Difference between revisions of "Ka-Mi"
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− | {{Specs-Card | + | {{Specs-Card|code=jp_type_2_ka_mi}} |
− | |code=jp_type_2_ka_mi | ||
− | |||
− | }} | ||
== Description == | == Description == | ||
− | <!-- ''In the description, the first part | + | <!--''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.''--> |
− | The ''' | + | [[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]] |
− | + | {{break}} | |
− | + | The '''{{specs|name}}''' is a rank {{specs|rank}} Japanese light tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced along with the entire initial Japanese Ground Forces tree in [[Update 1.65 "Way of the Samurai"]]. An interesting thing about this tank is that it does feature propellers on the backside, because it is amphibious and can allow players to exploit aquatic terrain to their advantage in War Thunder. | |
== 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 helpful for survival in combat? | |
− | <!-- | + | |
+ | If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.--> | ||
[[File:Ka-Mi-Cover.jpg|thumb|right|{{PAGENAME}} is best used from cover, where it can hide its massive body from enemy fire. Here: shooting from behind the hill on [[Eastern Europe (Ground Forces)|Eastern Europe]], village centre.]] | [[File:Ka-Mi-Cover.jpg|thumb|right|{{PAGENAME}} is best used from cover, where it can hide its massive body from enemy fire. Here: shooting from behind the hill on [[Eastern Europe (Ground Forces)|Eastern Europe]], village centre.]] | ||
− | The Ka-Mi features a very unusual layout. Being originally designed as an amphibious tank, it is very lightly armoured. With armour | + | The Ka-Mi is features a very unusual layout. Being originally designed as an amphibious tank, it is very lightly armoured. With an armour ranging around 8 mm to 12 mm on larger portions of the hull, this tank is very fragile to anything bigger than MG fire. To increase survivability, one can enter a fight rearwards in order to absorb shots with the engine, though using hard cover (such as hills and rocks) is preferable. |
+ | |||
+ | This armour pattern really shines at distances (500+ m), where a little angling can mostly defeat HMG fire. Since most guns at this BR are quite inaccurate, exposing only your small turret should not be a problem since it is hard to hit. If caught in an open field ( still at distances), try facing directly your foe since angling is useless with such little armour values, that way, some shells can just fly by your crew in the inhabited portions of the tank (ammo racks located there are pretty small, they are often missed in these cases). | ||
+ | |||
+ | The 37 mm is a decent gun with a good reload time and good ammo count: don't bother wasting a shot, fire on the move. This tank has a "lock", which is a primitive form of gun stabiliser, decreasing vertical movement from the main armament - at low speeds, gun handling sees significant improvement. Note that turret rotation speed is somewhat slow: pre-aim your gun in the general direction of the enemy in close-quarter engagements. | ||
+ | |||
+ | One thing that saves the Ka-Mi's reputation is its MG count: there is 3 of them. One is coaxial, fired by gunner, another is pintle-mounted, fired by the gunner and the last one is hull-mounted, fired by the machine-gunner. These weapons have a good burst capacity to take out light targets (soviet SPAA trucks, open-topped SPGs, etc.). This also allows the Ka-Mi to become an unlikely SPAA, armed with three machine guns and a cannon. It can quite easily take down low-flying biplanes that may appear in the hands of inexperienced pilots at Rank I, although it requires sustained hits to successfully down an aircraft. One downside of the [[Type 97 tank (7.7 mm)|Type 97]] machine gun is its low ammo count, which limits bursts to a couple of seconds before having to reload. Reloads, fortunately, don't take long. | ||
− | + | The Ka-Mi provides a decent top speed on road but lacks power when going off-road. Narrow tracks make mobility in snow/desert maps really painful. A good thing to mention: this tank has a respectable reverse speed of -11 km/h with two reverse gear, which is a rare feature at this BR. It can sometimes get you out of bad situations. | |
'''Armour type:''' | '''Armour type:''' | ||
Line 38: | Line 42: | ||
