Type 2 Ka-Mi

Type 2 Ka-Mi
A Japanese Type 2 Ka-Mi being tested by Australian soldiers, 1945. The front and rear removable floating pontoons are clearly visible.
General properties
crew	5–6 (commander / gunner, loader, radio operator, driver, bow machine gunner)
length	Tower 12 o'clock 7.42 m 4.80 m without float
width	2.79 m
height	2.34 m
Dimensions	12.3 t 9.15 t without float
Armor and armament
Armor	6-13 mm
Main armament	Type 1 37mm cannon
Secondary armament	2 × Type 97 7.7 mm machine gun
agility
drive	Air-cooled Mitsubishi A6120VDe 6-cylinder diesel engine 86 kW (115 PS)
Top speed	37 km / h (road) 9.5 km / h (water)
Power / weight	approx. 9.4 kW / t (12.6 HP / t) without float
Range	approx. 200 km

The type 2 Ka-Mi ( Japanese. 特 二 式 内 火 艇 カ ミ , Tokū-ni-shiki uchibitei kami , dt. "Special type 2 motorboat Ka-Mi") was the first Japanese swimming tank , the one from 1942 ( Kōki 2602, hence the type designation) was used by the Imperial Japanese Navy until 1945 .

history

Four type 2 tanks without floating pontoons with Australian soldiers who took over the tanks near Rabaul in September 1945 from surrendering Japanese.

The beginnings of the Type 2 go back to considerations of the Imperial Japanese Army in 1928, when an amphibious version was tested during the development of the Type 92 heavy armored car . The result were prototypes such as the Type 92 AI-Gō , Type 1 Mi-Sha or SR-II Ro-Gō . The development of all floating tank prototypes was not pursued and, due to the traditional tensions between the Imperial Japanese Army and the Imperial Japanese Navy, the Navy developed its own amphibious tank in 1940, which was specially tailored to the requirements of its Special Landing Forces (SLKM). The vehicle to be designed should be able to attack small Pacific islands that did not have adequate jetties or dock facilities. In 1941 the design of the Type 2 Ka-Mi was fixed and in 1942 ( Kōki 2602) production started and lasted until 1943. Due to the manual production of the tank, more advanced models such as the Type 3 Ka-Chi or Type 4 Ka-Tsu and the now defensive strategic situation, there were no high numbers. Only 184 copies of the Type 2 Ka-Mi were built.

Calls

Type 2 tank of the 1st Yokosuka Special Landing Forces of the Navy (SLKM) on Saipan .

When the planning for an amphibious tank began in the mid-1930s, the offensive capability of the tank was still required. After receiving the first Type 2, however, the strategic situation had changed and the army and navy were on the defensive in the Pacific. Therefore the tank was used as infantry support or as a mobile pillbox (combat shelter).

At the Battle of Kwajalein in January 1944, some Type 2 and Type 94 Te-Ken were used.

Two Type 2s were used during the Battle of Leyte . Several other Type 2 were assigned to the various naval and island bases in the Pacific.

Several Type 2 were assigned to the 1st Yokosuka Special Landing Forces of the Navy (SLKM) on Saipan . When the US Marines landed on July 15, 1944 during the Battle of Saipan , the Japanese 4th Company of the 9th Panzer Regiment and the SLKM attacked the enemy right on the beach. The marines were able to successfully fight the Japanese tanks with bazookas . The following day, shortly after midnight , Colonel Goshima tried again with the remaining tanks to throw the Marines back into the sea. 30 tanks of the type 2, type 95 Ha-Go, type 97 Chi-Ha and type 97 Shinhōtō Chi-Ha stormed the beach, but were largely destroyed by concentrated fire.

technology

A type 2 with floating pontoons at full speed. At the rear you can see the additional structure for the exhaust. The tower addition is missing from the vehicle captured by US troops.

The engineers of the Imperial Japanese Navy built the Type 2 almost from scratch. They were based on the type 95 Ha-Go and took over the engine, transmission, suspension, translation and chassis from this. The vehicle hull and the tower, however, were redesigned. The armor plates were welded and additionally provided with rubber seals. There are no rivets at all. To the Type 2 sufficient buoyancy to provide for the ride in the water he was treated with two detachable steel - pontoons provided, which were attached in front and rear. The modified shape of the hull sides created an ideal boat shape with the attached pontoons. The front pontoon was divided into eight chambers in order to guarantee the buoyancy capability should the Type 2 receive hits in combat. The pontoons could easily be dropped from inside the tank after landing successfully. Below the aft pontoon were two propellers that brought the floating tank to a speed of 9.5 km / h in the water with a range of 150 kilometers. At sea, the Type 2 was controlled by a pair of rudders connected to the tower by wires, from where the commander could steer the tank at sea.

Because the top of the tank could have been flooded in rough seas, the rear of the tank, which housed the exhaust , was covered. A detachable extension piece with a waterproof seal could be attached to the exhaust. A waterproof attachment could also be attached to the tower. The turret had space for the commander, who was responsible for operating both weapons: a 37 mm Type 1 anti-tank gun and a Type 97 heavy machine gun . The Type 1 fired shells weighing 0.68 kg at a muzzle velocity of 700 m / s. Both weapons were in spherical shutters . A second Type 97 MG was intended for the bow, but was pulled into the interior of the tank to attach the pontoons. The tank had a bilge pump , the wheels had drain holes and the independent wheel suspensions were housed inside.

The Type 2 was one of the few Japanese tanks that was equipped with a radio and an on-board intercom from the start .

Preserved copies

A preserved Type 2 Ka-Mi in the Kubinka Tank Museum in Moscow .

• A Type 2 is in the Kubinka Tank Museum in Moscow
• In Koror on Palau there is a type 2 with a heavy machine gun mounted on the rear pontoon .

Web links

• Type 2 Ka-Mi. Tanks Encyclopedia, accessed December 14, 2014 . 
• Type 2 Ka-Mi. Taki's Page, accessed December 14, 2014 . 
• Japan's Type 2 Ka-Mi amphibious tank. WWII Vehicles, accessed December 15, 2014 . 
• Japanese armored vehicles and tanks: Amphibious tanks. ww2technik.de, accessed on December 10, 2014 . 

See also

• Japanese military vehicles of World War II

literature

• Steven J Zaloga: "Japanese Tanks 1939-45" Osprey Publishing, 2007, ISBN 978-1-84603-091-8 .

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Zaloga, p. 23.
2. ↑ Type 2 Ka-Mi. Tanks Encyclopedia, accessed December 14, 2014 . 
3. ↑ Type 2 Ka-Mi. Taki's Page, accessed December 14, 2014 . 
4. ↑ ^{a b} THE HISTORY OF BATTLES OF IMPERIAL JAPANESE TANKS, PART I. Taki's Page, accessed December 4, 2014 . 
5. ↑ Japanese Armored Vehicles and Tanks: Amphibious Tanks. ww2technik.de, accessed on December 10, 2014 .