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Japan's Type 2 Ka-Mi Amphibious Tank

Type 2 Ka-Mi:

Type 2 Ka-Mi: Aberdeen Tank Museum

Type 2 Ka-Mi: Aberdeen Tank Museum

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

• Type 2 Ka-Mi: 180
  • Production: 1942⁵, 1943 - ⁶

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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