World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseThe Type 1 Ho-Ni I tank destroyers were developed as a response to the American M4 Sherman medium tanks. They were built by mating 75-millimeter Type 90 field guns and the hulls of Type 97 Chi-Ha medium tanks. The crews operated the guns in casemates that were open from above and behind, reflecting the designers' thought that they were to be operated at the range of 12,000 meters; in actual combat situations, however, enemy infantry often operated at a much closer range, thus the open casemates exposed crews to small arms fire. 26 units of this first variant were built.

ww2dbaseVehicles of the second variant, Type 1 Ho-Ni II, each mounted a Type 91 105-millimeter howitzer. The side armor of the superstructure was slightly altered, with repositioned observation visors. Production of the second variant began in 1943, and 54 units were built.

ww2dbaseThe Type 3 Ho-Ni III tank destroyers featured a fully enclosed and sloped armor casemate for the main gun, which was perceived by their crews as a major improvement. The casemate was fully rotating, thus theoretically giving the crews greater flexibility in combat situations. They mounted the same 75-millimeter tank gun as the original variant. Due to lack of raw materials, only 31 units were built by Hitachi Limited between early 1944 and the end of the war. Most of them, if not all, were stationed in the Japanese home islands in preparation for the Allied invasion that never took place. There is no record of Allied forces encountering Type 3 Ho-Ni III vehicles in combat.

SPECIFICATIONS

Type 3 Ho-Ni III

Machinery	One Mitsubishi air-cooled V12 diesel engine rated at 170hp
Suspension	Bell crank
Armament	1x75mm Type 3 Gun
Armor	12-25mm
Crew	5
Length	5.52 m
Width	2.29 m
Height	2.39 m
Weight	17.0 t
Speed	38 km/h
Range	200 km

Type 1 Ho-Ni I

Machinery	One Mitsubishi Type 97 21.7-liter V-12 air-cooled diesel engine rated at 170hp
Suspension	Bell crank
Armament	1x75mm Type 90 field gun (54 rounds)
Armor	25-51mm
Crew	5
Length	5.90 m
Width	2.29 m
Height	2.39 m
Weight	15.4 t
Speed	38 km/h
Range	200 km

Photographs