Type 98 20 mm AAG Tank

Type 98 So-Ki anti-aircraft gun tank
Place of origin Empire of Japan
Specifications
Weight 22 tons
Length 4.78 m (15 ft 8 in)
Width 2.19 m (7 ft 2 in)
Height 2.58 m (8 ft 6 in)
Crew 5
Armor 6–16 mm
Main
armament
 2x Type 2 20 mm AA machine cannon
Engine petrol
130hp
Suspension Bell crank
Operational
range
 300 km (190 mi)
Speed 42 km/h (26 mph)

The Type 98 20 mm AAG (Anti-Air Gun) Tank was a Japanese self-propelled anti-aircraft gun using a twin Soki Type II 20 mm anti-air gun. They were combined with the chassis of the Type 98 Ke-Ni.[1] The gun crew worked from a raised platform with a modest amount of protection from the sides - the twin 20 mm gun fired through a large Gun shield gave further protection for the crew from that direction.

In November 1941, development began on an anti-aircraft version of the Type 98 with a 20 mm AA gun.[1] During development of the AA gun tank, the Imperial Japanese Army experimented with various configurations.

Single gun variant

Type 98 Ta-Se anti-aircraft Tank

An earlier single gun prototype produced was designated the Type 98 Ta-Se anti-aircraft tank in November 1941.[1] The name taken from Taikū ("anti-air") sensha ("tank"). It was equipped with a single converted Type 98 20 mm AA machine cannon in a circumferential turret. During trials, it was determined that the chassis used for the Ta-Se was too small to be a stable "firing platform".[1][2] It did not enter production.[1]

Twin gun version

Rear view of Type 98 20 mm AAG Tank

The prototype Type 98 20 mm AAG Tank was equipped with modified twin Type 2 20 mm AA machine cannon.[1][2] The guns were similar to the Type 98 anti-aircraft cannon, but these could be elevated to 95 degrees and had a central fire-control system.[3] The rate of fire was 300 rpm, and they had a maximum range of 5,500 m.[3] The gunner sat in the seat right behind the gun. The platform allowed 360 degrees of rotation for both the gunner and the gun. A Type 100 air-cooled inline six-cylinder diesel engine was used to output 130 horsepower. Forward transmission included four stages, with one reverse speed. Type 98 Ke-Ni chassis and engine, on which the prototype was based managed a speed 42 km/h. It also did not enter production.[1]

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Tomczyk 2007, p. 14.
  2. 1 2 Taki’s Imperial Japanese Army Page: Anti-Aircraft Tank "Ta-Se"
  3. 1 2 Taki’s Imperial Japanese Army Page: "AA Weapons"

References

  • Taki's Imperial Japanese Army Page - Akira Takizawa
  • Tomczyk, Andrzej (2007). Japanese Armor Vol. 5. AJ Press. ISBN 978-8372371799.
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