Japanese Type 89 Medium Tank

[V.C. Brunswick]

Here's something a bit unusual that you don't expect to see. A real live Japanese Type 89B-Otsu medium tank (1929) in running condition. This example was restored by the JGSDF (present day Japanese Army) Ordnance School in 2007. The diesel-engined Type 89B was often erroneously identified by Allied intelligence as a Type 94 (1934).

[video=youtube;FLux6sP07tc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLux6sP07tc[/video]

[video=youtube;LBM3eMJJRjg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBM3eMJJRjg[/video]

 

[DNO]

Great video...thanks for posting. I notice there's a lot of track and suspension noise but not a lot of engine noise.

 

[dhermann1]

Holy schmoley. I'll bet that baby gave a lot of American GI's nightmares.

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

The Type 89's design reflects a decidedly French influence particularly with the ditching tail at the rear of the tank reminiscent of the World War I-era Renault FT-17.

Type 89s equipped the IJA's 4th and 7th Tank Regiments which took part in the Japanese invasion of the Philippines where they faced M3 Stuarts of the 192nd and 194th Tank Battalions in one of the few tank vs. tank engagements of the Pacific War.

 

[Stanley Doble]

Don't tell me a 90 year old Japanese soldier drove it out of the jungle in 2006?

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

Here's a video of the Stuart. [video=youtube;MMxYrlpvPwc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMxYrlpvPwc&feature=related[/video]
Although outdated in 1941, it looks like it would have made mincemeat out of the Japanese tanks with it's bigger gun and welded armor.

 

[Chasseur]

Wow great too see one in action!

 

[HodgePodge]

Here's a video of the Stuart. [video=youtube;MMxYrlpvPwc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMxYrlpvPwc&feature=related[/video]
Although outdated in 1941, it looks like it would have made mincemeat out of the Japanese tanks with it's bigger gun and welded armor.

That's a longer barrel, but it's not a larger calibre. (Most) Stuarts only had a 37mm, while the Type 89 has a 57mm

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

Here's a video of the Stuart.

[video=youtube;MMxYrlpvPwc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMxYrlpvPwc&feature=related[/video]

Although outdated in 1941, it looks like it would have made mincemeat out of the Japanese tanks with it's bigger gun and welded armor.

Interestingly, After the fall of the Philippines the IJA 7th Tank Regiment was equipped with captured M3 Stuarts which were used for garrison duty and were later encountered by American forces during the Liberation of the Philippines.

a model of one of the captured Stuarts

Don't tell me a 90 year old Japanese soldier drove it out of the jungle in 2006?

:rofl:

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

That's a longer barrel, but it's not a larger calibre. (Most) Stuarts only had a 37mm, while the Type 89 has a 57mm

The 57mm gun was quite useless against Allied armor owing to its low velocity. It wasn't until much later in the war when some of the Type 97 Chi-Ha mediums were upgunned with the Type 1 47mm gun (1941) -- a copy of the Soviet/Russian 45mm gun -- that some parity would be achieved in terms of armament but it was too little, too late.