=== Mobility === | === Mobility === | ||
− | |||
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' --> | <!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' --> | ||
[[File:Ka-Mi-Amphibious-visibility.jpg|thumb|right|{{PAGENAME}} when either firing or having its propellers on becomes an extremely visible target, even from afar. The jets of water extend over 5 times the length of the tank behind it, reaching nearly 4 times its air draft.]] | [[File:Ka-Mi-Amphibious-visibility.jpg|thumb|right|{{PAGENAME}} when either firing or having its propellers on becomes an extremely visible target, even from afar. The jets of water extend over 5 times the length of the tank behind it, reaching nearly 4 times its air draft.]] | ||
− | + | Comparing to other tanks in its BR ({{#unit:jp_type_2_ka_mi|br}}) {{PAGENAME}} has an average mobility with no weak points, offering an ability to reach most destinations with a bulk of the team, or to pick preferable locations in just about a right time. Vehicle is somewhat prone to sliding in a tight turn during rapid turns at a maximum speed. | |
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
The Ka-Mi travels at 10 km/h (AB/RB/SB) in water but can't propel itself backwards. Trajectory should be planned accordingly to avoid being stuck. | The Ka-Mi travels at 10 km/h (AB/RB/SB) in water but can't propel itself backwards. Trajectory should be planned accordingly to avoid being stuck. | ||
− | {{tankMobility|abMinHp= | + | {{tankMobility|abMinHp= 125|rbMinHp= 102}} |
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
== Armaments == | == 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.''--> | |
− | <!-- ''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 | ||
{{main|Type 1 (37 mm)}} | {{main|Type 1 (37 mm)}} | ||
− | + | Main gun of the Ka-Mi is a very basic 37 mm cannon with a decent penetration and spread. Its major disadvantage is in a slow turn rate, making it preferable to have turret pre-adjusted before emerging from cover, and similarly hiding it once enemy emerges from a different direction. It does, however, feature a good depression rate, making it a potent weapon when attacking from the hills. | |
− | + | {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | |
− | + | |- | |
− | + | ! colspan="6" | [[Type 1 (37 mm)|37 mm Type 1]] | |
+ | |- | ||
+ | ! colspan="3" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity | ||
+ | ! rowspan="1" | Vertical <br> guidance | ||
+ | ! rowspan="1" | Horizontal <br> guidance | ||
+ | ! rowspan="1" | Stabilizer | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | colspan="3" | 132 || -10°/+24° || ±180° || Vertical | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | ! colspan="6" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | ! style="width:4em" |Mode | ||
+ | ! style="width:4em" |Stock | ||
+ | ! style="width:4em" |Upgraded | ||
+ | ! style="width:4em" |Prior + Full crew | ||
+ | ! style="width:4em" |Prior + Expert qualif. | ||
+ | ! style="width:4em" |Prior + Ace qualif. | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | ''Arcade'' || 7.2 || 10.0 || 12.1 || 21.4 || 22.78 | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | + | | ''Realistic'' || 7.2 || 8.5 || 10.3 || 11.4 || 12.1 | |
|- | |- | ||
− | ! | + | ! colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds) |
− | |||
− | |||
|- | |- | ||
− | ! | + | ! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Stock |
− | + | ! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Full crew | |
+ | ! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Expert qualif. | ||
+ | ! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Ace qualif. | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | + | | 5.2 || 4.6 || 4.2 || 4.0 | |
− | | | ||
|- | |- | ||
|} | |} | ||
− | ==== Ammunition ==== | + | ===== Ammunition ===== |
− | It's highly preferable to use the Type 1 APHE ammunition over the stock one, due to its significantly better penetration and | + | It's highly preferable to use the Type 1 APHE ammunition over the stock one, due to its significantly better penetration and explosive filler. While Type 94 might simply damage enemy crew or components with anything bar a direct hit, the Type 1 will nearly always result in an actual destruction of the subsystems. Similarly penetration characteristics of the shells make a difference between bouncing and a successful kill, even when dealing with other BR 1.0 tanks. |
