Japan's Type 95 Ha-Go, Type 95 Ke-Go, Type 3 Ke-Ri, Type 4 Ke-Nu, Type 5 Ke-Ho light tanks

Photos

Type 95 Ha-Go light tank:	Type 95 Ha-Go light tank:	Type 95 Ha-Go light tank:	Type 95 Ha-Go light tank:
Type 95 Ha-Go light tank:	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 1933.⁴ It was to weigh 7.7 tons / 7 metric tons.⁴ The main armament was to be 37 mm.^4,5 In July 1933, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. began the design work for a new light tank.^3,5 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.⁴

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

These were tested in China and Japan. Mitsubishi named them the HA-GO, and the army KE-GO.³

Crew

The driver of the Type 95 was on the right in the front with the hull machine gunner on the left.³ The turret was to the left of center which housed the commander.³

The fighting compartment was lined with asbestos to protect against the heat of the sides of the hull.³

Construction

The Type 95 was manufactured with riveted construction.³

MG Placement

A machine gun 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 AP4	2,300'/sec4 701 m/sec4	0.67 kg4	40 mm @ 90°4	1.8 miles4 2.9 km4
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.^3,4,5 The Independent Mixed Brigade in Manchuria received it for further testing.⁴ It was found to perform very well.⁴

The second prototype was completed in June 1935 / November 1935⁵ by Mitsubishi with some modifications based on the first prototype's trials.⁴

Production

• Type 95 Ha-Go: >1,100³, 1,250
  • Manufacturer: Mitsubishi³ (1,164), Dowa Jidosha⁶
  • Cost: ¥98,000⁴
  • Production: ? - 1943³
• Type 3 Ke-Ri: 1,300
  • Production: 1935 - 1943

Variants

• Type 95 Ha-Go, Type 3 Ke-Ri, Type 4 Ke-Nu:
• 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 installed.^2,3 Cramped turret.³ A few test vehicles were produced in 1943.
• Type 4 Ke-Nu: Used turret of Type 97 Medium tank to alleviate cramped turret.³ 19,000 lb. 100 converted in 1944. Saw little service.
• Type 5 Ke-Ho: Designed in 1942 and only 1 prototype built.²

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

Specifications

	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	31,2,4,6, 43 Commander4, driver4, hull machine gunner4	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 tons4, 8.5 tons6 7.4 metric tons4	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"3,4, 14' 5"1 4.37 m4, 4.38 m1,3	14' 1"	14.13'2	14' 1.5"2	14' 4.5"2
Length w/o gun
Height	7'4, 7' 2"3, 7' 3"1, 7.25'6, 7' 6"2,5 2.13 m4, 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"3,4,5 2.057 m3, 2.06 m1,4	6' 9.5"	6.79'2	6' 9.5"2	7.33'2
Width over tracks
Ground clearance	15"4, 15.5"6 0.4 m4
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)4	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 MG4			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, 1304,6	130, 119
Secondary
MG	2,9703,6, 3,3004	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	124	12
Hull Front, Lower		9
Hull Sides, Upper	124	12
Hull Sides, Lower		12
Hull Rear	124	6-12
Hull Top	94	9
Hull Bottom	94	9
Turret Front	124 0.47"6 Mantlet: 2.25"6	12
Turret Sides	124 0.47"6	12
Turret Rear	124	12
Turret Top	94	9
Engine (Make / Model)	Mitsubishi A6120VD4 Mitsubishi NVD1 Mitsubishi NVD 61203	Mitsubishi NVD 61020
Bore / stroke
Cooling	Air2,3,6	Air		Air2	Air6
Cylinders	61,2,3,4,6	6		62	62
Capacity
Net HP	706, 1102, 1201,3,4,6	110, 120 @ 1,800 rpm	1102	1102	1502
Power to weight ratio	16.2 HP/T4
Compression ratio
Transmission (Type)	Manual.3 Straight sliding gear.6 4 forward, 1 reverse4,6	4 forward, 1 reverse
Steering	Clutch brake6
Steering ratio
Starter	Electric6
Electrical system	24-volt6
Ignition
Fuel (Type)	Diesel1,2,3,4,6	Diesel		Diesel2	Diesel2
Octane
Quantity	Main tank: 27 gallons4, 28 gallons6 Main tank: 104 liters4 Auxiliary tank: 7 gallons4, 8 gallons6 Auxiliary tank: 27 liters4
Road consumption	3.1 mpg6
Cross country consumption
Performance
Traverse	MG: 35° left, 35° right.3 Hand6	360°
Speed - Road	25 mph2, 28 mph1,3,4, 30 mph6 45 kph1,3,4	28 mph, 45 kph		25 mph2	31 mph2
Speed - Cross Country	14 - 18 mph6, 18 mph4 29 kph4
Range - Road	110 miles6, 130 miles4, 156 miles3, 152 miles1 209 km4, 242 km1, 250 km3	130 miles
Range - Cross Country
Turning radius
Elevation limits	-15° to +20°4
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 bogie)
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