I had never payed any attention to this tank, because the only picture of it in my Tanks Of the World book is very bad.
I’ve never been very impressed with Japanese tanks in WWII. In all fairness, most of them looked like they were from the 20’s. They looked like frail little tin cans. I think a Sherman could easily tackle any of them. You can dispute the whole “Russia/USA/Germany” tank thing,because there are incredible things to say about all of those tanks. But the Japanese tanks? You almost hesitate to put them in with the Sherman, T-34, and Tiger. Its like putting an ugly girl in a beauty contest. You know what will happen.
But check this out!! This was the Medium Tank Type 5, Chi-Ri. Probably the largest tank Japan made in WWII.
37 tons.
Crew: 5.
One 75mm long barreled tank gun.
One 37mm gun.
Two 7.7 mg.
Armour: 12-75mm.
Engine: 1 BMW, gasoline, V12. 550 hp. Liquid cooled.
Speed: 28mph.
I was just surprised at how cool looking it is. Its sleek, modern, and fierce. Rather than dimunitive, breakable, and dopey like the other tanks. You like it?
Their main problem in tank design was the armor itself. They used inferior metal and their armor would crack when hit. Concord’s tank battles of the Pacific shows some nasty hits from small caliber anti-tank weapons that literally cracked the armor and buckled the seams where the rivets were.
Goatmonkey, it is called a medium tank because of the weight compared to other comparable tanks in service elsewhere. Even the Panther was a medium tank.
looking at the side and rear, it looks a little like the Henschel King Tiger.
but I agree with Vilkata, the Japanese tanks didn’t have the appearance of being very formidable. how they actually performed out in the battlefield (which is ultimately what mattered of course), I don’t know, but as far as appearances go, they didn’t appear very menacing.
Bonaparte will always be one of the coolest Japanese tanks ever. Dominion Tank Police is one of the greatest Masamune Shirow mangas. I love the main girl. His entire style of storytelling is just so FUN.
For a good war story, have you ever seen AREA 88 subtitled?
I think Shirow based the design on the old FT-17 tank. The FT-17 was the first tank Japan bought in numbers. Their first tank was the Whippet, but they didn’t like it very much. Almost every tank they ever made was in some way based on the FT-17.
Hey… I think the police should get tanks like this. Shoot giant tear gas and pepper spray slugs out of the short barreled gun, provide cover for SWAT, and put out a show of FORCE in all those horrid ghettos, using the tanks small size to maneuver into all the dark alleys…
The type 5 Chi-Ri is, definitely, a cool tank. But IMHO the coolest is the type 90: http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/row/type-90.htm
I know some of you are too much into WWII to consider it, but c’mon, don’t deny it’s a nice looking one too.
The Type 90 is a very cool tank. Its actually superior to the Abrams in a lot of ways. Its electronics system is really good.
Thats what it takes to be a good tank these days… Electronics. Lots of sensors. If you can detect your enemy first, you can shoot your enemy first. For that reason… I really dont want to admit it… But the French Le Clerc tank is the best tank in the world right now I think. Its electronics systems are insane. I dont think the Abrams can compare at all.
But ya know my favorite Japanese tank? The first tank Japan built after WWII. A simple, easy to build, twin 106mm Recoilless Rifle tank. And its STILL in service today. The Type 60 106mm.
I like it for its historical significance. The Japanese industry needed a simple vehicle they could mass produce, to give their troops something to train with, to let the heavy industries make some money, and to make a stepping stone for building future advanced tanks. Thats what the Type 60 was. It was never an awesome powerful super front-line tank. I doubt if it has ever fired a shot in anger in its long long carreer. But, I gurantee, the vast majority of Japanese tank crews have had lots of experience with these guys. In training, target practice, etc.
The Komatsu Type 60, 106mm, was designed in 1954, and after a few prototypes from various companies, was put into production in 1960. So this tank has had an active service life for almost 50 years.
Yah, the things armor is pathetic. Its meant for fire support, much as the Ontos eventually ended up whence they realised it wasnt good for anti-tank work.
So the Japanese, to get people to join the SDF, and just in good community spirit, actually have ‘open house’ style events where you get to oogle all their cool vehicles? Thats so cool!
I love the Japanase, but they are so small of people compared to us 6 foot tall white dudes. The pictures I’ve seen of the Type 60 106mm, with a full crew of japanese, the tank actually looks fairly big. But then in that pic there, you make the tank look like a ‘tankette’ ! I wonder if I’m too tall to even fit in the thing…
Did you get any pics of it with its gun section raised? Or any other pics at all? I really think there should be more of a fan base around the Type 60 106mm. Its such a neat little vehicle.
I’ve just finished reading Ed Gilbert’s excelent book, “Marine Tank Battles in the Pacific.” Despite the title (which perhaps makes it sound like it describes tank-on-tank combat a’ la Kursk), the book largely describes the evolution of tank/infantry support as it evolved in the Pacific. However, there were a handful of times that the Japanese did “mass” armor for counter-attacks. The Japanese tanks never fared well against the M4s (I don’t even recall a single M4 even being disabled by a Japanese tank). What the Shermans didn’t get, bazooka armed grunts usually dispatched fairly quickly.
Yup, most SDF bases (including the JASDF and JMSDF) have some kind of annual open house event.
That pic was taken at Camp Imazu in Shiga Prefecture. I also got to ride around on a Type 74 MBT and Type 60 APC. The SDF guys and gals are great, and always eager to answer questions.
I do have some more pics of the Type 60 SP gun. I’ll have to scan 'em and load 'em. They also put on a “battle simulation” using all their vehicles. Loud and cool! There are no Type 90s at Camp Imazu, however. I’ve only had the opportunity to see them from a distance in Hokkaido.
The Type 60 SP gun is quite small, but it looks even smaller in the pic because I’m kinda large. 6’ 5’', close to 270 pounds. J-Hulk, you know! There is NO WAY I could fit in that thing. The Type 74 MBT was a very tight fit, too. Heck, I have a hard enough time with the buses here. [;)]