− | {{:Type | + | {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%" |
− | + | ! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics | |
− | ==== [[Ammo racks]] ==== | + | |- |
− | [[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png | + | ! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition |
− | + | ! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" | Type of <br /> warhead | |
− | {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | + | ! colspan="6" | '''Penetration''' '''''in mm''''' '''@ 90°''' |
+ | |- | ||
+ | ! 10m | ||
+ | ! 100m | ||
+ | ! 500m | ||
+ | ! 1000m | ||
+ | ! 1500m | ||
+ | ! 2000m | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | Type 94 APHE || APHE || 46 || 44 || 36 || 29 || 23 || 18 | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | Type 1 APHE || APHE || 57 || 54 || 39 ||26|| 18 || 12 | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |} | ||
+ | {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%" | ||
+ | ! colspan="11" | Shell details | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | ! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition | ||
+ | ! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" | Type of <br /> warhead | ||
+ | ! rowspan="2" |Velocity <br /> in m/s | ||
+ | ! rowspan="2" |Projectile<br />Mass in kg | ||
+ | ! rowspan="2" | ''Fuse delay'' | ||
+ | ''in m:'' | ||
+ | ! rowspan="2" | ''Fuse sensitivity'' | ||
+ | ''in mm:'' | ||
+ | ! rowspan="2" | ''Explosive Mass in g<br /> (TNT equivalent):'' | ||
+ | ! rowspan="2" | ''Normalization At 30° <br> from horizontal:'' | ||
+ | ! colspan="3" | ''Ricochet:'' | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | ! 0% | ||
+ | ! 50% | ||
+ | ! 100% | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | Type 94 APHE || APHE || 700 || 0.7 || 1.2 || 9 || 9.4 | ||
+ | | || 47° || 60° | ||
+ | |65° | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | Type 1 APHE || APHE || 800 || 0.72 || 1.2 || 9 || 10.24 | ||
+ | | || 47° || 60° | ||
+ | |65° | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |} | ||
+ | ===== [[Ammo racks|Ammo racks]] ===== | ||
+ | [[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|thumb|right|[[Ammo racks|Ammo racks]] of the Ka-Mi.]] | ||
+ | Due to a high maximum ammo capacity of the tank, leaving at least the first ammo rack empty could be preferred for reduced chance of explosion upon hit. This can be done by reducing ammo count to 73 or less. Furthermore, when angling the tank to the enemy, it's preferred to expose left side more towards the enemy, as the right side is the one always storing ammunition, and should be protected when possible. | ||
+ | {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | ! Full<br>ammo | + | ! class="wikitable unsortable" |Full<br /> ammo |
− | ! 1st<br>rack empty | + | ! class="wikitable unsortable" |1st<br /> rack empty |
− | ! 2nd<br>rack empty | + | ! class="wikitable unsortable" |2nd<br /> rack empty |
− | ! 3rd<br>rack empty | + | ! class="wikitable unsortable" |3rd<br /> rack empty |
− | ! Visual<br>discrepancy | + | ! class="wikitable unsortable" |Visual<br /> discrepancy |
|- | |- | ||
− | | '''132''' || 73 ''(+59)'' || 25 ''(+107)'' || 1 ''(+131)'' || No | + | || '''132''' || 73 ''(+59)'' || 25 ''(+107)'' || 1 ''(+131)'' || style="text-align:left" | No |
|- | |- | ||
|} | |} | ||
− | + | {{Clear|right}} | |
− | |||
− | |||
=== 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.''--> | |
− | + | {{main|Type 97 tank (7.7 mm)}} | |
− | <!-- ''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.'' --> | ||
[[File:Ka-Mi-Machine-Guns.jpg|thumb|right|All three machine guns visible. From top: exposed pintle mount, coaxial next to the main gun and hull mount]] | [[File:Ka-Mi-Machine-Guns.jpg|thumb|right|All three machine guns visible. From top: exposed pintle mount, coaxial next to the main gun and hull mount]] | ||
− | {{ | + | The {{PAGENAME}} has a rare setup in its BR, featuring a group of three 7.7 mm what allows it to quickly dispose of enemy soft body vehicles, most notably: anti-aircraft guns of the Rank 1. That said though, all of them are supplied by a very short magazine, allowing for a limited burst before having to reload. In effect shorter bursts in a different portions of the enemy are recommended over a long, sweeping series. |
