Japanese tank slogan

When it comes to the history of weapons in World War II, Japanese tanks have always been the object of ridicule. Facing the powerful tanks of the Soviet Union, Germany and the United States, Japanese tanks are considered as "paper tanks" because of their small size, weak firepower and extremely thin armor.

Were Japanese tanks really bad during World War II? In fact, in the early days of the Pacific War, the rapid advance of Japanese tanks once caused panic among American and British troops. And the most threatening is the Japanese light tank-Type 95, which ordinary military fans disdain.

M3 Stewart light tank

In the first US-Japan tank battle, Japanese light tanks won. After the outbreak of the Pacific War, the Japanese army landed in Lingayan Bay in Luzon Island. American tank troops deployed in the Philippines launched the first tank battle between the two countries with Japanese tanks.

When the war broke out, the US troops stationed in the Philippines had two tank battalions-192 and 194, each equipped with 54 M3 Stewart light tanks and 23 semi-tracked vehicles.

M3 "Stuart" light tank was put into production in March of 194 1. Total tank weight 15 ton, engine 220 HP, maximum road speed 58 km/h, maximum travel 160 km. The weapons are 37 mm tank guns (500 meters armor-piercing ability can reach 50-60 mm) and 3 7.62 mm machine guns. As a light tank, M3 "Stuart" armor is quite thick, 38-44 mm in front of the car body, 5 1 mm in front of the turret, 38 mm in the side of the turret, and 25 mm in the rear of the weakest car body. ..

Type 95 light tank

However, for the first time, American tanks stationed in the Philippines encountered Japanese tanks, but they were beaten out of the water. 192 On February 22, the US Army 192 Tank Battalion received an order from the General Commander Major General Wainwright, asking the battalion to immediately meet the Japanese mechanized troops that appeared nearby. A tank platoon of the battalion (commander Captain Ben Moran, ***5 M3 "Stuart") encountered a Type 95 light tank of Japan's Fourth Chariot Wing near Damotitz.

When American tanks found Japanese tanks, they immediately left the road and tried to hide, but the leading tank was first hit and caught fire (Captain Ben Moran and his crew were captured). The other four American tanks were also injured by Japanese Type 95 tanks, but they all managed to escape, but were found by Japanese planes when retreating and all were blown up.

M3 "Stuart" was captured by the Japanese.

The second tank battle between the United States and Japan, the first tank battle between the United States and Japan, the Japanese medium-sized tanks were completely annihilated, and the Type 95 light tanks made a good start. However, a week later, the two sides had a second tank encounter, and the situation was completely opposite.

1 942 65438+1October1,another American tank unit 194 tank battalion also encountered the Japanese Fourth Chariot Wing. Previously, the battalion had encountered Japanese infantry and suffered certain losses under the attack of anti-tank guns. However, 65438+ 10/day, 1 94 tank battalion set up an ambush position near san fernando, and met the Japanese 89 medium-sized tank that launched the attack.

Type 89 medium tank

The Japanese army invested five Type 89 medium tanks in an attempt to seize the transportation hub to intercept the US and Philippine troops retreating to Bataan. Japanese tanks did not conduct reconnaissance at all during the attack and rashly entered the ambush circle preset by 194 tank battalion. Five Japanese Type 89 vehicles were quickly destroyed.

Although Japanese Type 89 tank is called "medium tank", its actual weight is only 12.8 tons, which is lighter than M3 "Stuart", and it can be called a wonderful work of Japanese tanks. The Type 89 has a 57mm short barrel gun (the armor-piercing capacity of 500m is 20mm), the maximum speed is only 26km/h (less than half of Stuart's), and the maximum armor thickness is only 17mm, which is almost a joke in the battlefield of 194 1 year, and even large-caliber machine guns can't be prevented. In the later Battle of Bataan, Type 89 was defeated by M3 "Stuart" in many tank battles.

In contrast, the Japanese Type 95 light tank performed better in the Philippine campaign.

Type 95 light tank in Nomenham battlefield

Characteristics of Type 95 Light Tank The Japanese Type 95 light tank was produced from 1936 to 1943, which was the largest number of Japanese tanks in World War II. Generally speaking, Type 95 light tank can still be regarded as an armored fighting vehicle with good performance in 194 1 year.

One of the great advantages of Type 95 light tank is that it uses diesel engine, which is not easy to catch fire after being shot, while American tanks are basically gasoline engines. The total weight of the Type 95 tank is only 7.4 tons, the engine power is 120 horsepower, the maximum road speed can reach 45 km/h, and the maximum stroke is 209 km. The speed of 45 km/h was quite good in the1930s, and the M3 "Stuart" produced five years later was only slightly better.

The shortcomings of Type 95 are very obvious. In order to ensure maneuverability, very weak armor is used. The armor thickness is only 6- 12 mm, which can barely defend against light weapons. However, the performance of the 95-type 37 mm main gun is not bad, the length is 46 times of the caliber, and it is said that it can penetrate 45 mm thick armor. The turret of the tank is located on the left side and has the title of "oblique machine gun".

