Type 5 Chi-Ri
| Type 5 Chi-Ri | |
|---|---|
The unfinished prototype of the Type 5 Chi-Ri |
|
| General properties | |
| crew | 5 (commander, driver, radio operator, two shooters) |
| length | 7.3 m |
| width | 3.05 m |
| height | 3.05 m |
| Dimensions | 37 t |
| Armor and armament | |
| Armor | 25-75 mm |
| Main armament | 75 mm chariot gun type 5 |
| Secondary armament | 1 × 37 mm chariot gun Type 1 2 × 7.7 mm machine gun Type 97 |
| agility | |
| drive | Water-cooled Kawasaki Type 98 petrol engine 405 kW (550 PS) |
| Top speed | 45 km / h |
| Power / weight | approx. 11.1 kW / t (14.9 PS / t) |
| Range | 250 km |
The Type 5 Chi-Ri ( Japanese 五 式 中 戦 車 チ リ Go-shiki chūsensha Chi-ri ) was a Japanese medium tank that was developed in 1945 ( Kōki 2605, hence the type designation) by the Imperial Japanese Army .
history
In the course of the Pacific War it became apparent that the Japanese medium tanks such as the Type 97 Chi-Ha and the Type 97 Shinhōtō Chi-Ha were hopelessly inferior to the Allied models such as the M4 Sherman in terms of armor and armament. Work on stronger tank models such as the Type 1 Chi-He began as early as 1940 . It soon became apparent that the Chi-He's chassis could not have armor thicker than 50 mm, so that in 1941 the Type 3 Chi-Nu with 50 mm armor and the Type 4 75 mm Kampfwagenkanone (KwK) were developed. From 1943 the Type 5 Chi-Ri was developed, which had up to 75 mm armor. In May 1945 the first prototype of the Chi-Ri was built, albeit without the main armament. Due to a lack of material, no further copies were built in favor of the production of the easier-to-manufacture Type 4 Chi-To .
technology
Originally, the type 4 75 mm KwK was planned as the main armament for the Chi-Ri, but this had to give way to the more powerful Type 5 75 mm chariot gun . The Type 5 75 mm KwK was based on the Type 99 88 mm Flak and had a muzzle velocity of 850 m / s. A 405 kW aircraft engine from BMW was planned as the drive , which was later to be replaced by a water-cooled Kawasaki Type 98 petrol engine. The front armor was 75 mm, while 25–50 mm on the sides and 50 mm on the rear were used. The turret was armored with 50-75 mm. The Chi-Ri could have held up to 50 grenades for the main armament.
See also
literature
- Steven J Zaloga: "Japanese Tanks 1939-45" Osprey Publishing, 2007, ISBN 978-1-84603-091-8 .
Web links
- Type 5 Chi-Ri. onwar.com, accessed May 26, 2015 .
- Type 5 medium tank "Chi-Ri". Taki's Page, accessed May 26, 2015 .
- Type 5 Chi-Ri medium tank. HistoryOfWar.com, accessed May 26, 2015 .
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Type 5 Medium Tank "Chi-Ri". Taki's Page, accessed May 26, 2015 .
- ↑ a b c d Zaloga, p. 22.
- ↑ Zaloga, p. 47.
- ↑ Type 5 Chi-Ri Medium Tank. HistoryOfWar.com, accessed May 26, 2015 .
- ↑ Type 5 Chi-Ri. onwar.com, accessed May 26, 2015 .