− | |||
− | + | {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | |
− | + | |- | |
− | + | ! colspan="7" | [[Type 97 tank (7.7 mm)|7.7 mm Type 97]] | |
+ | |- | ||
+ | ! colspan="7" | ''Coaxial mount'' | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | ! colspan="4" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity (Belt capacity) | ||
+ | ! rowspan="1" | Fire rate <br> (shots/minute) | ||
+ | ! rowspan="1" | Vertical <br> guidance | ||
+ | ! rowspan="1" | Horizontal <br> guidance | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | colspan="4" | 4,000 (20) || 499 || N/A || N/A | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | ! colspan="7" | ''Hull mount'' | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | ! colspan=" | + | ! colspan="4" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity (Belt capacity) |
+ | ! rowspan="1" | Fire rate <br> (shots/minute) | ||
+ | ! rowspan="1" | Vertical <br> guidance | ||
+ | ! rowspan="1" | Horizontal <br> guidance | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | + | | colspan="4" | 3,000 (20) || 499 || -11°/+35° || ±20° | |
|- | |- | ||
− | | | + | ! colspan="7" | ''Pintle mount'' |
|- | |- | ||
− | | | + | ! colspan="4" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity (Belt capacity) |
+ | ! rowspan="1" | Fire rate <br> (shots/minute) | ||
+ | ! rowspan="1" | Vertical <br> guidance | ||
+ | ! rowspan="1" | Horizontal <br> guidance | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | | + | | colspan="4" | 1,000 (20) || 499 || -10°/+70° || ±60° |
|- | |- | ||
|} | |} | ||
− | == Usage in battles == | + | == Usage in the 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 | + | <!--''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).''--> |
− | With its average armour, firepower and mobility, the Ka-Mi should be played wisely, with a bit of finesse: you will not survive frontal engagement, neither can you flank nor snipe. | + | With its average armour, firepower and mobility, the Ka-Mi should be played wisely, with a bit of finesse: you will not survive frontal engagement, neither can you flank nor snipe...so what's left? Support. ''Always'' play as a team when driving the Ka-Mi, bringing an additional potent close-range gun to the fight, threatening your foes while more potent allies reload. |
− | Use hills to your advantage, fall back when outnumbered and beware difficult terrain since it can slow down your manoeuvres | + | Use hills to your advantage, fall back when outnumbered and beware difficult terrain since it can slow down your manoeuvres. Do not rely on the armor, it is also not very good at angling, despite having frontal armor that looks similar to the Tiger I. |
+ | |||
+ | ===Modules=== | ||
+ | {| class="wikitable" | ||
+ | ! Tier | ||
+ | ! colspan="2" |Mobility | ||
+ | ! Protection | ||
+ | ! colspan="2" |Firepower | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | I | ||
+ | | Tracks | ||
+ | | | ||
+ | | Parts | ||
+ | | Horizontal Drive | ||
+ | | | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | II | ||
+ | | Suspension | ||
+ | | Brake System | ||
+ | | FPE | ||
+ | | Adjustment of Fire | ||
+ | | Type 1 APHE | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | III | ||
+ | | Filters | ||
+ | | | ||
+ | | Crew Replenishment | ||
+ | | Elevation Mechanism | ||
+ | | | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | IV | ||
+ | | Transmission | ||
+ | | Engine | ||
+ | | | ||
+ | | Artillery Support | ||
+ | | | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |} | ||
=== 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".''--> |
− | + | '''Pros''' | |
− | '''Pros | ||
* 37 mm gun has decent post-penetration damage | * 37 mm gun has decent post-penetration damage | ||
* Has a lot of machine guns, allowing a mediocre amphibious tank to turn into an impromptu SPAA instantly | * Has a lot of machine guns, allowing a mediocre amphibious tank to turn into an impromptu SPAA instantly | ||
− | * Tiny turret. Hard to target it at the range | + | * Tiny turret. Hard to target it at the range |
* High ammo count (both cannon and MG) | * High ammo count (both cannon and MG) | ||
* 10° gun depression | * 10° gun depression | ||
Line 147: | Line 253: | ||
* Amphibious design will float on water | * Amphibious design will float on water | ||
