Japan's flag
Toggle Menu

Japan's Type 97 Chi-Ha, 2597 Medium Tank (Chi-Ha)

Photos

Type 97 Chi-Ha Medium Tank8:
Japan's Type 97 Chi-Ha Medium Tank
Aberdeen Tank Museum
Type 97 Chi-Ha Medium Tank8:
Japan's Type 97 Chi-Ha Medium Tank
Type 97 Chi-Ha Medium Tank:
Japan's Type 97 Chi-Ha Medium Tank
Type 97 Chi-Ha Medium Tank:
Japan's Type 97 Chi-Ha Medium Tank
Type 97 Chi-Ha Medium Tank8:
Japan's Type 97 Chi-Ha Medium Tank
Type 97 Chi-Ha Medium Tank8:
Japan's Type 97 Chi-Ha Medium Tank
Type 97 Chi-Ha Medium Tank:
Japan's Type 97 Chi-Ha Medium Tank
Type 97 Chi-Ha Medium Tank:
Japan's Type 97 Chi-Ha Medium Tank
Type 97 Chi-Ha Medium Tank:
Japan's Type 97 Chi-Ha Medium Tank
Type 97 Chi-Ha Medium Tank8:
Japan's Type 97 Chi-Ha Medium Tank
Type 97 Chi-Ha Medium Tank:
Japan's Type 97 Chi-Ha Medium Tank
Type 97 Chi-Ha Medium Tank:
Japan's Type 97 Chi-Ha Medium Tank
Type 97 Chi-Ha Medium Tank:
Japan's Type 97 Chi-Ha Medium Tank
Type 97 Chi-Ha Medium Tanks on maneuvers crossing a flooded field near the Military Tank Training Institute near Tokyo:
Japan's Type 97 Chi-Ha Medium Tank
United States Marines inspecting a Type 97 Chi-Ha after being used as a pillbox:
Japan's Type 97 Chi-Ha Medium Tank
Same Type 97 Chi-Ha being inspected:
Japan's Type 97 Chi-Ha Medium Tank
Type 97 Chi-Ha Medium Tank:
Japan's Type 97 Chi-Ha Medium Tank
Type 97 Chi-Ha Medium Tank:
Japan's Type 97 Chi-Ha Medium Tank
Type 97 Chi-Ha Medium Tank:
Japan's Type 97 Chi-Ha Medium Tank
Type 97 Chi-Ha Medium Tank:
Japan's Type 97 Chi-Ha Medium Tank
Type 97 Chi-Ha Medium Tanks and Shi-Kis:
Japan's Type 97 Chi-Ha Medium Tank
Se-Ri armored recovery vehicle:
Japan's Type 97 Chi-Ha Medium Tank
Shi-Ki command tank :
Japan's Type 97 Chi-Ha Medium Tank
Shi-Ki command tank8 :
Japan's Type 97 Chi-Ha Medium Tank
Type 97 Medium and Type 4 Self Propelled Gun8:
Japan's Type 97 Chi-Ha Medium Tank
     

Design

Based on use in China the Army issued a requirement in 1935 for a new medium tank to replace the Type 89B.3,4,8 Inspired by the British A6, a design was put forth that was faster than the Type 89.4,8 The Operations Chief of Staff however wanted a vehicle that was lighter and thus cheaper to manufacture.8 The Engineering Department however wanted to improve performance so Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and the Osaka Army Arsenal were each tasked with developing a prototype, one to meet the Chief of Staff's preferences and the other theirs.8

At first the Chi-Ni was selected as it was cheaper, but it was decided that the more powerful Chi-Ha was needed after the war broke out in China.5,8

Internal communications were accomplished by 12 push buttons in the turret connected to 12 lights and a buzzer by the driver.

