Japanese tanks from World War II. Japanese tanks of World War II: review, photo
"Chi-he"
With regard to Japanese tanks during the Second World War, there is a widespread opinion about their complete backwardness from foreign competitors. It is true, but only partly. The fact is that the Japanese military and engineers, seeing the enemy’s armored vehicles, including potential ones, nevertheless made attempts to make a tank with the appropriate characteristics. Simultaneously with the Shinhoto Chi-Ha medium tank, a new armored vehicle was being developed, the design of which took into account all the shortcomings of the original Chi-Ha and its predecessors. The "Type 1" or "Chi-He" project finally began to resemble European tanks of that time, both in design and in combat qualities.
First of all, it should be noted the updated design of the armored hull. For the first time in Japanese tank building, most of the parts were welded, rivets were used only in some places of the structure. In addition, in comparison with the Chi-Ha, the new Type 1 received more serious armor. The frontal rolled armor plates of the tank had a thickness of 50 millimeters, the sides were twice as thin. The forehead of the turret was made from a 25 mm plate and was partially covered by a 40 mm gun mantlet. Of course, in comparison with foreign tanks, the level of protection of the Chi-He did not look like something unique, but for the Japanese military industry it was a significant step forward. When designing the Type 1, the designers were faced with the task of increasing protection and firepower while maintaining the weight of the vehicle. For this reason, the frame of the tank was simplified as much as possible, and in some places the structure was completely removed, the hull contours and a number of internal mechanisms were also changed. As a result of all the changes, the new medium tank gained only a couple of tons in weight relative to the Chi-Ha. The combat weight of the "Chi-He" was equal to 17.5 tons. The increased weight required the installation of a new engine, which was the Type 100 manufactured by Mitsubishi. The 240-horsepower engine provided the tank with a specific power of about 13-14 horsepower per ton of weight. This was sufficient for a maximum highway speed of 45 km/h. The rest of the driving performance remained at the level of previous tanks.
Another step towards bringing the tank to the form generally accepted in the rest of the world was the installation of a radio station on all vehicles and the introduction of a fifth person into the crew. The maintenance of radio communications was entrusted to the tank commander, who was relieved of his duties as a gunner. Aiming the gun was now the task of an individual crew member. The workplaces of the commander, gunner and loader were located in the fighting compartment, which required an increase in the volume of the tower. However, the armament remained almost the same as the previous Shinhoto Chi-Ha tank. The main caliber of "Chi-He" is a 47-mm gun "Type 1". Despite the name, this weapon was not the same as that mounted on the Shinhoto Chi-Ha. Before being installed on the Type 1 tank, the gun underwent a major upgrade. First of all, recoil devices have undergone significant changes. The suspension system, in turn, retained the main features, but was also finalized. Changing the mounting pins in practice led to a decrease in the width of the horizontal sector in which the gun could move. On the Chi-Khe, the gun barrel deviated from the longitudinal axis only by 7.5 ° to the sides. The ammunition load of the Type 1 tank was similar to the stock of Shinhoto Chi-Ha shells - 120 unitary shots of two types. Additional armament "Chi-Khe" consisted of two 7.7-mm machine guns, located according to the traditional scheme for Japanese tanks. One was mounted on trunnions in the loophole of the front sheet, the other - in the rear of the tower.
Main design work on the topic "Type 1" ended before the attack on Pearl Harbor. However, then the matter ended with the construction and testing of the prototype. Serial production of "Chi-Khe" began only in the middle of 1943. Naturally, by this time, Japan could no longer afford the construction of particularly large batches of new armored vehicles. As a result, no more than 170-180 Type 1 tanks were assembled, and about a year after its start, serial construction ceased. During the operation in the army, the new tank received a mixed assessment. On the one hand, good armor on the front of the hull, under certain conditions, protected the tank even from American guns of 75 mm caliber. On the other hand, the 47-millimeter gun still could not compete with the armament of enemy tanks and artillery. Therefore, "Type 1" could not have any tangible impact on the course of the battles. Perhaps something would have changed if this tank had been built in larger numbers, but there is reason to doubt that.
"Chi-Nu"
Understanding the not too bright prospects for the Type 1, the Japanese command instructed the tank builders to make another medium tank capable of dealing normally with enemy armored vehicles. The "Type 3" or "Chi-Nu" project meant the replacement of weapons with the "Type 1". The Type 90 field gun, 75 mm caliber, was chosen as the new main gun. It was developed in the early thirties on the basis of the French Schneider gun. In turn, on the basis of the "Type 90" they designed a new gun, designed specifically for installation on the "Chi-Nu" tank. This modification of the gun was called "Type 3".
Due to the need to replace only the guns, the design of the Type 3 tank was taken from the Type 1 with virtually no changes. All improvements related to improving the manufacturability of the assembly and ensuring the installation of a new larger tower. The latter was a welded hexagonal unit in terms of shape. The tower was welded from rolled sheets with a thickness of 50 mm (forehead) to 12 (roof). In addition, additional protection of the frontal projection was carried out by a 50-mm gun mantlet. The "consequences" of installing a new large tower are interesting. Its front part covered itself most driver's hatch. For this reason, the entire crew of the "Chi-Nu" had to get into the tank and leave it through two hatches in the roof of the tower and one in its port side. In addition, for maintenance of the gun and loading of ammunition in the rear of the tower there was another fairly large hatch. All changes led to an increase in the combat weight of the tank. "Chi-Nu" in combat readiness weighed 18.8 tons. At the same time, driving performance decreased slightly. The 240-horsepower Type 100 diesel could only provide a top speed of about 40 kilometers per hour, which was less than the corresponding indicator of the Chi-He tank.
When converting the gun "Type 90" in the state of "Type 3" significant design changes did not occur. The gun was still equipped with a hydraulic recoil brake and a spring knurler. At the same time, the authors of the project had to go for a little trick. Since they were required to quickly modify the gun, they did not change its layout. The recoil devices remained in place, in front under the barrel. Because of this, a special armored tray had to be installed on the frontal part of the tower, which protected the rollback brake cylinders. The solid weight of the gun and considerable dimensions made it necessary to abandon the idea of additional fine aiming without turning the turret. On the Type 3, the gun could only swing vertically from -10° to +15° from the horizontal axis. The warheads of the new tank contained 55 shells of two types, high-explosive fragmentation and armor-piercing. The latter, having initial speed at 680 m / s, 65-70 millimeters of armor were pierced at a distance of a kilometer. Additional armament "Chi-Nu" consisted of only one machine gun in front of the hull.
Regarding the production of medium tanks "Type 3" there is no exact data. According to one source, they began to be assembled in mid-1943. Other literature indicates the fall of the 44th as the start time of construction. The same strange situation is observed in estimates of the number of assembled cars. According to various sources, they were made from 60 to 170 units. The reason for such large discrepancies is the lack of necessary documents that were lost in the last stages of the war. In addition, there is no information on the combat use of Type 3 tanks. According to reports, all built tanks entered the 4th Panzer Division, which until the end of the war did not take part in hostilities outside the Japanese islands. Sometimes the use of "Chi-Nu" in the battles for Okinawa is mentioned, but in well-known American documents there is no information about the appearance of new equipment by the enemy. Probably, all Type 3 remained at the bases, not having time to make war. After the end of World War II, a number of Chi-Nu tanks were used by the Japanese Self-Defense Forces.
