Difference between revisions of "I-Go Ko"

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{{Specs-Card|code=jp_type_89b_i_go_otsu}}
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{{About
 +
| about = '''Type 89 I-Go'''
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| usage = equipment of the same adoption year
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| link = Type 89 (Disambiguation)
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}}
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{{Specs-Card
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|code=jp_type_89b_i_go_otsu
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|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
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}}
  
 
== Description ==
 
== Description ==
''In the description, the first part needs to be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert the screenshot of the vehicle. If the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, they will immediately understand what kind of vehicle it is talking about.''
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<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
 +
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a reserve rank {{Specs|rank}} Japanese light tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.65 "Way of the Samurai"]] along with the rest of the initial Japanese Ground Forces Tree.
 +
 
 +
The I-Go Ko is a quite average starting tank, not being absolutely awful but not exactly great either. The tank's armour is virtually non-existent, the engine has good acceleration but caps out at 27 kph, and the gun has decent APHE rounds but with less penetration than the 37 mm Type 94 - the only round really worth using is the HEAT rounds, which perform substantially better. Even so, the gun does have a considerable drop-off, so take care when aiming. All in all, the tank is a jack-of-all-trades, master of none for Rank I.
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpfull for survival in combat?''
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{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}
 +
<!-- ''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' -->
 +
Armour on the I-Go Ko is considered quite lacking against contemporary enemies, which is to say that it may as well not exist. At armour thickness all less than 20 mm (aside from the spaced areas), even large-calibre machine guns can penetrate the armour. Not to mention, the front armour of 17 mm is only mildly sloped and presents a large hull target that can knock out every crew with a single penetration. Never rely on your armour, never advance on an enemy unless they are incapacitated (i.e. gunner or cannon knocked out).
  
''If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.''
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'''Armour type:'''
 +
 
 +
* Rolled homogeneous armour
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
|-
 +
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
 +
|-
 +
| Hull || 17 mm (32°) ''Front glacis'' || 17 mm ''Top'' <br> 17 + 17 mm ''Bottom'' || 17 mm (61°) ''Top'' <br> 17 mm ''Bottom'' || 10 mm
 +
|-
 +
| Turret || 17 mm (9°) ''Turret front'' <br> 25 mm (10°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 15 mm (10-12°) || 15 mm (11°) || 10 mm
 +
|-
 +
! Armour !! Sides !! Roof
 +
|-
 +
| Cupola || 15 mm || 10 mm
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
'''Notes:'''
 +
 
 +
* Suspension wheels and tracks are both 15 mm thick.
  
 
=== Mobility ===
 
=== Mobility ===
''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and maneuverability as well as the maximum speed forward and backward.''
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{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}
 +
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' -->{{tankMobility|abMinHp=183|rbMinHp=104}}
 +
 
 +
Like the armour, the {{PAGENAME}} leaves much to be desired in the tank's top speed that limits the utility of the quick acceleration. That's not the say that the tank is not maneuverable, rather, the opposite - the tank can turn and accelerate quite well. It's just the top speed that lets you down.
 +
 
 +
=== Modifications and economy ===
 +
{{Specs-Economy}}
  
 
== Armaments ==
 
== Armaments ==
 +
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
 
=== Main armament ===
 
=== Main armament ===
''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibilty of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.''
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{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}
 +
<!-- ''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibility of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.'' -->
 +
{{main|Type 90 (57 mm)}}
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 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="5" | [[Type 90 (57 mm)|57 mm Type 90]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
 +
|-
 +
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
 +
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
 +
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
 +
|-
 +
! ''Arcade''
 +
| rowspan="2" | 100 || rowspan="2" | -15°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | Vertical || 14.47 || 20.03 || 24.32 || 26.90 || 28.61 || rowspan="2" | 4.29 || rowspan="2" | 3.80 || rowspan="2" | 3.50 || rowspan="2" | 3.30
 +
|-
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! ''Realistic''
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| 9.04 || 10.64 || 12.92 || 14.30 || 15.20
 +
|-
 +
|}
  
