World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseThe Type 4 Ke-Nu light tanks were neither of a new design nor a successor of an existing design. Instead, they were actually the mating of surplus 57-millimeter tank guns and turrets (from the Type 97 Chi-Ha medium tanks) with the chassis of Type 95 Ha-Go light tanks. The guns' low velocity had weak armor penetrating capabilities, and their armor plating were fairly thin, thus the Japanese Army knew that these new tanks were not going to be capable of conducting effective armor operations. Instead, the Japanese leaders' goal with them was to increase the quantity of light tanks in the arsenal of the Japanese Army. The conversions were done in 1944, and about 100 units were deployed to front line units by the end of the year. Most of them remained in the Japanese home islands in preparation for an Allied landing, while a few of them were sent to Korea and northeast China (Manchukuo); the latter group saw limited combat against Russian forces.

SPECIFICATIONS

Type 4 Ke-Nu

Machinery	One Mitsubishi NVD 6120 air-cooled diesel engine rated at 120hp
Suspension	Bell crank
Armament	1x57mm gun, 1x7.7mm Type 97 machine gun
Armor	6-25mm
Crew	3
Length	4.30 m
Width	2.00 m
Weight	8.4 t
Speed	40 km/h