− | '''Cons | + | '''Cons''' |
* 37 mm penetration value starting to feel lacking | * 37 mm penetration value starting to feel lacking | ||
Line 159: | Line 265: | ||
== History == | == 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 | + | <!--''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.''--> |
===Development=== | ===Development=== | ||
− | + | While the tanks were mainly in the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA), the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) also owned their own land forces known as the Special Naval Landings Forces (SNLF). Their standard tanks was the [[Ha-Go|Type 95 Ha-Go]], but the SNLF wanted a more capable tank for the role, namely one fitted for amphibious landings. The Japanese have touched upon the amphibious tank concept since the 1930s, but one for the rough seas needed more durability than one for rivers. The IJN approached Mitsubishi in 1941 to develop the new amphibious tank, named '''Ka-Mi''' "Special Craft". The tank was to go along with the IJA's Type 2 Ke-To light tank, using a similar turret design. The suspension of the vehicle was one derived from the Ha-Go. The amphibious capability was given to the tank via two removable pontoons on the front and back of the tank. A trunk and tower was fitted over the engine and turret respectively to prevent water from flowing into the engine and crew compartment. The vehicle, accepted as the '''Type 2 Ka-Mi''', began production in 1943. Up to 182 tanks were produced from then until the end of the war.<ref name="ZalogaJapaneseTank">Zaloga Steven. ''Japanese Tanks 1939-1945'' Great Britain: Osprey Publishing Ltd., 2007</ref> | |
− | While tanks were | ||
===Combat Usage=== | ===Combat Usage=== | ||
− | + | The Type 2 Ka-Mi saw use in the combat in 1944 in Saipan and Leyte.<ref name="ZalogaJapaneseTank" /> They assisted the stationed SNLF units on these islands in attacking the American beachheads via amphibious assaults. The Ka-Mi were also stationed in Luzon as a handful were captured by Allied forces in 1945. Their limited numbers and usage meant they fought with relative obscurity to the IJA's [[Chi-Ha Kai|Type 97 Chi-Ha]] tanks. However, the Type 2 Ka-Mi was deemed rather successful by the IJN, some have dubbed it the "best designed amphibious tank of the war" after World War II. This led to the successors like the Type 3 Ka-Chi, a parallel to the [[Chi-He|Type 1 Chi-He]], and the Type 5 To-Ku, based off the [[Chi-Ri II|Type 5 Chi-Ri]]. | |
− | The Type 2 Ka-Mi saw combat in 1944 in Saipan and Leyte.<ref name="ZalogaJapaneseTank" /> They assisted the stationed SNLF units on these islands in attacking the American beachheads via amphibious assaults. The Ka-Mi were also stationed in Luzon | ||
− | |||
== Media == | == Media == | ||
− | <!-- '' | + | <!-- ''An excellent addition to the article will be video guides, as well as screenshots from the game and photos.'' --> |
+ | <gallery mode="packed" heights="200"> | ||
+ | File:Type 2 ka mi 02.jpg|Ka-Mi promotional image showing front of the hull and size with a human to scale | ||
+ | File:Type 2 ka mi 04.jpg|Rear of the vehicle on another promo image | ||
+ | </gallery> | ||
− | + | ==References== | |
− | + | <references /> | |
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− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | </ | ||
− | == | + | == Read also == |
− | |||
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− | |||
− | * [ | + | * [https://warthunder.com/en/news/4328-development-type-2-ka-mi-beach-patrol-en/ [Devblog<nowiki>]</nowiki> Type 2 Ka-Mi: Beach Patrol]<br /> |
− | |||
− | == | + | == Sources == |
− | <!-- ''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;'' | ||
− | * ''other literature.'' -- | + | * ''other literature.''--> |
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{{Japan light tanks}} | {{Japan light tanks}} |
Revision as of 18:24, 31 August 2020
Contents
Description
The Type 2 Ka-Mi is a rank I Japanese light tank
with a battle rating of 1.0 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced along with the entire initial Japanese Ground Forces tree in Update 1.65 "Way of the Samurai". An interesting thing about this tank is that it does feature propellers on the backside, because it is amphibious and can allow players to exploit aquatic terrain to their advantage in War Thunder.