=== Additional armament ===
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==== Ammunition ====
''Some tanks are armed with several guns in one or more turrets. Evaluate the additional weaponry and give advice on its use. Describe the ammunition available for additional weaponry. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage. If there is no additional weaponry remove this subsection.''
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{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 +
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
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|-
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! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
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! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead
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! colspan="6" | '''Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)'''
 +
|-
 +
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m
 +
|-
 +
| Type 92 APHE || APHE || 21 || 21 || 19 || 16 || 14 || 13
 +
|-
 +
| Type 3 HEAT || HEAT || 55 || 55 || 55 || 55 || 55 || 55
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 +
! colspan="10" | Shell details
 +
|-
 +
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
 +
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead
 +
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)
 +
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)
 +
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)
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! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)
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! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)
 +
! colspan="3" | Ricochet
 +
|-
 +
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%
 +
|-
 +
| Type 92 APHE || APHE || 349 || 2.58 || 1.2 || 9 || 103 || 47° || 60° || 65°
 +
|-
 +
| Type 3 HEAT || HEAT || 380 || 1.8 || 0 || 0.1 || 303.36 || 62° || 69° || 73°
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
 +
[[File:Ammoracks_Type89IGoKo.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]
 +
<!-- '''Last updated: 1.85.0.185''' -->
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 +
|-
 +
! Full<br>ammo
 +
! 1st<br>rack empty
 +
! 2nd<br>rack empty
 +
! 3rd<br>rack empty
 +
! 4th<br>rack empty
 +
! 5th<br>rack empty
 +
! Visual<br>discrepancy
 +
|-
 +
| '''100''' || 97&nbsp;''(+3)'' || 61&nbsp;''(+39)'' || 49&nbsp;''(+51)'' || 13&nbsp;''(+87)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+99)'' || No
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
'''Recommendations:'''
 +
The ammo racks in the I-Go Ko are rather small due to the small ammunition, and so could be hard in a casual engagement unless aimed for directly, which would be rare given the thin armour on the tank encouraging center-mass shots rather than targeted hits.
 +
 
 +
However, to minimize racks to avoid detonation, emptying all the way to the 3rd rack at 49 total rounds will leave only two rather small racks remaining. If wanting to bring in more ammunition, removing only the ammo rack in the turret at 97 rounds will leave plenty.
  
 
=== Machine guns ===
 
=== Machine guns ===
''Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft, but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.''
+
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}
 +
<!-- ''Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.'' -->
 +
{{main|Type 91 (6.5 mm)}}
 +
 
 +
The Type 91 machine gun is mounted at the hull with limited traverse all-around. With a limited ammo per belt, the machine gun doesn't serve much except as a possible harassing tool against enemies in front.
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="5" | [[Type 91 (6.5 mm)|6.5 mm Type 91]]
 +
|-
 +
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
 +
|-
 +
| Hull || 3,000 (30) || 499 || ±22° || ±25°
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
== Usage in battles ==
 +
<!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' -->
 +
The Type 89b I-Go Ko, despite its rather sluggish looks, is a mobile tank that could use its speed to get to an enemy's flanks and cause some serious damage. The 57 mm cannon is unfortunately rather pitiful even in Rank I, with a penetration value of between 20 to 30 mm at standard combat ranges. Thus, it is best to catch an enemy by its sides in order to get through their weaker side armour. The 57 mm low-velocity shell does have an advantage of a rather prominent parabolic trajectory so it is possible to lob shells over hills to hit unsuspecting enemies behind it. This, fortunately, has changed with the addition of a High Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) shell which is available for this vehicle and all Japanese tanks that use the 5.7cm Type 97 cannon. This shell has 55mm of penetration at any range but still has considerable drop-off due to the low-velocity of the gun. It's a good enough anti-everything that can penetrate most targets you will meet, especially those pesky French tanks, which tend to be quite well armoured. The Type 3 HEAT shell, fortunately, has just enough penetration to get through them, although one should always try to aim for weak spots and never assume that you will penetrate no matter what.
  
== Usage in the battles ==
+
Pretty much everything is a threat to this vehicle. '''Fast vehicles''' (BT-7, BT-5, M2A1, Tetrarch, T-60) in particular are an uneasy encounter: The I-Go is reasonably fast at close quarters, but not that fast. At close range, the I-Go's poor turret turning speed cannot follow the movement and at long range, the slow shells are a pain to aim precisely at a moving target - especially seeing as the 45mm 20-K that virtually every Soviet vehicle at this BR has can easily kill you at any range with a well-aimed shot. '''Autocanons''' (72-K GAZ AAA, Pz. II, Flakpanzer, Gepard, M13, T17E2, etc.) are the I-Go Ko's worst nightmare since they can make mincemeat of the armour in seconds without too many efforts. Plus, they are often quite fast.
''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).''
 