"Chi-Nu", as well as several "Ho-Ni III" in the background, from the 4th Panzer Division
"Ka-Mi"
In Japanese tank building, there were several interesting projects that, for a number of reasons, did not receive a particularly massive implementation. An example is the "Chi-Nu" described above. Another "small-scale" project appeared in connection with the peculiarities of the war on pacific ocean. In preparation for the offensive to the south, the Japanese command faced the issue of landing amphibious assault forces on the islands and the continental coast. Infantry support by tanks was carried out exclusively with the help of tank landing boats and ships. In particular, and therefore, most Japanese armored vehicles had a combat weight of less than 20 tons. For obvious reasons, the military leaders wanted to get rid of the need to attract additional forces. Work towards the creation of a floating tank began in the late twenties, but then everything was limited to theory and a few experiments. Only in 1940 did full-fledged design work begin. Tank "Type 2" or "Ka-Mi" was supposed to be the main means of fire support for troops landing on the coast. The terms of reference implied the following use of a floating tank: landing craft delivers armored vehicles at a certain distance from land, after which they reach the coast on their own. It seems to be nothing special. However, the designers of the Mitsubishi company were required to ensure both good seaworthiness of the tank and sufficient combat qualities at the same time. It was allowed to do this in any suitable way.
"Ka-Mi" afloat. The similarity of the tank with a small vessel speaks quite eloquently about its seaworthiness.
As a basis for "Ka-Mi" was taken light tank"Type 95" ("Ha-Go"). Chassis the old tank was modified for use in water. Casings with springs of the T. Hara system were hidden inside the case. The hull itself has also undergone major changes. Unlike the Type 95, the Type 2 was assembled almost entirely by welding. Rivets were used only in those parts of the structure where a hermetic connection of parts was not required. The body was welded from rolled sheets up to 14 mm thick. A characteristic feature of the new tank was the shape of the hull. Unlike its land counterparts, the naval Ka-Mi did not have a large number of mating surfaces. In fact, the case was a simple box with several bevels. The location of the engine and transmission was traditional for Japanese tanks of the second half of the thirties. A 120-horsepower diesel engine was placed in the stern, the transmission in the bow. In addition, two propellers were installed at the stern of the tank. At the same time, to save weight and ease of maintenance of the engine, there was no partition between the engine and fighting compartments. In terms of repair, it was quite convenient. But in a combat situation, the roar of the engine greatly interfered with the crew. For this reason, the Ka-Mi had to be equipped with a tank intercom. Without it, the test tankers could not hear each other. On a relatively wide top sheet corps mounted a new tower. It had a conical shape and accommodated the jobs of two crew members: commander and gunner. The loader, mechanic and driver, in turn, were housed inside the hull.
The basis of the weapons of the floating "Ka-Mi" were 37-mm guns. In the first series, these were the Type 94, which were mounted on the Ha-Go, but then they were replaced by the Type 1, which was distinguished by a longer barrel. The ammunition load of the gun was 132 rounds. Guidance in the horizontal plane was carried out both by turning the turret and by shifting the gun itself within five degrees from the axis. Vertical aiming - from -20 ° to + 25 °. Additional weapons of the "Type 2" were two machine guns of 7.7 mm caliber. One of them was paired with a gun, and the second was in front of the hull. Before the start of several landing operations, some Ka-Mis were equipped with additional equipment to use torpedoes. Two such ammunition was attached to the sides of the tank on special brackets and dropped using an electrical system.
Type 2 "Ka-mi" (101st Special Marine Landing Squad), with pontoons removed on board a transport that delivers reinforcements to the island of Saipan
The original "Ha-Go" has undergone many changes, the purpose of which was to ensure proper seaworthiness. In particular, the shape of the upper part of the hull was due to the peculiarities of the chosen method of providing buoyancy. Since the tank itself could not normally swim on its own, it was proposed to install special pontoons on it. In the front part, a structure with a volume of 6.2 cubic meters was attached, in the back - with a volume of 2.9. At the same time, the front pontoon had the shape of the bow of a watercraft, and the rear one was equipped with a lamellar boat-type steering wheel and its control system. To ensure survivability, the front pontoon was divided into six sealed sections, the rear - into five. In addition to the pontoons, before moving through the water, a turret-snorkel was installed on the tank above the engine compartment. Beginning in 1943, a light metal structure was included in the navigation kit, designed to be mounted on a tank turret. With its help, the commander of the combat vehicle could observe the situation not only through viewing devices. Upon reaching the shore, the tankers had to drop the pontoons and turrets. The reset procedure was carried out using a screw mechanism brought inside the machine. In the first series, the Ka-Mi tanks were equipped with only two pontoons. Later, according to the results of combat use, the front one was divided into two independent parts. Thanks to this, the tank, having dropped the air tanks, could continue moving forward. At the same time, the front pontoons were moved apart by the tank. Previously, they had to go around.
The combat weight of the Type 2 tank was nine and a half tons. Suspended pontoons added another three thousand kilograms. With this weight, the tank had a maximum speed on land equal to 37 kilometers per hour, and on the water it accelerated to ten. Stock diesel fuel enough for a march 170 long or for swimming a hundred kilometers. A floating tank could be used for over-the-horizon landings and, in fact, the only restriction on the landing of the Ka-Mi was the situation at sea, excitement, etc.
Captured on the island of Shumshu Japanese amphibious tanks Type 2 "Ka-Mi". On the islands of Paramushir and Shumshu, two battalions of the Japanese marines(rikusentai), which had 16 tanks of this type
Serial production of the Ka-Mi began at the end of 1941. The pace of construction was relatively slow, because of which it was not possible to quickly re-equip the corresponding units of the Marine Corps. However, tanks "Type 2" and in the amount of several dozen pieces managed to get good feedback. Which, however, were overshadowed by not too powerful weapons. Over time, the number of tanks in the troops increased, but the pace of construction still remained unacceptable. As it turned out, one of the consequences of the original design of the tank was the high labor intensity of production. Therefore, the first landing operation with mass application"Ka-Mi" took place only in June 44, it was a landing on the island of Saipan (Marian Islands). Despite the suddenness of the attack and the darkness of the night, the Americans quickly coped with the advancing enemy. Combat use of "Type 2" continued until the very end of the war. In recent months, these tanks, due to the lack of landing operations, were used as conventional ground armored vehicles and stationary firing points. Of the 180 amphibious tanks built, only eight have survived to this day. One of them is in the tank museum of the city of Kubinka, the rest are in the countries of Oceania.
