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

Ho-Ni I:	Ho-Ni III:
Type 97 Medium and Type 4 Self Propelled Gun	Type 4: Aberdeen Tank Museum	Type 4:

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

• Ho-Ni I: 26⁴, 124
  • Production: 1942 -⁴
• Ho-Ni II: 54⁴
  • Production: July 1942 - 1945⁴
• Ho-Ni III: 31⁴ (57 were orderd⁴)
  • Manufacturer: Hitachi⁴

Variants

• Ho-Ni I: 75 mm Type 90 field gun.⁴ Developed in 1942. The 75 mm gun fired a 14 lb round at a muzzle velocity of 2,260 '/sec to a maximum range of 13,000 yards.³
• Ho-Ni II: 100 mm Type 91 howitzer.⁴
• Ho-Ni III: 75 mm Type 90 field gun.⁴ Slightly better armor protection on top and rear of gunshield. The main armament was fully enclosed.⁴
• Type 38 Ho-Ro: Used CHI-HA chassis without turret and a shield around front and sides of gun. Gun had range of 6,500 yards and fired a 79 lb shell.³ It was based on a Krupp design.

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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