Engine

The engine, located in the rear provided power by a shaft that went to the gearbox in the front which then drove the front sprockets.3

Crew

The Type 97's driver was located in the front to the right, and the machine gunner was to his left.3,4 The turret was to the right of center.3,4

Construction

The Type 97 was manufactured with riveted construction.3,4

Suspension

The suspension for the Type 97 Chi-Ha was similar to one used in the Type 95 light tank.4 It however had six road wheels instead of four.4

The middle return roller only supported the inside of the track. The 4 center wheels were mounted in pairs on bell cranks. The outside wheels were independently mounted.

Main Armament

The turret ring was made large enough to allow for larger guns in the future.8

  Round Type Weight Velocity per Second Penetration
500 yards
47 mm     2,700' 70 mm
47 mm Type 97 L/48     2,625'  
47 mm Type 16 AP6 3.4 lb6 2,700'6 2.7"@0°6
57 mm7 HE7 6 lb7 1,200'7, 1,378'  
57 mm Type 908     350 m8  
57 mm Type 978     420 m8  

Prototype

Two prototypes were built.3,5,8 Mitsubishi built one for the Engineering Department, and Osaka Arsenal built one for the General Staff Office.3,8

Production

  • Chi-Ha Prototype:
    • Manufacturer: Mitsubishi5,8
    • Production: 19378
  • Chi-Ni Prototype:
    • Manufacturer: Osaka Arsenal5,8
    • Production: 19378
  • Type 97 Chi-Ha: ~3,0003
    • Manufacturer: Mitsubishi3, Hitachi
    • Production: 19377 - 1943, 1938 -4
  • Type 97 Special Shinhoto Chi-Ha:
    • Production: 1942 -

Variants

  • Chi Ha Prototype: Armor was light.4 Was selected for production.8
  • Chi Ni Prototype: Commander was only one in turret.8
  • Type 97 Chi-Ha:
  • Shi-Ki: Command tank with 37 mm gun in hull instead of MG.2 Turret gun was dummy. A long range radio was installed with a rail antenna around the top of the turret.
  • Se-Ri: Armored Recovery Vehicle with a collapsible crane. Had 240 hp diesel.
  • Ho-Ni I: Turret removed and 75 mm gun installed.
  • Ho-Ni II: Turret removed and 105 mm gun installed.
  • Mine Clearing Tank G: Had 2 revolving drums which had rows of chains.2 This was primarily copied from Allied Mine Clearing tanks.
  • Type 38 HO-RO: Turret removed, and 150 mm gun installed.3
  • Ho-K: Had its turret removed and had a steel prow mounted on the front for clearing paths through Manchurian forests.
    Other variants were self-propelled AA (20 mm & 75 mm), engineer, recovery, flame-thrower, bulldozer, and bridge layer.
  • Type 97 Special Shinhoto Chi-Ha / Type 97-Kai Shinhoto Chi-Ha: New turrets designed by Mitsubishi for the Type 1 Chi-He were put onto Type 97 tanks. Had 47 mm Type 1 as its main armament.8 Mainstay of Japanese Armored forces. Since the Type 1 Chi-He was slow in getting into full production it was decided to upgrade the Type 97 Chi-Ha production. First used in 1942.
  • Observation Tank Ka-So: Carried a dummy 47 mm gun, but kept the MGs.2 Had rail antenna around the top of the turret.
  • Bulldozer: Had bulldozer attachment that was operated by a cable.2

Usage

36 Type 97s with the 9th Tank Regiment, commanded by Colonel Takashi Goto, arrived on Saipan in April 1944. In the early morning hours of June 17, 1944, 37 Type 97s and Type 95s joined with the 136th Infantry Regiment (commanded by Colonel Yukimatsu Ogawa) and attacked the 6th Marines. Several of the tanks got bogged down near the Susupe swamp while the rest moved forward towards the Marine lines. The Marines using machine guns, mortars, bazookas, artillery, and naval gun fire were able to stop the attack which was the largest tank attack of the Central Pacific.

It's role was to deal with machine gun nests and field fortifications encountered by the infantry.

