Imperial Japanese Army Type 94 Tankette
The Type 94 tankette was a tankette used by the Imperial Japanese Army in the Second Sino-Japanese War, at Nomonhan against the Soviet Union, and in World War II. Although tankettes were often used as ammunition tractors, and for general infantry support, they were designed for reconnaissance, and not for direct combat. The lightweight Type 94 proved effective in China as the Chinese Nationalist Army offered only limited opposition.
As with nearly all tankettes built in the 1920s and 1930s, they were only lightly armed, and had thin armour that could be penetrated by machine gun fire at moderate ranges.
The design of the Type 94 began in 1932. Development was then given to Tokyo Gas and Electric Industry (later known as Hino Motors) in 1933, and an experimental model was completed in 1934. It was a small light tracked vehicle with a turret armed with one machine gun. For cargo transportation it pulled an ammunition trailer.
The hull of the Type 94 was of riveted and welded construction, with a front-mounted engine with the driver to the right. The engine was air-cooled, developing 35hp at 2,500 rpm. The commander stood in a small unpowered turret at the rear of the hull, armed with a 6.5mm machine gun. A large door in the rear of the hull gave access to a storage compartment.
With the start of World War II, a number of Type 94s were issued to each Japanese infantry division in the Pacific theatre, with a tracked trailer. They saw action in Burma, the Netherlands East Indies, the Philippines and on a number of islands in the South Pacific Mandate. Some were also assigned to Imperial Japanese Navy Land Forces.
Following the August Coup, the Imperial Japanese Army began to make preparations for the anticipated US invasion of the Home Islands. Although all of the equipment in the Pacific and South East Asia regions had been lost, there was still materiel available in Manchukuo. Accordingly, the IJA began to strip the Kwantung Army of anything usable, including the decent quantity of Type 94 tankettes still in operation there. Although thoroughly obsolete as a weapon, they still had some use during any amphibious landings.
Assuming that the first enemy troops ashore would consist of of unsupported infantry, the idea was to use the Type 94s as a terror weapon, charging down on the newly landed enemy troops, and killing and wounding as many as possible with machine gun fire. If US casualties were high enough, it might disrupt the landings, and cause them to be delayed, postponed, or abandoned. In any case, the number of troops landing would be reduced, making the enemy's task more difficult.
As a final, nasty shock, the Type 94s were to be packed with explosives. Once their mission was ended, either by running out of ammunition, or by being immobilised, the commander was to detonate the explosives, blowing the tankette apart like a giant grenade . . .
cheers,
Robin.
