World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseThe Type 5 Chi-Ri medium tank design was developed between 1943 and 1944. The prototype was completed in May 1945. Unarmed, the prototype had 8 road wheels on each side, with drive sprockets forward and idlers in the rear. With 75-millimeters of sloped armor in the front, it was designed to withstand the shells fired from American M4 Sherman tanks. It was supposed to be equipped with the same Type 5 75-millimeter tank gun as the Type 4 Chi-To predecessors or the Type 99 88-millimeter anti-aircraft gun. As the war became dire for Japan, manpower and materials were redirected to the production of existing Type 4 Chi-To tanks, thus the Type 5 Chi-Ri medium tank project was abandoned. The prototype was captured by the Americans after war, and it had since become lost.

SPECIFICATIONS

Type 5 Chi-Ri

Machinery	Kawasaki Type 98 water-cooled aircraft engine, max 800hp but detuned to 550hp
Suspension	Bell crank
Armament	1x75mm Type 5 tank gun, 1x37mm gun, 2x7.7mm Type 97 light machine guns
Armor	12-75mm
Crew	5
Length	8.47 m
Width	3.05 m
Height	3.10 m
Weight	37.0 t
Speed	45 km/h
Range	250 km

Photographs