Type 5 Na-To

Type 5 Na-To
Type 5 Na-To tank destroyer
Type	tank destroyer[1]
Place of origin	Empire of Japan
Production history
Number built	2
Specifications
Weight	15 tons
Length	5.80 meters
Width	2.40 meters
Height	2.75 meters
Crew	7
Armor	12 mm max
Main armament	Type 5 75 mm gun
Secondary armament	Type 97 7.7 mm machine gun
Engine	diesel 165 PS/2000 rpm 150 HP
Suspension	bell crank
Speed	40 km/h

The Type 5 Na-To (五式砲戦車 Go-shiki hōsensha) was the penultimate tank destroyer developed by the Imperial Japanese Army in 1945, during the closing stages of World War II.

History and development

Towards the end of the Pacific War, Japanese field commanders realized that nothing in the inventory of the Japanese Army would be able to withstand the increasingly advanced tanks and armored vehicles fielded by the Allies, and that a more powerful version of the Type 3 Ho-Ni III was necessary. Development was rushed through on a new design, which was completed in 1945.^[2] The Japanese Army immediately issued an order for 200 units to be completed in 1945.^[3] However, by that time production was impossible due to material shortages, and by the bombing of Japan in World War II, and testing was not yet completed by the end of the war.^[4]

Design

The Type 5 Na-To made use of the chassis of the Type 4 Chi-So medium tracked carrier. The superstructure had an open top and rear, with an enclosed armored drivers cab. There was a "shielded platform" for its main gun.^[5] The main anti-tank armament consisted of a Type 5 75 mm tank gun which was the same gun that was used on the Type 4 Chi-To tank; a variant of the Japanese Type 4 75mm AA Gun.^[2][6][7]

Combat record

Although the Type 5 Na-To tank destroyer was intended to become part of the defenses of the Japanese home islands against the projected Allied Invasion, only two units were completed by the surrender of Japan.^[8] Neither one was used in combat.

Notes

1. Taki’s Imperial Japanese Army: 75mm SP AT Gun "Na-To"
2. Tomczyk 2007, p. 10.
3. Taki’s Imperial Japanese Army: 75mm SP AT Gun "Na-To"
4. Zaloga 2007, p. 20.
5. Tomczyk 2007, pp. 10, 12–13, 38.
6. Tomczyk 2005, pp. 22, 30.
7. Taki’s Imperial Japanese Army: 75mm SP AT Gun "Na-To"
8. Taki’s Imperial Japanese Army: 75mm SP AT Gun "Na-To"

References

• Tomczyk, Andrzej (2005). Japanese Armor Vol. 4. AJ Press. ISBN 978-8372371676.
• Tomczyk, Andrzej (2007). Japanese Armor Vol. 5. AJ Press. ISBN 978-8372371799.
• Zaloga, Steven J. (2007). Japanese Tanks 1939-45. Osprey. ISBN 978-1-8460-3091-8.

External links

• Taki’s Imperial Japanese Army Page