Self-propelled guns based on the tank "Chi-Ha"
Until a certain time, there was no place for self-propelled artillery installations in the strategic fabrications of the Japanese command. For a number of reasons, infantry support was assigned to light and medium tanks, as well as to field artillery. However, starting in 1941, the Japanese military initiated the creation of self-propelled gun mounts several times. These projects have not received a great future, but they are still worth considering.
"Type 1" ("Ho-Ni I")
The first was the installation "Type 1" ("Ho-Ni I"), designed to deal with combat vehicles and fortifications of the enemy. On the chassis of the medium tank "Chi-Ha", in place of the tower, an armored cabin with a frontal sheet 50 millimeters thick was installed. This cutting design was used on all subsequent Japanese self-propelled guns of that time. Only the guns and their installation systems changed. In the wheelhouse of a 14-ton combat vehicle, a Type 90 field gun of 75 mm caliber was installed. Rough aiming of the gun horizontally was carried out by turning the entire machine. Thin - by a rotary mechanism, within a sector 40 ° wide. Descent/elevation angles - from -6° to +25°. The power of such weapons was enough to destroy all American tanks at distances from 500 meters. At the same time, the attacking Japanese self-propelled guns themselves were at risk of retaliatory fire. Starting from 1942, 26 Type 1 self-propelled guns were built. Despite the small number, these artillery mounts were actively used in most operations. Several units survived until the end of the war, when they became the trophy of the Americans. One copy of Ho-Ni I is in the Aberdeen Museum.
Self-propelled gun "Ho-ni II"
The next mass-produced Japanese-made self-propelled gun was Ho-Ni II, also known as Type 2. A 105-mm Type 99 howitzer was installed on the wheelhouse chassis, completely taken from the Type 1. This self-propelled gun, in the first place, was intended for firing from closed positions. However, sometimes, due to the situation, it was necessary to shoot with direct fire. The power of the gun was enough to destroy any American tanks at a distance of about a kilometer. Fortunately for the Americans, only 54 such gun mounts were built in 1943-45. Eight more were converted from serial Chi-Ha tanks. Due to the small number of self-propelled guns "Ho-Ni II" could not have a significant impact on the course of the war.
SAU "Ho-Ni III"
A further development of the "Type 1" was the "Type 3" or "Ho-Ni III". The main weapon of this self-propelled gun was the Type 3 tank gun, designed for the Chi-Nu. The gun's ammunition load of 54 rounds theoretically allowed the Ho-Ni III self-propelled guns to become a serious combat weapon. However, all built three dozen self-propelled guns were transferred to the 4th Panzer Division. In view of the specific goals of this unit - it was intended for the defense of the Japanese archipelago - all Ho-Ni III almost without loss waited until the end of the war, and then became part of the Self-Defense Forces.
Artillery support tank for amphibious assault units armed with a 120-mm short-barreled gun. Released in a small series based on "Chi-ha"
In addition to the Ho-Ni family, there was another self-propelled artillery mount based on the Chi-Ha tank. It was a self-propelled gun "Ho-Ro" / "Type 4". It differed from other Japanese self-propelled guns in the design of the armored cabin, as well as weapons. "Ho-Ro" was the most powerful self-propelled guns of the Japanese Empire: 150-mm howitzer "Type 38" could ensure the destruction of almost any target. True, self-propelled guns "Type 4" also did not become massive. The entire series was limited to only 25 cars. Several of the first serial "Ho-Ro" managed to take part in the battle for the Philippines. However, later all available self-propelled howitzers were transferred to the 4th Panzer Division. As part of this unit, Type 4 self-propelled guns managed to fight only in Okinawa, where several units were destroyed by strikes by American troops.
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"Type 95"
A further development of the theme of light tanks was the "Type 95" or "Ha-Go", created a little later by "Te-Ke". In general, it was a logical continuation of previous machines, but it was not without major changes. First of all, the design of the chassis was changed. On previous machines, the idler also played the role of a track roller and pressed the track to the ground. On Ha-Go, this part was raised above the ground and the caterpillar acquired a more familiar look for tanks of that time. The design of the armored hull remained the same - a frame and rolled sheets. Most of the panels had a thickness of 12 millimeters, which is why the level of protection remained the same. basis power plant tank "Type 95" was a six-cylinder two-stroke diesel engine with an HP 120 power. Such engine power, despite the combat weight of seven and a half tons, made it possible to maintain and even increase the speed and maneuverability of the vehicle compared to the previous ones. The maximum speed of "Ha-Go" on the highway was 45 km / h.
The main weapon of the Ha-Go tank was similar to the weapons of the Type 97. It was a 37mm Type 94 gun. The gun suspension system was made in a rather original way. The gun was not fixed rigidly and could move both in vertical and horizontal planes. Thanks to this, it was possible to roughly aim the gun by turning the turret and adjust the aiming using its own turning mechanisms. Gun ammunition - 75 unitary shells - was placed along the walls of the fighting compartment. Additional weapons "Type 95" at first were two 6.5-mm machine guns "Type 91". Later, with the transition of the Japanese army to a new cartridge, their place was taken by Type 97 machine guns of 7.7 mm caliber. One of the machine guns was mounted in the rear of the turret, the other in a oscillating mount in the front plate of the armored hull. In addition, on the left side of the hull there were loopholes for firing from the crew's personal weapons. The Ha-Go crew, for the first time in this line of light tanks, consisted of three people: a driver mechanic, a gunner and a gunner commander. The duties of the gunner technician included control of the engine and firing from the front machine gun. The second machine gun was controlled by the commander. He loaded the cannon and fired from it.
The first experimental batch of Ha-Go tanks was assembled back in 1935 and immediately went to the troops for trial operation. In the war with China, due to the weakness of the latter's army, the new Japanese tanks did not achieve much success. A little later, during the battles at Khalkhin Gol, the Japanese military finally managed to test the Type 95 in a real battle with a worthy opponent. This check ended sadly: almost all the Ha-Gos that the Kwantung Army had were destroyed by tanks and artillery of the Red Army. One of the results of the battles at Khalkhin Gol was the recognition by the Japanese command of the insufficiency of 37-mm guns. During the battles, Soviet BT-5s, equipped with 45 mm guns, managed to destroy Japanese tanks even before they approached the distance of confident defeat. In addition, there were many machine-gun tanks in the Japanese armored formations, which clearly did not contribute to success in battles.
Subsequently, the Ha-Go tanks collided in battle with American equipment and artillery. Due to the significant difference in calibers - the Americans were already using 75 mm tank guns with might and main - Japanese armored vehicles often suffered heavy losses. By the end of the Pacific War, Type 95 light tanks were often converted into fixed firing points, but their effectiveness was not great either. The last battles involving the "Type 95" took place during the Third Civil War in China. Trophy tanks were handed over to the Chinese military, with the USSR sending captured armored vehicles to the People's Liberation Army, and the US to the Kuomintang. Despite the active use of the "Type 95" after the Second World War, this tank can be considered quite lucky. Of the more than 2,300 built tanks, a dozen and a half have survived to our time in the form of museum exhibits. A few dozen more damaged tanks are local landmarks in some Asian countries.
