The Type 89 Chi-Ro, also known as the Type 89 I-Go, was a Japanese medium tank used during World War II.
Description[]
The Chi-Ro was designed in 1928 primarily for the purpose of infantry support. The Chi-Ro required a crew of four men, and utilized a Mitsubishi gasoline engine that gave it a top speed of 16 kilometers per hour. Armament included a 57 mm main gun and two 6.5 mm secondary machine guns. The first production model of the Chi-Ro series was known as the Type 89A or "Ko".
The total weight of the Chi-Ro was around 8.8 tonnes while its total length was around 5.7 meters.[1] It had an operational range of around 160 kilometers and up to seventeen millimetres of armor plating.
The Chi-Ro also had a four speed forward, 1 speed reverse transmission system. The Type 89 was of a very reliable design, oftentimes it proved to have a better suspension and mechanical system than its Chinese counterparts. On board, it could carry one hundred rounds of 57 mm ammunition and 2,700 rounds of 6.5 mm machine gun ammunition. However, the Type 89 "Ko" model did have some problems with fuel efficiency and engine torque which were detrimental to its service in China.
Variants[]
The first and only variant to the Chi-Ro series was the Type 89B I-Go "Otsu", which brought about the introduction of the diesel engine, a new commander's cupola, and a modified turret. With these changes, the Chi-Ro only became more effective in the field and remained well liked by Japanese troops. The added engine torque allowed the vehicle to traverse the mountainous areas of China where it served far better than the ko model. Furthermore, the diesel engine made the otsu model less prone to vehicle fires and increased the maximum speed of the Chi-Ro to a more satisfying 26 km/h.[2]
History[]
The Type 89 Chi-Ro was initially developed as the Number 1 Tank Project and was based upon other early British designs for fast infantry support tanks. It was supposed to be a light tank and according to the requirements for the role of infantry support, the Chi-Ro excelled. However, the tank was heavier than its weight class would suggest. It was finally decided upon to create the vehicle into a medium tank. As mentioned before, it proved to be a great asset for Japanese troops when fighting infantry and when traversing the Chinese countryside, its reliability was critical, but when the Imperial Japanese Army went up against modern tank designs, it was flawed. It simply could not compete, and the non-focus on Japanese military leaders towards further tank development did not help its situation. Still, it continued to be used throughout World War II in the whole of the Pacific Theater. In total, about 400 models were produced.
References[]
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