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[Mig Eater]

We once more delve into the seemingly never ending Japanese unit list with some of their late war self propelled guns.


Click of the unit names to visit their D-day wiki page for more information & pictures.


120mm Naval Short



In the closing stages of the war the Japanese navy modified fourteen Type 97 Chi-Ha "Shinhoto" tanks, fitting them with a short barrelled 120mm naval gun. The massive weapon required multiple recoil cylinders and could only just fit inside the Chi-Ha's small turret. Because of this an extension was built onto the back of the turret to hold the ammunition. There also wasn't any space inside the tank for the crew to loading the gun, so instead the loader had to stand on top of the tank and push the ammunition threw the back of the turret. All of the tanks were issued to the Japanese Special Naval Landing Forces who deployed them to several bases around Japan to defend against the expected American invasion.


120mm Naval Long



When American occupation forces entered Tateyama gunnery school in Yokosuka they discovered a Type 97 Chi-Ha tank that had been modified by removing the turret and fitted it with a 120mm Type 10 naval cannon. Only a single vehicle was found and it is unclear if it was a makeshift weapon built by the gunnery school or if it was a prototype there for testing. Due to the weapons extreme weight and powerful recoil it is dubious that the Chi-Ha's light riveted hull could survive the stress of firing the weapon for long. However it would have been be a great threat to any Allied armour.


Type 5 Ho-Chi



The Type 5 Ho-Chi was a project to mount a Type 96 150mm artillery cannon onto the hull of the Type 97 Chi-Ha. It is believed that the Osaka arsenal built and tested the weapon and mount but wasn't able to fit it onto a prototype tank before the war ended.