Type 5 Chi-Ri
Encyclopedia
The was the penultimate medium tank
developed by the Imperial Japanese Army
in World War II
. Intended to be a heavier, more powerful version of Japan's sophisticated Type 4 Chi-To
medium tank, in performance it was designed to surpass the US M4 Sherman
medium tanks being fielded by the Allied forces
.
medium tank. As with many innovative weapons projects launched by Japan in the final days of World War II, production could not advance beyond the prototype stage due to material shortages, and the loss of Japan's industrial infrastructure to the Allied bombing of Japan
.
The Type 5 Chi-Ri was initially to be powered by a Diesel engine
, but the advancements needed to provide the necessary horsepower fell behind schedule, and a 800 hp V-12 gasoline-fueled aircraft engine designed by BMW
in Germany and licensed to Kawasaki Heavy Industries
in Japan was selected instead. The "Kawasaki Type 98 800 HP engine Ha-9-IIb" was detuned for the tank to 550 hp.
Originally, the prototype tank was to be fitted with the same Type 5 75 mm tank gun ( based on the Type 4 75 mm AA Gun
) used on the Type 4 Chi-To. However, eventually an 88 mm gun (based on the Type 99 88 mm AA Gun) was planned for the turret; a secondary weapon of a front hull-mounted Type 1 37 mm tank gun was fitted in the position normally taken by a machine gun
. There was a ball mount for a Type 97 light machine gun
on the left side of the turret for use in close combat situations.
. Army planners envisioned large armored division
s equipped with the Type 5 medium tanks driving the invaders back into the sea, but the war came to an end
before even the first prototype could be completed.
The single prototype Type 5 was seized by American forces
during the occupation of Japan, but its subsequent fate is unknown. One theory is that it sank in the ocean when a freighter taking it to the Aberdeen Proving Grounds
capsized in a typhoon; another theory is that it was scrapped for its metal armor during the Korean War
.
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:...
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...
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...
. Intended to be a heavier, more powerful version of Japan's sophisticated Type 4 Chi-To
Type 4 Chi-To
The was one of several new medium tanks developed by the Imperial Japanese Army towards the end of World War II. The Type 4 Chi-To was by far the most advanced Japanese wartime tank to reach the production phase...
medium tank, in performance it was designed to surpass the US 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...
medium tanks being fielded by the Allied forces
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
.
History and development
A single unarmed prototype of the Type 5 Chi-Ri was completed by May 1945. The project was abruptly abandoned to free up manpower and critical resources to concentrate on the development and production of the more practical Type 4 Chi-ToType 4 Chi-To
The was one of several new medium tanks developed by the Imperial Japanese Army towards the end of World War II. The Type 4 Chi-To was by far the most advanced Japanese wartime tank to reach the production phase...
medium tank. As with many innovative weapons projects launched by Japan in the final days of World War II, production could not advance beyond the prototype stage due to material shortages, and the loss of Japan's industrial infrastructure to the Allied bombing of Japan
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...
.
Design
The Type 5 Chi-Ri featured a lengthened version of the Type 4 Chi-To chassis, with eight road wheels per side instead of the Chi-To's seven. It had the usual Japanese track arrangement with forward mounted drive sprockets and rear mounted idlers. The Type 5 Chi-Ri had sloped welded armor, with a maximum thickness of 75 mm at the front; 25-50 mm on the side; 50 mm on the rear.The Type 5 Chi-Ri was initially to be powered by a Diesel engine
Diesel 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...
, but the advancements needed to provide the necessary horsepower fell behind schedule, and a 800 hp V-12 gasoline-fueled aircraft engine designed by BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
in Germany and licensed to Kawasaki Heavy Industries
Kawasaki Heavy Industries
is an international corporation based in Japan. It has headquarters in both Chūō-ku, Kobe and Minato, Tokyo.The company is named after its founder Shōzō Kawasaki and has no connection with the city of Kawasaki, Kanagawa....
in Japan was selected instead. The "Kawasaki Type 98 800 HP engine Ha-9-IIb" was detuned for the tank to 550 hp.
Originally, the prototype tank was to be fitted with the same Type 5 75 mm tank gun ( based on the Type 4 75 mm AA Gun
Type 4 75 mm AA Gun
The was an anti-aircraft gun developed by the Imperial Japanese Army, which went into production in 1943. Due to the lack of raw materials available and the great damage by air raids to its industrial infrastructure, only 70 units were made...
) used on the Type 4 Chi-To. However, eventually an 88 mm gun (based on the Type 99 88 mm AA Gun) was planned for the turret; a secondary weapon of a front hull-mounted Type 1 37 mm tank gun was fitted in the position normally taken by a machine gun
Machine gun
A machine gun is a fully automatic mounted or portable firearm, usually designed to fire rounds in quick succession from an ammunition belt or large-capacity magazine, typically at a rate of several hundred rounds per minute....
. There was a ball mount for a Type 97 light machine gun
Type 97 Light Machine Gun
The was the standard machine gun used in tanks and armored vehicles of the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II, and also as a light machine gun by infantry forces.-Development:...
on the left side of the turret for use in close combat situations.
Service
As with the Type 4 Chi-To medium tanks, the Type 5 Chi-Ri tanks were earmarked for the final defenses of the Japanese home islands against the expected Allied invasionsOperation 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...
. Army planners envisioned large armored division
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
s equipped with the Type 5 medium tanks driving the invaders back into the sea, but the war came to an end
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...
before even the first prototype could be completed.
The single prototype Type 5 was seized by American forces
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during the occupation of Japan, but its subsequent fate is unknown. One theory is that it sank in the ocean when a freighter taking it to the Aberdeen Proving Grounds
United States Army Ordnance Museum
The U.S. Army Ordnance Museum is a museum that is in the process of being re-located to Fort Lee, in Fort Lee, Virginia. Its previous building—at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Aberdeen, Maryland—was closed in September 2010, although many outdoor exhibits are still accessible to the...
capsized in a typhoon; another theory is that it was scrapped for its metal armor during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
.
Variants
- Ho-Ri tank destroyer
- The Ho-Ri was a more powerful version of the Type 5 Chi-Ri, using a 105 mm cannon in place of the 75 mm design. This design was possibly inspired by the German JagdtigerJagdtigerJagdtiger is the common name of a German tank destroyer of World War II. The official German designation was Panzerjäger Tiger Ausf. B. The ordnance inventory designation was Sd. Kfz. 186. It saw service in small numbers from late 1944 to the end of the war on both the Western and Eastern Front...
tank destroyerTank destroyerA 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...
. No prototype was built, and the design remained only a concept.