Difference between revisions of "Chi-He (Family)"

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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Type 1 Chi-He (Family)}}
 
{{DISPLAYTITLE:Type 1 Chi-He (Family)}}
 
== Description ==
 
== Description ==
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The '''Type 1 ''Chi-He''''' ({{Annotation|一式中戦車 チへ|Ichi-shiki chū-sensha Chi-He}}) was an improved version of the [[Chi-Ha (Family)|Type 97 Chi-Ha medium tanks]] of the Imperial Japanese Army in World War II. It uses the same anti-tank gun as the [[Chi-Ha Kai]] and boasted an upgraded engine and thicker armor. It was the first Japanese tank to have a communication radio as standard equipment.
+
The '''Type 1 ''Chi-He''''' ({{Annotation|一式中戦車 「チへ」|Ichi-shiki chū-sensha [Chi-He]}}) was an improved version of the [[Chi-Ha (Family)|Type 97 Chi-Ha medium tanks]] of the Imperial Japanese Army in World War II. It uses the same anti-tank gun as the [[Chi-Ha Kai]] and boasted an upgraded engine and thicker armour. It was the first Japanese tank to have a communication radio as standard equipment.
  
 
== Vehicles ==
 
== Vehicles ==
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* [[Chi-He (5th Regiment)]] - 1st Tank Division, 2nd Armored Brigade, 5th Armored Regiment
 
* [[Chi-He (5th Regiment)]] - 1st Tank Division, 2nd Armored Brigade, 5th Armored Regiment
  
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<!-- Filler Until Further Notice
 
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
 
=== Design ===
 
=== Design ===
−
Compared to the Type 97, the Type 1 Chi-He was slightly longer and taller. Its angled, thicker frontal armor was welded, as opposed to riveted. The adding of the frontal armor and a fifth crewman increased the weight, but the "streamlining" of the hull reduced the increase to only 1.5 tons.
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{{main|Chi-Ha_(Family)#Type_97_Chi-Ha_Kai|l1=Development of the Chi-Ha Kai}}
 +
[[File:ShinHoTo Turret Testing.jpg|right|thumb|Type 1 Chi-He Prototype With Unarmed Turret]]
 +
While the development of the new ''Chi-Ha Kai'' redesign was underway, the development of its new 47mm high-velocity gun and the new turret design would prompt a new tank on the side of development.
  
−
The Mitsubishi Type 100 diesel engine at 240 hp generated 70 horsepower more than the Mitsubishi Type 97 diesel engine, and was thus more than able to compensate for the additional weight in armor.
+
The new tank would go under the name of ''Chi-He'', and the turret design would directly be used on the ''Chi-He''. By 1941 both the tank and 47mm would be adopted within the army and were given the designation of Type 1 (47 mm) and Type 1 ''Chi-He''.
  
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The Type 1 Chi-He's 47 mm high-velocity gun had a barrel length of 2.250 mm, a muzzle velocity of 810 m/s (2,700 ft/s), and a penetration capability of 55 mm/100 m, 40 mm/500, 30 mm/1,000 meters; over double that of the Type 97s low-velocity main gun. It was more reliable and more accurate, with the gun barrel having a 16 groove rifling and an improved firing mechanism. The gun did require the installation of elevation gear (on the earlier Type 97 the gunner had to physically move the gun up or down on his shoulder). In light of these improvements, the gun was adequate against Allied armor. The ammunition was the same as used with the anti-tank version of the gun. The tanks carried 120 rounds of ammunition with both armor-piercing and armor-piecing high explosive shells. The gun was placed in a three-man turret, which had space for the commander, gun-layer and loader. The gun could be elevated and depressed between +20 and -15 degrees. This gun was used in the Type 97-Kai Shinhoto Chi-Ha tank, and on the Type 3 Ka-Chi Amphibious Tank.
+
While the ''Chi-He'' looks very similar to the Chi-Ha, it has been simplified in design while being an upgrade at large with the changes being:
 +
* The ''Chi-Ha'' would see many rivets on the front of the tank, but on the ''Chi-He'' would be welded or flat bolted.
 +
* As part of the simplification, the tank would see way less curved armour parts, and the whole body would be straightened out, unlike the ''Chi-Ha'''s design and would see an increase of thickness
 +
** The newly designed ''Chi-Ha Kai'' turret would be used with additional armour to the front face of the turret.
 +
* The Mitsubishi SA12200VD was replaced by a Type 100 Mitsubishi engine which created 70 hp more and effortlessly compensates for the additional weight in armour.  
 +
** The hull became slightly longer to mount the new engine
 +
* The firing system was exchanged for an electrical one and got rid of the shoulder support mechanism
 +
* It would be the first Japanese tank to have radio as standard equipment in every tank.
  
