Type 3 Ho-Ni III
Encyclopedia
The gun tank was a tank destroyer
and self-propelled artillery
of Imperial Japanese Army
in World War II
. The Type 3 No-Ni II superseded the Type 1 Ho-Ni I
in production, and was much safer for the crew due to its having a completely enclosed superstructure.
, were not really optimized designs. Ho-Ni I used a semi-enclosed casemate
for the main gun, which made the crew vulnerable to the close combat situations expected for a tank destroyer design; Ho-I, despite its enclosed rotating turret, was armed with a low-velocity howitzer more suitable against gun batteries and fortifications and required specialized shaped-charge warhead
ammunition in tank destroyer roles. The fully enclosed and armored casemate of the Type 3 Ho-Ni III was intended to address these issues, and an order was placed with Hitachi Ltd in early 1944. Production was hampered by material shortages, and by the bombing of Japan in World War II
, and only 31 or 41 units were completed by the time of the end of the war
.
medium tank
.
The main armament of the Type 3 Ho-Ni III was a 75 mm Type 90 Field Gun
, loosely based on the French
Schneider et Cie Canon de 85 mle 1927. The Type 90 also formed the basis for the Type 3 75 mm Tank Gun
used in the Type 3 Chi-Nu
medium tank
. The Type 3 Ho-Ni III 75 mm main gun was mounted in a fully enclosed fighting compartment with its flanks protruding beyond the hull sides, giving the appearance of a gun turret
although it is in reality incapable of rotation. There was no provision for secondary armament.
. As the surrender of Japan
occurred before that invasion, there is no record of the Type 3 Ho-Ni III ever being used in actual combat.
Tank destroyer
A tank destroyer is a type of armored fighting vehicle armed with a gun or missile launcher, and is designed specifically to engage enemy armored vehicles...
and self-propelled artillery
Self-propelled artillery
Self-propelled artillery vehicles are combat vehicles armed with artillery. Within the term are covered self-propelled guns and rocket artillery...
of 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...
in 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...
. The Type 3 No-Ni II superseded the Type 1 Ho-Ni I
Type 1 Ho-Ni I
-External links:***...
in production, and was much safer for the crew due to its having a completely enclosed superstructure.
History and development
Previous gun tanks, Type 1 Ho-Ni I and Type 2 Ho-IType 2 Ho-I
The Support Tank was a derivative of the Type 97 Chi-Ha medium tanks of the Imperial Japanese Army in World War II. Similar in concept to early variant of the German Panzer IV, it was designed as a self-propelled howitzer to provide the close-in fire support for standard Japanese medium tanks with...
, were not really optimized designs. Ho-Ni I used a semi-enclosed casemate
Casemate
A casemate, sometimes rendered casement, is a fortified gun emplacement or armored structure from which guns are fired. originally a vaulted chamber in a fortress.-Origin of the term:...
for the main gun, which made the crew vulnerable to the close combat situations expected for a tank destroyer design; Ho-I, despite its enclosed rotating turret, was armed with a low-velocity howitzer more suitable against gun batteries and fortifications and required specialized shaped-charge warhead
Shaped charge
A shaped charge is an explosive charge shaped to focus the effect of the explosive's energy. Various types are used to cut and form metal, to initiate nuclear weapons, to penetrate armor, and in the oil and gas industry...
ammunition in tank destroyer roles. The fully enclosed and armored casemate of the Type 3 Ho-Ni III was intended to address these issues, and an order was placed with Hitachi Ltd in early 1944. Production was hampered by material shortages, 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...
, and only 31 or 41 units were completed by the time of the end of the war
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 3 Ho-Ni III utilized the chassis of the earlier Type 97 Chi-HaType 97 Chi-Ha
The was a medium tank used by the Imperial Japanese Army during the Second Sino-Japanese War, at Nomonhan against the Soviet Union, and in the Second World War. It was the most widely produced Japanese medium tank of World War II, although the armor protection was considered as average in the 1930s...
medium tank
Medium tank
Medium tank was a classification of tanks; the medium being intermediate in size and weight and armament between heavy tanks and light tanks.The medium tank concept has been eclipsed by the main battle tank.-History:...
.
The main armament of the Type 3 Ho-Ni III was a 75 mm Type 90 Field Gun
75 mm Type 90 Field Gun
The was a field gun used by the Imperial Japanese Army during the Second Sino-Japanese War, Soviet-Japanese Border Wars and World War II. It was intended to replace the Type 38 75 mm Field Gun in front line combat units, but due to operational and budgetary constraints, the Type 38 continued to be...
, loosely based on the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
Schneider et Cie Canon de 85 mle 1927. The Type 90 also formed the basis for the Type 3 75 mm Tank Gun
Type 3 75 mm Tank Gun
The Type 3 75 mm Tank Gun was used as the main armament of the Imperial Japanese Army Type 3 Chi-Nu medium tank. It was one of the largest guns ever to be fitted on a World War II Japanese tank.-Specs & Design:...
used in the Type 3 Chi-Nu
Type 3 Chi-Nu
The was another improvement over the Type 97 Chi-Ha line of medium tanks of the Imperial Japanese Army in World War II. The Type 3 Chi-Nu mounted one Type 3 75 mm Tank Gun, one of the largest guns ever to be fitted on a World War II Japanese tank....
medium tank
Tank
A tank is a tracked, armoured fighting vehicle designed for front-line combat which combines operational mobility, tactical offensive, and defensive capabilities...
. The Type 3 Ho-Ni III 75 mm main gun was mounted in a fully enclosed fighting compartment with its flanks protruding beyond the hull sides, giving the appearance of a gun turret
Gun turret
A gun turret is a weapon mount that protects the crew or mechanism of a projectile-firing weapon and at the same time lets the weapon be aimed and fired in many directions.The turret is also a rotating weapon platform...
although it is in reality incapable of rotation. There was no provision for secondary armament.
Combat record
Although the Type 3 Ho-Ni III were assigned to various combat units, most were stationed within the Japanese home islands to defend against the projected Allied InvasionOperation Downfall
Operation Downfall was the Allied plan for the invasion of Japan near the end of World War II. The operation was cancelled when Japan surrendered after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the Soviet Union's declaration of war against Japan. The operation had two parts: Operation...
. As the surrender of Japan
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...
occurred before that invasion, there is no record of the Type 3 Ho-Ni III ever being used in actual combat.