Type 95 heavy tank
| Type 95 heavy tank | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Heavy tank |
| Place of origin | Empire of Japan |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 26 t (29 short tons) |
| Length | 6.47 m (21.2 ft) |
| Width | 2.69 m (8.8 ft) |
| Height | 2.89 m (9.5 ft) |
| Crew | 5 |
| Armor | 12–35 mm |
Main armament | 1x 70 mm tank gun[1] |
Secondary armament | 1x 37 mm tank gun, 2x 6.5mm MG[1] |
| Engine | Inline 6-cylinder gasoline engine[2] 290 hp |
| Suspension | Leaf-Spring |
Operational range | 110 km[3] |
| Maximum speed | 22 km/h (14 mph) |
TheType 95 heavy tank(Japanese:Cửu ngũ thức trọng chiến xe,kyūgo-shiki jūsensha) was the final result of Japanese multi-turreted tank design and was in commission during the time period betweenWorld War IandWorld War II.The main armament being a 70 mm cannon in a central turret, with its secondary front turret mounting a 37 mm gun and a 6.5 mm machine gun in the rear turret. Four prototypes were produced in 1934.[2][4]
History[edit]
After World War I, major powers around the world quickly adopted the revolutionary design of FrenchRenault FTlight tank. One of the most successful features on the Renault FT was a 360-degree rotating turret. While developing new single-turreted tanks more closely based on the Renault FT, many countries, including Japan, also experimented with the possibility of multi-turreted designs.[2]
Design[edit]
Forerunner Type 91 heavy tank[edit]
The Imperial Japanese Army made the decision to develop heavy combat vehicles, which was prompted by the increasing threat posed by the Soviet Union, a potential enemy of Japan in East Asia. In 1931, Japan produced a prototype heavy tank that was designated theType 91.It was an 18-ton, three turret tank with aBMW IVInline 6-cylinder gasoline engine.[5]The Type 91 central turret had a Type 90 57 mm cannon as its main armament. Its two smaller auxiliary turrets were each armed with a 6.5 mm machine gun. The tank had a maximum armor plate thickness of 17 mm; same as the priorType 87 Chi-Iprototype.[6]It had seventeen road wheels on each side, which were supported by a "two-stage leaf spring suspension system". This first design was not successful, and the Type 91 project was soon canceled. However, this project became a stepping stone in the development of the Type 95 heavy tank.[7]
Development of the Type 95[edit]
The development of a new multi-turreted tank started in 1932 and was completed in 1934.[2]The overall shape of the Type 95 followed the design of the earlier Type 91, but it had thicker armor and its firepower was significantly improved.[2]Its suspension system was modified from that of the Type 91. While still using a leaf spring suspension, it had only nine road wheels on each side.[3]It was the largest Japanese tank at the time, weighing in at 26 tonne. Four prototypes were produced in 1934.[1][4]However, the multi-turreted tank concept was cancelled, therefore, the Type 95 did not go into production. It proved to be a complicated design with poor mobility and had a lower top speed than desired.[1]
Mounted in the central turret was the primary weapon of Type 95, a Type 94 7 cm tank gun specifically designed for it. The cannon could fire both Type 92 high-explosive shells and Type 95 armor-piercing shells. The gun elevation angle was 20 degrees and gun depression angle was −12 degrees. A 6.5 mm machine gun was also mounted in the main turret. Two additional turrets gave Type 95 yet more firepower: a Type 94 3.7 cm tank cannon was mounted in one auxiliary turret, and the other rear facing auxiliary turret featured a 6.5 mm machine gun.[2]
Variants[edit]
Two chassis were later used as platforms for:
- Experimental 10 cm SPG Hi-Ro Sha
- An open top self-propelled gun with a front mounted 10 cm cannon (105 mm main gun) on Type 95 heavy tank chassis. A single prototype of theself-propelled gunwas built.[1][8]
- Experimental 10 cm SPG Ji-Ro
- A self-propelled gun with a rear mountedType 92 10 cm cannon(105 mm main gun) in an enclosed casemate on a Type 95 heavy tank chassis, similar to GermanElefant.One prototype was built.[1][8]Originally, theType 96 15 cm howitzerwas considered for mounting on the Ji-Ro, but the plans in relation to the howitzer were abandoned.[8]
See also[edit]
Citations[edit]
General and cited references[edit]
- Hara, Tomio (1972).Japanese Medium Tanks.AFV Weapons Profiles No. 49. Profile Publications Limited.
- Tomczyk, Andrzej (2002).Japanese Armor Vol. 1.AJ Press.ISBN83-7237-097-4.
