Japan was famous for its impressive naval capabilities during WWII, which it needed in order to fight on the many islands dotted all over the Pacific Ocean. However, Japanese tank development was rather lackluster, and remained so throughout the war. Japan bridged the gap between these two with a series of amphibious tanks, which were actually well designed and arguably the best tanks of this type produced during the war.
Amphibious tanks
For Japan, the idea of an amphibious tank was obvious. An armored vehicle that could make its own way to an island’s shore during an invasion would be incredibly useful. The first work on this idea actually started in the late 1920s and continued all the way into the Second World War. To begin with, it was actually the Japanese Army that was responsible for creating amphibious tanks.
They created a few experimental vehicles in the 4 to the 8-ton range, namely the SR I-Go, SR II Ro-Go, and SR III Ha-Go.
At the start of WWII Japan was planning its upcoming campaign in the Pacific and wanted to bring amphibious tanks with them to help breach defenses in remote locations. As a result, the development of these vehicles was reassigned to the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) in the 1940s.
They used the knowledge and experience gained from the SR series of vehicles for their own amphibious tank, the first of which would be built on the chassis of a Type 95 Ha-Go light tank. This was known as the Type 1 Mi-Sha, which led directly into the Type 2 Ka-Mi, also based on the Type 95 Ha-Go.
Type 2 entered production in 1942, and by the time its production ended in 1943 just over 180 had been built.
Type 2 Ka-Mi
As mentioned, the Type 2 was based on the Type 95 Ha-Go light tank. The Type 95 was an old early 30s design that had certainly passed its prime by early war standards, but it was suitable for use as the basis of an amphibious tank thanks to its light weight and availability.
Its riveted armor was replaced with more modern welded plates and the entire vehicle was made water-tight. Detachable pontoons were placed at the front and rear of the tank to provide enough buoyancy to float. They contained multiple water-tight compartments to prevent a single penetrating round from compromising the buoyancy of the Type 2.
Once the vehicle reached land these could be jettisoned from inside the tank, although crews were known to keep them attached as they added extra protection, even though they were extremely thin.
Two propellers at the rear provided a maximum speed of about 6 mph in water. Also at the rear were a pair of rudders to steer the tank, which was operated by the commander.
The Type 2 carried a 37 mm main gun and two 7.7 mm machine guns.
Unfortunately for the Japanese, by the time the Type 2 arrived most of their conquests were over and Japan was now fighting a defensive war. But still, the IJN was happy with the Type 2’s performance and wanted an improved version.
Type 3 Ka-Chi
The Type 3 was the answer to this request and was a fully-fledged ocean-going machine. It carried much thicker armor and a more powerful 47 mm gun. Like the Type 2, the Type 3 was also based on a preexisting tank, this time a Type 1 Chi-He medium tank, albeit heavily modified.
Also, like Type 2, it used detachable pontoons, with the rearmost pontoon containing a pair of rudders for steering. The sides of the hull were smooth and faired into the pontoons for improved streamlining. Two screws at the rear provided propulsion while in water.
The main compartment for the crew was a large metal pressure cylinder. Unlike Type 2, the pontoons were not required for amphibious movements. The vehicle’s two rear screws could also be used as a basic steering system when the pontoons were not attached.
A snorkel protruded from the rear deck and maintained a constant air supply for the 240 hp diesel V12 engine. Additionally, the commander’s cupola on the turret was extended upwards significantly to prevent water from splashing into the tank.
One of the 29 ton Type 3’s most notable features was its ability to be launched from a submarine. Its pressure hull meant it was able to be submerged to depths of around 100 m, strapped on top of a submarine.
Although production began in 1943, the Type 3 was an extremely low priority for Japan as most efforts were directed at building new ships and aircraft. As a result, just 19 were built.
None of these ever saw combat as they were retained for the defense of the Japanese home islands, which never took place. All 19 are believed to have been scrapped.
Leave a Comment