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This article is about the fully tracked Japanese APC, you may be searching for the Japanese half-track named the Type 1 Ho-Ha

The Type 1 Ho-Ki was a fully tracked armored personnel carrier which was used by Japan during World War II.

Description[]

The Ho-Ki could carry troops or it could serve as an artillery tractor. It had an air-cooled, 134 PS engine that was capable of propelling the Ho-Ki at speeds of up to 56.3 km/h[1] The armament of the Ho-Ki was a single machine gun that could be equipped depending on the usage of the vehicle (it would probably be equipped if the Ho-Ki was to be used as an APC). The Type 1 also had a 4 speed forward, 1 speed reverse transmission and a bell crank suspension system.

The crew of the Ho-Ki consisted of one to two drivers and up to thirteen passengers.[2] The maximum armor protection on the Ho-Ki was about 6.3 mm thick. The weight was about 5,896.7 kg while the length was 4.8 meters. The operational range of the Ho-Ki was about 300 kilometers and the height was about 2.5 meters.

The carrying capacity of the Type 1 when used as cargo vehicle was about 1,814.3 kg while the fuel carrying capacity was about 208.1 liters.[1] The fuel was stored in two tanks. The way to enter/exit the Type 1 is very cumbersome because there is no rear doorway or hatch and entering/exiting must be performed using the left side of the vehicle (there are several doors including the driver's door).

History[]

The Type 1 Ho-Ki was developed in 1941 and entered service in 1942. The producer of the Ho-Ki was Hino Motors ltd and it is currently unknown how many were produced throughout the war. It was designed because of the Army want to have a vehicle that could tow artillery yet be able to transport infantry. Although, Japan never really put many resources towards tanks, APCs, and the like, but rather on warships and aircraft. Mass production of the Ho-Ki only began in 1944 and they were never deployed in great numbers. The only known usage of the Ho-Ki was in 1944 on the island of Leyte in the Philippines.[3]

References[]


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