General info
Survivability and armour
The Ka-Mi is features a very unusual layout. Being originally designed as an amphibious tank, it is very lightly armoured. With an armour ranging around 8 mm to 12 mm on larger portions of the hull, this tank is very fragile to anything bigger than MG fire. To increase survivability, one can enter a fight rearwards in order to absorb shots with the engine, though using hard cover (such as hills and rocks) is preferable.
This armour pattern really shines at distances (500+ m), where a little angling can mostly defeat HMG fire. Since most guns at this BR are quite inaccurate, exposing only your small turret should not be a problem since it is hard to hit. If caught in an open field ( still at distances), try facing directly your foe since angling is useless with such little armour values, that way, some shells can just fly by your crew in the inhabited portions of the tank (ammo racks located there are pretty small, they are often missed in these cases).
The 37 mm is a decent gun with a good reload time and good ammo count: don't bother wasting a shot, fire on the move. This tank has a "lock", which is a primitive form of gun stabiliser, decreasing vertical movement from the main armament - at low speeds, gun handling sees significant improvement. Note that turret rotation speed is somewhat slow: pre-aim your gun in the general direction of the enemy in close-quarter engagements.
One thing that saves the Ka-Mi's reputation is its MG count: there is 3 of them. One is coaxial, fired by gunner, another is pintle-mounted, fired by the gunner and the last one is hull-mounted, fired by the machine-gunner. These weapons have a good burst capacity to take out light targets (soviet SPAA trucks, open-topped SPGs, etc.). This also allows the Ka-Mi to become an unlikely SPAA, armed with three machine guns and a cannon. It can quite easily take down low-flying biplanes that may appear in the hands of inexperienced pilots at Rank I, although it requires sustained hits to successfully down an aircraft. One downside of the Type 97 machine gun is its low ammo count, which limits bursts to a couple of seconds before having to reload. Reloads, fortunately, don't take long.
The Ka-Mi provides a decent top speed on road but lacks power when going off-road. Narrow tracks make mobility in snow/desert maps really painful. A good thing to mention: this tank has a respectable reverse speed of -11 km/h with two reverse gear, which is a rare feature at this BR. It can sometimes get you out of bad situations.
Armour type:
- Rolled homogeneous armour
Armour | Front | Sides | Rear | Roof |
---|---|---|---|---|
Hull | 12 mm (30°) Front plate 6 mm (83°) Front glacis 12 mm (4-39°) Lower glacis |
10 mm | 10 mm (12°) Middle 12 mm (59°) Side |
6 mm |
Turret | 12 mm (0-8°) Turret front 30 mm Gun mantlet |
12 mm (10-12°) | 12 mm (12-13°) | 6 mm |
Notes
- Suspension wheels and tracks are both 15 mm thick.
- Belly armour is 6 mm thick.
Mobility
Comparing to other tanks in its BR (1.0) Ka-Mi has an average mobility with no weak points, offering an ability to reach most destinations with a bulk of the team, or to pick preferable locations in just about a right time. Vehicle is somewhat prone to sliding in a tight turn during rapid turns at a maximum speed.
The Ka-Mi travels at 10 km/h (AB/RB/SB) in water but can't propel itself backwards. Trajectory should be planned accordingly to avoid being stuck.
