Difference between revisions of "So-Ki"

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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.''
+
<!--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.-->
 +
 
 +
[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|alt=Featured Image: So-Ki in WT Garage|420px|thumb|left]]
 +
{{break}}
 +
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} Japanese self-propelled anti-aircraft gun {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced along with the entire Japanese Ground Forces tree in [[Update_1.65_"Way_of_the_Samurai"|Update 1.65 "Way of the Samurai"]].
 +
 
 +
This anti-aircraft vehicle features dual Type 98 20 mm cannons which have high-velocity capability and great mobility. The tank is quite fast, being built off the chassis of the Type 98 Ke-Ni, and can run away quite fast. You can use it as a scout by shooting other tanks so they show up on the map, but your primary role should be AA. This tank performs decently at it's BR of 3.3, but you'll soon get sick of it as you'll be stuck with it until the M42 Duster. Either way, it is a fairly decent AA vehicle.
  
 
== 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?''
+
<!--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.-->
 +
Due to the non-existent armour, literally anything can destroy the So-Ki. Enemies armed with .50 cals - tanks and planes - are particularly deadly, as they can pierce through the weak armour with no problem. Destroying this tank is easy, with a shot slightly to the right of the driver's hatch for a one-shot to knock out both crew members in the hull. A common way to go is to incapacitate the gunner, waiting for him to be replaced, and then knocking him out again. That or hull break. Fortunately, this thing is pretty fast, and there are some instances where you can literally outrun shells from enemies shooting at a fair distance away.
 +
 
 +
'''Armour type:'''
 +
 
 +
* Rolled homogeneous armour
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
|-
 +
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
 +
|-
 +
| Hull || 16 mm (16-19°) ''Front plate'' <br> 16 mm (11-72°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 16 mm (29-48°) ''Lower glacis'' || 12 mm || 10 mm (12-51°) || 9 mm
 +
|-
 +
| Turret || 8 mm (10-14°) || N/A || N/A || N/A
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
'''Notes:'''
  
''If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.''
+
* 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.''
+
<!--Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.-->
 +
This tank is quite fast, being built off of the Type 98 Ke-Ni, so use this blistering speed to your advantage. You can be a scout and shoot enemies so they appear on your map - but only do this if you have a clear way to escape and aren't in danger of being sniped by a Jagdpanzer IV sitting on a hill 700 meters away.
  
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="3" | Mobility characteristic
 +
|-
 +
! Weight (tons)
 +
! colspan="1" | Add-on Armor<br>weight (tons)
 +
! colspan="1" | Max speed (km/h)
 +
|-
 +
| rowspan="2" | 7.0 || colspan="1" rowspan="2" | N/A || colspan="1" | 49 (AB)
 +
|-
 +
|45 (RB/SB)
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="3" | Engine power (horsepower)
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="1" | Mode
 +
!Stock
 +
!Upgraded
 +
|-
 +
|''Arcade''
 +
|136
 +
|168
 +
|-
 +
|''Realistic/Simulator''
 +
|115
 +
|130
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="3" | Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="1" | Mode
 +
!Stock
 +
!Upgraded
 +
|-
 +
|''Arcade''
 +
|19.43
 +
|24.00
 +
|-
 +
|''Realistic/Simulator''
 +
|16.43
 +
|18.57
 +
|-
 +
|}
 
== 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 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 98 (20 mm)}}
 +
[[File:TYPE-98-Ho-Ki SPAAG 1.jpg|right|thumb|A three-quarter view of an early 20 mm So-Ki SPAAG.]]
  
=== Additional armament ===
+
Double the guns means double the difficulty enemy aircraft will have with dealing with you, so be sure to aim for engines and at the centre of planes - your exposed cabin means that planes will often try to dive you, hoping to score an air-to-ground knockout - give them a nasty surprise by filling their engines with Type 100 HE-T shells. That being said, always, always, ''always'' pay attention to what's going on in the air. Your gunner gets knocked out quickly, so be sure to always be aware of the battle in the air, as well as on the ground.  
''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.''
 
