Type 95 Ha-Go5, Type 95 Ke-Go5, Type 3 Ke-Ri, Type 4 Ke-Nu, Type 5 Ke-Ho:
Type 95 Ha-Go, Type 3 Ke-Ri, Type 4 Ke-Nu:
The Type 89 Medium was too slow for mechanized operations so a faster model was needed.
In July 1933, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. began the design work for a new light tank.5 It was to weigh 7 tons, have a top speed of 25 mph, have a 37 mm gun, and 12 mm armor.5
The first prototype was completed in June 1934.5 The second prototype was completed in November 1935.5
These were tested in China and Japan. The company called them HA-GO, and the army called them KE-GO. Production started in 1935, and 100 were produced by 1939. Mitsubishi, Hiigata, Tekkosho, Kobe Seikosho, and Kokura Rikugan Zoheisho manufactured them.
The turret was offset to the left. Hand traversed turret. Hull was riveted, bolted and welded. Asbestos padding was put around compartment to keep the temperature as low as possible as there was a space between the asbestos and the side of the tank. Drive sprocket was in the front and idler in the rear. No radio's as standard equipment, a few commander's vehicles did have one installed.
It had many vulnerable points, with gaps, between the hull and turret. The turret could be jammed by a knife. The vision slits let bullets into the tank.
A few vehicles had main gun replaced by Type 98 47mm.
Used on all fronts. Were used as dug in pillboxes on Iwo Jima.
12 Type 95 arrived at Saipan in April 1944, with the 9th Tank Regiment commanded by Colonel Takashi Goto.
MG Placement
A MG was installed in the rear of the turret, facing the 5 o'clock position.5
Main Armament
Initial 37 mm guns had a muzzle velocity of 1,886 ft/sec.5 Later models had an improved 37 mm with a muzzle velocity was 2,215 ft/sec.5 the 1.54 lb AP round had a muzzle velocity of 1,900'/sec.6
Manchuria
Were issued to the mechanized brigades, but were found to have problems crossing the kaoliang fields.5 This resulted in the bogie arms getting inverted and a small roller attached between the pairs of bogie wheels.5
Type 35 (Special):
In Manchuria some had their suspensions modified to help improve the ride crossing terrain.
Type 3 Ke-Ri:
57mm Model 97 gun installed2. Cramped turret. A few test vehicles were produced in 1943.
Type 4 Ke-Nu:
Used turret of Type 97 Medium tank to alleviate cramped turret. 19,000 lb. 100 converted in 1944. Saw little service.
Type 5 Ke-Ho:
Designed in 1942 and only 1 prototype built.2
| Type 95 Ha-Go | Type 3 Ke-Ri, Type 4 Ke-Nu | Type 3 Ke-Ri | Type 4 Ke-Nu | Type 5 Ke-Ho | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 31,2,6 43 |
Commander, driver, gunner-hull | 32 | 42 | |
| Physical Characteristics | |||||
| Weight | 16,314 lb3 7,400 kg1,3 6.7 tons4, 7.28 tons1, 7.3 tons5, 7.4 tons2, 8.5 tons6 |
7.4 tons 16,300 lb |
7.4 tons2 | 8.4 tons2 | 10 tons2 |
| Length w/gun | 4.08'2 (exactly as in book), 14' 1"5, 14.3'6, 14' 4"3, 14' 5"1 4.3 m4, 4.38 m1,3 |
14' 1" | 14.13'2 | 14' 1.5"2 | 14' 4.5"2 |
| Length w/o gun | |||||
| Height | 7.5'2, 7' 2"3, 7' 3"1, 7.25'6, 7' 6"5 2.18 m1, 2.184 m3, 2.28 m4 |
7' 5.75" | 7.42'2 | 7.33'2 | |
| Width | 6.75'2,6, 6' 8"1, 6' 9"3,5 2.057 m3, 2.06 m1, 2.07 m4 |
6' 9.5" | 6.79'2 | 6' 9.5"2 | 7.33'2 |
| Width over tracks | |||||
| Ground clearance | 15.5"6 | ||||
| Ground contact length | 97"6 | ||||
| Ground pressure | 8.7 psi, 8.9 psi6 0.61 kg/cm2 |
||||
| Turret ring diameter | |||||
