World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseIn late 1943, a development effort was begun to provide a self-propelled platform for the Type 3 300-millimeter heavy mortar. The Type 4 Ha-To design was completed by using the chassis of the Type 4 Chi-To medium tank, albeit extensively modified, to achieve this goal. The prototype was completed in late 1944 and was taken to the Japanese Army Academy for testing. It was discovered that it had an effective range of 3,000 meters when launching 170-kilogram projectiles; the gun could not elevator more than 50 degrees as the vehicle had a danger of tipping over beyond that elevation. Although the results of the Type 4 Ha-To tests showed the weapon as being very promising, the Japanese Army decided that the design was too costly to produce. Three additional prototypes were built, but the design never entered full scale production.

SPECIFICATIONS

Type 4 Ha-To

Machinery	One Mitsubishi 6-cylinder water-cooled gasoline engine rated at 115hp
Suspension	Bell crank
Armament	1x300mm Type 3 mortar
Armor	12-25mm
Crew	7
Length	6.80 m
Width	2.40 m
Height	2.75 m
Weight	14.3 t
Speed	40 km/h

Photographs