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Japan's Type 2 Ka-Mi Amphibious Tank

Type 2 Ka-Mi:
Japan's Type 2 Ka-Mi Amphibious Tank
Type 2 Ka-Mi:
Japan's Type 2 Amphibious Tank
Aberdeen Tank Museum
Type 2 Ka-Mi:
Japan's Type 2 Amphibious Tank
Aberdeen Tank Museum
Type 2 Ka-Mi:
Japan's Type 2 Ka-Mi

Design

The Navy took over amphibious tank development from the army in 1940. Their first design was the Ka-Mi which appeared in 1942. These were virtually hand built and thus not enough were produced for demand.

The Type 2 Ka-Mi's chassis was based on the Type 95 Ha-Go.6 It had two pontoons installed in the front and rear that were bolted on.6 They could be released from the inside of the Type 2.5,6

The front sponsoon was divided into 8 compartments to minimize flooding from damage. All welded construction. Had 2 propellers and was steered by 2 rudders which were controlled by cables from the commander's position.5 There was also a radio and telephone intercom for the crew. One of the crew was a mechanic that looked after the engine and the power transfer from the road wheels to the propellers.

The 37 mm gun could fire a 1.5 lb AP shell at a muzzle velocity of 2,300'/sec.5

Prototype

 

Production

Variants

 

Usage

Used mostly for infantry support or used as pillboxes. Some could be launched from submarines.

Saipan

3 were with the 1st Yokosuka Special Naval Landing Force at Saipan6.

Leyte

In 1944 Type 2s were deployed to Leyte.6

  Type 2 Ka-Mi
Crew 62, 4-5, 51,3
Physical Characteristics  
Weight 24,915 lb, 27,500 lb
11,300 kg, 12,500 kg1
12.3 tons1
Without pontoons: 9,571 kg3, 21,100 lb3, 9.15 tons4
With pontoons: 12.5 tons2,4, 11,301 kg3, 24,914 lb3, 24,915 lb5
Length w/gun 24' 6.75", 24' 4"1
7.42 m1
Without pontoons: 15' 10"3, 4.826 m3, 4.8 m4
With pontoons: 24.58'2, 24' 4"3,5, 7.417 m3, 7.5 m4
Length w/o gun  
Height 7.51'2, 7' 8"1,3,5
2.3 m4, 2.34 m1, 2.337 m3
Width 9.16'2, 9' 1.8"3, 9' 2"5, 9' 3"1
2.79 m1,3, 2.8 m4
Width over tracks  
Ground clearance 14"5
Ground contact length 130"5
Ground pressure  
Turret ring diameter  
Armament  
Main 37 mm1,2,3
37 mm Type 14,5
Secondary  
MG 2: 7.7 mm MG1,2,3,4, coaxial, bow4
2: 7.7 mm Type 97 MG, coaxial, bow5
Side arms  
Quantity  
Main 1325
Secondary  
MG 3,5005
Side arms  
Armor Thickness (mm) 122, 131
Front: 124
Side: 124
Hull Front, Upper 0.47"@0°5
Hull Front, Lower  
Hull Sides, Upper 0.35"@0°5
Hull Sides, Lower  
Hull Rear  
Hull Top  
Hull Bottom  
Turret Front 0.52"@0°5
Turret Sides 0.52"@0°5
Turret Rear  
Turret Top  
Engine (Make / Model) Mitsubishi1
Bore / stroke  
Cooling Air2,5
Cylinders 61,2,3,5
Capacity  
Net HP 1103, 1151,2,4, 1205
Power to weight ratio  
Compression ratio  
Transmission (Type) High and low ranges5
4 forward, 1 reverse5
Steering Land: clutch-brake5
Water: rudders5
Steering ratio  
Starter  
Electrical system  
Ignition  
Fuel (Type) Diesel1,2,3,5
Octane  
Quantity 53 gallons5
Road consumption 2.4 mpg5
Cross country consumption  
Performance  
Traverse 360°5
Max speed Land: 23 mph1,2,3,5, 37 kph1,3,4
Water: 6 mph1,2,3,5, 9.65 kph3, 10 kph1
Cross country speed  
Road radius 124 miles, 125 miles1, 200 km1
Land: 124 miles5, 125 miles3, 199.5 km3
Water: 93 miles3,5, 94 miles1, 149.6 km3, 150 km1
Cross country radius  
Turning radius  
Elevation limits -11.5° to +5.5°5
Fording depth  
Trench crossing 6' 7"5
Vertical obstacle 2' 5"5
Climbing ability  
Suspension (Type) Bogie wheels mounted on bell cranks5
Wheels each side 2 bogies with 2 wheels each5
Return rollers each side 2
Tracks (Type) Steel, dry pin5
Length  
Width 12"5
Diameter  
Number of links 1035
Pitch 3 5/16"5
Tire tread  
Track centers/tread 96.255

Sources:

  1. The Encyclopedia of Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles - The Comprehensive Guide to Over 900 Armored Fighting Vehicles From 1915 to the Present Day, General Editor: Christopher F. Foss, 2002
  2. Tanks of the World, 1915-1945, Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis, 1972
  3. The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
  4. Jane's World War II Tanks and Fighting Vehicles The Complete Guide, Leland Ness, 2002
  5. Tank Data 2, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, E. J. Hoffschmidt and W. H. Tantum IV, 1969
  6. Japanese Tanks 1939-45, Steven J. Zaloga, 2007
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