Type 3 Ho-Ni III
| Type 3 Ho-Ni III | |
|---|---|
A Type 3 Ho-Ni III tank destroyer with a 75 mm cannon |
|
| General properties | |
| crew | 5 |
| length | 5.52 m |
| width | 2.23 m |
| height | 2.39 m |
| Dimensions | 17 t |
| Armor and armament | |
| Armor | 12-25 mm |
| Main armament | 75 mm chariot gun type 3 |
| agility | |
| drive | Air-cooled 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 3 Ho-Ni III ( Japanese 三 式 砲 戦 車 ホ ニ III , Sanshiki hōsensha Ho-Ni III ) was a Japanese tank destroyer that was used by the Imperial Japanese Army from 1943 ( Kōki 2603, hence the type designation) to 1945 . The previous model was called Type 1 Ho-Ni II .
history
Japan's decision in 1942, armored divisions set up required at the same time that the armored division assumed artillery - associations to motorize. Here, on the proven chassis of the type 97 Chi-Ha resorted. The main armament for the future tank artillery was the 75-mm field gun Type 90 , which was mounted on a modified Type 97 chassis in a so-called casemate structure for the Type 1 Ho-Ni I and II models . The open structure proved to be insufficient protection for the tank crew and so in 1943 the Type 3 with a closed casemate structure was developed, which was delivered to the army in 1944.
Calls
Because of the lack of raw materials and the constant bombardment by the American air forces , it was becoming increasingly difficult for Japanese industry to meet the requirements of the army and navy. Only a small number of 31 to 41 Type 3s could be produced, of which only a few were used during the fighting on Luzon and Okinawa . The majority of the Type 3 remained on the Japanese islands in anticipation of an Allied landing .
technology
A modified Type 97 Chi-Ha served as the chassis for the Type 3 Ho-Ni III. Instead of a rotating tower, unlike the Type 1 Ho-Ni I and II, a closed casemate structure was installed to protect the five-man crew. The rear part of the tower could be opened through two double doors. To the front, a three-sided armor plate with a thickness of only 25 millimeters served as protection. The armament was a 75 type 3 chariot gun , which was a modified 75 mm type 90 field gun . A secondary armament like a machine gun was not provided. The ammunition was stored in the rear of the tank destroyer.
A total of only 57 copies of Type 3 were ordered, of which only 31 or 41 were produced.
Web links
- Type 3 Ho-Ni III. Tanks Encyclopedia, accessed June 12, 2015 .
- Type 3 Gun Tank “Ho-Ni III”. Taki's Page, accessed June 12, 2015 .
- Type 3 Gun Tank (Honi III). Retrieved June 16, 2015 .
See also
literature
- Steven J Zaloga: Japanese Tanks 1939–45 . Osprey Publishing, 2007, ISBN 978-1-84603-091-8 .