−
The Type 1 Chi-He was also the first Japanese tank to carry a radio as standard equipment in each tank, eliminating the need to use signal flags.
+
On testing of the ''Chi-Ha'' vs ''Chi-He'', a 15cm heavy howitzer would be used on both tanks where the ''Chi-Ha'' would pretty much fall apart, unlike the ''Chi-He'' that would allegedly still withstand the blast. Although it was an improvement over the ''Chi-Ha'' in most regards, it would come a little too late as it was already dated for a 1941 tank, which would be produced even later than that which didn't allow it to see frontline combat and would be held back for homeland defence.
−
=== Development ===
+
===Combat History===
−
[[File:ShinHoTo Turret Testing.jpg|left|thumb|Type 1 Chi-He Prototype With Unarmed Turret]]
+
[[File:Type 1 Chi-He & Type 97 Chi-Ha Kai.jpg|left|thumb|Type 1 Chi-He, Type 97 Chi-Ha Kai And Type 1 Ho-Ha (Halftrack) Of The 1st Tank Division]]
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After 1941, the Imperial Japanese Army quickly realized that its 1930s designed medium tank, the Type 97 Chi-Ha, was inferior to the 1940s generation of Allied armor, such as the M4 Sherman. Since the Type 97’s low-velocity 57 mm main gun was designed for infantry support in 1938, it could not penetrate the 1940s generation of Allied armor, whereas its own thin armor made the Type 97 vulnerable to most adversaries equipped with anti-armor capabilities.
+
A total of 170 ''Chi-He'''s were produced, including prototypes (with an unconfirmed total of 587).  
  
−
In response, a new series of tanks based on an improved Type 97 design was conceived. The first of this new series was the Type 1 Chi-He. Work on the design began in 1941. However, production did not begin until 1943, due to the higher priority of steel allocated to the Imperial Navy for warship construction. A total of 170 units were built from 1943–44, and they did not see any combat.
+
Americans first reported the new ''Chi-He'' during the Battle of Luzon, Philipines. But as they successfully engaged with the tanks and came for a closer inspection, it was simply the ''Chi-Ha Kai''.
−
===Combat History===
 
−
[[File:Type 1 Chi-He & Type 97 Chi-Ha Kai.jpg|thumb|Type 1 Chi-He, Type 97 Chi-Ha Kai And Type 1 Ho-Ha (Halftrack) Of The 1st Tank Division]]
 
−
All of the '''Type 1 ''Chi-He's''''' were allocated to the Japanese home islands to defend against the projected Allied Invasion. Despite '''Chi-He'<nowiki/>'''s superiority in terms of armor and firepower over the earlier [[Chi-Ha|Type 97 ''Chi-Ha'']], it still underperformed against the American [[M4 Sherman (Family)|M4 ''Sherman'']], leading to a new design known as the [[Chi-Nu|Type 3 ''Chi-Nu'']].
 
  
 +
All of the '''Type 1 ''Chi-He's''''' were allocated to the Japanese home islands to defend against the projected Allied Invasion and never saw combat. Despite the ''Chi-He'''s superiority in terms of armour and firepower over the earlier [[Chi-Ha|Type 97 ''Chi-Ha'']], it still underperformed against the American [[M4 Sherman (Family)|M4 ''Sherman'']], leading to a new design known as the [[Chi-Nu|Type 3 ''Chi-Nu'']].
 +
{{Break}}
 
== See Also ==
 
== See Also ==
 
=== Medium Tanks ===
 
=== Medium Tanks ===
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=== Gun Tank ===
 
=== Gun Tank ===
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*[[Ho-I|Type 2 Ho-I]] -->
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*[[Ho-I|Type 2 Ho-I]]  
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==

Revision as of 08:49, 6 May 2021

Description

The Type 1 Chi-He (一式中戦車 「チへ」) was an improved version of the Type 97 Chi-Ha medium tanks of the Imperial Japanese Army in World War II. It uses the same anti-tank gun as the Chi-Ha Kai and boasted an upgraded engine and thicker armour. It was the first Japanese tank to have a communication radio as standard equipment.

