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.³ The Hiro design proved to have better cross country capabilities and was selected to become the Type 98 Ke-Ni.³

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.³ This became the Type 2 Ke-To.³

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.³

• 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.

Specifications