WesWorld

Back in 2009, I put a linedrawing of the tank in Japan's armored fighting vehicle thread. More recently, I used stuff from Junior General to create a drawing that was a bit simpler and would allow me to color the tank (as can be seen here ) without having to worry about the lines and jpg crap.

Despite having that picture in the armored fighting vehicle thread as well as the more recent one, I never really bothered to look at stats until a few days ago.


(another reason why I wanted a simpler drawing)

Type 2 Heavy Tank

Crew: 4
Weight: 45 tons
Length: 850 cm
Width: 312 cm
Height: 294 cm

Primary armament: 90mm Type 3 gun (60 rounds)
Secondary armament: 3×7.7 mm Type 3 machine guns (2500 rounds)
Armor: 25-125mm

Engine: KHI 12-cyl. diesel, 650 hp
Power to weight ratio: 14.44 hp/ton
Suspension: Bell crank
Wheels each side: 8
Return rollers each side: 3
Track width: 66 cm

Range: 200 km (road), 140 km (terrain)
Speed: 39 km/h (road), 17 km/h (terrain)
Fording depth: 1.3 m
Trench crossing: 2.5 m
Vertical obstacle: 1 m

When was this vehicle introduced?

Guessing from the designation, it seems the Japanese turn of the century was 1940, so the Type 2 would be introduced in 1943? Assuming I understand the system correctly.

Well, it says Type 2 which I believe refers to 1942...

Type 100 = 1940
Type 1 = 1941 etc.

... but I had halfway 1943 in mind.

Quoted from "Rooijen10"

Well, it says Type 2 which I believe refers to 1942...

Type 100 = 1940
Type 1 = 1941 etc.

... but I had halfway 1943 in mind.

Looking at the drawing and the stats, I would say for 1942 a bit early in the probable development cycle; for mid-1943, much closer to what one might expect and accept. No doubt Japan has been spooked by all those designs emanating from its allies China and Chosen. They are enough to confuse anyone.

Spooked? Not really. I would have introduced it back whenever we were in 2009, but I guess there would have been a lot of objections then for introducting it so early so it does not really have anything to do with my troublesome neighbours.

Now to think of something neat that is a bit smaller and lighter than can easily be transported to the many small islands in the Pacific on the Japanese landing boats...

The Americans have something like that.

We call it the M24 Chaffee.

Interesting tank.

I like the Chaffee, but it is too heavy. It has got to be about 12 tons in order to fit on the Daihatsu landing boat. The Type 5 Ke-Ho + 50mm gun (instead of 47mm) might be something but I'll probably have to wait till 1945 for that one.