Hello everyone, today I would like to propose a new line containing the Japanese tank destroyers, as it would be a potentially unique (especially in high tiers) and also more or less historically accurate line, especially compared to the Japanese heavies.
The line can be divided into three parts:
- Tier 2-5: tanks that have poor armor, good guns and pretty average mobility;
- Tier 6-7: which resemble the tier 2-5 but takes their traits and stretches them into more extreme levels;
- Tier 8-10: which are especially unique vehicles based on the Chi-Ri’s hull.
In first part of the article we take a detailed look at the tiers 2-5, while the next part focuses on the tiers 6-10.
Keep in mind that the alpha damage and penetration statistics are the ones of the elite gun, except if there is an alternative gun option, in which case the alternative gun’s statistics are also listed. The elite gun is always listed as the last gun option.
Tier 2: Ho-Ru
The Ho-Ru-project started as late as 1945, based on the hull of the badly outdated Ha-Go light tank, recycling the otherwise outdated hull. The tank was designed to be a cheap, small design that would be easily transportable. Its casemate was open-topped while the main armament was a 47mm gun. Only one prototype was produced as Japan lost the war before mass production could ever start.
Crew: 3
Weight: ~6 tons
Armor: 12 / 12 / 10
Engine: 120hp, 135hp (upgrade)
Top speed: 45
HP: 115
Gun: 47 mm Type 1
Alpha damage: 70/70/90 (AP / AP / HE)
Penetration: 81/122/25
Gun depression/elevation: -10 / +20
A fast, tiny, poorly armored TD. Similarly to the other tier 2 TDs, the Ho-Ru is not a particularly unique vehicle.
Tier 3: Ku-Se
The Ku-Se certainly looks quite unusual. Based on the hull of the Ke-Ho light tank, the Ku-Se was meant to be fitted with either the 7.5 cm gun Type 99 or the Experimental 57 mm Tank Gun Shin. The top speed of the tank was up to 50 kph, making the vehicle pretty mobile. However, it had paper thin armor and a relatively high shilouette. No prototypes were produced as only one prototype of the Ke-Ho itself was produced at end of the WWII.
Crew: 4 (?)
Weight: ~10 tons
Armor: 20 / 16 / 12
Engine: 150 hp
Top speed: 50
HP: 150
Gun: 47 mm Type 1 (stock), 7.5 cm Tank Gun Type 99, Experimental 57 mm Tank Gun Shin
Alpha damage: 110 / 110 / 165 (AP / HEAT / HE, 7.5 cm Type 99), 75 / 75 / 100 (AP / AP / HE, 57 mm Tank Gun Shin)
Penetration: 70 / 100 / 38 (75 mm Type 99), 87 / 131 / 20 (57 mm Shin)
Gun depression/elevation: -15 / +20
The Ku-Se would be a pretty strong tier 3 TD. The choice of two competitive guns, good mobility and outstanding gun depression would be the trademark features of the vehicle. However, it would have a rather low gun arc, practically no armor and a somewhat high, akward silhouette.
Tier 4: Ho-Ni I
The Ho-Ni I is based on the hull of the Chi-Ha, and is the first part of the Ho-Ni-series. The Ho-Ni I looks quite similar to the Panzerjäger I with a 76 mm gun mounted on an open casemate. However the Ho-Ni I also gets a 105 mm howitzer as an alternative gun option; in which case the tank effectively becomes the Ho-Ni II. 26 of the “Type 1” variants were ever built.
Crew: 5
Weight: 15,4 tons
Armor: 25 / 25 / 20
Engine: 170 HP, 240 HP (upgrade)
Top speed: 38
HP: 270
Gun: 75 mm Type 90 (stock), 75 mm Type 3, Type 91 105 mm howitzer
Alpha damage: 110 / 110 / 165 (AP / AP / HE, 75 mm Type 3), 350 / 350 / 410 (AP / HEAT / HE, Type 91 105 mm)
Penetration: 90 / 112 / 35 (75 mm Type 3), 70 / 105 / 48 (Type 91 105 mm)
Gun depression/elevation: -10 / +20
The Ho-Ni I has less mobility compared to the Ku-Se, but it regains the wide gun arc and gets more powerful guns.
Tier 5: Ho-Ni III
The Ho-Ni III is the final design of the Ho-Ni-series. Unlike the earlier two Ho-Ni variants, the Ho-Ni III has a fully enclosed casemate for better crew protection. A total of 31 Ho-Ni IIIs were produced. Historically, it mounted the Type 90 75 mm gun, which is the Chi-Nu’s historical gun, but that obviously isn’t strong enough for a tier 5 TD. That is why the Ho-Ni III gets two gun upgrades: the Type 5 75 mm, the top gun of the Chi-Nu, and the 75 mm Type 5 model I, which is the same gun as on the Chi-To. This gun is adequate for a tier 5 TD.
Crew: 4
Weight: 17 tons
Armor: 25 / 25 / 20
Engine: 170 HP, 240 HP (upgrade)
Top speed: 38
HP: 380
Gun: 75 mm Type 3 (stock), 75 mm Type 5, 75 mm Type 5 model 1
Alpha damage: 130 / 130 / 175
Penetration: 155 / 186 / 38
Gun depression/elevation: -10 / +20
The Ho-Ni III’s main features are an accurate gun with good penetration and good gun depression, but extremely weak armor. It plays very much like the Ho-Ni I but with much better penetration.
Conclusion:
The low-tier Japanese TDs are not too interesting vehicles. They are pretty similar to the majority of the low-tier TDs: poor armor, average mobility and potent guns. However, as we go up to the tiers 6 and 7, we will have unusual looking, open-topped designs with practically no armor but quite powerful guns. At tier 8 the line changes further, becoming especially unique. They might resemble some of the high-tier German TDs, namely the Ferdinand and the Jagdtiger – but only in looks. In reality, there are no comparable vehicles in the game! What if you fused a Chi-Ri and an Object 263 together? You will see that in the 2nd part of my Japanese TD line proposal!
