Type 98 So-Da

Infobox Weapon
name=Type 98 So-Da


caption=Type 98 So-Da APC/artillery tractor
is_vehicle=yes
origin= flag|Empire of Japan
length= 3.8 meters
width= 1.9 meters
height= 1.6 meters
weight= 5 tons
suspension=Bell crank
speed=40 km/hr
vehicle_range=Unknown
primary_armament=none
secondary_armament=none
armour=12 mm
engine=diesel (petrol) 65 PS/2300 rpm
engine_power=65 HP
pw_ratio=?
crew=2

The nihongo|Type 98 So-Da|九八式装甲運搬車|Kyūhachi-shiki Sōkounpansha was a tracked Armored personnel carrier and artillery tractor developed by the Imperial Japanese Army in World War II.

History and development

Despite various design weaknesses (i.e. weak armor, weak weaponry and underpowered engine), the Type 97 Te-Ke tankette was successfully used in combat in China during the Second Sino-Japanese War of 1938-1945, as the Chinese National Revolutionary Army had very few tanks or anti-tank weapons to oppose them. Soon after the introduction of the Type 97 Te-Ke, an unarmed version designed to serve in the role of armoured personnel carrier and ammunition carrier was also promoted by the Army Technical Bureau. Although the Japanese army had employed mechanized infantry formations in China from the mid-1930s, the general view of field commanders was that armored transports were too slow compared with normal trucks, and were unable to keep up with the speed necessary for contemporary infantry tactics, so only a small quantity was produced. [ [http://www.honved.com/senshansupport.html] Japanese Armored Vehicles of the Second World War]

Design

The Type 98 So-Da was based on the Type 97 Te-Ke tankette chassis, with its eight reduced by removal of its main cannon and machine guns. It had a crew of 2 and carried 10 soldiers, with a maximum loading capacity of 1 ton.

Combat record

The Type 98 So-Da served in many fronts as an infantry support vehicle for the Imperial Japanese Army during the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II.

References

*cite book
last = Foss
first = Christopher F
year = 2002
title = The Encyclopedia of Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles: The Comprehensive Guide to over 900 Armored Fighting Vehicles from 1915 to the Present Day
publisher = Thunder Bay Press
location =
id = ISBN 1571458069

External links

* [http://www.honved.com/senshansupport.html Japanese Armored Vehicles of the Second World War]
* [http://www3.plala.or.jp/takihome/so-da.htm Taki's Imperial Japanese Army HP]
* [http://ww2drawings.jexiste.fr/Files/1-Vehicles/Axis/3-Japan/07-Others/Type98-SoDa/Type98-SoDa.htm WWII Drawings]