In the photo: “Ha-Go”, captured by American troops on the island of Io
In the 1950s, on initial stage The construction of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces, they were armed mainly with American military equipment, including light tanks M24 and M41, as well as medium M4A3 and M47.
However, already in 1954, Japan began developing its own medium tanks of the first post-war generation. From 1957 to 1962, several prototypes were made under the indices from ST-A1 to ST-A4. In their design, on the one hand, the pre-war traditions of Japanese tank building continued, associated with the installation of an air-cooled diesel engine in the rear of the hull with front drive wheels, on the other hand, it is quite obvious that the American M47 tank served as a prototype in the design.
When developing the tank, in addition, Japanese specifics were taken into account. Due to the fact that Japan is a predominantly mountainous country with few plains, the main attention was paid to the maneuverability of the tank. It also needed to be made as light and as small as possible due to the constraints imposed by the nature of the road network, the light capacity of most bridges, and the reduced gauge of the country's railways. When determining the size of the tank, the fact that the Japanese were predominantly small in stature was also taken into account.
TANK "61"
In 1962, a new medium tank was put into service under the brand name "61". It was in serial production from 1962 to 1972. During this time, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has manufactured 560 units. On the basis of the "61" tank, the "67" bridge layer, the "67" sapper tank and the "70" BREM were developed and mass-produced. In connection with the entry into the troops in the second half of the 1990s of the "90" tanks, the "61" tanks were withdrawn from service. By 2000, there were no more of them left in the Self-Defense Forces.
TANK "74": DEVELOPMENT
The development of a new medium tank was started by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in 1962 and took place as part of a program that provided for the reinforcement of the 61 tank fleet with new vehicles, and then its complete replacement. After seven years of research and development work, in September 1969, the first two ST-B1 prototypes were manufactured. They took into account all the then achievements of world tank building, and also implemented numerous original developments of Japanese designers: an automatic gun loader, a remote control system for an anti-aircraft machine gun, a new hydromechanical transmission, a hydropneumatic suspension of road wheels, and much more. Until 1973, a series of prototypes from ST-B1 to ST-B6 was made, the design of which became more and more simplified as the design progressed. The tank was adopted by the Japanese Self-Defense Forces in 1975 under the designation "74", in the same year its mass production began. From 1975 to 1991, 873 units were manufactured.
TANK "74": DESIGN
The layout of the tank "74" is classic, with the engine compartment located aft. Unlike the tank "61" on "74", the driver is located in the bow of the hull on the left. The hull is welded from rolled armor plates, the turret is cast hemispherical in shape, resembling towers in appearance Soviet tanks, as well as the turrets of the AMX-30 and Leopard-1 tanks. The maximum thickness of the frontal armor of the hull is 110 mm, the angle of inclination of the frontal plate to the vertical is 65°. The gun has a concentric recoil device and is stabilized in two planes. Aiming the gun at the target and firing can be carried out by both the tank commander and the gunner. The complex of sighting devices of the tank includes a combined (day / night) commander's periscope sight, which has a built-in ruby laser rangefinder with a measurement range of 300 to 4000 m, the main J-3 periscope combined gunner's sight and an auxiliary telescopic articulated monocular gunner's sight. Active type night devices, illumination is carried out using a xenon searchlight mounted to the left of the gun. The tank's ammunition load consists of 55 shots, 4,500 rounds of 7.62 mm caliber and 660 rounds of 12.7 mm caliber. The tank "74" is equipped with a two-stroke diesel 10-cylinder, V-shaped air-cooled engine "Mitsubishi" 10ZF 22WT, turbocharged. Its power is 720 hp. With. (529 kW) at 2200 rpm.
In the stern of the tank, in a single block with the engine, there is a Mitsubishi MT 75A mechanical planetary transmission with friction gears (6 + 1) and a differential rotation mechanism. Tank suspension - hydropneumatic, adjustable, clearance varies from 200 to 650 mm, hull trim ± 6 °, roll ± 9 °. The installation of elastic suspension elements is made inside the housing. The tension of the caterpillar can be adjusted from the driver's seat using the hydraulic drive of the tensioning mechanism. The tank is equipped with a system of protection against weapons of mass destruction, automatic system PPO and OPVT equipment.
The combat weight of the tank is 38 tons. The maximum speed is 53 km/h, the cruising range on the highway is 300 km. The crew of the car consists of four people. The limited carrying capacity of the chassis and the relatively low engine power did not allow the modernization of the tank by increasing the level of armor protection and installing more powerful weapons, as was done in most European countries and the United States. Nevertheless, "74" still remains the basis of the armored forces of the Self-Defense Forces: as of 2010, 560 tanks of this type were in combat units.
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Japan was one of the leading powers during World War II. The scale of the strategic plans of its leadership had to be confirmed by the high quality of technology. Therefore, in the 30s, the Japanese created many models of tanks that fought for several years without interruption on the Pacific front of World War II.
Purchase of Western models
The idea of creating their own tanks appeared in Japan after the First World War. This conflict showed the promise of this modern type of weapon. Since the Japanese did not have their own industry necessary for the production of tanks, they began to get acquainted with the developments of the Europeans.
For Tokyo, this was a familiar method of modernization. The Land of the Rising Sun spent several centuries in total isolation and only in the second half of the 19th century began to develop intensively. From scratch, new branches of the economy and industry appeared. Therefore, the task of conducting a similar experiment with tanks was not so fantastic.
The first French Renault FT-18s were purchased in 1925, which at that time were considered the best cars of a kind. These models were adopted by the Japanese for service. Very soon, the engineers and designers of this country, having gained Western experience, prepared several of their pilot projects.
"Chi-I"
The first Japanese tank was assembled in Osaka in 1927. The car was named "Chi-I". It was an experimental model that never made it to mass production. However, it was she who became the very “first lump”, which turned out to be the starting point for Japanese specialists for further technical research.
The model had a cannon, two machine guns, and its weight was 18 tons. Her design feature consisted of several towers on which guns were mounted. It was a bold and controversial experiment. The first Japanese tank was also equipped with a machine gun designed to protect the vehicle from the rear. Because of this feature, it was installed behind the engine compartment. Tests showed that the multi-turreted design was unsuccessful in terms of combat effectiveness. In the future, Osaka decided to abandon the implementation of such a system. The Japanese "Chi-I" tank has remained a historical model that has never been in a real war. But some of its features were inherited by cars later used on the fields of World War II.
"Type 94"
Mostly Japanese were developed in the 30s. The first model in this series is the Tokushu Ken'insha (abbreviated as TK, or "Type 94"). This tank was notable for its small dimensions and weight (only 3.5 tons). It was used not only for combat, but also for auxiliary purposes. Therefore, in Europe, "Type 94" was considered a tankette.
As an auxiliary vehicle, the TC was used to transport goods and help convoys. According to the designers' idea, this was the original purpose of the machine. However, over time, the project evolved into a full-fledged combat model. Almost all subsequent Japanese inherited from the "Type 94" not only the design, but also the layout. In total, more than 800 units of this generation were produced. "Type 94" was mainly used during the invasion of China, which began in 1937.