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
''Summarize and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Do not use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - they have a substitution in the form of softer "inadequate", "effective".''
+
<!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' -->
  
 
'''Pros:'''
 
'''Pros:'''
*
+
 
 +
* Decent forward speed
 +
* Parabolic trajectory allows 57 mm round to hit over hills
 +
* APHE has a huge amount of explosive mass, especially for the calibre
 +
* Great gun depression
 +
* Type 3 HEAT shell can get though most tanks you meet rather easily
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
*
 
  
== Historical part ==
+
* Weak overall armour of 17 mm, vulnerable to any armament
''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the ground vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too big, take it to a separate article, taking a link to an article about the vehicle and adding a block "/historical reference" (example: https://wiki.warthunder.com/Name-vehicles/historical reference) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to include links to sources at the end of the article.''
+
* 57 mm armament has very low muzzle velocity and penetration - can struggle to hurt many of the tanks it will face, even from the sides
 +
* Slow traverse speed even when upgraded
 +
* Rather tall as a Rank I tank (not as bad as [[LVT(A)(1)]] though)
 +
* Machine gun only fires forwards in a limited arc
 +
* The only tank that isn't a threat to you is the Light Tank mk. VI AA (rank I British SPAA)
 +
 
 +
== History ==
 +
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' -->
 +
===Development===
 +
Japan's early pioneering into the concept of armoured warfare began as early as October 1918 during the first World War. They were able to acquire a few tank samples from the European governments, ranging from a British Mark IV tank, Medium A Whippet tanks, and Renault FT tanks. These tanks would make up Japan's first tank units in 1925. Their experiences with these tanks led to the eventual development of their own domestic tank design. The requirement for this new tank was given to the 4th Military Laboratory under the Imperial Japanese Army's jurisdiction and was mainly in charge of land vehicle development. In the summer of 1926, the first prototype was completed with the design of three turrets, one main in the middle and two smaller ones in the front and rear. The design was deemed too heavy at 18 tons and so development restarted, the initial design carrying on in the failed Type 91 and 95 tanks. During this time, a trial with a British Vickers Model C tank had the tank's gasoline engine catch fire. This prompted the Japanese to fit their tanks with a diesel engine instead. The development led to a new design in 1929, titled '''Type 89 I-Go'''. Though it is considered to be a light tank, the designation changed to a medium tank due to its weight of 10 tons.<ref name="ZalogaJapaneseTank">Zaloga Steven. ''Japanese Tanks 1939-1945'' Great Britain: Osprey Publishing Ltd., 2007</ref>
 +
 
 +
The Type 89's construction was assigned to Sagami Arsenal, but it was subcontracted to private firms due to Sagami's lack in industry. One of the firms was Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, which developed a tank plant specifically for the Type 89. The Type 89 production officially started in 1931, with mass-production in 1933 and continued until 1939 with 404 tanks built.<ref name="ZalogaJapaneseTank">Zaloga Steven. ''Japanese Tanks 1939-1945'' Great Britain: Osprey Publishing Ltd., 2007</ref>
 +
 
 +
[[File:Type_89,_early_version_front_view.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Front 3/4 view of an Imperial Japanese Army Type 89a ''I-Go Ko''.]]
 +
===Design===
 +
The Type 89 I-Go was Japan's first domestic tank design, yet it showed a lot of features that were revolutionary and would become a trademark of the Japanese tank designs. The Type 89 I-Go had a four-man crew in the tank with two in the turret. The turret held a 57 mm low-velocity gun meant for fighting fortifications due to the tank's role as infantry support. A peculiar feature on the Type 89 was the rear machine gun on the back of the turret. This machine gun was meant to enable the Type 89 to engage forward targets with a machine gun or it's 57 mm gun and would be a design trend in future tank development.<ref name="ZalogaJapaneseTank">Zaloga Steven. ''Japanese Tanks 1939-1945'' Great Britain: Osprey Publishing Ltd., 2007</ref>
 +
 
 +
The Type 89 design changed gradually over time due to troop experience and advances in technology. For example, a small change that occurred for the Type 89 was the change of the commander's cupola from a "top hat" or "lid" design to a split hatch design. A noticeable change was in the engine when the first models produced off the lines were powered by a 118hp gasoline engine, these tanks were labelled as ''Type 89A I-Go Ko''. It wasn't until 1934 when a change to 120hp Mitsubishi diesel engine was made that the Type 89 was redesignated the ''Type 89B I-Go Otsu''. This diesel engine made the Type 89 the first mass-produced tank that uses diesel as its fuel.<ref name="ZalogaJapaneseTank">Zaloga Steven. ''Japanese Tanks 1939-1945'' Great Britain: Osprey Publishing Ltd., 2007</ref>
 +
 
