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Type 5 Chi-Ri medium tank
Type 5 Chi-Ri medium tank
Type 5 Chi-Ri medium tank
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The Type 5 medium tank Chi-Ri (五式中戦車 チリ, Go-shiki chusensha Chi-ri) ("Imperial Year 2605 Medium Tank Model 9") was a medium tank developed by the Imperial Japanese Army in World War II. It was intended to be a heavier, more powerful version of Japan's prototype Type 4 Chi-To medium tank. Only one incomplete prototype was built.

Key Information

History and development

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Based on battlefield information from the Eastern Front, the Department of Army Weaponry published a report demanding a shift of tank design focus from infantry-support tanks to tanks specialised for anti-tank missions. The Army's requirements for the new medium tank were an increase of weight from 20 tonnes to 35 tonnes and an armour upgrade from 50 mm to 75 mm. The new tank would be mounted with a new 75 mm tank gun instead of the previous 57 mm tank gun. Production focus would also prioritise quality over quantity. The new medium tank was designated as Type 5 Medium Tank Chi-Ri (五式中戦車 チリ).[4]

A single unarmed prototype of the Type 5 Chi-Ri was completed by May 1945.[1][2] The project was abruptly abandoned to free up manpower and critical resources to concentrate on the development and production of the more practical Type 4 Chi-To medium tank.[1] As with many innovative weapons projects launched by Japan in the final years of World War II, production could not advance beyond either small numbers or the prototype stage due to material shortages, and the loss of Japan's industrial infrastructure to the Allied bombing of Japan.[5]

Design

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Side-rear angle view of Type 5 Chi-Ri captured, post-surrender

The Type 5 Chi-Ri was of all-welded construction. It featured a lengthened version of the Type 4 Chi-To chassis, with eight road wheels per side instead of the seven of the Chi-To. It had the usual Japanese track arrangement with forward mounted drive sprockets and rear mounted idlers. The Type 5 Chi-Ri had welded armor, with a maximum thickness of 75 mm at the front hull; 25–50 mm on the side; 50 mm on the rear and 50 mm on the turret.[3][6]

The Type 5 Chi-Ri was initially to be powered by a Mitsubishi Diesel engine, but the advancements needed to provide the necessary horsepower fell behind schedule, and an 800 hp V-12 gasoline-fueled aircraft engine designed by BMW in Germany and licensed to Kawasaki Heavy Industries in Japan was selected instead. The "Kawasaki Type 98 800 HP engine Ha-9-IIb" was detuned for the tank to 550 hp.[6][7]

Type 5 75 mm tank gun Mark I (semi-auto loader)

The tank had a hexagonal gun turret and on the left side of the turret roof was a commander's cupola. In front of that was a crew hatch.[8] The prototype tank was to be fitted with the Type 5 75 mm tank gun (based on the Type 4 75 mm AA gun) equipped with an automatic loading system.[7] Secondary weapons consisted of a fixed front hull-mounted Type 1 37 mm tank gun and two 7.7mm Type 97 machine guns.[9][10] One coaxial Type 97 machine gun was fitted in the front hull next to the Type 1 37 mm tank gun and a ball mounted Type 97 machine gun was on the left side of the turret.[9] Two other sources, only mention the fixed front hull-mounted Type 1 37 mm tank gun as an incorporated secondary weapon for this prototype tank.[1][6] There were also plans for a Type 5 Chi-Ri II, to be diesel powered and using the Type 5 75 mm tank gun as its main armament.[11]

Service history

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As with the Type 4 Chi-To tanks, the Type 5 Chi-Ri was originally considered for the final defense of the Japanese home islands against the expected Allied invasions. However, only the one unarmed prototype had been completed by the time the war in the Pacific came to an end.[1][12]

The prototype Type 5 Chi-Ri was seized by American forces during the occupation of Japan and earmarked for tests at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds.[12] After being shipped there, the prototype was eventually scrapped in 1952.[13]

Variants

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Experimental 105 mm tank gun
Experimental Type 5 gun tank Ho-Ri I mock-up scale model
Further information: ja:試製五式砲戦車

The Ho-Ri I was a tank destroyer version using a 105 mm cannon in place of the 75 mm gun design and an additional 37 mm gun in the front armored plate. The Ho-Ri was to use the Type 5 Chi-Ri tank chassis and have a crew of six.[14] The superstructure for the main gun was placed at the rear and to have sloped armor up to 30 mm thick; the engine was positioned in the center area of the chassis and the driver's station was in the front hull section. All similar in design to the German Ferdinand/Elefant heavy tank destroyer.[15] According to "The National Institute for Defense Studies, Ministry of Defense, Military Administration of Munitions Mobilization, Production Chart of January to April of 1945", the plan was to produce a total of 5 Ho-Ri gun tanks by March 1945.[16] The 105 mm main gun was produced and tested.[17] However, no prototypes are known to have been completed.[14][17][18][19] Another version of the Ho-Ri was to have a twin 25 mm anti-aircraft gun mounted on top of the rear casemate superstructure in a "swivel mount".[20]