The post-war fate of Tokushu Keninsha is curious. Part of the fleet of these models was captured by the Allies, who defeated the Japanese after nuclear tanks were handed over to the Chinese - communists and Kuomintang troops. These parties were hostile to each other. Therefore, the "Type 94" was tested for several more years on the fields of the Chinese civil war, after which the PRC was formed.
"Type 97"
In 1937, the "Type 94" was declared obsolete. Further research by engineers led to the emergence new car- a direct descendant of Tokushu Keninsha. The model was called "Type 97" or "Te-Ke" for short. This Japanese tank was used during the fighting in China, Malaya and Burma until the very end. In fact, it was a deep modification of the "Type 94".
The crew of the new car consisted of two people. The engine was located at the rear, and the transmission was at the front. An important innovation compared to its predecessor was the unification of the combat and management departments. The vehicle received a 37 mm cannon inherited from the TK.
New Japanese tanks in the field were first tested in battles on the Khalkhin Gol River. Since they did not participate in the first attacks on Soviet positions, most of the Te-Ke managed to survive. Almost all active combat units of this type were deployed to the Pacific theater of World War II. These small tanks were used especially effectively for reconnaissance of enemy positions. They were also used as machines organizing communication between different parts front. The small size and weight made the Type 97 an indispensable weapon for infantry support.
"Chi-Ha"
Interestingly, almost all Japanese tanks of World War II were developed by Mitsubishi employees. Today, this brand is known primarily in the automotive industry. However, in the 30-40s, the company's factories regularly produced reliable vehicles for the army. In 1938, Mitsubishi began production of the Chi-Ha, one of the main Japanese medium tanks. Compared to its predecessors, the model received more powerful guns (including 47 mm guns). In addition, it was distinguished by an improved aiming.
"Chi-Ha" were used in combat from the very first days after their appearance on the assembly line. At the initial stage of the war with China, they remained an effective weapon in the hands of Japanese tankers. However, after the United States was drawn into the conflict, the Chi-Ha had a serious combat competitor. These were tanks of the M3 Lee type. They easily coped with all Japanese cars of the light and medium segment. Largely because of this, out of more than two thousand Chi-Ha units, only a dozen representatives of this model remain today as museum exhibits.
"Ha-Go"
If we compare all the Japanese tanks of World War II, we can distinguish two of the most basic and common models. This is the above-described "Chi-Ha" and "Ha-Go". This tank was mass-produced in 1936-1943. In total, more than 2300 units of this model were produced. Although it is difficult to single out the best Japanese tank, it is the Ha-Go that has the most rights to this title.
His first sketches appeared in the early 1930s. Then the Japanese command wanted to get a car that could become an effective auxiliary tool for cavalry attacks. That is why "Ha-Go" was distinguished by such important qualities as high cross-country ability and mobility.
"Ka-Mi"
An important feature of the "Ha-Go" was that this tank became the basis for numerous modifications. All of them were experimental and therefore not widely used. However, this does not mean that there were no competitive models among them.
High-quality, for example, was "Ka-Mi". It was unique in that it remained the only mass-produced amphibious Japanese tank of World War II. The development of this modification of "Ha-Go" began in 1941. Then the Japanese command began to prepare a campaign to advance to the south, where there were many small islands and archipelagos. In this regard, it became necessary to land an amphibious assault. Japanese heavy tanks could not help in this matter. Therefore, Mitsubishi started the development of a fundamentally new model, based on the most common tank of the Land of the Rising Sun "Ha-Go". As a result, 182 Ka-Mi units were produced.
Use of amphibious tanks
The undercarriage of the old tank was improved so that the vehicle could be used effectively on the water. For this, in particular, the body was significantly changed. Due to their originality, each "Ka-Mi" was going slowly and for a long time. For this reason, the first major operation using amphibious tanks did not take place until 1944. The Japanese landed on Saipan, the largest of them. By the end of the war, when the imperial army did not advance, but, on the contrary, only retreated, its landing operations also ceased. Therefore, "Ka-Mi" began to be used as a conventional ground tank. This was facilitated by the fact that in its design and running characteristics it was universal.
In 1944, photos of Japanese tanks floating along the coast of the Marshall Islands went around the world. By that time, the empire was already close to defeat, and even the appearance of a fundamentally new technology could not help it in any way. Nevertheless, the Ka-Mi themselves made a great impression on the opponents. The hull of the tank was spacious. Five people were placed in it - a driver, a mechanic, a gunner, a loader and a commander. Outwardly, the Ka-Mi immediately caught the eye because of its two-man turret.
"Chi-he"
"Chi-He" appeared as a result of work on bugs related to the characteristics of Chi-Ha. In 1940, Japanese designers and engineers decided to catch up with Western competitors in the simplest way by copying foreign technologies and developments. Thus, all the initiative and originality of the Eastern specialists were put aside.
The result of this maneuver was not long in coming - "Chi-He" more than all its Japanese "relatives" both externally and internally began to resemble European counterparts of that time. But the project came too late. In 1943-1944. only 170 "Chi-He" were produced.
"Chi-Nu"
The continuation of the ideas embodied in "Chi-He" was "Chi-Nu". It differed from its predecessor only in improved weapons. The design and layout of the hull remained the same.
The series was small. At the final stage of the Second World War in 1943-1945. only about a hundred "Chi-Nu" were produced. According to the idea of the Japanese command, these tanks were to become an important force in the country's defense during the landing of American troops. Due to the atomic bombings and the imminent surrender of the state leadership, this foreign attack never happened.
"Oh-I"
How different were Japanese tanks? The review shows that among them there were no models of the heavy class according to the Western classification. The Japanese command preferred light and medium vehicles, which were easier and more efficient to use in conjunction with the infantry. However, this did not mean at all that there were no projects of a fundamentally different type in this country.
One of these was the idea of a super-heavy tank, which was tentatively named "O-I". This multi-turreted monster was supposed to accommodate a crew of 11 people. The model was designed as an important weapon for the upcoming attacks on the USSR and China. Work on the "O-I" began in 1936 and, one way or another, was carried out until the defeat in World War II. The project was either closed or restarted. Today there is no reliable data that at least one prototype of this model was produced. "O-I" remained on paper, as did Japan's idea of its regional dominance, which led it to a disastrous alliance with Nazi Germany.
In the 1930s Japanese armored units got the opportunity to test their strength in a combat situation - in China. In 1935, a mixed mechanized brigade operated near Shanghai, and in 1937, together with the 3rd tank regiment, in the north of the Republic of China. In Manchuria, only about 400 tanks were used at that time.
In battles with Soviet units on the Khalkhin Gol River in 1939, the Japanese used a group of medium tanks "type 89" under the command of Colonel Yoshimaro (two companies of 10 tanks each) from the 3rd tank regiment and a group of light tanks "Type 95" "Ha -Go" (three companies of 10 vehicles each) under the command of Colonel Tamada from the 4th Tank Regiment. The tanks were supported by artillery, an anti-aircraft battery, sappers, and transport units.
