Type 4 Chi-To

Infobox Weapon
name=Type 4 Chi-To


caption= Type Chi-To medium tank
origin= flag|Empire of Japan
type=
is_vehicle=yes
length=6.73 meters
width=2.87 meters
height=2.87 meters
weight=30 tons
suspension=
speed=45 km/h
vehicle_range= 250 kilometers
primary_armament= Type 4 75mm gun
secondary_armament= 2x Type 97 Light Machine Guns
armour=12-75 mm
engine=Air-cooled Type 4 V12 Diesel engine with supercharger
engine_power=400 HP
pw_ratio=
crew=5The nihongo|Type 4 Chi-To|四式中戦車|Yonshiki chūsensha was one of several new medium and heavy tanks developed by the Imperial Japanese Army towards the end of World War II. The Type 4 Chi-To was by far the most advanced Japanese wartime tank to reach the production phase. [ [http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_type_4_chi_to.html] History of War]

History and development

Development of the Type 4 Chi-To began in 1942, as an intended successor to the Type 97-"kai Shinhoto". After a series of delays, the project was finally re-initiated in early 1944. Contemporary German tanks were carefully evaluated, multiple foreign designs consulted, and German veterans recruited in order to advise in the design work. [ [http://www.honved.com/senshanheavy.html] Japanese Armored Vehicles of the Second World War]

The first prototype was delivered in 1944. Production was hampered by material shortages, and by the bombing of Japan in World War II and plans to mass-produce by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries at a rate of 25 units per month at two different sites could not be realized. By 1945, only six chassis had been produced, of which only two had been fully completed. [Zaloga, Japanese Tanks 1939-45]

Design

The Type 4 Chi-To was a thirty ton, all-welded medium tank with a maximum armor thickness of about 75 mm. It was much larger than the Type 97 Chi-Ha, with a longer, wider, tall chassis, supported by seven road wheels. The Type 4 Chi-To was roughly analogous to Germany's famous PzKpfw V Panther tank which in many ways it resembled. [Zaloga, Japanese Tanks 1939-45]

The main armament, a Type 5 75 mm tank gun, was based on the Type 88 75 mm AA Gun, which was in turn essentially a copy of a Vickers AA gun from the 1920s, housed in a large powered, well-armoured hexagonal gun turret along with a coaxial machine gun. A single Type 97 light machine gun was also mounted in the bow, but unusually for Japanese tanks, there was no machine gun mounted to the rear of the turret. Provision was also made for an optional anti-aircraft machine gun. [ [http://www.honved.com/senshanheavy.html] Japanese Armored Vehicles of the Second World War]

Combat Record

Only two Type 4 Chi-To tanks were completed prior to the end of the war, with an additional four nearing completion. By this point in the war, Japan no longer had the resources that would allow for the shipment of heavy vehicles overseas, and the Type 4 Chi-To were earmarked for the final defenses of the Japanese home islands against the expected Allied invasions. Army planners envisioned large armored divisions equipped with the Type 4 Chi-To driving the invaders back into the sea, but the war came to an end before more units could be completed and neither of the two completed units were used in combat. [ [http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_type_4_chi_to.html] History of War]

References

*cite book
last = Foss
first = Christopher
year = 2003
title = Great Book of Tanks: The World's Most Important Tanks from World War I to the Present Day
publisher = Zenith Press
location =
id = ISBN 0760314756
*cite book
last = Foss
first = Christopher
year = 2003
title = Tanks: The 500
publisher = Crestline
location =
id = ISBN 0760315000
*Gander, Terry J. (1995). Jane's Tanks of World War II. Harper Collins. ISBN 0-00-470847-4*cite book
last = Zaloga
first = Steven J.
year = 2007
title = Japanese Tanks 1939-45
publisher = Osprey
location =
id = ISBN 1-84603-091-8

External links

* [http://www.wwiivehicles.com/japan/tanks-heavy/type-4-chi-to.asp WWII Vehicles]
* [http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_type_4_chi_to.html History of War]
* [http://ww2drawings.jexiste.fr/Files/1-Vehicles/Axis/3-Japan/02-MediumTanks/Type4/Chi-To.htm WWII Drawings]
* [http://www.onwar.com/tanks/japan/data/t4chito.htm OnWar Spec sheets]
* [http://www.honved.com/senshanheavy.html Japanese Armored Vehicles of the Second World War]
* [http://www3.plala.or.jp/takihome/chito.htm Taki's Imperial Japanese Army page]

Notes