Type 98 Ke-Ni

Type 98 light tank
General properties
crew	3
length	5.5 m
width	2.2 m
height	1.82 m
Dimensions	7.2 tons
Armor and armament
Armor	6 - 16 mm
Main armament	37 mm cannon
Secondary armament	1 × 7.7 mm MG type 97
agility
drive	6-cylinder, diesel 130 hp
suspension	Coil spring
Top speed	55 km / h
Power / weight	18 hp / t
Range	300 km

The Type 98 Ke-Ni ( Japanese 九八 式 軽 戦 車 ケ ニ , kyūhachi-shiki keisensha ke-ni , German "Type 98 light tank Ke-Ni") was a light tank used by the Japanese army in World War II . It was developed in 1938, which corresponds to the year Kōki 2598, from which the type designation results. It was supposed to replace the Type 95 Ha-Go , which was the most popular tank in the Japanese army at the time.

history

Prototype of the Type 98 (Type 98B) with four large rollers

In Manchukuo and in the second Sino-Japanese War , deficits had already emerged in the Japanese standard tank Type 95 Ha-Go , so that a successor was developed as early as 1938. After the beginning of the Second World War it became clear that the Type 95 was hopelessly inferior to the American models M3 Stuart and later the M4 Sherman . But since steel was mainly used for shipbuilding and aircraft construction during the war, production at Hino Jidōsha and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries could not start until 1942 . Only 103 vehicles were produced, 24 in 1942 and 79 in 1943.

technology

The design of the Type 98 was similar to that of the Type 95, but with thicker, welded armor and improved shape and had a 2-man turret, an enlarged version of the Type 95 turret. The tank weighed 7.2 tons and was 5.5 meters long and 1.82 meters high. It was powered by a Mitsubishi Type 100 6 cylinder diesel engine with air cooling and 130 hp. The engine was housed on the side of the vehicle for easy maintenance. The armament consisted of a 37 millimeter cannon with a muzzle velocity of 760 m / s and a heavy on-board machine gun Type 97 with a caliber of 7.7 mm. For the main weapon 110 rounds and for the MG 1400 rounds of ammunition could be carried.

Versions

• Type 98A Ke-Ni Ko (九八 式 軽 戦 車 （甲型）)

Standard version with 6 rollers

• Type 98B Ke-Ni Otsu (九八 式 軽 戦 車 （乙型）)

Experimental model with Christie drive , never produced.

• Type 2 Ke-To

Improved Type 98B with a more powerful Type 1 37 mm cannon with a v ₀ of 810 m / s. Production began in 1944, and only 29 units had been built by the end of the war.

• Ta-Se 20 mm flak tank

In November 1941, development of an anti-aircraft version based on the Type 98 chassis began. For this purpose, an all-round protected turret with a 20-mm automatic cannon was placed on the hull. The vehicle did not achieve the required performance parameters, development ended in 1943.

literature

• Steven Zaloga , Japanese Tanks 1939-1945 , ISBN 978-1-84603-091-8 .

Web links

• www.onwar.com: Type 98A Ke-Ni (English)
• historyofwar (english)