 +
The Type 89 does carry its few flaws, however. The tank was quite slow at about 25 km/h (16 mph), a hindrance to mobile operations using motorized infantry that must wait for the tanks to reach the combat zone. The armour was quite thin at 17 mm and the 57 mm's anti-tank power was quite abyssal. However, against the Chinese troops from 1932 onwards, the armour and firepower flaws were small worries due to the lack of available tanks and anti-tank defences on the Chinese side.
 +
 
 +
===Combat usage===
 +
The Type 89 was first used in 1932 in the 1st Special Tank Company after the Manchurian Incident. The company, armed with Type 89 along with Renault FT and NC tanks, took part in the conflict between China and Japan in the Shanghai Incident. The experience showed that the Type 89 performed well in comparison to the Renaults and soon the entire company was fitted with Type 89s, retiring the Renaults.<ref name="ZalogaJapaneseTank">Zaloga Steven. ''Japanese Tanks 1939-1945'' Great Britain: Osprey Publishing Ltd., 2007</ref>
 +
 
 +
The mass production of the Type 89 from 1933 onwards allowed the formation of large tank groups in Japan, leading to the 1st and 3rd Tank Regiment in Kurume, Fukuoka with the 2nd Tank Regiment at Chiba Tank School. The 1st Tank Regiment would be deployed with the Kwantung Army in China, where it would carry the Type 89 tank in the conflict against China from 1937 onwards.<ref name="ZalogaJapaneseTank">Zaloga Steven. ''Japanese Tanks 1939-1945'' Great Britain: Osprey Publishing Ltd., 2007</ref>
 +
 
 +
By 1939, the Type 89 was starting to be succeeded by newer Japanese tanks, but they still served on the frontlines such as the border conflicts between Japan and the Soviet Union. In the Battle of Khalkhin Gol, the IJA's 1st Tank Corps attacked the Soviet 11th Tank and 7th Armoured brigades in July with a mixture of Type 89s, [[Chi-Ha|Type 97 mediums]], [[Ha-Go|Type 95 lights]], and tankettes in the 3rd and 4th Tank Regiments. Though the attack stirred up Soviet lines, there was no breakthrough in Soviet lines. The Soviets, armed with [[T-26|T-26]] and [[BT-5|BT]] [[BT-7|light tanks]], would soon push the Japanese back to Manchuria and have a cease-fire signed on 24 August.
 +
 
 +
Though the Type 89 was mostly withdrawn from service and replaced with the [[Ha-Go|Ha-Go]] and [[Chi-Ha|Chi-Ha]], the I-Go still served as far into the battles for the Philippines, Malaya and Burma. Some tanks saw further use as static pillboxes in the Japanese islands of the Pacific, but these tanks were vulnerable to newer anti-tank and tank technology of the Americans with their bazookas and [[M4|M4 Shermans]] once they started their island-hopping strategy against Imperial Japan.
 +
 
 +
Even after World War II, some Type 89s were still seen in service of the French during the First Indochina War, using the captured Japanese armour in a unit known as 'Commando Blindé du Cambodge'.
 +
 
 +
 
 +
===Surviving Tanks===
 +
[[File:Type 89b I-Go at Tsuchira.jpg|thumb|Restored Type 89b ''I-Go Otsu'' at Tsuchira tank museum open day.]]
 +
{{Break}}
 +
Many Type 89 relics still are visible in the wild usually reduced to a wreck with a handful of tanks still being in a good condition. These in good condition are located in:
 +
 
 +
* The Ordnance Training Support Facility, Ft. Lee, VA, USA.
 +
* The Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force base at Tsuchiura, Ibaraki, Japan.
 +
* Sinbudai Old Weapon Museum, Camp Asaka, Japan
 +
* Villa Escudero, Tiaong, Quezon Province, Philippines
 +
 
 +
Only 1 I-Go Otsu remains in running condition, which was restored at the JGSDF base at Tsuchiura together with the last [[Chi-Nu|Type 3 ''Chi-Nu'']] to still exist. Both are stored on military ground so aren't at all times in public display. The I-Go Otsu usually makes an appearance during the open day of the Tsuchiura base. The vehicle can be seen in [[#Media|media]] still running after being restored by the JGSDF.
 +
 