Game Mode | Max Speed (km/h) | Weight (tons) | Engine power (horsepower) | Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Forward | Reverse | Stock | Upgraded | Stock | Upgraded | ||
Arcade | 45 | 12 | 9.1 | 125 | 219 | 13.74 | 24.07 |
Realistic | 40 | 10 | 102 | 115 | 11.21 | 12.64 |
Armaments
Main armament
Main gun of the Ka-Mi is a very basic 37 mm cannon with a decent penetration and spread. Its major disadvantage is in a slow turn rate, making it preferable to have turret pre-adjusted before emerging from cover, and similarly hiding it once enemy emerges from a different direction. It does, however, feature a good depression rate, making it a potent weapon when attacking from the hills.
37 mm Type 1 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Capacity | Vertical guidance |
Horizontal guidance |
Stabilizer | ||
132 | -10°/+24° | ±180° | Vertical | ||
Turret rotation speed (°/s) | |||||
Mode | Stock | Upgraded | Prior + Full crew | Prior + Expert qualif. | Prior + Ace qualif. |
Arcade | 7.2 | 10.0 | 12.1 | 21.4 | 22.78 |
Realistic | 7.2 | 8.5 | 10.3 | 11.4 | 12.1 |
Reloading rate (seconds) | |||||
Stock | Prior + Full crew | Prior + Expert qualif. | Prior + Ace qualif. | ||
5.2 | 4.6 | 4.2 | 4.0 |
Ammunition
It's highly preferable to use the Type 1 APHE ammunition over the stock one, due to its significantly better penetration and explosive filler. While Type 94 might simply damage enemy crew or components with anything bar a direct hit, the Type 1 will nearly always result in an actual destruction of the subsystems. Similarly penetration characteristics of the shells make a difference between bouncing and a successful kill, even when dealing with other BR 1.0 tanks.
Penetration statistics | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ammunition | Type of warhead |
Penetration in mm @ 90° | |||||
10m | 100m | 500m | 1000m | 1500m | 2000m | ||
Type 94 APHE | APHE | 46 | 44 | 36 | 29 | 23 | 18 |
Type 1 APHE | APHE | 57 | 54 | 39 | 26 | 18 | 12 |
Shell details | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ammunition | Type of warhead |
Velocity in m/s |
Projectile Mass in kg |
Fuse delay
in m: |
Fuse sensitivity
in mm: |
Explosive Mass in g (TNT equivalent): |
Normalization At 30° from horizontal: |
Ricochet: | ||
0% | 50% | 100% | ||||||||
Type 94 APHE | APHE | 700 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 9 | 9.4 | 47° | 60° | 65° | |
Type 1 APHE | APHE | 800 | 0.72 | 1.2 | 9 | 10.24 | 47° | 60° | 65° |
Ammo racks
Due to a high maximum ammo capacity of the tank, leaving at least the first ammo rack empty could be preferred for reduced chance of explosion upon hit. This can be done by reducing ammo count to 73 or less. Furthermore, when angling the tank to the enemy, it's preferred to expose left side more towards the enemy, as the right side is the one always storing ammunition, and should be protected when possible.
Full ammo |
1st rack empty |
2nd rack empty |
3rd rack empty |
Visual discrepancy |
---|---|---|---|---|
132 | 73 (+59) | 25 (+107) | 1 (+131) | No |
Machine guns
The Ka-Mi has a rare setup in its BR, featuring a group of three 7.7 mm what allows it to quickly dispose of enemy soft body vehicles, most notably: anti-aircraft guns of the Rank 1. That said though, all of them are supplied by a very short magazine, allowing for a limited burst before having to reload. In effect shorter bursts in a different portions of the enemy are recommended over a long, sweeping series.
