Type 1 Ho-Ni
Country | Japan |
Primary Role | Tank Destroyer |
Contributor: C. Peter Chen
ww2dbaseThe Type 1 Ho-Ni I tank destroyers were developed as a response to the American M4 Sherman medium tanks. They were built by mating 75-millimeter Type 90 field guns and the hulls of Type 97 Chi-Ha medium tanks. The crews operated the guns in casemates that were open from above and behind, reflecting the designers' thought that they were to be operated at the range of 12,000 meters; in actual combat situations, however, enemy infantry often operated at a much closer range, thus the open casemates exposed crews to small arms fire. 26 units of this first variant were built.
ww2dbaseVehicles of the second variant, Type 1 Ho-Ni II, each mounted a Type 91 105-millimeter howitzer. The side armor of the superstructure was slightly altered, with repositioned observation visors. Production of the second variant began in 1943, and 54 units were built.
ww2dbaseThe Type 3 Ho-Ni III tank destroyers featured a fully enclosed and sloped armor casemate for the main gun, which was perceived by their crews as a major improvement. The casemate was fully rotating, thus theoretically giving the crews greater flexibility in combat situations. They mounted the same 75-millimeter tank gun as the original variant. Due to lack of raw materials, only 31 units were built by Hitachi Limited between early 1944 and the end of the war. Most of them, if not all, were stationed in the Japanese home islands in preparation for the Allied invasion that never took place. There is no record of Allied forces encountering Type 3 Ho-Ni III vehicles in combat.
ww2dbaseSource: Wikipedia.
Last Major Revision: Aug 2009
SPECIFICATIONS
Type 3 Ho-Ni III
Machinery | One Mitsubishi air-cooled V12 diesel engine rated at 170hp |
Suspension | Bell crank |
Armament | 1x75mm Type 3 Gun |
Armor | 12-25mm |
Crew | 5 |
Length | 5.52 m |
Width | 2.29 m |
Height | 2.39 m |
Weight | 17.0 t |
Speed | 38 km/h |
Range | 200 km |
Type 1 Ho-Ni I
Machinery | One Mitsubishi Type 97 21.7-liter V-12 air-cooled diesel engine rated at 170hp |
Suspension | Bell crank |
Armament | 1x75mm Type 90 field gun (54 rounds) |
Armor | 25-51mm |
Crew | 5 |
Length | 5.90 m |
Width | 2.29 m |
Height | 2.39 m |
Weight | 15.4 t |
Speed | 38 km/h |
Range | 200 km |
Photographs
Did you enjoy this article or find this article helpful? If so, please consider supporting us on Patreon. Even $1 per month will go a long way! Thank you. Share this article with your friends: Stay updated with WW2DB: |
- » Wreck of USS Edsall Found (14 Nov 2024)
- » Autumn 2024 Fundraiser (7 Nov 2024)
- » Nobel Peace Prize for the Atomic Bomb Survivors Organization (11 Oct 2024)
- » Wreck of USS Stewart/DD-224 Found (2 Oct 2024)
- » See all news
- » 1,150 biographies
- » 337 events
- » 43,917 timeline entries
- » 1,241 ships
- » 350 aircraft models
- » 207 vehicle models
- » 375 weapon models
- » 123 historical documents
- » 260 facilities
- » 470 book reviews
- » 28,557 photos
- » 432 maps
Winston Churchill
Please consider supporting us on Patreon. Even $1 a month will go a long way. Thank you!
Or, please support us by purchasing some WW2DB merchandise at TeeSpring, Thank you!