  
=== Machine guns ===
+
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
''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.''
+
|-
 +
! colspan="6" | [[Type 98 (20 mm)|20 mm Type 98]] (x2)
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="3" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity (Belt capacity each)
 +
! rowspan="1" | Fire rate <br> (shots/minute)
 +
! rowspan="1" | Vertical <br> guidance
 +
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal <br> guidance
 +
|-
 +
| colspan="3" | 520 (20) || 300 || -10°/+85° || ±180°
 +
|-
 +
! 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'' || 35.22 || 48.75 || __.__ || 65.5 || 69.65
 +
|-
 +
| ''Realistic'' || 23.80 || 28.00 || 34.0 || 37.6 || 40.00
 +
|-
 +
! 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.
 +
|-
 +
| 3.9 || 3.4 || 3.2 || __.__
 +
|-
 +
|}
  
== Usage in the battles ==
+
==== Ammunition ====
''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).''
+
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 +
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
 +
|-
 +
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
 +
! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" | Type of <br /> warhead
 +
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration''' '''''in mm''''' '''@ 0° Angle of Attack'''
 +
|-
 +
! 10m
 +
! 100m
 +
! 500m
 +
! 1000m
 +
! 1500m
 +
! 2000m
 +
|-
 +
| Type 100 HE-T || HEFI-T || 2 || 2 || 2 || 2 || 2 || 2
 +
|-
 +
| Type 100 AP-T || API-T || 40 || 38 || 29 || 21 || 16 || 11
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
{| 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 100 HE-T || HEFI-T || 829 || 0.13 || 0.3 || 0.1 || 6.0 || +0° || 79° || 80° || 81°
 +
|-
 +
| Type 100 AP-T || API-T || 829 || 0.16 || N/A || N/A || N/A || -1° || 47° || 60° || 65°
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
===Belt types===
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
| '''Belts''' || '''Shell composition''' || '''Combat usage'''
 +
|-
 +
| align="left" |'''''Default ''''' || align="left" | API-T,HEFI-T <br>(Armour Piercing Incendiary tracer – High Explosive Fragmentation Incendiary tracer) shell || align="left" |
 +
|-
 +
| align="left" |'''''Type 100 HE-T''''' || align="left" | HEFI-T <br> (High Explosive Fragmentation Incendiary tracer) shell || align="left" |
 +
|-
 +
| align="left" |'''''Type 100 AP-T''''' || align="left" | API-T <br> (Armour Piercing Incendiary tracer) shell || align="left" |
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
==== [[Ammo racks|Ammo racks]] ====
 +
[[File:Ammoracks_So-Ki.png|right|thumbnail|x250px|[[Ammo racks|Ammo racks]] of the So-Ki]]
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
 +
|-
 +
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Full<br /> ammo
 +
! class="wikitable unsortable" |1st<br />  rack empty
 +
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Visual<br /> discrepancy
 +
|-
 +
|| '''26''' || 2&nbsp;''(+12)'' || style="text-align:left" | No
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
== 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).-->
 +
Capture bases and attack lightly armoured targets when you can. For the most part you should be focused on an AA role, rather than an AT one, so always be listening for aircraft engines.
 +
 
 +
At its battle rating, the So-Ki can penetrate the sides of some tanks like the M4 Sherman and Pz.Kpfw. IV ausf. F2 and Pz.Kpfw. III series, but this is only at close range and generally the idea of using this tank to engage medium tanks not a very good one. This tank can deal with many lightly armoured targets like other SPAAs and some light tanks, so if you feel lucky then that is always a viable option. As for an AA role, this tank's performance is good enough for the job. It can shoot down low-flying aircraft with relative ease, and anyone who knows where to aim can easily shoot down most aircraft this tank will meet.
  
 
=== 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:'''
+
* Rapid firing cannons allow for excellent aerial coverage
*
+
* Great vehicle mobility allowing for fast repositioning
 +
* Frontal protection from light machinegun
 +
* Great ammunition storage capacity
 +
* Fast reloading time
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
*
+
 
 +
* Gunner crew is exposed and have no rear protection
 +
* Very vulnerable to incoming artillery rounds and aerial strafing/bombing
 +
* Rapid firing easily depletes ammunition magazines, trigger control required
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
''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.''
+
<!--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 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></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== Encyclopedia Info ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).-->
 +
 
 +
Prior to World War II, Japan experimented with developing a SPAAG which could be mounted to several different platforms, including trucks, tanks and railroad cars. Production ended up developing a SPAAG which could shoot down aircraft at low altitudes, however, the Japanese military wanted their SPAAGs to have the capability to also shoot down aircraft at medium altitudes too. Along with the requirement to shoot down aircraft at low and medium altitudes,m the SPAAG needed to also be highly mobile and capable of providing protection to convoys from aerial attack as a defensive vehicle also.
 +
 
 +
By 1941, Japan started prototyping two variations of the new SAAG, a single mounted Type 98 20 mm cannon known as "[[Ta-Se]]" short for Taikū ("anti-air") sensha ("tank") and the "So-Ki" which featured dual-mounted Type 98 20 mm cannons. The platform which was chosen for the SPAAG was the newly built Type 98 Ke-Ni light tank with its turret removed and the dual cannon platform installed.
 +
 