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
''An excellent addition to the article will be video guides, as well as screenshots from the game and photos.''
+
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
 +
;Skins
 +
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicleCountry=japan&vehicleType=tank&vehicleClass=light_tank&vehicle=jp_type_89b_i_go_otsu Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]
 +
;Images
 +
<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights="250px">
 +
ChiNuIGo.png|Type 3 Chi-Nu & Type 89 I-Go on display, The first and last Japanese Army production medium tank.
 +
IGoKo.png|Type 89 I-Go assaulting on White Rock Fortress.
 +
</gallery>
 +
;Videos
 +
* '''In-Game'''
 +
{{Youtube-gallery|p9_XD0TgdiA|'''TOP 5 Reserve Tanks'''  discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 2:23  - ''War Thunder Official Channel''}}
 +
* '''Historical'''
 +
{{Youtube-gallery|b16n19phUBI|Type 89 I-Go Japanese medium tank|c8WHPgdkdOc|Type 89 IJA training exercise - September 1941|LBM3eMJJRjg|Type 89b - Running at Tsuchiura, Japan|0snxs-JL8i8|Look at interior of a Type 89}}
 +
 
 +
==References==
 +
<references />
 +
 
 +
== See also ==
 +
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
  
== Read also ==
 
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example,''
 
 
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
 
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
 
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''
 
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''
''ETC.''
 
  
== Sources ==
+
== External links ==
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
+
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
* ''page on the Wikipedia;''
+
* ''encyclopedia page on the tank;''
* ''other literature.''
+
* ''other literature.'' -->
 +
 
 +
* [[wt:en/news/4341-development-type-89-i-go-ko-first-series-en/|[Devblog] Type 89 I-Go Ko: First Series]]
 +
 
 +
{{Japan light tanks}}

Revision as of 10:18, 21 January 2021

Rank VI USA | Premium | Golden Eagles
A-10A Thunderbolt (Early)
This page is about the Type 89 I-Go. For equipment of the same adoption year, see Type 89 (Disambiguation).
I-Go Ko
jp_type_89b_i_go_otsu.png
GarageImage I-Go Ko.jpg
I-Go Ko
AB RB SB
1.0 1.0 1.0
Class:
Research:Free
Purchase:Free
Show in game

Description

The Type 89b I-Go Ko is a reserve rank I Japanese light tank with a battle rating of 1.0 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.65 "Way of the Samurai" along with the rest of the initial Japanese Ground Forces Tree.

The I-Go Ko is a quite average starting tank, not being absolutely awful but not exactly great either. The tank's armour is virtually non-existent, the engine has good acceleration but caps out at 27 kph, and the gun has decent APHE rounds but with less penetration than the 37 mm Type 94 - the only round really worth using is the HEAT rounds, which perform substantially better. Even so, the gun does have a considerable drop-off, so take care when aiming. All in all, the tank is a jack-of-all-trades, master of none for Rank I.

General info

Survivability and armour

Armourfront / side / back
Hull17 / 17 / 17
Turret17 / 15 / 15
Crew4 people
Visibility75 %

Armour on the I-Go Ko is considered quite lacking against contemporary enemies, which is to say that it may as well not exist. At armour thickness all less than 20 mm (aside from the spaced areas), even large-calibre machine guns can penetrate the armour. Not to mention, the front armour of 17 mm is only mildly sloped and presents a large hull target that can knock out every crew with a single penetration. Never rely on your armour, never advance on an enemy unless they are incapacitated (i.e. gunner or cannon knocked out).

Armour type:

  • Rolled homogeneous armour
Armour Front Sides Rear Roof
Hull 17 mm (32°) Front glacis 17 mm Top
17 + 17 mm Bottom
17 mm (61°) Top
17 mm Bottom
10 mm
Turret 17 mm (9°) Turret front
25 mm (10°) Gun mantlet
15 mm (10-12°) 15 mm (11°) 10 mm
Armour Sides Roof
Cupola 15 mm 10 mm

Notes:

  • Suspension wheels and tracks are both 15 mm thick.

Mobility

Speedforward / back
AB30 / 5 km/h
RB and SB27 / 4 km/h
Number of gears4 forward
1 back
Weight11.1 t
Engine power
AB225 hp
RB and SB118 hp
Power-to-weight ratio
AB20.3 hp/t
RB and SB10.6 hp/t
Game Mode Max Speed (km/h) Weight (tons) Engine power (horsepower) Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
Forward Reverse Stock Upgraded Stock Upgraded
Arcade 30 5 11.1 183 225 16.49 20.27
Realistic 27 4 104 118 9.37 10.63

Like the armour, the I-Go Ko leaves much to be desired in the tank's top speed that limits the utility of the quick acceleration. That's not the say that the tank is not maneuverable, rather, the opposite - the tank can turn and accelerate quite well. It's just the top speed that lets you down.

