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Japan's Ho-Ni I, II, III:

Ho-Ni I:
Japan's Ho-Ni I
Ho-Ni III:
Japan's Ho-Ni III
 
Type 97 Medium and Type 4 Self Propelled Gun
Japan's Type 97 Medium Tank and Type 4 Self Propelled Gun
Type 4:
Japan's Ho-Ro Self Propelled Gun
Aberdeen Tank Museum
Type 4:
Japan's Type 38 Ho-Ro

Design

Ho-Ni

The Ho-Nis used a Type 97 Chi-Ha tank chassis.4 The first chassis was converted in June 1941.4

Prototype

 

Production

Variants

Usage

Type 38 (Type 4)

Was organized in 4 vehicle batteries.

  Ho-Ni I Ho-Ni II Ho-Ni III Type 38 HO-RO
/Type 4 HO-RO1
Crew 33 5 5 4 or 51, 53
Physical Characteristics        
Weight 32,704 lb
14.6 tons, 15 tons3
36,064 lb
16.1 tons
36,064 lb
16.1 tons
29,982 lb1, 33,600 lb
13,600 kg1
15 tons3
Length w/gun 18.2'3     18', 18.2'3, 18' 2"1
5.537 m1
Length w/o gun        
Height 7.7'3     7.6'3, 7' 9"
To top of Shield: 5' 1"1, 1.549 m1
Width 7.7'3     7' 6"1, 7.6'3, 7' 8.5"
2.286 m1
Width over tracks        
Ground clearance 14"3     14"3
Ground contact length 138"3     144"3
Ground pressure 8.4 psi3     8 psi3
Turret ring diameter        
Armament        
Main 75 mm Type 903,4 100 mm Type 91 howitzer4 75 mm Type 88 antiaircraft
75 mm Type 90 field gun4
150 mm Type 38 howitzer1
150 mm Type 38 howitzer, L/123
Secondary        
MG        
Side arms        
Quantity        
Main        
Secondary        
MG        
Side arms        
Armor Thickness (mm) Front: 0.98"3
Side: 0.8"3
    Front: 0.63"3
Side: 0.5"3
Hull Front, Upper       25
Hull Front, Lower        
Hull Sides, Upper        
Hull Sides, Lower        
Hull Rear        
Hull Top        
Hull Bottom        
Superstructure Front 2"3     1"3
Superstructure Sides       0.63"3
Superstructure Rear        
Superstructure Top        
Engine (Make / Model) Mitsubishi Mitsubishi Mitsubishi  
Bore / stroke        
Cooling Air3     Air3
Cylinders V-123 12 12 V-121,3
Capacity        
Net HP 1703     1701,3
Power to weight ratio        
Compression ratio 17.8:13     17.8:13
Transmission (Type) Sliding pinion with high-low transfer case3
4 forward, 1 reverse3
    Sliding pinion with high-low transfer case3
4 forward, 1 reverse3
Steering Clutch brake3     Clutch brake3
Steering ratio        
Starter Electric3     Electric3
Electrical System Starting: 24-volt3
Running: 12-volt3
    Starting: 24-volt3
Running: 12-volt3
Ignition        
Fuel (Type) Diesel3 Diesel Diesel Diesel1,3
Octane        
Quantity 52 gallons in 2 tanks3     52 gallons in 2 tanks3
Road consumption 3.7 gallons/hour @ 9.3 mph3     3.7 gallons/hour @ 9.3 mph3
Cross country consumption        
Performance        
Traverse 20°3 20° 20° 30°3
Max speed 25 mph3 25 mph 25 mph 23.6 mph1, 24 mph, 25 mph3
38 kph1
Cross country speed        
Road radius 130 miles3, 131 miles 131 miles 131 miles 100 miles3
Cross country radius        
Turning radius        
Elevation limits -5° to +25°3 -5° to +20° -5° to +20°  
Fording depth 39"3     39"3
Trench crossing 8.25'3     8.25'3
Vertical obstacle        
Climbing ability 30° (57%) slope3     30° (57%) slope3
Suspension (Type) Front and rear wheels independently sprung, center wheels sprung in pairs, coil springs3     Front and rear wheels independently sprung, center wheels sprung in pairs, coil springs3
Wheels each side 63     63
Return rollers each side 33     33
Tracks (Type) Dry pin3     Dry pin3
Length        
Width 13"3     13"3
Diameter        
Number of links 953     953
Pitch 4.9"3     4.9"3
Tire tread        
Track centers/tread 6.6'3     6.6'3

Sources:

  1. The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
  2. -
  3. Tank Data, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, 1968?
  4. Japanese Tanks 1939-45, Steven J. Zaloga, 2007
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