| Armament | |||||
| Main | 37 mm Type 941,3 37 mm2 37 mm Type 94, L/376 |
37 mm Type 94 (later models had Type 98) | 57 mm2,3 | 57 mm2 | 47 mm2 |
| Secondary | |||||
| MG | 6.5 mm Type 91 (61) MG, hull 2: 7.7 mm MG1,2 6.5 mm Type 91 MG 3 2: 7.7 mm Type 97 tank MGs, hull, turret rear6 |
7.7 mm Type 97, hull, turret rear | 2: 7.7 mm MG2 | 7.7 mm MG2 | |
| Side arms | |||||
| Quantity | |||||
| Main | 1193, 1306 | 130, 119 | |||
| Secondary | |||||
| MG | 2,9703,6 | 2,970 | |||
| Side arms | |||||
| Armor Thickness (mm) | 6 - 122,
121, 6 - 143 Front: 0.55"6, 124 Side: 0.47"6, 124 |
6 - 252 | 8 - 202 | ||
| Hull Front, Upper | 12 | ||||
| Hull Front, Lower | 9 | ||||
| Hull Sides, Upper | 12 | ||||
| Hull Sides, Lower | 12 | ||||
| Hull Rear | 6-12 | ||||
| Hull Top | 9 | ||||
| Hull Bottom | 9 | ||||
| Turret Front | 0.47"6 Mantlet: 2.25"6 |
12 | |||
| Turret Sides | 0.47"6 | 12 | |||
| Turret Rear | 12 | ||||
| Turret Top | 9 | ||||
| Engine (Make / Model) | Mitsubishi NVD1, air cooled2 Mitsubishi NVD 6120 3 |
Mitsubishi NVD 61020 | |||
| Bore / stroke | |||||
| Cooling | Air3,6 | Air | Air2 | Air6 | |
| Cylinders | 61,2,3,6 | 6 | 62 | 62 | |
| Capacity | |||||
| Net HP | 706, 1102, 1201,3,4,6 | 110, 120 @ 1,800 rpm | 1102 | 1102 | 1502 |
| Power to weight ratio | |||||
| Compression ratio | |||||
| Transmission (Type) | Manual.3 Straight sliding gear.6 4 forward, 1 reverse6 |
4 forward, 1 reverse | |||
| Steering | Clutch brake6 | ||||
| Steering ratio | |||||
| Starter | Electric6 | ||||
| Electrical system | 24-volt6 | ||||
| Ignition | |||||
| Fuel (Type) | Diesel1,2,3,6 | Diesel | Diesel2 | Diesel2 | |
| Octane | |||||
| Quantity | Main tank: 28 gallons6 Auxiliary tank: 8 gallons6 |
||||
| Road consumption | 3.1 mpg6 | ||||
| Cross country consumption | |||||
| Performance | |||||
| Traverse | MG: 35° left, 35° right.3 Hand6 |
360° | |||
| Max speed | 25 mph2, 28 mph1,3, 30 mph6 40 kph4, 45 kph1,3 |
28 mph, 45 kph |
25 mph2 | 31 mph2 | |
| Cross country speed | 14 - 18 mph6 | ||||
| Road radius | 156 miles3, 152 miles1, 110 miles6 242 km1, 250 km3 |
130 miles | |||
| Cross country radius | |||||
| Turning radius | |||||
| Elevation limits | |||||
| Fording depth | 3' 3"3,6 1 m3 |
3' 3" | |||
| Trench crossing | 6'6, 6' 7"3 2 m3 |
6' 95: 6' 7" |
|||
| Vertical obstacle | 2' 8"3,6 0.812 m3 |
2' 8" | |||
| Climbing ability | 40° (84%) slope6 | ||||
| Suspension (Type) | 1 armored helical compression spring per side, acting against bell cranks on each of 2 bogies with 2 wheels each.6 | Bell crank | |||
| Wheels each side | 43,6 | 4 (2 per boggie) | |||
| Return rollers each side | 23,6 | 2 | |||
| Tracks (Type) | Dry pin6 | ||||
| Length | |||||
| Width | 9.9"6 | 9 7/8" | |||
| Diameter | |||||
| Number of links | 986 | ||||
| Pitch | 4"6 | ||||
| Tire tread | Rubber3 | ||||
| Track centers/tread | 5.95'6 | ||||
| Production | 1,250 (1,164: Mitsubishi) Dowa Jidosha6 |
1935-1943: 1,300 |
Sources:
- 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
- Tanks of the World, 1915-1945, Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis, 1972
- The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
- Jane's World War II Tanks and Fighting Vehicles The Complete Guide, Leland Ness, 2002
- Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
- Tank Data, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, 1968?
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