Type 98 Ke-Ni file photo [7752]

Type 98 Ke-Ni

CountryJapan
Primary RoleLight Tank

Contributor:

ww2dbaseThe Type 98 Ke-Ni (sometimes Chi-Ni) light tanks were designed as the successor to the Type 95 Ha-Go light tanks. The design completed in 1938, but production did not start until 1942. The delay was largely due to the fact that the Type 95 Ha-Go light tanks met little opposition in China, thus only when the Pacific War began and when the Japanese Army encountered more advanced western tank designs that better tanks were seriously demanded. The production contract was awarded to Hino Motors and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Between 1942 and 1945, only 132 were built (24 were built in 1942, 79 in 1943, and 29 in 1944). Compared to their predecessors, Type 98 Ke-Ni light tanks' most significant improvement was thicker and better-angled armor.

ww2dbaseSource: Wikipedia.

Last Major Revision: Jul 2009

SPECIFICATIONS

Type 98 Ke-Ni
MachineryOne Mitsubishi Type 100 air-cooled v-12 diesel engine rated at 130hp
SuspensionBell crank
Armament1x37mm Type 100 gun, 1x7.7mm Type 97 machine gun
Armor6-16mm
Crew3
Length5.50 m
Width2.20 m
Height2.38 m
Weight17.0 t
Range300 km

Photographs

Japanese Type 98B Ke-Ni light tank, circa 1939




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Type 98 Ke-Ni Light Tank Photo Gallery
Japanese Type 98B Ke-Ni light tank, circa 1939


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