A U.S. intelligence report on the Japanese Type 97 tank, from the Intelligence Bulletin, July 1945. [Editor's Note: The following article is wartime information on enemy weapons and tactics published for Allied soldiers. More accurate data on Japanese weapons and tactics is available in postwar publications.]

THE MOST EFFECTIVE JAP TANK The most effective Japanese armored vehicle thus far met by U.S. forces is the Type 97 (1937) medium tank (improved), a 15-ton tank mounting a high-velocity 47-mm gun as its chief armament. This vehicle, which first appeared in the Philippines in 1942, has since been encountered in Burma and the Pacific theaters. A number of Type 97 mediums (improved) constituted a sizable part of the Japanese armored division which operated on Luzon in January and February 1945. Although this tank is considered a superior fighting vehicle, Japanese armor on Luzon never mounted an attack with more than 16 tanks at any one time, and never employed the principle of mass. Instead of making use of the mobility of its tanks, the Japanese division chose, instead, to fight from fixed defenses and emplacements and to make piecemeal counterattacks. As a result, the Japanese armored effort resulted in little more than delay. USED IN DEFENSIVE ROLE The general design of the Type 97 medium (improved) is satisfactory, but engagements with U.S. tanks have shown that its present maximum armor thickness (1 inch to possibly as much as 1.29 inches) will not withstand high-velocity projectiles. Perhaps for this reason, Jap medium tanks on Luzon—the first formidable armored force to oppose the U.S. advance toward Tokyo—were employed chiefly to stiffen village defensive positions. The tanks—well dug-in under thick, concealing foliage and with adobe revetments—were used as a nucleus around which all other defenses were built. Alternate positions were prepared so that the enemy armor could be shifted around the perimeter as the situation dictated. The number of tanks of all types employed in defense of individual villages varied from nine to 52. Armored counterattacks were employed only as a last resort, when it appeared inevitable that local defenses would collapse. These limited attacks were launched under cover of darkness as support of infantry banzai charges. The enemy tank crews invariably became confused and were easy prey for U.S. anti-tank weapons. The enemy on Luzon only once employed armor in daylight to support an infantry counterattack. The three tanks and two self-propelled 150-mm howitzers committed in this attack were destroyed, and three other tanks then withdrew without entering the fire fight. In many instances, tanks were observed moving in convoy with general-purpose vehicles; however, it was not definitely determined whether this was done to give protection to the column or as a matter of convenience. HIGH-VELOCITY GUN The Type 97 medium tank (improved) is a modification of a 15-ton tank first produced in 1937. The Japanese class both as mediums although they fight at about the same weight as the U.S. light tank M5A1. As far as can be determined, the hulls of the original and improved versions of the Type 97 medium are identical, and both are powered by a V-12 cylinder, air-cooled Diesel engine with overhead valves. The chief modifications introduced in the improved version of the Type 97 medium are changes in the turret and the substitution of a high-velocity 47-mm gun in place of the original version's low-velocity 57-mm gun, a weapon unsuited for tank-versus-tank fighting. Although the substitution of this weapon necessitated redesigning the turret, the armor thickness (maximum of l inch to possibly 1.29 inches) was not increased, nor was any other major improvement effected. The Type 97 medium (improved) is readily recognized by its elongated turret, slightly offset to the right. The generally circular turret of the original version has been changed to a rectangular, over-hanging type, long and low in appearance. The turret is 76 inches long and 56 inches wide at its widest point. There is no provision for a hand ring, like the one provided on the original Type 97 medium tank. Japanese Type 97 (1937) medium tank (improved). ARMAMENT The Type 97 medium tank (improved) mounts a Type 1 (1941) 47-mm tank gun and two Type 97 (1937) 7.7-mm tank machine guns. One machine gun is mounted in a ball mount forward in the hull, and the other in the rear of the turret. The 47-mm tank gun is a high-velocity semiautomatic gun, equipped with a hydrospring recoil mechanism; since the gun is mounted at the point of balance, no equilabrators are used. The gun has a muzzle velocity of 2,700 feet per second; an elevation of -15° to 20°; and a free traverse of 10° right and