Type 1 Ho-Ni I
| Type 1 Ho-Ni I | |
|---|---|
A Type 1 Ho-Ni I tank destroyer with a 75mm cannon |
|
| General properties | |
| crew | 5 |
| length | 5.9 m |
| width | 2.29 m |
| height | 2.39 m |
| Dimensions | 15.4 t |
| Armor and armament | |
| Armor | 25-51 mm |
| Main armament | 75mm Type 90 cannon |
| agility | |
| drive | Air-cooled Mitsubishi SA12200VDe 12-cylinder diesel engine 127 kW (170 PS) |
| Top speed | 38 km / h |
| Power / weight | approx. 8.2 kW / t (11 PS / t) |
| Range | approx. 200 km |
The Type 1 Ho-Ni I ( Japanese 一 式 砲 戦 車 ホ ニ I , Isshiki hōsensha Ho-Ni I ) was a Japanese tank destroyer that was used by the Imperial Japanese Army from 1941 ( Kōki 2601, hence the type designation) to 1945 . The successor model was called Type 1 Ho-Ni II and was provided with a stronger main armament.
history
Japan's decision in 1942, armored divisions to set up, requiring at the same time that the armored division assumed artillery - associations to motorize. For this, the tried and tested chassis of the Type 97 Chi-Ha was used. The main armament for the future tank artillery was the 75 mm field gun Type 90 , which was mounted in a so-called casemate structure on a modified Type 97 chassis. In June 1941, the first type 1 Ho-Ni I models were delivered to the army. In 1942, more Ho-Ni I were delivered, but in November 1943 production was stopped in favor of the Type 1 Ho-Ni II , which was to receive a Type 91 105 mm howitzer. Only 26 examples of the Type 1 Ho-Ni I were made. 112 units of the upgraded version Type 1 Ho-Ni II were produced.
Calls
Imphal
In March 1944, the Japanese went on the offensive in Burma . The aim of the operation was to advance towards India on Imphal in order to forestall the expected Allied offensive. At first, the 15th , 31st and 33rd Infantry Divisions advanced quickly and besieged Imphal . The offensive was supported by the 14th Panzer Regiment (66 tanks) under Colonel Ueda Nobuo , which, among other things, also had some Type 1 Ho-Ni I. From mid-June 1944, the Japanese attack collapsed and all tanks were lost.
Luzon
In January 1945 the Allies began to retake the island of Luzon . Among the approximately 260,000 Japanese defenders was the 2nd Panzer Division , which had a total strength of 200 tanks, including four Type 1 Ho-Ni I tanks. All vehicles were lost in the costly battles in which 205,000 Japanese were killed.
technology
A modified Type 97 Chi-Ha served as the chassis for the Type 1 Ho-Ni I. Instead of a rotating tower, a so-called casemate structure was attached, which protected the five-man crew from the front, but was open to the rear. The open structure made it easier for gun operators to operate the cannon and pick up ammunition more quickly. A three-sided armor plate with a thickness of up to 50 millimeters served as protection towards the front. A 75-mm field gun Type 90 served as armament, the muzzle of which protruded over the hull of the tank. Armaments for close defense such as machine guns were dispensed with, as more ammunition could be carried. The Ho-Ni I could carry up to 54 shells. The gun could be pivoted 10 ° in the horizontal and from −5 ° to + 25 ° in the vertical. The maximum range of the gun was 12 km.
Preserved copies
- The only known example of a Type 1 Ho-Ni I still preserved is in the Aberdeen Proving Ground , Maryland , USA . The tank was captured during the fighting on Luzon.
Web links
- Type 1 Ho-Ni I. Tanks Encyclopedia, accessed May 28, 2015 .
- Type 1 75mm SPH “Ho-Ni I”. Taki's Page, accessed May 27, 2015 .
See also
literature
- Steven J Zaloga: "Japanese Tanks 1939-45" Osprey Publishing, 2007, ISBN 978-1-84603-091-8 .
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c Zaloga, p. 19.
- ↑ a b Type 1 Ho-Ni I. Tanks Encyclopedia, accessed May 28, 2015 .
- ↑ Type 1 75mm SPH “Ho-Ni I”. Taki's Page, accessed May 27, 2015 .
- ↑ THE HISTORY OF BATTLES OF IMPERIAL JAPANESE TANKS, PART II. Taki's Page, accessed on May 28, 2015 .