A second variant planned was the Ho-Ri II heavy tank destroyer. It was to use the Type 5 Chi-Ri tank chassis. The boxy superstructure for the main gun was completely integral with the hull's sides and placed at the center of the chassis (similar in design to the German Jagdtiger). The engine compartment was moved in the rear area of the chassis. It was to use a 105 mm cannon as its main armament.[17][21]

References

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Sources

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  • Hara, Tomio (1972). Japanese Medium Tanks. AFV Weapons Profiles No. 49. Profile Publications Limited.
  • McCormack, David (2021). Japanese Tanks and Armoured Warfare 1932–45. Fonthill. ISBN 978-1-78155-810-2.
  • Tomczyk, Andrzej (2005). Japanese Armor Vol. 4. AJ Press. ISBN 978-8372371676.
  • Tomczyk, Andrzej (2007). Japanese Armor Vol. 5. AJ Press. ISBN 978-8372371799.
  • Zaloga, Steven J. (2007). Japanese Tanks 1939–45. Osprey. ISBN 978-1-8460-3091-8.
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Type 5 Chi-Ri medium tank

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from Grokipedia
The Type 5 Chi-Ri was a developed by the during the final stages of , designed as a heavier and more capable successor to earlier medium tanks like the Type 4 Chi-To, with a focus on countering American tanks through enhanced armor and armament. Development of the Type 5 Chi-Ri began in 1943, evolving from a lengthened of the Type 4 Chi-To to incorporate sloped welded armor and a more powerful turret configuration, though resource shortages and Allied bombing campaigns severely hampered progress. By early 1945, a single was under construction at the Kawasaki Kokuki factory in Hyogo Prefecture, but it remained incomplete—lacking its main gun—when surrendered in August 1945, leading to the project's cancellation without any production vehicles entering service. The was captured by U.S. forces postwar and subjected to evaluation before being scrapped around 1952. Weighing approximately 37 tons and measuring 8.5 meters in length, 3.1 meters in width, and 3.1 meters in height, the Type 5 Chi-Ri accommodated a of five and was powered by a Kawasaki Type 98 550-horsepower water-cooled V-12 gasoline engine, enabling a top road speed of 45 km/h and an operational range of about 250 km. Its armor scheme featured up to 75 mm on the frontal hull and turret , with 25–50 mm on the sides, rear, and turret, representing a significant improvement over prior Japanese designs but still vulnerable to heavy Allied anti-tank weapons. Armament included a primary 75 mm Type 5 in the turret—planned for upgrade to an 88 mm Type 99 anti-aircraft gun derivative in production models—a bow-mounted 37 mm Type 1 for close defense, and two 7.7 mm Type 97 machine guns for suppressive fire. Despite its advanced features on paper, the Type 5 Chi-Ri exemplified Japan's late-war shift toward heavier tanks that ultimately proved too ambitious given industrial constraints.

Development history

Origins and requirements

In 1943, the sought to modernize its armored forces amid escalating pressures, initiating development of advanced medium tanks influenced by intelligence reports on German Panther and tanks from the Eastern Front. These reports, obtained through Axis collaboration, underscored the vulnerabilities of existing Japanese designs against superior Allied armor like the , prompting a strategic shift toward heavier, better-protected vehicles for potential home island defense. By 1944, the Army formalized requirements for the Type 5 Chi-Ri as a 37-ton , specifying a 75 mm main gun, frontal armor up to 75 mm thick to resist 75 mm projectiles, and improved mobility with a target speed of around 45 km/h for maneuverability in defensive operations. The design incorporated sloped armor for enhanced protection without excessive weight. As a heavier evolution of the preceding —which weighed about 30 tons and mounted a similar 75 mm gun but with thinner, less sloped armor—the Chi-Ri aimed to bridge the gap with contemporary foreign mediums through welded construction and a lengthened for better stability. However, severe resource shortages, including shortages of raw materials and skilled labor, combined with intensified Allied bombing raids on industrial sites, drastically hampered prioritization and progress on the project by mid-1945.

