Type 89 Medium4, Chi-Ro
Type 92 Medium4, Type 94 Medium4
Original model
Many of the features were copied from the Vickers Mark C that was purchased from Britain in 1927.
This was the second home produced tank and was Prototype No. 2.4 It was completed in April 1929 and after testing was called the Type 89 Light Tank.4 After the Type 95 Light Tank appeared it was renamed the Type 89 Medium Tank.4
Produced by Mitsubishi.
Gun had a muzzle velocity of 1,148 ft/sec.
Early Models
Initially it had a front plate with a door on the right.4 There was a vertical front plate with a bow MG on the right, and the driver's visor on the left.4 There was a small cupola mounted on the turret.4
The five return rollers were mounted on a girder.4
May have been called the Type 92 Medium.4
Later Models
Had one long sloping front plate.4 The cupola was redesigned with a split opening.4 The driver was on the right and the bow MG on the left.4
There were four return rollers.4 A ditching tail was added.4
May have been called type Type 94 Medium.4
Locations of Use
First used at the Shanghai Incident in 1932 as part of the naval landing force.
Used by the medium tank units of Yamashita's 25th Army during invasion of Malaya and Singapore.
Some also saw action in Burma and in the Philippines before the majority of them were moved in mid-1942 to China for use.
Type 89A Chi-Ro Ko:
Had gasoline engine4, but after experience in Manchuria in the cold weather it was decided to substitute a diesel engine. Widely used in China and sometimes fitted with unditching tails. Had a box type hull with sloped glacis plates. Protective skirting covered the leaf springs.
Type 89B Chi-Ro Ot-Su (Otsu?):
Appeared in 1934 (sometimes known as the Type 94). Had single sloping front plate, new turret with commanders cupola, and a 6 cylinder diesel engine. Some vehicles had unditching tails at rear. The driver sat on the right and the hull MG gunner sat on the left. Steering was done by clutch and brake.
Type 94, Chu Sensha, Shiki 94:
The 57 mm fired a 5.7 lb AP shell at a muzzle velocity of 1,150'/sec.5
| Type 89A Chi-Ro Ko | Type 89B Chi-Ro Ot-Su | Type 94, Chu Sensha, Shiki 94 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | Commander, loader, driver, gunner-hull 44 |
42 | 41 | 45 |
| Physical Characteristics | ||||
| Weight | 9.6 tons (initially)4, 11.3 tons (after modifications)4, 11.8 tons3 | 28,000 lb 12.7 tons2, 13 tons |
28,660 lb, 25,353 lb 11,500 kg, 13,000 kg1 12.79 tons1, 13 tons |
15.4 tons5 |
| Length w/gun | 14' 2"4, 18' 10.25", 18' 11" (with trench crossing tail)4 5.75 m3 |
16' 8", 18.8'2 5.1 m |
14' 1", 18' 10"1 4.73 m, 5.73 m1 |
16.4'5 With ditching tail: 19.2'5 |
| Length w/o gun | ||||
| Height | 7' 2"4, 8' 5" 2.56 m3 |
8.48'2 | 7' 2", 8' 3"1 2.56 m1 |
8.7'5 |
| Width | 7'4, 7' 2" 2.18 m3 |
7' 3", 7.17'2 2.2 m |
7'1 2.13 m1 |
7.1'5 |
| Width over tracks | ||||
| Ground clearance | 19"5 | |||
| Ground contact length | 132"5 | |||
| Ground pressure | 8.2 psi5 | |||
| Turret ring diameter | ||||
| Armament | ||||
| Main | 57 mm Model 90 57 mm4 |
57 mm2 | 57 mm1 | 57 mm Type 90, L/18.55 |
| Secondary | ||||
| MG | 6.5 mm MG Type 91, turret rear, hull 2 MGs, turret rear, hull4 |
2: 6.5 mm MG2 | 2: 6.5 mm MG1 | 2: 6.5 mm Type 91 MG, hull, turret rear5 |
| Side arms | ||||
| Quantity | ||||
| Main | 100 | 1005 | ||
| Secondary | ||||
| MG | 2,745 | 2,7505 | ||
| Side arms | ||||
| Armor Thickness (mm) | 174 Front: 173 Side: 173 |
10 - 172 | 171 | Front: 0.67"5 Side: 0.43"5 |
| Hull Front, Upper | 17 | |||
| Hull Front, Lower | 17 | |||
| Hull Sides, Upper | 17 | |||
| Hull Sides, Lower | 17 | |||
| Hull Rear | 17 | |||
| Hull Top | 10 | |||
| Hull Bottom | 6 | |||
| Turret Front | 17 | 0.5"5 Mantlet: 0.75"5 |
||
| Turret Sides | 15 | 0.25"5 | ||
| Turret Rear | 15 | |||
| Turret Top | 10 | |||
| Engine (Make / Model) | Daimler water cooled Mitsubishi2 |
Mitsubishi1 | Mitsubishi5 | |
| Bore / stroke | ||||
| Cooling | Water2 | Air | Air5 | |
| Cylinders | 6 | 62 | 61 | |
| Capacity | ||||
| Net HP | 1183 | 118, 1052 | 115, 1201 @ 1,800 rpm | 1605 |
| Power to weight ratio | ||||
| Compression ratio | ||||
| Transmission (Type) | 4 speed | 4 forward, 1 reverse5 | ||
| Steering | Clutch brake5 | |||
| Steering ratio | ||||
| Starter | ||||
| Electrical system | ||||
| Compression ratio | ||||
| Fuel (Type) | Diesel4 | Gasoline2,3,4 | Diesel1,3,4 | Diesel5 |
| Octane | ||||
| Quantity | 211 gallons5 | |||
| Road consumption | ||||
| Cross country consumption | ||||
| Performance | ||||
| Traverse | 360° | |||
| Max speed | 17 mph4 25 kph3 |
15 mph, 15.5 mph2 24.1 kph |
15.5 mph, 16 mph1, 17 mph 26 kph1 |
28 mph5 |
| Cross country speed | 18 - 20 mph5 | |||
| Road radius | 87 miles | 100 miles, 106 miles1 170 km1 |
100 miles5 | |
| Cross country radius | ||||
| Turning radius | ||||
| Elevation limits | ||||
| Fording depth | 3' 3" | 39"5 | ||
| Trench crossing | 8' 3", 6' 7" | 9'5 | ||
| Vertical obstacle | 2' 9", 3' | 33"5 | ||
| Climbing ability | 34° (67%) slope5 | |||
| Suspension (Type) | Leaf Spring | Spring5 | ||
| Wheels each side | 9 | 85, 1 roller5 | ||
| Return rollers each side | 5 | 4 | 45 | |
| Tracks (Type) | Dry pin5 | |||
| Length | ||||
| Width | 12" | 12.75"5 | ||
| Diameter | ||||
| Number of links | 805 | |||
| Pitch | 5.5"5 | |||
| Tire tread | ||||
| Track centers/tread | ||||
| Production | 1932 - | Osaka Arsenal5 |
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
- Tank Data, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, 1968?
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