Specifications

  Chi Ha Prototype Chi Ni Prototype
Crew 48 38
Physical Characteristics    
Weight 13.5 tons8 9.8 tons8
Length 5.55 m8 5.26 m8
Height    
Width    
Width over tracks    
Ground clearance    
Ground contact length    
Ground pressure    
Turret ring diameter    
Armament    
Main 1: 57 mm8 1: 57 mm8
1: 57 mm Type 90
Secondary    
MG 2: MG8 1: MG8
1: 6.5 mm Type 91 MG
MG - hull    
MG - rear turret    
Side arms    
Quantity    
Main    
Secondary    
MG    
Side arms    
Armor Thickness (mm) 258 258
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)    
Bore / stroke    
Cooling   Air4
Cylinders   64
Capacity    
Net HP 1704,8 1354,8
Power to weight ratio    
Compression ratio    
Transmission (Type)    
Steering    
Steering ratio    
Starter    
Electrical system    
Ignition    
Fuel (Type) Diesel4  
Octane    
Quantity    
Road consumption    
Cross country consumption    
Performance    
Traverse    
Speed - Road 38 kph8 18.5 mph
30 kph8
Speed - Cross Country    
Range - Road    
Range - Cross Country    
Turning radius    
Elevation limits    
Fording depth    
Trench crossing 2.5 m8  
Trench crossing with tail   2.5 m8
Vertical obstacle    
Climbing ability    
Suspension (Type)    
Wheels each side    
Return rollers each side    
Tracks (Type)    
Length    
Width    
Diameter    
Number of links    
Pitch    
Tire tread    
Track centers/tread    
  Type 97 Chi-Ha,
2597 Chi-Ha7
Type 97 Special Shinhoto Chi-Ha
Crew Commander, loader, driver, gunner-hull
41,2,3,4,5,7, 56
Commander, loader, driver, gunner-hull
42
Physical Characteristics    
Weight 33,069 lb3, 29,685 lb7
15,000 kg1,3
13.3 tons5, 14 tons, 14.76 tons1, 14.8 tons5, 15 tons2,6
35,000, 33,069 lb,
15,000, 16,000 kg
15.8 tons2
Length 16' 7", 18'1, 18' 0.75", 18.01'2, 18.2'6, 18' 1"3, 18' 2"5,7
5 m, 5.5 m1, 5.516 m3
18' 0.75", 18' 1", 18.01'2
Height 7.33'2, 7' 3.5", 7' 4"1,3,5, 7.7'6, 7' 9"7
2.23 m1,3
7' 9.5", 7' 4", 7.76'2
Width 6' 7", 7.66'2, 7.7'6, 7' 7"7, 7' 8"1,3,5
2 m, 2.33 m1,3
7' 8", 7.66'2
Width over tracks    
Ground clearance 13.5"7, 14"6  
Ground contact length 138"6, 12' 2"7  
Ground pressure 8.4 psi6, 8.5 psi7  
Turret ring diameter    
Armament    
Main 47 mm Type 16
57 mm1,2,5,8
57 mm Type 973 (90)
57 mm Type 977
47 mm Type 973
47 mm Type 18
47 mm2
Secondary    
MG 2: 7.7 mm MG1,2
2: MG5
2: 7.7 mm Type 97 MG6
2: 7.7 mm MG2
MG - hull 1: 7.7 mm Type 97 MG3,7 1: 7.7 mm MG
MG - rear turret 1: 7.7 mm Type 97 MG3,7 1: 7.7 mm MG
Side arms    
Quantity    
Main 80: HE, 40: AP.3
1046, 1207
114, 104
Secondary    
MG 2,3503, 2,5756, 3,8257 2,575
Side arms    
Armor Thickness (mm) 8 - 252,3, 251,5
Front: 0.98"6
Side: 0.8"6
8 - 252
Hull Front, Upper 1"@0°7
25, 264
38
Hull Front, Lower 17  
Hull Sides, Upper 1"@0°7
204, 20-35
 