Design process and challenges

The design of the Type 5 Chi-Ri medium tank was developed in 1943–1944, with proposals from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and oversight by the Sagami Army Arsenal, evolving from the Type 4 Chi-To prototype to address the need for a heavier medium tank capable of engaging Allied armor like the M4 Sherman. The prototype was constructed at the Kawasaki Kokuki factory. Drawing on German influences, particularly sloped armor concepts from the Panther tank, engineers incorporated angled frontal glacis plating to improve ballistic protection without excessive weight. Key innovations during the conceptualization phase included a fully welded hull , which allowed for stronger, lighter assembly compared to traditional riveted designs, and a bell-crank suspension system featuring four bogies per side to enhance cross-country mobility and ride quality. Additionally, the armament layout integrated a bow-mounted 37 mm Type 1 gun in the hull alongside the primary 75 mm Type 5 armament in the turret with a semi-automatic loader, providing effective suppression against while maintaining focus on anti-tank roles. The process encountered severe challenges from Japan's wartime resource constraints, including acute material shortages that prevented completion of the turret ring and other complex components, forcing reliance on simplified mockups. The Kawasaki Type 98 engine, derived from a licensed V-12 aircraft powerplant, was detuned from 800 hp to 550 hp to prioritize reliability amid unreliable fuel supplies and manufacturing limitations. By late , the core design had been finalized with a lengthened and hexagonal turret, but escalating Allied bombing campaigns and diversion of resources to the more producible Type 4 Chi-To led to a shift in priority in , resulting in suspension of the project before completion, with only one incomplete .

Design features

Chassis and armament

The of the Type 5 Chi-Ri medium tank measured 7.3 meters in hull length, 3.05 meters in width, and 3.05 meters in height, with an overall combat weight of 37 tonnes. This design was based on a lengthened version of the , incorporating eight large road wheels arranged in four bogies per side to support the increased and provide stability. The suspension system employed a bell-crank type with torsion bars, which enhanced the tank's ride quality over rough terrain by allowing greater wheel travel and reducing vibration compared to earlier Japanese designs. This configuration contributed to improved cross-country mobility, addressing limitations observed in prior medium tanks like the Type 97 Chi-Ha. The primary armament consisted of the Type 5 75 mm tank gun, featuring an L/56.4 barrel length and capable of firing armor-piercing high-explosive (APHE) and high-explosive (HE) shells to engage both armored and soft targets effectively. For close-range defense, a hull-mounted Type 1 37 mm gun was included, providing anti-infantry and light vehicle suppression. Secondary armament comprised two 7.7 mm Type 97 machine guns, one mounted coaxially with the main gun and the other in the hull for additional anti-personnel fire. The turret was electrically traversed for precise aiming, accommodating a five-man that included a loader to assist in manual ammunition handling and sustain fire rates. Although an was conceptually explored to boost the —initially envisioned as belt-fed and later simplified to a single-tray mechanism—no such system was historically implemented in the due to developmental constraints.

Armor, engine, and mobility

The Type 5 Chi-Ri medium tank featured welded armor plates with sloped designs on the frontal hull and turret to enhance protection against contemporary anti-tank threats. The maximum armor thickness reached 75 mm on the front of the hull and turret, while sides and rear varied from 25 to 50 mm, providing sufficient resistance to 75 mm armor-piercing rounds fired from American tanks at typical combat ranges. Powering the vehicle was the Kawasaki Type 98 engine, a water-cooled, V-12 gasoline unit derived from a licensed German BMW aircraft design and detuned for armored use. This engine delivered 550 horsepower at 1,500 rpm, enabling reliable operation within the tank's chassis while addressing Japan's wartime resource constraints for high-output propulsion. Mobility was prioritized for versatility across varied terrains, with a bell-crank suspension system supporting eight dual road wheels per side and wide tracks 60 cm in width to distribute the 37-tonne weight effectively. This configuration aimed for a ground pressure of 0.6 to 0.7 kg/cm², optimizing performance on soft or uneven ground common in the Pacific theater. The tank achieved a top road speed of 45 km/h and an operational range of 250 km, though off-road speeds were projected around 25 km/h based on similar designs. The five-member crew—consisting of the , gunner, loader, , and hull gunner—benefited from basic accommodations including periscopes for observation and improved ventilation systems to manage heat and fumes in the enclosed space.

Prototypes and operational use

Construction and testing

The sole of the Type 5 Chi-Ri medium tank was completed in May 1945. The hull was fully finished, but due to severe material shortages, the turret and main were not installed, leaving the unarmed. Testing was limited to basic mobility trials conducted in May 1945. During these runs, the prototype demonstrated reliable performance, achieving top speeds of 40 km/h on roads without its intended armament. The results were positive, leading to a recommendation for adoption into service, though the project was ultimately deprioritized in favor of urgent defensive preparations against anticipated Allied invasions. No firing trials were possible owing to the absence of armament. Allied air raids severely disrupted supply chains and industrial efforts across Japan, exacerbating the shortages that prevented completion of the prototype and halting further work. Limited production was planned to bolster medium tank forces, but none were manufactured beyond the single prototype before Japan's surrender in August 1945.

