Type 95 Ha-Go (Ke-Go / Kyu-Go)

History

The Type 95 "Ha-Go" was a light tank primarily used by the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) during World War II. It was previously used during the Sino-Japanese Sino-Japanese War, but apparently left its mark in the upcoming global conflict with British and American forces in South Asia and the Pacific.

This light tank maintained an excellent top speed and was well-armed by mid-to-late 1930s standards. She consisted of a crew of three and was used successfully during the early territorial conquests of the early WWII. The Type 95 was the first enemy tank the Americans brought into conflict.

Light Tank

A light tank is generally a type of tank that is rarely designed and built for modern militaries. Armored warfare can be traced back to its humble beginnings in World War I, and the British may have made good use of their systems later in the conflict. The first tank-to-tank battles were inconclusive, with British "diamond" tanks against the bulky German box design.

The war spawned several light and medium classifications, most typically used to support infantry operations rather than dealing directly with enemy tanks. These tanks can cut through barbed wire, obstacles and enemy trenches while protecting their crews from small arms firemeaning the tide of a battle could turn at any time.

However, during the interwar period (i.e. the period after World War I and before World War II), major world powers questioned the effectiveness of fast-moving "mechanized" armies against the enemy Several studies through firepower and speed - the forerunners of modern "shock and awe". These "main battle tanks" can now lead such aggressive movements alongside their "infantry support" tanks with infantry support.

Combined with well-designed close air support, any army could become a major military player overnight. Like Germany in the West, Imperial Japan quietly built a war machine to conquer its interests throughout Asia and the Pacific.

As such, light tanks will prove crucial to the impending operation of the Empire.

Type 95 origin

Japanese military authorities are very interested in the presence and strength of tanks in future operations. Existing systems proved unable to keep up with a large, fast-moving force, so prepare for the "new-look" IJA. Using experience in acquiring and operating foreign armor systems, the Japanese produced a prototype light tanka design built on sheer speed with light armor protectionand introduced the system in 1934 at the Sagami Arsenal.

Early concerns were raised about the type's lack of armor protection for the crew and engines, but this was thought to maintain the speed required for this class. As such, the new tank design was given the rather simple designation "Type 95" (nicknamed "Ha-Go"), and production began at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in 1935.

Model 95 production

About 2,103 copies were eventually delivered. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries was an early major manufacturer of tank systems, although Sagami Arsenal, Hitachi Industries, Niigata Iron Works, Kobe Seiko and Kokura Arsenal teamed up to supply more than 1,200 tank systems by the end of the war. It should be noted, however, that key war materiel and technological advances were primarily intended for use by the Imperial Japanese Navy, not the Japanese Army. This often led to the development of "second-rate" weapons for its Army units and could give the IJA a limited range during World War II.

Their tanks were generally superior to competing Allied designs, especially later in the war, and their armor strength was insignificant compared to that of the Germans. Battleships proved to be a top priority for Imperial Japan during WWII, and their army would suffer.

Type 95 Receive

The Type 95 entered service with the IJA in 1935. Initially, the armor system was one of the best designs in the light tank class in the world. Its 37mm gun was very powerful for its time, and overall the Type 95 performed well compared to foreign designs.

She was fast, well-prepared for her role, and helped make these early IJA mechanized operations a success.

Type 95 variant

The success of this tank soon spawned several notable variants of its family. The Type 3 Ke-Ri was a proposed design for a light tank with a more powerful 57mm main gun, although this tank never went into production. A total of 100 prototypes of the Type 4 Ke-Nu were produced and combined the turret of the Type 97 medium tank with the Type 95 chassis to improve crew conditions. The Type 95 "Manshu" serves as the Type 95 Crew Trainer.

The Type 95 "Ta-Se" became an anti-aircraft design with a 20mm gun. The Type 95 Ri-Ki is a groundbreaking combat vehicle with a 3-ton jib crane. "Ho-To" is a self-propelled gun mounted with a powerful 120mm main gun. The Type 5 Ho-Ru is another self-propelled gun with a 47mm main gun mounted.

The Type 98 Kony is a lighter version of the basic Type 95, but with thicker armor. About 200 of these improved tanks were produced in 1942.

The most notable variant of the Type 95 is the Type 2 "Ka-Mi" amphibious tank. This model was based on the Type 95 chassis, but was modified for amphibious operations and was widely used in "island hopping" campaigns in the Pacific theater.

Model 95 Walker

The design of the Type 95 is traditional by any standard. Thin steps are distributed to both sides of the track. The drive sprocket is mounted on the front and the idler is mounted on the rear. Two track idlers are placed under the top of the tread.

On one side of the track are four wheels connected in pairs and using a simple crank suspension system. The Type 95 features a distinctive "nose-up" appearance with a raised front fuselage and track system. The forward hull retained an almost flat lower fairing with an acutely angled front panel leading to the superstructure. The superstructure has flat and sloping armor on all panels. The front just above the front baffle has a machine gun port on the left and an access port with a viewing port on the right.