During the July battles, the complete superiority of Soviet armored vehicles over Japanese became clear. Maneuverable BT-7 tanks and BA-10 armored vehicles, due to faster-firing guns, were more likely to survive in a direct collision than their opponents from the Land of the Rising Sun.
On December 7, 1941, the Japanese invaded the Philippines and Malaya. On December 10, the landing of the advanced units of the 14th Army of General Homm began on about. Luzon, and on December 22-24 the main forces of the army landed. In the Philippines, Japanese tanks first encountered American tanks - since November 1941, a tank group of 180 Stuart M3s and 50 75-mm T12 self-propelled guns was stationed in Luzon. The Japanese landed units of the 4th and 7th tank regiments and several tank companies here. Tanks were delivered to the shore on landing barges and immediately went ashore. From the first clashes on December 22 and 31, 1941, until the last battle on April 7, 1942, the light "Ha-go" played the main role here, although the medium "Chi-ha" also participated in the hostilities. Usually the tanks led the attacks of the infantry, sometimes made quick throws to objects already captured by paratroopers for the final break of the enemy's resistance.
Units of the 7th Panzer Regiment captured several light Stuarts. The T12 self-propelled guns (on the chassis of half-tracked armored personnel carriers), which in 1944 - 1945 became trophies of the Japanese. they used in the Philippines against the Americans. The withdrawal of the US-Philippine group of troops to the fortifications on the Bataan Peninsula reduced the actions of the Japanese to the assault on the peninsula and the island-fortress of Corregidor. In the battles on Bataan, the Chi-ha were already more active, sometimes using smoke grenade launchers. After the capture of Bataan, a landing party was formed to land on Corregidor. Previous battles have shown the low effectiveness of the 57-mm Chi-ha guns in tank battles with highly mobile, maneuverable "Stuarts", moreover, capable of firing from long distances. Therefore, in addition to the Chi-ha company, the detachment included two Shinhoto Chiha, which were previously delivered to Bataan and introduced into the 7th Tank Regiment. It is curious to note that the commander of this tank company, Major Matsuoka, acted on the captured Stuart. The landing on May 5, 1942 on Corregidor was the combat debut of the Shinhoto Chi-ha.
The Japanese 25th Army of Lieutenant General Yamashita, which invaded Malaya and had 211 tanks as part of the 1st, 6th and 14th tank regiments, quickly advanced to about. Singapore. The attack on the island from the north, that is, from the land, the British considered it impossible, especially with the use of tanks. The Japanese thought differently. The rugged, jungle-covered terrain really made it very difficult for the machines to move, they had to move mainly in columns along rare roads. Under these conditions, tanks were also used as vehicle to transport property. As a disguise, the crews used "skirts" made of palm leaves or other vegetation, strengthening them on the hulls and towers.
The losses of tanks were insignificant, which was greatly facilitated by the lack of anti-tank weapons from the enemy and the dominance of Japanese aviation in the air.
The operation began on December 7, and already on the 11th, the 1st Tank Regiment successfully attacked the Jitra defense line. According to the British, the appearance of Japanese medium tanks of the 6th Panzer Regiment on January 7, 1942 near Kuala Lumpur in Silanogre "brought indescribable confusion." Japanese tanks they crossed the river and not only broke through the British defenses, but also captured rich trophies, including serviceable armored cars and light armored personnel carriers. To support the units that crossed on February 9 to Singapore, the Japanese led tanks through the Strait of Johor along the railway dam. On February 15, Singapore was captured by Japanese troops, and tanks played a big role in this.
In the battles in Burma (January 21 - May 20, 1942), General Ida's 15th Japanese Army used tanks from the 1st, 2nd, and 14th Tank Regiments. On April 29, they cut the Burmese road, and on April 30 they entered the city of Lashio, an important communications hub. In Burma, Japanese tankers fought with the "Stuarts" of the British 7th Hussars. In addition, the T-26s of the Chinese 200th mechanized division also operated here, but they did not participate in tank battles with the Japanese.
After the landing on August 7, 1942, the 1st US Marine Division on about. Guadalcanal (in the group of the Solomon Islands) and moving it deep into the island, on October 16, the Japanese landed Sumimoshi troops on the island, reinforced by the 1st separate tank company, which was equipped with veterans of the 4th company of the 2nd tank regiment. After a series of local skirmishes on October 26, the Japanese tried to cross the Matenika River and attack the positions of the American Marines on the opposite bank. Of the 12 "Chi-ha" that tried to ford the river, most were lost to the fire of 37-mm anti-tank guns. Actually on this tank battles ended. The Japanese did not have time to transfer reinforcements from Rabaul, and on February 1 - 7, 1943, they secretly evacuated from Guadalcanal.
1943 was a turning point - both Germany in Europe and Japan in Asia and the Pacific were forced to switch to strategic defense. The Japanese garrisons on the Mariana Islands, which were part of the inner defense belt of the Land of the Rising Sun and were of strategic importance, were reinforced by units of the 9th Tank Regiment of Colonel Hideki Goto: the 1st and 2nd companies (29 tanks "Ha-go" and "Chi -ha") were on about. Guam, 3rd, 5th and 6th - on about. Saipan. In addition, the Hago of a separate tank company of the landing detachment was stationed on the latter, and the 24th separate tank company (9 tanks) was stationed on Guam. There were also floating Ka-mi, and 47-mm Type 1 guns were used in the anti-tank system.
On June 15, 1944, American troops landed on Saipan as part of the 2nd and 4th Marine Divisions with amphibious tanks, and on June 16, the 27th Infantry Division. The Japanese used their tanks to counterattack in conjunction with the infantry, but suffered heavy losses from the fire of infantry anti-tank weapons and M4 Sherman tanks. On June 16, Vice Admiral Nagumo ordered another counterattack. Under the command of Colonel Goto, 44 tanks were sent to the island along with the 136th Infantry Regiment: "Ha-go", "Chi-ha", "Shinhoto Chi-ha" from the 9th Tank Regiment and "Ka-mi" from the landing tank company. Tanks landed covertly in the rear of the American Marines entrenched on the west coast, but on the pebbly beaches of Garapan they made a lot of noise with their tracks. The Marines managed to call in a platoon of Shermans and several MZ self-propelled anti-tank guns. The Japanese lost 11 tanks already on the beach. Nevertheless, at 2 am on June 17, 40 Japanese tanks with armored infantry (a rare tactic for the Japanese) went on the attack. They had to move across open areas. Part of the tanks reached the positions of the Marine Corps, but in the light of illuminating shells fired from the ships, the Americans knocked out several tanks with fire from Bazooka rocket launchers and 37-mm anti-tank guns. The rest, trying to get around the wrecked cars, got stuck in swampy places and weak ground and turned out to be motionless targets. After the counterattack of the American marines with tanks and self-propelled guns, the Japanese had only 12 tanks left - 6 "Chi-ha" and "Ha-go" each. Some of them died on June 24 in an unequal battle with the "Shermans" (company "C" of the 2nd Tank Battalion of the Marine Corps), the rest - a little later in clashes with the M5A1 "Stuart" of army units (according to other sources - from 37-mm fire anti-tank guns). Saipan was captured by the Americans only by July 9 and cost both sides heavy losses.
