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Japan's Type 95 Ha-Go5, Type 95 Ke-Go5, Type 3 Ke-Ri, Type 4 Ke-Nu, Type 5 Ke-Ho Light Tanks:

Type 95 Ha-Go:
Japan's Type 95 Ha-Go light tank 		Type 95 Ha-Go:
Japan's Type 95 Ha-Go light tank		 Type 95 Ha-Go:
Japan's Type 95 Ha-Go light tank		 Type 95 Ha-Go:
Japan's Type 95 Ha-Go light tank
Type 95 Ha-Go:
Japan's Type 95 Ha-Go light tank 		Type 95 Ha-Go:
Japan's Type 95 Ha-Go light tank		 Type 95 Ha-Go:
Japan's Type 95 Ha-Go light tank		 Type 95 Ha-Go light tank:
Japan's Type 95 Ha-Go light tank

Design

A design study for a new light tank was conducted by the Cavalry and Infantry schools and was completed in July 1933.7 It was to weigh 7.7 tons / 7 metric tons.7 The main armament was to be 37 mm.5,7 In July 1933, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. began the design work for a new light tank.5 It was to have a top speed of 25 mph and have 12 mm armor.5 The same diesel engine that was used in the Type 89B was to be used.7

The Type 89 Medium was too slow for mechanized operations so a faster model was needed.

These were tested in China and Japan. The company called them HA-GO, and the army called them KE-GO.

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.

MG Placement

A MG was installed in the rear of the turret, facing the 5 o'clock position.5

Main Armament

Round Velocity Weight Penetration Range
500 m
Type 1 AP7 2,300'/sec7
701 m/sec7 		0.67 kg7 40 mm @ 90°7 1.8 miles7
2.9 km7
AP6 1,900'/sec6 1.54 kg6    
  1,886'/sec5, 2,215'/sec5      

Prototype

A prototype was built by Mitsubishi and started trials in June 1934.5,7 The Independent Mixed Brigade in Manchuria received it for further testing.7 It was found to perform very well.7

The second prototype was completed in June 1935 / November 19355 by Mitsubishi with some modifications based on the first prototype's trials.7

Production

Production started in 1935, and 100 were produced by 1939. Mitsubishi, Hiigata, Tekkosho, Kobe Seikosho, and Kokura Rikugan Zoheisho manufactured them.

Variants

Usage

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.

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 95 Ha-Go Type 3 Ke-Ri, Type 4 Ke-Nu Type 3 Ke-Ri Type 4 Ke-Nu Type 5 Ke-Ho
Crew 31,2,6,7, 43
Commander7, driver7, hull machine gunner7 		Commander, driver, gunner-hull   32 42
Physical Characteristics          
Weight 16,314 lb3
7,400 kg1,3
7.28 tons1, 7.3 tons5, 7.4 tons2, 8.1 tons7, 8.5 tons6
7.4 metric tons7 		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"3,7, 14' 5"1
4.37 m7, 4.38 m1,3 		14' 1" 14.13'2 14' 1.5"2 14' 4.5"2
Length w/o gun          
Height 7'7, 7' 2"3, 7' 3"1, 7.25'6, 7' 6"2,5
2.13 m7, 2.18 m1, 2.184 m3 		7' 5.75" 7.42'2   7.33'2
Width 6.75'2,6, 6' 8"1, 6' 9"3,5,7
2.057 m3, 2.06 m1,7 		6' 9.5" 6.79'2 6' 9.5"2 7.33'2
Width over tracks          
Ground clearance 15"7, 15.5"6
0.4 m7 		       
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 or Type 98 (L/46.1)7 		37 mm Type 94 (later models had Type 98) 57 mm2,3 57 mm2 47 mm2
Secondary          
MG 2: 7.7 mm MG1,2
6.5 mm Type 91 MG 3
2: 7.7 mm Type 97 MG7 		    2: 7.7 mm MG2 7.7 mm MG2
MG - hull 6.5 mm Type 91 (61) MG
7.7 mm Type 97 tank MG6
7.7 mm Type 97      
MG - turret rear 7.7 mm Type 97 tank MG6
7.7 mm Type 97      
Side arms          
Quantity          
Main 1193, 1306,7 130, 119      
Secondary          
MG 2,9703,6, 3,3007 2,970      
Side arms          
Armor Thickness (mm) 6 - 122, 121, 6 - 143
Front: 0.55"6
Side: 0.47"6 		    6 - 252 8 - 202
Hull Front, Upper 127 12      
Hull Front, Lower   9      
Hull Sides, Upper 127 12      
Hull Sides, Lower   12      
Hull Rear 127 6-12      
Hull Top 97 9      
Hull Bottom 97 9      
Turret Front 127
0.47"6
Mantlet: 2.25"6 		12      
Turret Sides 127
0.47"6 		12      
Turret Rear 127 12      
Turret Top 97 9      
Engine (Make / Model) Mitsubishi A6120VD7
Mitsubishi NVD1
Mitsubishi NVD 61203 		Mitsubishi NVD 61020      
Bore / stroke          
Cooling Air2,3,6 Air   Air2 Air6
Cylinders 61,2,3,6,7 6   62 62
Capacity          
Net HP 706, 1102, 1201,3,6,7 110, 120 @ 1,800 rpm 1102 1102 1502
Power to weight ratio 16.2 HP/T7        
Compression ratio          
Transmission (Type) Manual.3 Straight sliding gear.6
4 forward, 1 reverse6,7 		4 forward, 1 reverse      
Steering Clutch brake6        
Steering ratio          
Starter Electric6        
Electrical system 24-volt6        
Ignition          
Fuel (Type) Diesel1,2,3,6,7 Diesel   Diesel2 Diesel2
Octane          
Quantity Main tank: 27 gallons7, 28 gallons6
Main tank: 104 liters7
Auxiliary tank: 7 gallons7, 8 gallons6
Auxiliary tank: 27 liters7 		       
Road consumption 3.1 mpg6        
Cross country consumption          
Performance          
Traverse MG: 35° left, 35° right.3
Hand6 		360°      
Max speed 25 mph2, 28 mph1,3,7, 30 mph6
45 kph1,3,7 		28 mph,
45 kph		   25 mph2 31 mph2
Cross country speed 14 - 18 mph6, 18 mph7
29 kph7 		       
Road radius 110 miles6, 130 miles7, 156 miles3, 152 miles1
209 km7, 242 km1, 250 km3 		130 miles      
Cross country radius          
Turning radius          
Elevation limits -15° to +20°7        
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        

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. -
  5. Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
  6. Tank Data, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, 1968?
  7. Japanese Tanks 1939-45, Steven J. Zaloga, 2007
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