The powerplant is located at the very end of the fuselage, and the exhaust system and muffler are located on the right side of the rear of the fuselage. The rear hull is a large rectangular vertical fairing. The turret containing the main armament was cylindrical in nature with a hatch on top.

A careful observer will notice that it is offset to the left of the fuselage structure. It maintained a 45-degree rotation (manually operated) and was equipped with a main gun and a secondary machine gun, the latter facing the rear to cover the tank from behind. The interior is lined with asbestos to reduce heat build-up in the fuel tank and to cushion the crew when driving over rough terrain.

Crew conditions were often cramped, especially in turrets, and sailed with open hatches and fairings whenever possible, especially when fighting the sweltering heat of the Pacific.

Type 95 units

The Type 95 was piloted by a crew of three - a commander, a gunner and a driver. The commander acts as both the loader and gunner for the main gun in the turret and controls the turret's rear-mounted machine gun.

The gunner operates the nose cannon in the front left of the fuselage, while also serving as the crew mechanic, maintaining the engines and initiating light repairs when necessary. The driver maintains his position along the right front side of the hull, with access to a rectangular hatch for improved visibility.

It's not the most efficient crew arrangement to say the least, but as a light tank design, the Type 95 is an improvement over previous mechanized Japanese offerings.

Type 95 engine and performance

The powerplant is a Mitsubishi NVD 6120 series air-cooled diesel engine rated up to 120 hp, located in a compartment at the rear of the fuselage. The first production tanks were equipped with a 110 hp Mitsubishi air-cooled diesel engine, which, like the Type 89 I-Go medium tank, limited speed to 40 km/h, so the 120 hp engine represented a performance upgrade. Its rear placement ensures some protection of the system and enables the Type 95 to reach a top speed of 45 km/h and a range of about 250 km.

Overall, the Type 95 weighs approximately 7.4 tonnes, measures 4.38 m long, 2.06 m wide and 2.18 m high.

Type 95 Weapon

The main armament was the 37mm Type 94 gun, which, while capable of penetrating light armoured vehicles and some fortifications, was a shame compared to most Allied medium tank designs in the middle and final years of the war lack of land. Elevation is limited to between -15 and +20 degrees, and the limited turret rotation will definitely affect combat with tank crews. Available projectile ammunition is divided into standard armor-piercing and high-explosive rounds - these are selected as needed by the commander operating the main gun.

Machine guns usually belong to the 7.7mm Type 97 series, one mounted in the turret as a rear firing system and the other in a limited orbit, bow mount position. These act as anti-personnel measures to protect aircrews from enemy infantry attempting to engage the Type 95 directly.

Additionally, these machine guns can serve an advancing company well by providing cover fire for a period of time.

Model 95 in action

The Type 95 Ha-Go was used extensively in Japanese indecision operations against the British in Malaya and Singapore, and also advanced into British India. The British were unprepared for Japanese armor, and their defenses eventually collapsed, preserving Imperial Japan's victories throughout Asia and the Pacific. The Americans finally fielded the M3 Stuart light tank in late 1941 after entering the war, but the older Type 95 could still successfully handle these newly designed units.

The early meeting of the two light tanks went well for the Type 95 crew as they proactively spotted, engaged, and engaged the American crew - proving that it was more up to the crew themselves than the tank given them. The loss was an interesting "experiment" in which the better armoured M3 - with a similar 37mm main gun, newly minted in the US factory - lost out to a foreign design that was at least five years old.

During the Japanese invasion of the Aleutian Islands off the coast of Alaska, the Type 95 became the only enemy tank in U.S. history to fight on American soil. However, the Type 95 was of little value here, and the Battle of the Aleutiansoften referred to as the forgotten battle of WWIIturned out to be a complete defeat for Japan.

Interestingly, the Type 95 has proven operational success in all of its various operating environments, especially given the harsh nature of the Pacific jungle. This little design ran into trouble, however, when heavy rain quickly turned the ground into bisque.

This resulted in the Type 95 being jettisoned by the crew after it got into trouble. After all, the Type 95 clearly has its inherent limitations.

By the middle and late WWII, the Type 95 finally found its match, especially against the heavier American and British tanks arriving in the Pacific theater. Her armor proved too thin, and her 37mm main gun armament was woefully inadequate compared to the heavily armed British Matilda and American M5 Stewart light tanks and M4 Sherman medium tanks. In addition, the "Bazooka" portable rocket launcher used by the US Marine Corps quickly completed the operation of the now aging Type 95. Because of this, the IJA began using the remaining Type 95s as seemingly suicidal vanguards to break through Allied defenses.

Additionally, the IJA used the Type 95 as a static fortification for cover when not attacking.