 +
The crew positions of the So-Ki featured a driver situated in the centre of the vehicle and right under the anti-aircraft gun emplacement. To aid in protecting the cannon crew (gunner and loaders) a gun shield was added to block or deflect small arms fire, however, it was no match for a direct tank shell hit or strafing attack by fighters, attackers and dive bombers. A bench for the crew was mounted at the rear of the platform and could be folded out of the way to allow for placement of more ammunition magazines if necessary.
 +
 
 +
The total ammunition capacity for this vehicle was 22 belts plus two more already loaded in the cannons. The rate of fire for the Type-98 cannons was around 830 rounds per minute, however, velocities between rounds differed as they were comprised of different weights due to round type and explosive filler. Unfortunately, the So-Ki never entered production as by the time it was ready to enter service the needs of Japanese anti-aircraft vehicles had significantly evolved meaning the So-Ki was already outdated. The Japanese were also having a difficult time massing sufficient resources necessary for the production of this unit because of Allied progression in the Pacific front
  
 
== 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.-->
 +
{{Youtube-gallery|_yh75uwKfV8|So-Ki SPAAG Vehicle Review [NUSensei]}}
 +
 
 +
== 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;''
* ''other literature.''
+
* ''encyclopedia page on the tank;''
 +
* ''other literature.''-->
 +
 
 +
* [https://warthunder.com/en/news/4378-development-so-ki-elusive-twin-guns-en/ [Devblog<nowiki>]</nowiki> So-Ki: Elusive Twin Guns]
 +
* [http://sensha-manual.blogspot.com/2016/12/wt-so-ki-spaa.html [Sensha<nowiki>]</nowiki> - [WT<nowiki>]</nowiki> So-Ki SPAA]

Revision as of 16:47, 19 October 2019

Rank 6 USA
F-5C Pack
jp_type_95_so_ki.png
So-Ki
AB RB SB
3.0 3.0 3.0
Class:
Research:14 000 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:32 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png
Show in game

Description

Featured Image: So-Ki in WT Garage


The So-Ki is a rank II Japanese self-propelled anti-aircraft gun with a battle rating of 3.0 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced along with the entire Japanese Ground Forces tree in Update 1.65 "Way of the Samurai".

This anti-aircraft vehicle features dual Type 98 20 mm cannons which have high-velocity capability and great mobility. The tank is quite fast, being built off the chassis of the Type 98 Ke-Ni, and can run away quite fast. You can use it as a scout by shooting other tanks so they show up on the map, but your primary role should be AA. This tank performs decently at it's BR of 3.3, but you'll soon get sick of it as you'll be stuck with it until the M42 Duster. Either way, it is a fairly decent AA vehicle.

General info

Survivability and armour

Due to the non-existent armour, literally anything can destroy the So-Ki. Enemies armed with .50 cals - tanks and planes - are particularly deadly, as they can pierce through the weak armour with no problem. Destroying this tank is easy, with a shot slightly to the right of the driver's hatch for a one-shot to knock out both crew members in the hull. A common way to go is to incapacitate the gunner, waiting for him to be replaced, and then knocking him out again. That or hull break. Fortunately, this thing is pretty fast, and there are some instances where you can literally outrun shells from enemies shooting at a fair distance away.

Armour type:

  • Rolled homogeneous armour
Armour Front Sides Rear Roof
Hull 16 mm (16-19°) Front plate
16 mm (11-72°) Front glacis
16 mm (29-48°) Lower glacis
12 mm 10 mm (12-51°) 9 mm
Turret 8 mm (10-14°) N/A N/A N/A

Notes:

  • Suspension wheels and tracks are both 15 mm thick.

Mobility

This tank is quite fast, being built off of the Type 98 Ke-Ni, so use this blistering speed to your advantage. You can be a scout and shoot enemies so they appear on your map - but only do this if you have a clear way to escape and aren't in danger of being sniped by a Jagdpanzer IV sitting on a hill 700 meters away.

Mobility characteristic
Weight (tons) Add-on Armor
weight (tons)
Max speed (km/h)
7.0 N/A 49 (AB)
45 (RB/SB)
Engine power (horsepower)
Mode Stock Upgraded
Arcade 136 168
Realistic/Simulator 115 130
Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
Mode Stock Upgraded
Arcade 19.43 24.00
Realistic/Simulator 16.43 18.57

Armaments

Main armament

Main article: Type 98 (20 mm)
A three-quarter view of an early 20 mm So-Ki SPAAG.

Double the guns means double the difficulty enemy aircraft will have with dealing with you, so be sure to aim for engines and at the centre of planes - your exposed cabin means that planes will often try to dive you, hoping to score an air-to-ground knockout - give them a nasty surprise by filling their engines with Type 100 HE-T shells. That being said, always, always, always pay attention to what's going on in the air. Your gunner gets knocked out quickly, so be sure to always be aware of the battle in the air, as well as on the ground.