Fate and evaluation

Following Japan's surrender in August 1945, the incomplete prototype of the Type 5 Chi-Ri medium tank was seized by U.S. forces during the in September 1945. The vehicle, lacking its main armament but otherwise largely assembled, was subsequently shipped to the for technical at the in . At Aberdeen, the prototype underwent testing focused on its mobility characteristics, including assessments of its suspension and engine performance. U.S. analysts regarded the Chi-Ri as an advanced design by late-war Japanese standards, featuring innovative elements like sloped armor derived from German influences such as the ; however, it was ultimately deemed obsolete relative to evolved , which offered superior reliability, production scalability, and battlefield adaptability by 1945. The tank's heavy weight and complex mechanics highlighted Japan's industrial limitations, rendering it impractical for even if the war had continued. The prototype remained in storage at until October 1952, when it was scrapped alongside other captured Japanese vehicles as part of a postwar demilitarization effort, with footage documenting the torch-cutting process confirming its presence and destruction. No surviving examples of the Type 5 Chi-Ri exist today, and historical understanding of its full specifications relies heavily on incomplete wartime documents, blueprints, and fragmentary Allied intelligence reports recovered during the occupation.

Planned variants

Ho-Ri tank destroyers

The Ho-Ri tank destroyers were planned casemate-style variants of the Type 5 Chi-Ri medium chassis, designed to provide heavy firepower for defensive operations against anticipated Allied invasions of the Japanese home islands. These vehicles eliminated the turret in favor of a fixed to reduce and production complexity, allowing for thicker frontal armor and a more potent main gun while retaining key elements of the base for mobility. Intended primarily for tactics in static defensive roles, the Ho-Ri series reflected Japan's late-war shift toward specialized anti-tank platforms amid resource shortages. The Ho-Ri I, proposed in , featured a fixed rear-mounted superstructure housing the short-barreled Type 5 105 mm gun, optimized for high-explosive with its lower velocity and broader shell selection suitable for and fortifications. Its frontal armor consisted of up to 75 mm plates sloped at 70 degrees to enhance effective thickness against incoming projectiles, providing improved protection compared to turreted designs without significantly increasing weight. A secondary 37 mm gun was incorporated in the front superstructure for close-range defense, with the overall layout positioning the driver forward and the engine centrally to balance the vehicle's mass. An evolution of the initial concept, the Ho-Ri II incorporated a longer-barreled 105 mm Type 2 gun derived from , offering superior armor penetration for engaging enemy tanks at longer ranges and addressing the limitations of the shorter Type 5 variant in direct anti-armor . This design added a rear-facing for against approaching from behind, a vulnerability in casemate layouts, and achieved an estimated combat weight of around 38 tonnes. The enhanced armament came at the cost of slightly reduced storage, prioritizing and lethality over volume of fire. Both Ho-Ri variants shared the Chi-Ri’s Kawasaki Type 98 gasoline engine and Christie-derived coil-spring suspension system, maintaining comparable mobility to the base tank despite the added frontal mass, with a low profile enabling concealed positions in terrain. The absence of a rotating turret further lowered the vehicle's height, ideal for hull-down ambushes on defensive lines. These adaptations aimed to leverage the Chi-Ri chassis's proven running gear for rapid deployment in homeland defense scenarios. Development of the Ho-Ri series remained confined to blueprints and conceptual studies, with no physical prototypes constructed due to the diversion of industrial resources to aircraft production and other urgent war priorities in 1944–1945. The designs were ultimately abandoned as Japan's military situation deteriorated, leaving the Ho-Ri as an unrealized effort to bolster anti-invasion capabilities.

Other proposed derivatives

In addition to the primary casemate-style Ho-Ri tank destroyers, the Type 5 Chi-Ri chassis inspired several other unbuilt proposals during the final stages of , reflecting Japan's efforts to adapt the design for diverse roles amid resource shortages. A notable alternative was the Plan 1 turret variant, which proposed a conventional turret design equipped with a 75 mm gun, differing from the semi-automatic loading mechanism envisioned for the standard Chi-Ri to simplify and enable larger-scale production if wartime conditions improved. This configuration aimed to balance firepower and reliability without the complexity of automated loading systems. Other experimental concepts included potential integrations of an 88 mm anti-aircraft gun for enhanced anti-tank capability, though these specialized adaptations were only minimally documented and never advanced beyond preliminary sketches. Overall, these derivatives existed primarily as conceptual drawings from 1944 to 1945, with no prototypes constructed, underscoring the Imperial Japanese Army's late-war push for versatile armored solutions amid industrial collapse.
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