Type 4 Chi-To

Enter 4 Chi-To Stories

While the Imperial Japanese Army had great success in the early years of the war throughout Asia and the Pacific, their armored formations began to compete on the evolving battlefields of World War II. The Americans began using their war-winning design the M4 Sherman medium tank on all fronts and their main allies in astronomical numbers, making it an ever-present enemy.

As Allied technology and theory advanced to design and manufacture more powerful tools of war, the IJA simply failed to keep up with the level of advancement of its adversaries.

As a result, Japan still supplied an increasing number of light and medium tanks that were completely inferior to the Allied anti-tank weapons at the end of the war. Many were equipped with relatively thin armor protection and small-caliber main guns, which immediately put them at a serious disadvantage when facing the likes of the M4 Sherman. While IJA tanks can still be used on the battlefieldespecially as infantry armored fighting vehiclestheir tactical value against Allied medium tanks and anti-tank weapons is inherently weak.

In the later stages of the war, a later initiative that gave hope to the IJA began - but these efforts came too late to be of much use on the battlefield, as Japan officially surrendered in August 1945 (after the sinking) and the Allied surrender two atomic bombs), the war officially ended in September of this year.

The

Type 4 (Chi-To) is one such development, designed to help level the playing field for Japanese tankers. This is a 33-short-ton medium-range armored system with a powerful long-barreled Type 5 75mm main gun (based on the proven Japanese anti-aircraft weapon, which in turn is based on the original design of the Swedish Bofors). Armor protection of the thickest fairing is 75 mm (3 in) and the structure is fully welded. A long-running chain assembly spanned the fuselage and featured a low-level superstructure below the turret. The chain system consists of seven small wheels on one side of the chain, the drive sprocket at the front, the chain idler at the rear, and three chain idler pulleys.

The chassis is mounted on a bell crank suspension system and is powered by a single supercharged Mitsubishi AL 4 type V12 diesel air-cooled engine producing 412 hp at 1,800 rpm. That gives the Type 4 a top speed of 28 mph and a range of 160 miles. The 75mm main gun is supported by a pair of Type 97 LMGs for anti-personnel work - one in the bow and the other as a coaxial mount.

Another machine gun was mounted on top of the turret for close-range anti-aircraft defense. The turret itself has a fairly high profile - which contributes to the rather high side profile of the entire armor system - which is a definite disadvantage on the battlefield. The sides of the turret are slightly sloped and the upper profile is hexagonal.

The Type 4 tank consisted of a crew of five, including the driver, tank commander, gunner, ammunition loader and radio operator/bow gunner - the standard crew arrangement at the time.

The Type 4 design began in 1942 and continued into the following years. Designed to replace the obsolete Type 97 tank series, the system dates back to 1936. Needless to say, a tank that started before the war was by no means a front-line tool later in the war.

However, the interruption of the Type 4 program inevitably led to a slow pace, and the first completed Type 4 tanks were not delivered until 1944.

The slow development cycle and delays in mass production were largely attributable to Allied airstrikes against Japanese industry. As the Empire loses more and more assets in the Pacific Rim, the attack may now focus solely on Japan itself, hitting the core of its industrial production and disrupting supply lines, manufacturing and design plans like the Model 4. To this end, the new medium tank lived longer than expected, with no more than two fully completed vehicles showing a last-ditch effort.

At this point in the war, the Type 4 would certainly be used to defend the Japanese mainland against an expected Allied amphibious invasion. It is worth noting that by the end of the war, there were still a few Type 4 tanks in the incomplete construction stage.

At the time of its development, the Type 4 medium tank was one of the most technologically advanced armored mechanized systems. Perhaps if it had been done early in the war, it would have proved to be an impressive system for the M4 Sherman.

However, any effect it might have on the war is now befuddled by explanation and speculation.

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