"Type 1 Ho-Ni I / II / Type 3 Ho-Ni III" Topic

"Japanese tank engineering always lacked behind the Allies during World War 2 (1939-1945) and only a few notable designs emerged from the fighting. As with other world powers of the time, the nation also invested, although a little too late, in the concept of the dedicated tank destroyer. One example of this became the Type 1 "Ho-Ni" which appeared in two other related battlefield forms, the Type 1 "Ho-Ni II" and the Type 3 "Ho-Ni III". It was built atop the existing running gear and chassis of the Type 97 Chi-Ha Medium Tank.

The Type 97 emerged in 1938 prior to the war and, by classification, was a medium tank. However, compared to its contemporaries, it held qualities more closely associated with the light tank concept. At its introduction, the Type 97 did prove on par with Western offerings but, by 1942, it was severely outclassed though production was allowed to continue for lack of anything better…."
Main page
link

Amicalement
Armand

Too little … too late … is the "short history" of IJF's armor units.

Type 3 Ho-Ni III

link

Amicalement
Armand

The information at this particular link causes me to wonder on a particular question of definition of terms:

The Type 3 Ho-Ni III gun tanks were built on top of the hulls of Type 97 Chi-Ha medium tanks and featured a fully-enclosed casemate for the main gun …. The casemate was fully rotating…

So … um … if it was fully rotating, why was it a "casemate" and not a turret?

Just wondering if there is a definition in the common-usage of that term that I don't understand.

-Mark
(aka: Mk 1)

Good question!.

Amicalement
Armand

Yes, it looks like the German Marder's mount. With limited traverse as it's not a turret. The entire vehicle may have to move to get the better shot. In some situations.

It still looks like something Orks would use regardless …