7.7 mm Type 97 | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Coaxial mount | ||||||
Capacity (Belt capacity) | Fire rate (shots/minute) |
Vertical guidance |
Horizontal guidance | |||
4,000 (20) | 499 | N/A | N/A | |||
Hull mount | ||||||
Capacity (Belt capacity) | Fire rate (shots/minute) |
Vertical guidance |
Horizontal guidance | |||
3,000 (20) | 499 | -11°/+35° | ±20° | |||
Pintle mount | ||||||
Capacity (Belt capacity) | Fire rate (shots/minute) |
Vertical guidance |
Horizontal guidance | |||
1,000 (20) | 499 | -10°/+70° | ±60° |
Usage in the battles
With its average armour, firepower and mobility, the Ka-Mi should be played wisely, with a bit of finesse: you will not survive frontal engagement, neither can you flank nor snipe...so what's left? Support. Always play as a team when driving the Ka-Mi, bringing an additional potent close-range gun to the fight, threatening your foes while more potent allies reload.
Use hills to your advantage, fall back when outnumbered and beware difficult terrain since it can slow down your manoeuvres. Do not rely on the armor, it is also not very good at angling, despite having frontal armor that looks similar to the Tiger I.
Modules
Tier | Mobility | Protection | Firepower | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
I | Tracks | Parts | Horizontal Drive | ||
II | Suspension | Brake System | FPE | Adjustment of Fire | Type 1 APHE |
III | Filters | Crew Replenishment | Elevation Mechanism | ||
IV | Transmission | Engine | Artillery Support |
Pros and cons
Pros
- 37 mm gun has decent post-penetration damage
- Has a lot of machine guns, allowing a mediocre amphibious tank to turn into an impromptu SPAA instantly
- Tiny turret. Hard to target it at the range
- High ammo count (both cannon and MG)
- 10° gun depression
- Decent reverse speed (-11 km/h)
- Has a coaxial machine gun, unlike most low rank Japanese tanks
- Amphibious design will float on water
Cons
- 37 mm penetration value starting to feel lacking
- Hull size is wider than other Japanese light tanks
- Hull front plate is thin and relatively unsloped
- Tiny turret, big hull. People with have no trouble targeting you
- Only two ammo choice, both APHE, one is clearly superior over the other
- Narrow tracks means poor off-road mobility
- Low engine HP makes hill-climbing only possible at low gear, which even then is difficult
- Weak armour makes you an easy target for aircraft with high penetration on their guns
History
Development
While the tanks were mainly in the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA), the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) also owned their own land forces known as the Special Naval Landings Forces (SNLF). Their standard tanks was the Type 95 Ha-Go, but the SNLF wanted a more capable tank for the role, namely one fitted for amphibious landings. The Japanese have touched upon the amphibious tank concept since the 1930s, but one for the rough seas needed more durability than one for rivers. The IJN approached Mitsubishi in 1941 to develop the new amphibious tank, named Ka-Mi "Special Craft". The tank was to go along with the IJA's Type 2 Ke-To light tank, using a similar turret design. The suspension of the vehicle was one derived from the Ha-Go. The amphibious capability was given to the tank via two removable pontoons on the front and back of the tank. A trunk and tower was fitted over the engine and turret respectively to prevent water from flowing into the engine and crew compartment. The vehicle, accepted as the Type 2 Ka-Mi, began production in 1943. Up to 182 tanks were produced from then until the end of the war.[1]
Combat Usage
The Type 2 Ka-Mi saw use in the combat in 1944 in Saipan and Leyte.[1] They assisted the stationed SNLF units on these islands in attacking the American beachheads via amphibious assaults. The Ka-Mi were also stationed in Luzon as a handful were captured by Allied forces in 1945. Their limited numbers and usage meant they fought with relative obscurity to the IJA's Type 97 Chi-Ha tanks. However, the Type 2 Ka-Mi was deemed rather successful by the IJN, some have dubbed it the "best designed amphibious tank of the war" after World War II. This led to the successors like the Type 3 Ka-Chi, a parallel to the Type 1 Chi-He, and the Type 5 To-Ku, based off the Type 5 Chi-Ri.
Media
References
Read also
Sources
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 |