Vehicles

Rank II

History

Design

Main article: Development of the Chi-Ha Kai
Type 1 Chi-He Prototype With Unarmed Turret

While the development of the new Chi-Ha Kai redesign was underway, the development of its new 47mm high-velocity gun and the new turret design would prompt a new tank on the side of development.

The new tank would go under the name of Chi-He, and the turret design would directly be used on the Chi-He. By 1941 both the tank and 47mm would be adopted within the army and were given the designation of Type 1 (47 mm) and Type 1 Chi-He.

While the Chi-He looks very similar to the Chi-Ha, it has been simplified in design while being an upgrade at large with the changes being:

  • The Chi-Ha would see many rivets on the front of the tank, but on the Chi-He would be welded or flat bolted.
  • As part of the simplification, the tank would see way less curved armour parts, and the whole body would be straightened out, unlike the Chi-Ha's design and would see an increase of thickness
    • The newly designed Chi-Ha Kai turret would be used with additional armour to the front face of the turret.
  • The Mitsubishi SA12200VD was replaced by a Type 100 Mitsubishi engine which created 70 hp more and effortlessly compensates for the additional weight in armour.
    • The hull became slightly longer to mount the new engine
  • The firing system was exchanged for an electrical one and got rid of the shoulder support mechanism
  • It would be the first Japanese tank to have radio as standard equipment in every tank.

On testing of the Chi-Ha vs Chi-He, a 15cm heavy howitzer would be used on both tanks where the Chi-Ha would pretty much fall apart, unlike the Chi-He that would allegedly still withstand the blast. Although it was an improvement over the Chi-Ha in most regards, it would come a little too late as it was already dated for a 1941 tank, which would be produced even later than that which didn't allow it to see frontline combat and would be held back for homeland defence.

Combat History

Type 1 Chi-He, Type 97 Chi-Ha Kai And Type 1 Ho-Ha (Halftrack) Of The 1st Tank Division

A total of 170 Chi-He's were produced, including prototypes (with an unconfirmed total of 587).

Americans first reported the new Chi-He during the Battle of Luzon, Philipines. But as they successfully engaged with the tanks and came for a closer inspection, it was simply the Chi-Ha Kai.

All of the Type 1 Chi-He's were allocated to the Japanese home islands to defend against the projected Allied Invasion and never saw combat. Despite the Chi-He's superiority in terms of armour and firepower over the earlier Type 97 Chi-Ha, it still underperformed against the American M4 Sherman, leading to a new design known as the Type 3 Chi-Nu.

See Also

Medium Tanks

Gun Tank

Media

Videos
The Shooting Range #240 - Pages of History section at 03:41 discusses the Chi-He.

External links


Japan medium tanks
Type 97  Chi-Ha · Chi-Ha Kai · Chi-Ha Kai TD · Chi-Ha Short Gun
Type 1  Chi-He · Chi-He (5th Regiment) · Ho-I
Type 3  Chi-Nu · Chi-Nu II
Type 4  Chi-To · Chi-To Late
Type 5  Chi-Ri II
Type 61 MBT  ST-A1* · ST-A2* · ST-A3* · Type 61
Type 74 MBT  ST-B2* · Type 74 (C) · Type 74 (E) · Type 74 (F) · Type 74 (G)
Type 90 MBT  Type 90 · Type 90 (B) · Type 90 (B) "Fuji"
Type 10 MBT  TKX (P)* · TKX* · Type 10
Other  Ka-Chi
USA  ▅M4A3 (76) W · ▅M47
  *Prototype

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