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Japan's Type 98 Ke-Ni, Type 2 Ke-To
Design
Type 98 Ke-Ni
Hino Motor Company and Mitsubishi competed with their designs for a tank that was to replace the Type 95 Ha-Go.5 The Hiro design proved to have better cross country capabilities and was selected to become the Type 98 Ke-Ni.5
One of the tanks designers was General Hara.4
Driver was positioned in front in the center and had steering wheel control.
Muzzle velocity of the 37 mm Type 100 was 2,493 ft/sec.4
Type 2 Ke-To
Hino changed the Type 98 Light Tank to have a 37 mm Type 1 gun in a roomier turret.5 This became the Type 2 Ke-To.5
Prototype
Production
The Type 98 Ke-Ni wasn't produced in great quantities as there were difficulties retooling the factories and the overall need for light tanks had diminished.4 The Japanese Army delayed the production until 1942 as it felt that the Type 98 wasn't needed anymore.5
- Type 98 Ke-Ni: 100
- Production: 1942 - 1943
- Type 2 Ke-To: 29
- Production: 1944
Variants
- Type 98-B Ke-Ni: Had Christie type suspension with 4 road wheels, but never entered production.
- Type 2 Ke-To: Same as the Ke-Ni but with a newer 37 mm gun. Had a cylindrical turret.4 Model 1 37 mm gun. Muzzle velocity of 2,625 ft/ sec. All-welded construction.
Usage
| Type 98 Ke-Ni A | Type 98 Ke-Ni B | Type 2 Ke-To | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | Commander, gunner-turret, driver 32,4 |
31,2 | |
| Physical Characteristics | |||
| Weight | 6.2 tons3, 7.2 tons2 16,000 lb |
7.09 tons1, 7.2 tons2 7,200 kg1 |
|
| Length w/gun | 13' 5.5", 13.46'2 4.11 m3 |
13' 6"1, 13.46'2 4.11 m1 |
|
| Length w/o gun | |||
| Height | 5' 11.5", 5.96'2 1.82 m3 |
5' 11"1, 5.96'2 1.82 m1 |
|
| Width | 6' 11.5", 6.96'2 2.12 m3 |
6' 11"1, 6.96'2 2.12 m1 |
|
| Ground clearance | |||
| Ground contact length | |||
| Ground pressure | |||
| Turret ring diameter | |||
| Armament | |||
| Main | 37 mm Type 1004 |
37 mm Model 1 37 mm Type 11 37 mm2 |
|
| Secondary | |||
| MG | 7.7 mm Model 97 MG coaxial 2: 7.7 mm MG2 7.7 mm MG, coaxial4 |
7.7 mm MG1,2 | |
| Side arms | |||
| Quantity | |||
| Main | |||
| Secondary | |||
| MG | |||
| Side arms | |||
| Armor Thickness (mm) | 6 - 162 Front: 163 Side: 163 |
6 - 162 161 |
|
| Hull Front, Upper | |||
| Hull Front, Lower | |||
| Hull Sides, Upper | |||
| Hull Sides, Lower | |||
| Hull Rear | |||
| Hull Top | |||
| Hull Bottom | |||
| Turret Front | |||
| Turret Sides | |||
| Turret Rear | |||
| Turret Top | |||
| Engine (Make / Model) | Type 1004 Air cooled2,4 |
Mitsubishi Type 1001, air cooled2 | |
| Cylinders | 62 | I-61 | |
| Net HP | 1303,4, 1502 | 1301, 1502 | |
| Transmission | |||
| Fuel type | Diesel2,4 | Diesel1,2 | |
| Octane | |||
| Capacity | |||
| Performance | |||
| Traverse | 360° | ||
| Max Speed | 31.1 mph2, 32 mph4, 34 mph 50 kph3 |
31 mph1, 31.1 mph2 50 kph1 |
|
| Cross Country | |||
| Road radius | 100 miles, 190 miles4 | 116 miles1 186 km1 |
|
| Turning Radius | |||
| Elevation Limits | |||
| Fording depth | 2' 3" | ||
| Trench crossing | 6' 7" | ||
| Vertical Obstacle | |||
| Suspension (Type) | See-saw type4 | Christie2 | |
| Wheels each side | 6 grouped in 3 bogies4 | 42 | |
| Return rollers each side | |||
| Track length | |||
| Tires | |||
| Track width | |||
| Track centers/tread |
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
- Jane's World War II Tanks and Fighting Vehicles The Complete Guide, Leland Ness, 2002
- Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
- Japanese Tanks 1939-45, Steven J. Zaloga, 2007
