Type 97

The Type 97 Te-Ke was the main battle tank of the Imperial Japanese army at the beginning or world war 2. It was developed to provide direct support for the army's infantry force. Prior to the outbreak of the second world war the Mk.1 was Japan's primary battle tank. With Imperial expansionist visions rapidly moving toward fruition, the need for a more reliable and versatile replacement became necessary. Early armor development focused primarily on the Type97 medium tank platform. This single platform concept proved impossible given the varied wheather and terrain conditions encountered by increasing theater of Japanese operations. The 97-type initially mounted a 37mm Mountain Gun. This proved to be less than ideal. the Mountain Gun proved unable to provide adequate infantry support and was also unable to contend with increasingly well armored and equipped enemy armor. The thickness of armor being only maximum 25mm was demonstrated to be wholly inadequate when the Japanese engaged the Russian army at Nomonnha. The Type97 tank therefor only truly able to contend with the weak guerrillas (the Chinese army in those days) and the colony garrisons (the ground army of each province in Asia at the outbreak of the war). The diesel engine proved to have been an excellent choice however. A diesel engine has the characteristics that it doesn't catch fire easily when a bullet hits it. Diesel engines also have a low rate of fuel consumption (thus leaving more gasoline available which was the fuel that the aircraft required). The Type 97 Te-Ke which saw service from 1938 to 1945, was actually obsolete by the beginning of the war.

Type 97 Chi-Ha. The Japanese army that fought at Nomonhan was virtually destroyed primarily because the main gun of the Type97 couldn't pierce the armor of the Russian tanks. It later proved equally helpless against the U.S. M3 light tank. The pace of development was increased and an up-gunned and armored version of the 97 was the result. The Chi-Ha or Improved featured a modified turret to support the larger barrel which replaced the shorter barrel. And because the diameter of the turret ring was increased, a cap for the front machine gun disappears as a change point on the body side. The appearance time of Type 97 Chi-Ha was March, 1942. The evolution of the Type 97 culminated with the Shinhoto Chi-Ha version. With an improved turret mounting a new 57mm gun, this particular version eventually became the most important japanese medium tank of the war. Yet the spring of 1942 also gave rise to the mass production of the American M4 Sherman tank and its 75mm gun. Thus the improvements made to the Type 97 proved to be to-little-to-late.

Specifications
Manufacturers:	Mitsubishi, Hitachi, Nihon, Sagami
Crew:	4
Length:	5.52 m
Width:	2.33 m
Height:	2.23 m
Weight:	15800 kg
Engine:	Mitsubishi Type 97 Diesel
Max speed:	38 km/h
Range:	210 km
Ground clearance:	0.40 m
Max grade:	34°
Vertical obstacle:	0.90 m
Fording:	1 m
Trench crossing:	2.50 m
Armament
Main gun:	57mm Gun Type 97
Ammo:	100 rounds
Traverse:	manual (360°)
Secondary:	two 7.7mm Type 97 MG (bow, turret rear)
Ammo:	2745 rounds