Type 5 Ke-Ho
Encyclopedia
The was the prototype light tank
developed by the Imperial Japanese Army
at the end of World War II
.
of the Japanese army, the Type 95 Ha-Go
was obsolete. It had performed well against the National Revolutionary Army
of the China
in the Second Sino-Japanese War
, and it successfully engaged US M3 Stuart light tanks on the Bataan Peninsula
in December of 1941. Although it's 37mm gun was adequate for most light armor designed and built in the 1930s, they, like the tanks of the US Army prior to 1941, were not designed to fight enemy tanks, but rather to support the infantry. And no light tank in World War II was designed and built to engage medium tanks such as the M4 Sherman
. The Type 95 was vulnerable to .50 caliber machinegun fire and attempts to address these shortcomings via the Type 98 Ke-Ni
and the Type 2 Ke-To
were steps in the right direction, but were still insufficient, Therefore, a complete design review was held and a prototype for a new standard light tank was completed by 1942. At this point the project was shelved, as the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff had to concede to the Imperial Navy
's needs of raw materials necessary for the production of warships and warplanes. Mass production was finally authorized in 1945, by which time it was too late. Production was impossible due to material shortages, such as steel
, and by the bombing of Japan in World War II
. Only a single prototype was completed by the end of World War II
.
engine yielding 150 HP, for a top speed of 50 km/h.
Light tank
A light tank is a tank variant initially designed for rapid movement, and now primarily employed in low-intensity conflict. Early light tanks were generally armed and armored similar to an armored car, but used tracks in order to provide better cross-country mobility.The light tank was a major...
developed by the Imperial Japanese Army
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
at the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
History and development
By the start of World War II, Japanese field commanders realized that the standard light tankLight tank
A light tank is a tank variant initially designed for rapid movement, and now primarily employed in low-intensity conflict. Early light tanks were generally armed and armored similar to an armored car, but used tracks in order to provide better cross-country mobility.The light tank was a major...
of the Japanese army, the Type 95 Ha-Go
Type 95 Ha-Go
The was a light tank used by the Imperial Japanese Army in combat operations of the Second Sino-Japanese War, at Nomonhan against the Soviet Union, and in the Second World War. It proved sufficient against infantry, however, like the American M3 Stuart, it was not designed to fight other tanks...
was obsolete. It had performed well against the National Revolutionary Army
National Revolutionary Army
The National Revolutionary Army , pre-1928 sometimes shortened to 革命軍 or Revolutionary Army and between 1928-1947 as 國軍 or National Army was the Military Arm of the Kuomintang from 1925 until 1947, as well as the national army of the Republic of China during the KMT's period of party rule...
of the China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
in the Second Sino-Japanese War
Second Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. From 1937 to 1941, China fought Japan with some economic help from Germany , the Soviet Union and the United States...
, and it successfully engaged US M3 Stuart light tanks on the Bataan Peninsula
Bataan Peninsula
The Bataan Peninsula is a rocky extension of the Zambales Mountains, on Luzon in the Philippines. It separates the Manila Bay from the South China Sea...
in December of 1941. Although it's 37mm gun was adequate for most light armor designed and built in the 1930s, they, like the tanks of the US Army prior to 1941, were not designed to fight enemy tanks, but rather to support the infantry. And no light tank in World War II was designed and built to engage medium tanks such as the M4 Sherman
M4 Sherman
The M4 Sherman, formally Medium Tank, M4, was the primary tank used by the United States during World War II. Thousands were also distributed to the Allies, including the British Commonwealth and Soviet armies, via lend-lease...
. The Type 95 was vulnerable to .50 caliber machinegun fire and attempts to address these shortcomings via the Type 98 Ke-Ni
Type 98 Ke-Ni
The was designed to replace the Imperial Japanese Army's Type 95 Ha-Go light tank, Japan's most numerous armored fighting vehicle during World War II.-History and development:...
and the Type 2 Ke-To
Type 2 Ke-To
The was a light tank of World War II, produced in small numbers for the Imperial Japanese Army as an improvement of the existing Type 98 Ke-Ni. It was not used in combat.-Design:...
were steps in the right direction, but were still insufficient, Therefore, a complete design review was held and a prototype for a new standard light tank was completed by 1942. At this point the project was shelved, as the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff had to concede to the Imperial Navy
Imperial Navy
The phrase Imperial Navy may refer to:*The Austro-Hungarian Navy*The German Navy between 1872 and 1918*The Imperial Japanese Navy from 1869 until 1947*The Imperial Navy of Imperial Qing government*The Imperial Navy from the fictional Star Wars universe....
's needs of raw materials necessary for the production of warships and warplanes. Mass production was finally authorized in 1945, by which time it was too late. Production was impossible due to material shortages, such as steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
, and by the bombing of Japan in World War II
Strategic bombing during World War II
Strategic bombing during World War II is a term which refers to all aerial bombardment of a strategic nature between 1939 and 1945 involving any nations engaged in World War II...
. Only a single prototype was completed by the end of World War II
Surrender of Japan
The surrender of Japan in 1945 brought hostilities of World War II to a close. By the end of July 1945, the Imperial Japanese Navy was incapable of conducting operations and an Allied invasion of Japan was imminent...
.
Design
The Type 5 Ke-Ho had armor of up to 20 mm, and Type 1 47 mm main gun, an improvement over existing Japanese light tanks. Power was from an air cooled dieselDiesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
engine yielding 150 HP, for a top speed of 50 km/h.