Modifications and economy

Repair cost
ABfree
RBfree
SBfree
Total cost of modifications3 620 Rp icon.png
167 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost190 Ge icon.png
Crew trainingfree
Experts1 000 Sl icon.png
Aces10 Ge icon.png
Research Aces80 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
10 / 10 / 10 % Sl icon.png
100 / 100 / 100 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Mobility Protection Firepower
Mods new tank traks.png
Tracks
Research:
440 Rp icon.png
Cost:
19 Sl icon.png
45 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank suspension.png
Suspension
Mods new tank break.png
Brake System
Research:
380 Rp icon.png
Cost:
17 Sl icon.png
35 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank filter.png
Filters
Mods new tank transmission.png
Transmission
Mods new tank engine.png
Engine
Research:
720 Rp icon.png
Cost:
35 Sl icon.png
70 Ge icon.png
Mods tank tool kit.png
Improved Parts
Mods extinguisher.png
Improved FPE
Mods tank reinforcement jp.png
Crew Replenishment
Mods new tank horizontal aiming.png
Horizontal Drive
Research:
440 Rp icon.png
Cost:
19 Sl icon.png
45 Ge icon.png
Mods tank cannon.png
Adjustment of Fire
Research:
380 Rp icon.png
Cost:
17 Sl icon.png
35 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank vertical aiming.png
Elevation Mechanism
Research:
540 Rp icon.png
Cost:
25 Sl icon.png
55 Ge icon.png
Mods art support.png
Artillery Support
Research:
720 Rp icon.png
Cost:
35 Sl icon.png
70 Ge icon.png

Armaments

Main armament

Shoulder stabilizer
Reduces the swing of the gun in one plane while moving
Ammunition100 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
4.3 → 3.3 s
Vertical guidance-15° / 20°
Main article: Type 90 (57 mm)
57 mm Type 90 Turret rotation speed (°/s) Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode Capacity Vertical Horizontal Stabilizer Stock Upgraded Full Expert Aced Stock Full Expert Aced
Arcade 100 -15°/+20° ±180° Vertical 14.47 20.03 24.32 26.90 28.61 4.29 3.80 3.50 3.30
Realistic 9.04 10.64 12.92 14.30 15.20

Ammunition

Penetration statistics
Ammunition Type of
warhead
Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
10 m 100 m 500 m 1,000 m 1,500 m 2,000 m
Type 92 APHE APHE 21 21 19 16 14 13
Type 3 HEAT HEAT 55 55 55 55 55 55
Shell details
Ammunition Type of
warhead
Velocity
(m/s)
Projectile
Mass (kg)
Fuse delay
(m)
Fuse sensitivity
(mm)
Explosive Mass
(TNT equivalent) (g)
Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
Type 92 APHE APHE 349 2.58 1.2 9 103 47° 60° 65°
Type 3 HEAT HEAT 380 1.8 0 0.1 303.36 62° 69° 73°

Ammo racks

Full
ammo
1st
rack empty
2nd
rack empty
3rd
rack empty
4th
rack empty
5th
rack empty
Visual
discrepancy
100 97 (+3) 61 (+39) 49 (+51) 13 (+87) (+99) No

Recommendations: The ammo racks in the I-Go Ko are rather small due to the small ammunition, and so could be hard in a casual engagement unless aimed for directly, which would be rare given the thin armour on the tank encouraging center-mass shots rather than targeted hits.

However, to minimize racks to avoid detonation, emptying all the way to the 3rd rack at 49 total rounds will leave only two rather small racks remaining. If wanting to bring in more ammunition, removing only the ammo rack in the turret at 97 rounds will leave plenty.

Machine guns

Ammunition3 000 rounds
Belt capacity30 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
3.9 → 3.0 s
Fire rate499 shots/min
Main article: Type 91 (6.5 mm)

The Type 91 machine gun is mounted at the hull with limited traverse all-around. With a limited ammo per belt, the machine gun doesn't serve much except as a possible harassing tool against enemies in front.

