Type 1 Ho-Ki
| Type 1 Ho-Ki | |
|---|---|
Type 1 Ho-Ki in Manchuria (1944) |
|
| General properties | |
| crew | 1 or 2 + 12 men sitting + 12 men standing |
| length | 4.78 m |
| width | 2.19 m |
| height | 2.58 m |
| Dimensions | 5.5 t |
| Armor and armament | |
| Armor | Max. 6 mm |
| Main armament | no |
| agility | |
| drive | Diesel engine 99 kW (134 PS) |
| Top speed | 42 km / h |
| Power / weight | approx. 15 kW / t (21 PS / t) |
| Range | 300 km |
The Type 1 Ho-Ki ( Japanese 一 式 装甲兵 車 ホ キ Isshiki Sōkō Heisha Ho-Ki , dt. "Type 1 armored personnel carrier Ho-Ki") was a Japanese tracked vehicle that was sold in 1941 ( Kōki 2601, hence the type designation) by the Imperial Japanese Army was introduced.
history
Since 1937 the armed forces of the Japanese Empire waged the Second Sino-Japanese War . By bridging large distances, the army looked increasingly required his infantry in armored personnel carriers to bring into the combat zone. The vehicles used to date had not been convincing, so in 1941 there was a demand for an armored vehicle that could both transport a group of soldiers and also be used as a tractor . In 1941 the Type 1 Ho-Ki was presented. At the same time, the Type 1 Ho-Ha was developed, which in principle met the same requirements, but was a half-track vehicle . Production did not start until 1944 and around 200 copies were made. Some Ho-Kis were assigned to the 14th Regional Army in the Philippines , where they were either captured or destroyed by US troops on Leyte and Luzon .
technology
The Type 1 Ho-Ki was provided with 6 mm armor all around (open at the top) and was thus protected from fire by infantry weapons. The driver, who sat in the front left of the driver's cab, was able to lower armored screens that had viewing slits in the event of enemy fire. Another soldier could sit in the cab behind the driver. The Ho-Ki was able to transport 12 soldiers seated, who sat on benches opposite one another. In addition, another 12 could be transported standing between the benches. There were doors to the right and left behind the driver's cab for entering and leaving the transport area. There was a double door at the rear of the vehicle. The driver sat in the front left of the cab, which had its own door. It was powered by an air-cooled 6-cylinder diesel engine. The chain wheels and drive were taken from the Type 95 Ha-Go tank, but had a longer and wider chain than this. The wheels had an independent single suspension. Thanks to the same engine and lower weight as the Type 95, the Ho-Ki had good terrain characteristics and also proved itself as a tractor for guns. Although the Ho-Ki was not armed, it had base mounts for four machine guns.
See also
literature
- Steven J Zaloga: "Japanese Tanks 1939-45" Osprey Publishing, 2007, ISBN 978-1-84603-091-8 .
- Leland Ness: Guide to Japanese Ground Forces 1937-1945: Volume 2: Weapons of the Imperial Japanese Army & Navy Ground Forces. Helion & Company, 2014, ISBN 978-19099-8275-8 .
Web links
- Type 1 Ho-Ha. lonesentry.com, accessed January 28, 2017 .
- Type 1 half-track "Ho-Ki". Taki's Page, accessed January 28, 2017 .
Individual evidence
- ↑ Type 1 half-track "Ho-Ki". Taki's Page, accessed January 8, 2017 .
- ↑ Zaloga, p. 22.
- ↑ a b c Type 1 Ho-Ha. lonesentry.com, accessed January 28, 2017 .
- ↑ a b Ness, p. 286.