When the US 3rd Marine Division and the US 77th Infantry Division landed on Guam on June 21, Japanese forces on the island included 38 Ha-Go and Chi-Ha tanks, concentrated along the western coast, where the Americans landed. In the first clashes, only Hago participated, although Chiha would have been more useful - light tanks were quickly knocked out. 11 "Chi-ha" of the 2nd company of the 9th regiment, which was at the beginning of the landing as part of the 48th separate mixed brigade near Agana, was pulled to Taraga on the northern coast. They were used to support infantry in night attacks. A successful attack was carried out, for example, by five "Chi-ha" on the night of August 8-9 on the positions of the Marines, whose "Bazookas" were put out of action due to rain. But the very next day, the American Shermans attacked the Japanese stronghold, knocked out two tanks and captured seven - they were either out of order or did not have fuel. On August 10, the Japanese stopped resistance on Guam.
Saipan and Guam became the place of the most intensive use of Japanese tanks in the Pacific theater of operations. On June 16, they also carried out their last massive attack on Saipan. The fighting here also demonstrated the complete inconsistency of the Chi-ha with the requirements of the time - these tanks were easily knocked out by the fire of American bazookas, tank and anti-tank guns, there were cases of these vehicles being hit by fire heavy machine guns and rifle grenades.
In the Philippines, at the disposal of the 14th Army (14th Front), medium tanks "Chi-ha" and "Shinhoto Chi-ha" arrived from Manchuria in January 1944 as part of parts of the 2nd Panzer Division. Soon, the 11th Tank Regiment was reinforced by the Shinhoto Chi-ha, renamed the 27th Separate Tank Regiment, and sent to Okinawa. Thus, on about. Three tank regiments remained in Luzon (each with one company of light and one company of medium tanks) - a total of 220 tanks, including Shinhoto Chi-ha, as well as self-propelled guns Ho-ni and Ho-ro. On Leyte Island there were light "Ha-go" and several obsolete medium "Type 94" of the 7th separate tank company. These forces were to face more than 500 American tanks and SAU.
20 October 1944 four infantry divisions 6th american army landed on the Leite, and by December 28, the fighting there had already ended. Medium "Type 94" were lost while trying to recapture the runways. It is worth noting here that the struggle for the Pacific Islands was not so much an attempt to seize control over the key points of sea communications as to seize airfields. After the Japanese tanks on Leyte Island could not carry out a single more or less successful counterattack and were mostly hit, General Yamashita decided to use them on Luzon as stationary firing points, distributing infantry units among the strongholds and setting the task of delaying the advance American parts. The tanks were dug in and carefully camouflaged, and several reserve positions were prepared for them. For camouflage, the crews pulled wire mesh over the hull and turret, on which branches, leaves, and grass were attached. The protection of the frontal part of the turret was increased by attaching spare tracks, which, in principle, was uncharacteristic for Japanese tankers. The vehicles prepared in this way served as the core of strongholds, which differed from each other in size and strength. Thus, the point at Urdanet had 9 combat units, the Shigemi detachment at San Manuel - 45 (7th tank regiment, mainly Shinhoto Chi-ha), the Ida detachment at Munoz - 52 (6th tank regiment).
The landing of the 1st and 14th Corps of the 6th American Army on Luzon began on January 9, 1945. On January 17, a tank battle took place at Linman-gansen - the "Shermans" of Company "C" of the 716th American Tank Battalion knocked out 4 "Shinhoto Chi -ha" of the 7th tank regiment of the Japanese. On January 24, the same American tank company attacked the Shigemi detachment at San Manuel with the support of 105-mm self-propelled howitzers M7.
In the early morning of January 28, the 30 remaining vehicles of this detachment, accompanied by infantry, launched a counterattack, but most of them were hit by tank and self-propelled guns, and the Americans themselves lost only three Shermans and one M7. On January 30, a convoy of 8 "Chi-ha" and 30 cars breaking through from the encirclement was shot at Umungan.
The Ida detachment also fought in encirclement from 1 February. An attempt to break through was stopped by the fire of American artillery and light tanks - "Stuarts". All Japanese tanks were knocked out. The 10th tank regiment was also unlucky - on January 29, its column came under fire self-propelled units M10 of the 637th American anti-tank battalion, which knocked out four Shinhoto Chi-ha. By May 5, the Americans destroyed 203 "Chi-ha" and "Shinhoto Chi-ha", 19 "Ha-go", 2 "Ho-ro" in the Philippines. The 2nd Panzer Division obeyed the order, delaying the advance of the Americans into the interior of the island, but paid too high a price for this - it simply ceased to exist.
After the capture of the Philippines, the focus of the American command moved to the islands of Formosa, Okinawa and Iwo Jima, which could serve as air bases for a direct attack on the Japanese islands. On February 19, 1945, the 5th American amphibious corps, supported by 200 amphibious tanks, began landing on about. Iwo Jima. The 27th Japanese tank regiment was stationed here, which had 28 tanks - mainly Chi-ha and Shinhoto Chiha. Lieutenant Colonel Nishi, who commanded them, intended to use the Shinhoto Chi-ha as nomadic anti-tank guns, which generally corresponded to the situation and the capabilities of the tanks. However, more often they were used in dug-in stationary positions. Unable to retreat, these tanks were soon hit by artillery or bazooka fire from the 1st Separate Tank Company, US Marines. However, at least one strong point, in which there were three Shinhoto Chi-ha, put up very stubborn resistance. No coincidence the fights are on small island went until March 26th. Following this, on April 1, the Americans landed four divisions of the 3rd Airborne and 24th Corps on the western coast of Okinawa. The landing force included more than 800 tanks and self-propelled guns, as well as a large number of amphibious tanks and armored personnel carriers. The Japanese 32nd Army had here only units of the 27th Tank Regiment already mentioned above, stationed in the northern part of the island - a total of 13 "Ha-go" and 14 "Shinhoto Chi-ha".
Almost all of these vehicles were lost during an attempted counterattack on 5 May. The battles on Okinawa went on until June 21, but tanks no longer took part in the most fierce battles.
After the defeat of the 2nd Panzer Division in the Philippines, the Japanese command did not risk the remaining units and transfer additional tanks to Okinawa (and the very possibility of this, due to the complete dominance of the Americans at sea, was more than doubtful), although the island was considered ethnically Japanese territory. So ended fighting Japanese tank forces in the Pacific.