Hull Sides, Lower 20-35  
Hull Rear 0.78"@0°7
20
 
Hull Top 10  
Hull Bottom 8 8
Turret Front 1.3"6, 1.3"@0°7,
25
Mantlet: 30, 334
 
Turret Sides 1"6, 1"@0°7
25
 
Turret Rear 25  
Turret Top 10  
Engine (Make / Model) Mitsubishi Type 971
Type 972,
Mitsubishi3
Mitsubishi Type 97
Type 972
Bore / stroke    
Cooling Air2,3,5,6,7 Air2
Cylinders 121,3, V-122,6,7 V-122
Capacity    
Net HP 1507, 1701,2,3,5,6 1702
Power to weight ratio    
Compression ratio 17.8:16  
Transmission (Type) 4 forward, 1 reverse.3,6,7
High and low ranges7
Sliding pinion with high-low transfer case6
 
Steering Clutch brake3,6, Epicycle and clutch brake7  
Steering ratio    
Starter Electric6  
Electrical system Starting: 24-volt6
Running: 12-volt6
 
Ignition    
Fuel (Type) Diesel1,2,3,5,6,7 Diesel2
Octane    
Quantity 51.7 gallons7, 52 gallons in 2 tanks6  
Road consumption 3.7 gallons/hour @ 9.3 mph6,7  
Cross country consumption    
Performance    
Traverse 360°, hand3,6,7 360°
Speed - Road 23.5 mph2, 24 mph1,3,5, 25 mph6,7
38 kph3, 38.6 kph, 39 kph1
23.5 mph2, 24 mph
Speed - Cross Country    
Range - Road 130 miles3,6,7
210 km3
 
Range - Cross Country    
Turning radius    
Elevation limits -9° to +11°3  
Fording depth 3' 3"3,6,7
1 m3
 
Trench crossing 8.25'6, 8' 3"3,7
2.514 m3
 
Trench crossing with tail    
Vertical obstacle 2' 6"3
0.812 m3
 
Climbing ability 30° (57%) slope6, 40° slope7  
Suspension (Type) Bell crank3,5
Front and rear road wheels independently sprung, center wheels sprung in pairs, coil springs used6,7
 
Wheels each side 63,5,6,7  
Return rollers each side 33,6,7  
Tracks (Type) Dry pin6  
Length    
Width 13"6,7, 2' 11"  
Diameter    
Number of links 956, 977  
Pitch 4.9"6, 5 1/8"7  
Tire tread Rubber3,5  
Track centers/tread 6.6'6  
  Se-Ri
Crew 42
Physical Characteristics  
Weight 15.4 tons2
Length 18.17'2
Height 7.32'2
Width 7.66'2
Width over tracks  
Ground clearance  
Ground contact length  
Ground pressure  
Turret ring diameter  
Armament  
Main 2: 7.7 mm MG2
Secondary  
MG  
MG - hull  
MG - rear turret  
Side arms  
Quantity  
Main  
Secondary  
MG  
Side arms  
Armor Thickness (mm) 8 - 252
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 972
Bore / stroke  
Cooling Air2
Cylinders V-122
Capacity  
Net HP 2402
Power to weight ratio  
Compression ratio  
Transmission (Type)  
Steering  
Steering ratio  
Starter  
Electrical system  
Ignition  
Fuel (Type) Diesel2
Octane  
Quantity  
Road consumption  
Cross country consumption  
Performance  
Traverse  
Speed - Road 25 mph2
Speed - Cross Country  
Range - Road  
Range - Cross Country  
Turning radius  
Elevation limits  
Fording depth  
Trench crossing  
Trench crossing with tail  
Vertical obstacle  
Climbing ability  
Suspension (Type)  
Wheels each side  
Return rollers each side  
Tracks (Type)  
Length  
Width  
Diameter  
Number of links  
Pitch  
Tire tread  
Track centers/tread  

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. Japanese Tanks 1939-45, Steven J. Zaloga, 2007
  5. Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
  6. Tank Data, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, 1968?
  7. Tank Data 2, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, E. J. Hoffschmidt and W. H. Tantum IV, 1969
  8. Profile AFV Weapons #49 Japanese Medium Tanks, Lieutenant-General Tomio Hara, 1972

Find me here too:
Follow wwiivehicles on Twitter