Type 95 light tank

Although Type 95 is weaker than M3 "Stuart" in various performance data, the jungle warfare tests the close-range firepower and the training level of vehicles. U.S. light tanks are all new cars produced that year, and the troops have just arrived from Wan Li by sea, so their training level and climate adaptability are poor. Therefore, the Type 95 light tank can defeat M3 "Stewart" in actual combat.

However, the biggest advantage of Type 95 is excellent off-road maneuverability. There are four medium-sized load-bearing wheels on both sides of Type 95 light tank, with balanced suspension device, and every two load-bearing wheels are a group. The horizontal spiral spring is stretched or compressed by the balance arm, with the driving wheel in front and the inducer behind. Because of its small size and light weight, Type 95 is very suitable for use in dense forests in Southeast Asia. Coupled with the high speed and long range of the tank, it became the protagonist of the "jungle blitzkrieg".

Type 95 light tank

Type 95 once performed well in Southeast Asia. In the eyes of American and British troops, the rainforests in the Philippines and Malaya are not suitable for tank fighting at all, and they also look down on the performance of Japanese tanks. However, Japanese Type 95 light tanks and Type 97 medium tanks can be freely interspersed in the dense forest. Especially in the Battle of Malaya, Type 95 light tanks often appeared in unexpected places, which made the allied forces (mainly British and Indian troops) frightened.

Japanese troops landed in northern Malaya Peninsula on 194 1 12.08. In this battle, the third Japanese chariot group (equivalent to a tank division with four chariot wings) was assigned to three infantry divisions as the vanguard assault troops. The Commonwealth Army (about1.4000), with Indians and Australians as the main force, was continuously broken by the Japanese army (about 70000). After the Japanese army broke through the front line, it quickly advanced in depth with Type 95 light tanks equipped with infantry, and the British army could hardly continue to organize effective defense.

Type 95 light tank in the battle of Malaya

Especially in the Battle of Slim River, 20 tanks led by Tian Feng of Shaozuo Island, carrying infantry, raided the positions of the British 1 1 division at night. With the cooperation of other Japanese troops, Japanese tanks broke through the defenses of two brigades continuously, advancing 25 kilometers, and went straight behind the British-Indian Division 1 1. Indian soldiers were defeated by the Japanese offensive and collectively fled to the depths of the jungle. The whole British-Indian 1 1 division was defeated, and more than 3,000 people were captured, with only 77 Japanese casualties.

In the battle, the Type 95 light tank also showed good reliability. It is said that "it needs no maintenance after the Long March of 1000 km". Among them, the Japanese Sixth Chariot Wing, which is mainly Type 95, was boasted as the "God of Preparation" because there was no broken car in the Long March.

In less than two months in the Malay Peninsula, the Japanese army advanced from the northernmost point to the southernmost point, defeating the other side with half of the British troops. In this war, the Japanese army only suffered more than 4,600 casualties, while the Commonwealth army suffered 50,000 casualties and suffered heavy losses when captured. The allies paid a heavy price for despising Japanese tanks.

Destroyed Type 95 light tank

The end of Type 95-buried in the soil as a bunker, however, the glory of Type 95 tanks was limited to the early days of the Pacific War. Although the Type 95 tank has high maneuverability and reliability, its armor is too weak, and the 37 mm main gun is also difficult to cope with the later war. By the middle of the war, the Type 95 light tank had become an outdated product.

After the US military launched a counterattack, the Type 95 tank was completely incapable of confronting the M4 Sherman medium tank and the M5 Stuart light tank. Type 95 artillery not only hits American tanks, but also protects armor in name only. Even in the face of American infantry, the Type 95 is difficult to parry the new "Bazuka" rocket launcher. Therefore, in the defense of Pacific islands, Type 95 tanks are often buried underground, and only turrets are exposed as fixed shelters.

Destroyed Type 95 light tank

During World War II, the performance of tanks advanced by leaps and bounds. If the performance is not improved for a year or two, tanks will fall behind. However, the development of Japanese tanks has long been stagnant. Take light tanks as an example. In 1938, Japan began to develop Type 98 light tank to replace Type 95. The armor was thickened and the power was slightly improved, but in the end only 104 vehicles were produced, which was not enough for war consumption. Other medium-sized tanks such as 1 and 3, Japan's R&D and output are far behind the world average speed.

On the one hand, Japan's industrial base is insufficient and it lacks the accumulation of tank-related technologies, such as high-power engines, high-power tank guns and high-strength armored steel plates. Even in the late war, Japanese tanks still used backward riveted armor, and the manufacture of welded armor was not productive.

On the other hand, Japan's national strength is not good enough to meet the huge material consumption of both land and sea at the same time. During the Pacific War, Japan's steel and other strategic materials were heavily inclined to the navy, and the army received a small proportion, which naturally could not support the large-scale research and development and construction of tanks. (Author: Tao Mujian)

Japanese (47) tanks (7) Stuart (1)