On the continent, fighting took place in Burma and China. In Burma, after several "trial" operations in 1943, the Allies went on the offensive at the beginning of the following year. By the beginning of the fighting with the British-Indian and American-Chinese troops, the Japanese tank forces consisted of only the 14th Tank Regiment. Moreover, his 4th company was armed with captured "Stuarts", but after fighting with British tanks the company was reinforced by Shinhoto Chi-ha. In this composition, this unit participated in battles with the Americans near Myitkina in the first days of August 1944. In March 1945, the last Japanese tanks in Burma were lost in clashes with the Shermans on the Myitkina-Mandalay road. By May 6, the Allies had completely retook Burma.
The 3rd Japanese Panzer Division was based in China, which included the 5th (8th and 12th regiments) and 6th (13th and newly formed 17th regiment) tank brigades. In 1942 - 1943. The Japanese used tanks occasionally in counterguerrilla operations, in private attacks on the 8th People's Liberation Army of China in the Border Region, against the Kuomintang troops in the Yichang region. The 8th regiment in 1942 was transferred to about. New Britain.
During the autumn offensive of 1943 in China, units of the 3rd Panzer Division were used to capture airfields, from which at that time B-29 bombers began raids on industrial facilities in Manchuria and about. Kyushu. In 1944, the 6th tank brigade was withdrawn from the division and sent to the Mongolian border, so that from the actual tank units The 3rd division retained only the 12th regiment. In this form, it was attached to the 12th Army. After the inclusion of two more motorized infantry regiments in its composition, the division turned into a mechanized or reinforced motorized rather than a tank division. But it was at this time that decisive tasks began to be set before the tank units.
In April 1944, an offensive began against the Kuomintang troops in the direction of Luoyang, Xin'an and along railway Hankou - Changsha - Henyang - Canton. His task was to capture the highway leading to the Korean coast and in the direction of Hanoi, the subsequent defeat of the Chinese troops and the connection of the Northern, Central and Southern fronts of the Japanese expeditionary forces. As part of this "Operation No. 1", the 12th Army operated. The 3rd Panzer Division, following the infantry along with the 4th Cavalry Brigade, took part in a number of battles. At the same time, tanks, motorized infantry and cavalry carried out maneuvering operations, carried out envelopments, long-range (up to 60 km per day) bypass marches. With their active participation, Linzhou was captured on May 5, and Loiang on May 25. By mid-autumn, the Japanese occupied more than 40 cities, including Changsha, Henyang, Guilin, Shaozhou, Nanying, airfields near Henyang, Liuzhou, Gangxiang. This success was largely due to the weakness of the anti-tank defense of the enemy. During the assault settlements the tanks were used to bombard the gates or breaches in the walls surrounding most Chinese cities from machine-gun range. After the infantry entered the city, part of the tanks acted ahead of it, while others went around to cut off the enemy's escape route. 3rd Panzer Division and 4th cavalry brigade also took part in the attack on the American air base at the river Laohahe in the spring of 1945 In the operation that began on March 22 and the capture of airfields, the 3rd Panzer Division solved rather auxiliary tasks, but the tankers played an important role in consolidating success and repulsing Chinese counterattacks (for example, in April in Sichuan). After that, the 3rd division with the rest of the forces was pulled north, to Peiping (future Beijing). Interestingly, after the surrender of Japan, the 3rd Panzer Division was not completely disarmed - the Americans and the Kuomintang used it to protect Beiping from being captured by the People's Liberation Army, until in November 1945 it was replaced by the 109th Kuomintang Division.
Quite characteristic of the then situation in China - the disarmament of the Japanese troops here ended only in February 1946. To the beginning of the Manchurian offensive operation Soviet troops in 1945. The Kwantung Army under the command of General Yamada, numbering more than 1 million people, included the 1st and 9th separate tank brigades, based respectively in the areas of the cities of Shahe (south of Mukden) and Tieling (north west of Mukden), the 35th Tank Regiment, along with the 39th Infantry Division, was located near the city of Sypingai. The 9th Brigade served as the tank reserve of the Kwantung Army. These areas were in the zone of the 3rd West Manchurian Front. Japanese tank forces were significantly weakened by losses in the autumn offensive of 1944 in China and the transfer of part of the units and equipment to the Japanese islands.
In total, the Kwantung grouping, together with the 17th Korean Front, had 1,215 tanks by August 1945. Soviet troops numbered 1.7 million people and 5.2 thousand tanks and self-propelled guns.
On August 9, the Soviet troops of the Trans-Baikal, 1st Far Eastern and part of the forces of the 2nd Far Eastern Fronts went on the offensive. In the battles with the Red Army in August - September, Japanese tanks practically did not show themselves in any way and were captured mainly in the parks. The troops of the Trans-Baikal and 1st Far Eastern fronts, for example, got up to 600 serviceable Japanese tanks in this way.
"Chi-ha" and "Shinhoto Chi-ha" of the 11th tank regiment, along with units of the 91st infantry division were on the Shumshu and Paramushir islands of the Kuril chain, occupied by the troops of the 5th Japanese Front. They took part in the battles with the Soviet troops of the 2nd Far Eastern Front, who carried out the Kuril landing operation. In addition, the Japanese had two separate tank companies in the Kuriles. To counter the Soviet landing (101st Infantry Division with a battalion of marines) on about. Shumshu On August 18 - 20, 1945, the Japanese additionally transferred tanks from Paramushir Island. Artillery support for the Soviet landing was provided by ships Pacific Fleet. The fierceness of the fighting is evidenced by the remains of the Shinhoto Chi-ha, which are still rusting on the island. Shumshu and Paramushir were cleared of the Japanese on August 23, and all Kurile Islands- By September 1st. On September 2, Japan surrendered.
A few words about the tanks intended for the defense of the Japanese islands. In the spring of 1945, the United National Defense Army had 2,970 tanks, consisting of two divisions, six brigades and several individual companies. The 1st and 4th Panzer Divisions formed a mobile reserve stationed north of Tokyo. Kyushu was planned for November 1945, for Honshu - for the spring of 1946. It was to include three armored divisions, as well as a significant number of independent tank battalions. Surely, superiority would again be on the side of the Americans, but the Japanese tank units located in the mother country, fully manned and well equipped, apparently, would have put up more serious resistance than in other places. However, these are pure assumptions - the surrender prevented these battles. Japanese tanks were handed over intact to the American occupying forces. After the surrender of Japan, "Chi-ha" and "Shinhoto Chi-ha" continued their military service- during the Third Civil War in China (1945 - 1949).
Serviceable vehicles taken from the Kwantung Army, including 350 "Chi-ha", the Soviet troops handed over to the People's Liberation Army. On the other hand, a significant number of Japanese tanks, with the assistance of the Americans, received the Kuomintang troops of Chiang Kai-shek. The limited number of combat vehicles on both sides led to their use for direct support of the infantry when attacking individual strongholds. In Beiping (Beijing) on January 31, 1949 and in Nanjing on April 23, the People's Liberation Army of China entered on Japanese tanks - including the Chi-ha.
In Japan itself, the surviving "Chi-ha" and "Chi-he" remained in service until the 60s. However, during these years they played rather the role of training vehicles, since the basis of the armament of the “security corps”, and then the “self-defense forces” of Japan, then were American-made tanks.
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