6.5 mm Type 91
Mount Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal
Hull 3,000 (30) 499 ±22° ±25°

Usage in battles

The Type 89b I-Go Ko, despite its rather sluggish looks, is a mobile tank that could use its speed to get to an enemy's flanks and cause some serious damage. The 57 mm cannon is unfortunately rather pitiful even in Rank I, with a penetration value of between 20 to 30 mm at standard combat ranges. Thus, it is best to catch an enemy by its sides in order to get through their weaker side armour. The 57 mm low-velocity shell does have an advantage of a rather prominent parabolic trajectory so it is possible to lob shells over hills to hit unsuspecting enemies behind it. This, fortunately, has changed with the addition of a High Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) shell which is available for this vehicle and all Japanese tanks that use the 5.7cm Type 97 cannon. This shell has 55mm of penetration at any range but still has considerable drop-off due to the low-velocity of the gun. It's a good enough anti-everything that can penetrate most targets you will meet, especially those pesky French tanks, which tend to be quite well armoured. The Type 3 HEAT shell, fortunately, has just enough penetration to get through them, although one should always try to aim for weak spots and never assume that you will penetrate no matter what.

Pretty much everything is a threat to this vehicle. Fast vehicles (BT-7, BT-5, M2A1, Tetrarch, T-60) in particular are an uneasy encounter: The I-Go is reasonably fast at close quarters, but not that fast. At close range, the I-Go's poor turret turning speed cannot follow the movement and at long range, the slow shells are a pain to aim precisely at a moving target - especially seeing as the 45mm 20-K that virtually every Soviet vehicle at this BR has can easily kill you at any range with a well-aimed shot. Autocanons (72-K GAZ AAA, Pz. II, Flakpanzer, Gepard, M13, T17E2, etc.) are the I-Go Ko's worst nightmare since they can make mincemeat of the armour in seconds without too many efforts. Plus, they are often quite fast.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Decent forward speed
  • Parabolic trajectory allows 57 mm round to hit over hills
  • APHE has a huge amount of explosive mass, especially for the calibre
  • Great gun depression
  • Type 3 HEAT shell can get though most tanks you meet rather easily

Cons:

  • Weak overall armour of 17 mm, vulnerable to any armament
  • 57 mm armament has very low muzzle velocity and penetration - can struggle to hurt many of the tanks it will face, even from the sides
  • Slow traverse speed even when upgraded
  • Rather tall as a Rank I tank (not as bad as LVT(A)(1) though)
  • Machine gun only fires forwards in a limited arc
  • The only tank that isn't a threat to you is the Light Tank mk. VI AA (rank I British SPAA)

History

Development

Japan's early pioneering into the concept of armoured warfare began as early as October 1918 during the first World War. They were able to acquire a few tank samples from the European governments, ranging from a British Mark IV tank, Medium A Whippet tanks, and Renault FT tanks. These tanks would make up Japan's first tank units in 1925. Their experiences with these tanks led to the eventual development of their own domestic tank design. The requirement for this new tank was given to the 4th Military Laboratory under the Imperial Japanese Army's jurisdiction and was mainly in charge of land vehicle development. In the summer of 1926, the first prototype was completed with the design of three turrets, one main in the middle and two smaller ones in the front and rear. The design was deemed too heavy at 18 tons and so development restarted, the initial design carrying on in the failed Type 91 and 95 tanks. During this time, a trial with a British Vickers Model C tank had the tank's gasoline engine catch fire. This prompted the Japanese to fit their tanks with a diesel engine instead. The development led to a new design in 1929, titled Type 89 I-Go. Though it is considered to be a light tank, the designation changed to a medium tank due to its weight of 10 tons.[1]

The Type 89's construction was assigned to Sagami Arsenal, but it was subcontracted to private firms due to Sagami's lack in industry. One of the firms was Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, which developed a tank plant specifically for the Type 89. The Type 89 production officially started in 1931, with mass-production in 1933 and continued until 1939 with 404 tanks built.[1]

Front 3/4 view of an Imperial Japanese Army Type 89a I-Go Ko.