20 mm Type 98 (x2)
Capacity (Belt capacity each) Fire rate
(shots/minute)
Vertical
guidance
Horizontal
guidance
520 (20) 300 -10°/+85° ±180°
Turret rotation speed (°/s)
Mode Stock Upgraded Prior + Full crew Prior + Expert qualif. Prior + Ace qualif.
Arcade 35.22 48.75 __.__ 65.5 69.65
Realistic 23.80 28.00 34.0 37.6 40.00
Reloading rate (seconds)
Stock Prior + Full crew Prior + Expert qualif. Prior + Ace qualif.
3.9 3.4 3.2 __.__

Ammunition

Penetration statistics
Ammunition Type of
warhead
Penetration in mm @ 0° Angle of Attack
10m 100m 500m 1000m 1500m 2000m
Type 100 HE-T HEFI-T 2 2 2 2 2 2
Type 100 AP-T API-T 40 38 29 21 16 11
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 100 HE-T HEFI-T 829 0.13 0.3 0.1 6.0 +0° 79° 80° 81°
Type 100 AP-T API-T 829 0.16 N/A N/A N/A -1° 47° 60° 65°

Belt types

Belts Shell composition Combat usage
Default API-T,HEFI-T
(Armour Piercing Incendiary tracer – High Explosive Fragmentation Incendiary tracer) shell
Type 100 HE-T HEFI-T
(High Explosive Fragmentation Incendiary tracer) shell
Type 100 AP-T API-T
(Armour Piercing Incendiary tracer) shell

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the So-Ki
Full
ammo
1st
rack empty
Visual
discrepancy
26 (+12) No

Usage in battles

Capture bases and attack lightly armoured targets when you can. For the most part you should be focused on an AA role, rather than an AT one, so always be listening for aircraft engines.

At its battle rating, the So-Ki can penetrate the sides of some tanks like the M4 Sherman and Pz.Kpfw. IV ausf. F2 and Pz.Kpfw. III series, but this is only at close range and generally the idea of using this tank to engage medium tanks not a very good one. This tank can deal with many lightly armoured targets like other SPAAs and some light tanks, so if you feel lucky then that is always a viable option. As for an AA role, this tank's performance is good enough for the job. It can shoot down low-flying aircraft with relative ease, and anyone who knows where to aim can easily shoot down most aircraft this tank will meet.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Rapid firing cannons allow for excellent aerial coverage
  • Great vehicle mobility allowing for fast repositioning
  • Frontal protection from light machinegun
  • Great ammunition storage capacity
  • Fast reloading time

Cons:

  • Gunner crew is exposed and have no rear protection
  • Very vulnerable to incoming artillery rounds and aerial strafing/bombing
  • Rapid firing easily depletes ammunition magazines, trigger control required

History

Prior to World War II, Japan experimented with developing a SPAAG which could be mounted to several different platforms, including trucks, tanks and railroad cars. Production ended up developing a SPAAG which could shoot down aircraft at low altitudes, however, the Japanese military wanted their SPAAGs to have the capability to also shoot down aircraft at medium altitudes too. Along with the requirement to shoot down aircraft at low and medium altitudes,m the SPAAG needed to also be highly mobile and capable of providing protection to convoys from aerial attack as a defensive vehicle also.

By 1941, Japan started prototyping two variations of the new SAAG, a single mounted Type 98 20 mm cannon known as "Ta-Se" short for Taikū ("anti-air") sensha ("tank") and the "So-Ki" which featured dual-mounted Type 98 20 mm cannons. The platform which was chosen for the SPAAG was the newly built Type 98 Ke-Ni light tank with its turret removed and the dual cannon platform installed.

The crew positions of the So-Ki featured a driver situated in the centre of the vehicle and right under the anti-aircraft gun emplacement. To aid in protecting the cannon crew (gunner and loaders) a gun shield was added to block or deflect small arms fire, however, it was no match for a direct tank shell hit or strafing attack by fighters, attackers and dive bombers. A bench for the crew was mounted at the rear of the platform and could be folded out of the way to allow for placement of more ammunition magazines if necessary.

The total ammunition capacity for this vehicle was 22 belts plus two more already loaded in the cannons. The rate of fire for the Type-98 cannons was around 830 rounds per minute, however, velocities between rounds differed as they were comprised of different weights due to round type and explosive filler. Unfortunately, the So-Ki never entered production as by the time it was ready to enter service the needs of Japanese anti-aircraft vehicles had significantly evolved meaning the So-Ki was already outdated. The Japanese were also having a difficult time massing sufficient resources necessary for the production of this unit because of Allied progression in the Pacific front

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