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The Type 2 Ho-I gun tank was designed to provide Japanese tank regiments with a close support weapon to fight alongside the improved Chi-ha medium tanks. These tanks carried a 47mm anti-tank gun, which was a distinct improvement on the earlier 57mm gun in the anti-tank role, but less effective when firing HE shells.
The prototype of the Type 2 Ho-I was built on a Chi-ha medium tank, and saw the 75mm Type 99 L/23 cannon replace the 47mm gun. This gun fired a 6.6kg/ 14.5lb high explosive shell, with a muzzle velocity of 445mps.
A small number of Ho-Is were produced, all of them by converting existing Chi-he medium tanks to carry the new turret. The Type 2 Ho-I does not appear to have been used in combat.
Names (see article on Japanese tank designations)
Type 2 Ho-I (gun first) Gun Tank
Stats
Number produced: 30-33
Produced: 1944-45
Length: 18.76ft/ 5.73m
Hull Width: 7.66ft/ 2.33m
Height: 8.4ft/ 2.58m
Crew: 5
Weight: 15.4 or 16.7 tons
Engine: Type 100 240 hp V-12 diesel engine
Max Speed: 27.3mph/ 44 km/hr
Armament: 75mm Type 99 L/23
Armour: 50mm maximum
Japanese Tanks, 1939-45, Steven J. Zaloga, Osprey New Vanguard 137. A well written and illustrated look at the tanks produced for the Japanese army from the late 1920s to the end of the Second World War. This is a good overview of this neglected subject, looking at both the development of their tanks and their use in combat. [see more]