left, and a mechanical traverse of 360°. The gun is equipped with an excellent 4 x 14° panoramic telescopic sight, resembling the U.S. M6 sight used on the U.S. 37-mm antitank gun M3. Recent combat reports indicate that the quality of the 47-mm armor-piercing, high-explosive projectile has been improved. Moreover, tests show that the 47-mm tank gun will penetrate the U.S. M4A3 at 500 yards or more. In combat, one U.S. M4A3 medium tank was hit six times with armor-piercing, high-explosive rounds from this gun, at an angle of impact of approximately 30 degrees. Five complete penetrations and one partial penetration resulted. The range, according to members of the U.S. tank crew, was approximately 150 to 200 yards. SPECIFICATIONS Additional specifications, based on preliminary reports and subject to correction, for the Type 97 (1937) medium tank (improved) are as follows: Weight (approx.)   . . . . . . . . . .   15 tons Length   . . . . . . . . . .   18 ft. 2 in. Width   . . . . . . . . . .   7 ft. 8 in. Height   . . . . . . . . . .   7 ft. 9 in. Ground clearance   . . . . . . . . . .   13 1/2 in. Armor thickness (may vary 5 to 10 mm, and may be increased): Millimeters   Angle to vertical    Turret front   . . . . . . . . . .   33         Turret sides and rear   . . . . . . . . . .   26      11°               Hull front   . . . . . . . . . .   25      11°               Hull glacis   . . . . . . . . . .   16      82°               Hull upper nose   . . . . . . . . . .   16      60°               Hull lower nose   . . . . . . . . . .   20      30°               Hull side   . . . . . . . . . .   26      25°               Hull lower side   . . . . . . . . . .   9      0°               Hull rear   . . . . . . . . . .   20      curved           Hull top   . . . . . . . . . .   13      90°               Hull floor   . . . . . . . . . .   8      90°            Transmission:    Type   . . . . . . . . . .   sliding gear, with high-low transfer case    Speeds   . . . . . . . . . .   4 forward. 1 reverse Width of tracks   . . . . . . . . . .   13 in. Performance    Obstacles       Trench   . . . . . . . . . .   8 ft. 3 in.       Ford   . . . . . . . . . .   3 ft. 3 in.       Gradient   . . . . . . . . . .   30° to 45°    Speed   . . . . . . . . . .   25 miles per hour Crew   . . . . . . . . . .   4 or 5 men Type 97 (1937) medium tank (improved)—front view. Rear view of Type 97 (1937) medium tank (improved). PENETRATION TEST A field test has been conducted by a U.S. antitank company to determine the penetration capabilities of U.S. infantry antitank weapons attacking the Type 97 medium tank (improved). U.S. weapons used in the test were the caliber .50 machine gun, the rifle grenade, the 2.36-inch rocket, and the 37-mm antitank gun. The caliber .50 machine gun fired on the Japanese tank at three different ranges—35 yards, 50 yards, and 100 yards. In firing on the front of the tank at a range of 35 yards, penetrations were registered on the ball-mounted machine gun only; no penetrations were made on the vision aperture, turret, or curved or sloping surfaces. At 50 yards, 35 percent penetrations were made in the plate behind the suspension system (on the side of the tank), the hall mount of the rear machine gun, and the under surface of the rear of the tank. At 100 yards, no penetrations were made on any part of the tank. The rifle grenade was fired at a range of approximately 50 yards. When the grenade was fired at a normal angle to 45 degrees from normal, penetration was made on all parts of the tank, with the exception of the gun shield. The diameter of the penetrations was approximately 1/2 inch. The 2.36-inch rocket was fired against the tank at a range of approximately 50 yards. Penetrations were made in all parts of the tank when the rocket struck at angles from normal to 45 degrees from normal. The diameter of the penetrations was approximately 3/4 inch. The 37-mm antitank gun was fired at ranges of 100 and 350 yards. Only armor-piercing shells were used. At 100 yards, the 37-mm registered penetrations on all parts of the tank when fired at angles from normal to 45 degrees from normal. At 350 yards, penetration of the tank armor could be made only when the antitank gun was fired at normal angle. The diameter of penetration was approximately 1 1/2 inches. As a result of this test, the ranges listed below were recommended as the most favorable for employment against this tank: Caliber .50 machine gun   . . . . . . . . . .   Ranges up to 50 yards Rifle grenade   . . . . . . . . . .   Ranges up to 75 yards 2.36-inch rocket   . . . . . . . . . .   Ranges up to 100 yards 37-mm antitank gun   . . . . . . . . . .   Ranges up to 350 yards

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