japanese tanks remained in use, under new ownership, postwar by both sides during theChinese Civil War.Japanese units in China that surrendered to theNational Revolution Armyat the end of war turned over their armor to the Republic of China. By the time the civil war restarted the Nationalist 3rd Tank regiment based in Beijing was exclusively equipped with Japanese tanks, including Type 97.[41][page needed]Japanese armor was used because American aid to the Nationalists, including tanks and other vehicles had been severely curtailed.

Type 97 tanks captured during theSoviet invasion of Manchuriawere turned over to the ChineseCommunistarmy. After victory in the civil war, the ChinesePeople's Liberation Army(PLA) continued to use them in their inventory.[42][43]The PLA's force of 349 tanks in 1949 consisted mainly of Japanese Type 95 Ha-Go and Type 97 tanks.[42]In Japan, a number of Type 97 tanks were demilitarized and used post-war for reconstruction.[44]

Variants

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Main article:List of Type 97 Chi-Ha variants

Operators

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Empire of Japan
Republic of China
People's Republic of China
Indonesia
Republic of Korea

Survivors

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Restored Type 97 Chi-Ha medium tank at theYūshūkanMuseum, Japan
Rusting Chi-Ha onShumshu island

Restored examples of the Type 97 are on display at theYūshūkanMuseum at theYasukuni ShrineinTokyo,and the Wakajishi Shrine inFujinomiya, Shizuokain Japan. In Indonesia there is a Type-97 at the Brawijaya Museum inMalang.The wreck of a Type 97 was found buried in the sand on the beach atMiura, Kanagawain 2005.[47]Preserved examples are at the People's Liberation Army Museum inBeijing,China and at theUnited States Army Ordnance Museum,Aberdeen, Maryland.Numerous ruined examples of Type 97 tanks can be found onSaipanand on theKuril Islands.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^"Binh khí lâm thời định 価, dư 価, biểu đưa phó の kiện Military catalogue of the Japanese military".National Archives of Japan.Ministry of the Army.
  2. ^"Banking and Monetary Statistics, 1914-1941, Part I".Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (U.S.). January 1943 [1943].
  3. ^Zaloga 2007,pp. 10, 14.
  4. ^abcdZaloga 2007,pp. 10, 17.
  5. ^abcdeZaloga 2007,p. 14.
  6. ^abcdefghiTomczyk 2007,p. 19.
  7. ^abcdeZaloga 2007,p. 11.
  8. ^abcdHistory of War: Type 97 Chi-Ha Tank
  9. ^Zaloga 2007,p. 8.
  10. ^abZaloga 2007,pp. 11, 12.
  11. ^abWorld War II vehicleswebsite
  12. ^Taki's Imperial Japanese Army: The Development of Imperial Japanese Tanks: "Shinhoto Chi-Ha"
  13. ^Tomczyk 2007,pp. 7, 8.
  14. ^Tomczyk 2007,pp. 19, 24.
  15. ^Tomczyk 2007,p. 7.
  16. ^Zaloga 2007,pp. 13, 14.
  17. ^Coox 1985,p. 437.
  18. ^Tomczyk 2007,pp. 12, 13, 15.
  19. ^Tomczyk 2007,pp. 13, 15.
  20. ^Zaloga 2007,pp. 10, 17, 20–21.
  21. ^Zaloga 2007,pp. 17, 21.
  22. ^Tomczyk 2005,p. 3.
  23. ^Zaloga 2007,p. 22.
  24. ^Tomczyk 2005,pp. 3, 5.
  25. ^Zaloga 2007,pp. 17, 19.
  26. ^Zaloga 2007,pp. 19, 20.
  27. ^Zaloga 2007,pp. 3, 15.
  28. ^Zaloga 2007,p. 12.
  29. ^Coox 1985,p. 1119.
  30. ^Coox 1985,p. 396.
  31. ^abCoox 1985,p. 401.
  32. ^Coox 1985,p. 797 (photo).
  33. ^Foss 2003a.
  34. ^Zaloga 2007,p. 16.
  35. ^Tomczyk 2005,p. 61.
  36. ^Zaloga 2007,pp. 34, 35.
  37. ^[1]"The Most Effective Jap Tank" – Intelligence Bulletin, July 1945
  38. ^Zaloga 2007,p. 35.
  39. ^Zaloga 2007,pp. 34–40.
  40. ^Zaloga 2007,pp. 11, 41.
  41. ^abSun 2005.
  42. ^abcZaloga 2007,p. 42.
  43. ^Tomczyk 2007,pp. 19, 22.
  44. ^Taki's Imperial Japanese Army: Articles on Japanese tank (Japanese text only)
  45. ^Zaloga 2007,pp. 10–11, 13–14.
  46. ^Tomczyk 2007,p. 108.
  47. ^60 năm mục の vong linh(in Japanese). November 19, 2005.RetrievedJuly 15,2018.

References

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  • Chant, Christopher. (1996). Armoured Fighting Vehicles of the 20th Century, Tiger Books International, London.
  • Coox, Alvin D.(1985).Nomonhan; Japan Against Russia, 1939 (Two volumes).Stanford, California: Stanford University Press.ISBN0-8047-1160-7.
  • Foss, Christopher (2003a).Great Book of Tanks: The World's Most Important Tanks from World War I to the Present Day.Zenith Press.ISBN0-7603-1475-6.
  • Foss, Christopher (2003b).Tanks: The 500.Crestline.ISBN0-7603-1500-0.
  • Gander, Terry J. (1995). Jane's Tanks of World War II. Harper Collins.ISBN0-00-470847-4
  • Tomczyk, Andrzej (2007) [2002].Japanese Armor Vol. 2.AJ Press.ISBN978-8372371119.
  • Tomczyk, Andrzej (2005).Japanese Armor Vol. 4.AJ Press.ISBN978-8372371676.
  • Zaloga, Steven J.(2007).Japanese Tanks 1939–45.Osprey.ISBN978-1-8460-3091-8.
  • Sun, Jianzhong (2005).Quốc quân trang binh giáp phát triển sử A History of the Development of the National Armed Forces.Taipei: Sử chính biên dịch thất History and Political Science Compilation Office.
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