Design

The Type 89 I-Go was Japan's first domestic tank design, yet it showed a lot of features that were revolutionary and would become a trademark of the Japanese tank designs. The Type 89 I-Go had a four-man crew in the tank with two in the turret. The turret held a 57 mm low-velocity gun meant for fighting fortifications due to the tank's role as infantry support. A peculiar feature on the Type 89 was the rear machine gun on the back of the turret. This machine gun was meant to enable the Type 89 to engage forward targets with a machine gun or it's 57 mm gun and would be a design trend in future tank development.[1]

The Type 89 design changed gradually over time due to troop experience and advances in technology. For example, a small change that occurred for the Type 89 was the change of the commander's cupola from a "top hat" or "lid" design to a split hatch design. A noticeable change was in the engine when the first models produced off the lines were powered by a 118hp gasoline engine, these tanks were labelled as Type 89A I-Go Ko. It wasn't until 1934 when a change to 120hp Mitsubishi diesel engine was made that the Type 89 was redesignated the Type 89B I-Go Otsu. This diesel engine made the Type 89 the first mass-produced tank that uses diesel as its fuel.[1]

The Type 89 does carry its few flaws, however. The tank was quite slow at about 25 km/h (16 mph), a hindrance to mobile operations using motorized infantry that must wait for the tanks to reach the combat zone. The armour was quite thin at 17 mm and the 57 mm's anti-tank power was quite abyssal. However, against the Chinese troops from 1932 onwards, the armour and firepower flaws were small worries due to the lack of available tanks and anti-tank defences on the Chinese side.

Combat usage

The Type 89 was first used in 1932 in the 1st Special Tank Company after the Manchurian Incident. The company, armed with Type 89 along with Renault FT and NC tanks, took part in the conflict between China and Japan in the Shanghai Incident. The experience showed that the Type 89 performed well in comparison to the Renaults and soon the entire company was fitted with Type 89s, retiring the Renaults.[1]

The mass production of the Type 89 from 1933 onwards allowed the formation of large tank groups in Japan, leading to the 1st and 3rd Tank Regiment in Kurume, Fukuoka with the 2nd Tank Regiment at Chiba Tank School. The 1st Tank Regiment would be deployed with the Kwantung Army in China, where it would carry the Type 89 tank in the conflict against China from 1937 onwards.[1]

By 1939, the Type 89 was starting to be succeeded by newer Japanese tanks, but they still served on the frontlines such as the border conflicts between Japan and the Soviet Union. In the Battle of Khalkhin Gol, the IJA's 1st Tank Corps attacked the Soviet 11th Tank and 7th Armoured brigades in July with a mixture of Type 89s, Type 97 mediums, Type 95 lights, and tankettes in the 3rd and 4th Tank Regiments. Though the attack stirred up Soviet lines, there was no breakthrough in Soviet lines. The Soviets, armed with T-26 and BT light tanks, would soon push the Japanese back to Manchuria and have a cease-fire signed on 24 August.

Though the Type 89 was mostly withdrawn from service and replaced with the Ha-Go and Chi-Ha, the I-Go still served as far into the battles for the Philippines, Malaya and Burma. Some tanks saw further use as static pillboxes in the Japanese islands of the Pacific, but these tanks were vulnerable to newer anti-tank and tank technology of the Americans with their bazookas and M4 Shermans once they started their island-hopping strategy against Imperial Japan.

Even after World War II, some Type 89s were still seen in service of the French during the First Indochina War, using the captured Japanese armour in a unit known as 'Commando Blindé du Cambodge'.


Surviving Tanks

Restored Type 89b I-Go Otsu at Tsuchira tank museum open day.


Many Type 89 relics still are visible in the wild usually reduced to a wreck with a handful of tanks still being in a good condition. These in good condition are located in:

  • The Ordnance Training Support Facility, Ft. Lee, VA, USA.
  • The Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force base at Tsuchiura, Ibaraki, Japan.
  • Sinbudai Old Weapon Museum, Camp Asaka, Japan
  • Villa Escudero, Tiaong, Quezon Province, Philippines

Only 1 I-Go Otsu remains in running condition, which was restored at the JGSDF base at Tsuchiura together with the last Type 3 Chi-Nu to still exist. Both are stored on military ground so aren't at all times in public display. The I-Go Otsu usually makes an appearance during the open day of the Tsuchiura base. The vehicle can be seen in media still running after being restored by the JGSDF.


Media

Skins
Images
Videos
  • In-Game
  • Historical

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Zaloga Steven. Japanese Tanks 1939-1945 Great Britain: Osprey Publishing Ltd., 2007

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

  • reference to the series of the vehicles;
  • links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links


Japan light tanks
Type 89  I-Go Ko
Type 95  Ha-Go · Ha-Go Commander
Type 98  Ke-Ni
Other  Ka-Mi
IFV  Type 89
Wheeled  Type 87 RCV (P) · Type 87 RCV · Type 16 (P) · Type 16 (FPS) · Type 16
USA  ▅M24 · ▅M41A1