Type 2 Ka-Mi

Type 2 Ka-Mi

Gallery

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Type 2 Ka-Mi
Manufacturer	Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Production	1942-1943
Number Built	182-184
Specification
Country of Origin	Japan
Weight	12.3 tonnes (9.15 tonnes without flotation pontoons)
Dimensions	Length : 7.42 m (4.80 m without flotation pontoons) Width : 2.79 m Height : 2.34 m
Main Armament	Type 1 37 mm tank gun
Secondary Armament	2× Type 97 7.7 mm machine guns
Armour	6-12mm
Engine	Mitsubishi A6120VDe air-cooled inline 6-cylinder diesel 115 hp (84.6 kW)
Speed	37 km/h (land) 10 km/h (swimming)
User	Chi-Ha-Tan Academy

The Special Type 2 Launch Ka-Mi (特二式内火艇　カミ Toku-ni-shiki uchibitei kami) was the first amphibious tank of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN). The Type 2 Ka-Mi was based on the Imperial Japanese Army's Type 95 Ha-Go light tank with major modifications and had 5 member crew.

History

This project’s genesis can be traced back to 1928, when the Imperial Japanese Army conducted a series of trials to test the feasibility of the amphibious tank concept. These included prototypes like the Type 1 “Mi-Sha”, the SR-II Ro-Go or the Ishikawajima Amphibian. However, it was not until 1940 that the Navy took the matter in its own hands. The IJN devised a vehicle specifically tailored for the Imperial Navy’s Special Naval Landing Forces, for assaulting small Pacific islands devoid of pontoons or harbor facilities, as well as special operations. The Type 2 Ka-Mi was designed in 1941 and production started in 1942.

The designers choose the Type 95 Ha-Go as a base for development, keeping the engine, transmission, suspensions, drivetrain and chassis, although the hull and the turret were completely redrawn for the task. The plates were assembled by welding and rubber seals were used, instead of the usual riveted armor. Hollow pontoons made of steel plates were also designed to be fitted to the front and rear of the chassis, and could be quickly locked into place by hand. The front pontoon was divided into eight compartments, to reduce the internal flooding when hit. They could be easily jettisoned from the inside after landing. The engine transmission was modified to power the two shafts, providing a 6-knot speed on water (10 km/h), and a 150 km (93.2 mi) maximal range. The steering was provided by a pair of rudders, operated through cables running from the rear to the driver’s compartment.

Type 2 Ka-Mi captured by Australian army

Because the top of the hull could be flooded on rough seas, barriers were placed around the engine exhaust grid. A removable chimney was designed to be fitted over the exhaust pipe, with a watertight seal. It was covered by a bell-like dome and could be removed after landing. A raised-up “bridge” was also fitted on top the the turret when navigating. The turret itself housed both the 37 mm (1.45 in) Type 1 gun and a coaxial Type 97 machine gun, protected by an armored mantlet.

The Type 1 was a standard AT gun, which could fire a 0.68 kg (1.5 lb) AP shell at a muzzle velocity of 700 m/s (2,300 ft/s). A second machine-gun was located inside the hull, protruding from the frontal glacis. The tank had a bilge pump, the road wheels had drain holes, and the bell crank suspension was internal. It was also one of the few Japanese tank fitted, from the start, with a radio and telephone intercom for the crew.

Since tank development been finished after the intial campaigns of WWII it can not be used for amphibious landing, as been primary planned. Tank been first time used in Guadalcanal campaign.

Girls und Panzer

The tank made its debut in the second episode of das Finale with two of these amphibious tanks being used by Chi-Ha-Tan Academy in the quarter-final match against Oarai Girls Academy in the Winter Continuous Track Cup. Both the Ka-Mi tanks while been placed in river, had rubber alligator masks being placed on their turrets to disguise them. While not seen during the initial ambush during the opening minutes of the battle, the Ka-Mi tanks were to be used for a later ambush. When Ooarai tanks were stopped near a stream, Ch-Ha-Tan enacted that ambush.

The ambush was to start with the two Ka-Mi tanks getting near the Ooarai tanks before opening fire, drawing attention away from the rest of the team. Due to the alligator disguise, the Ka-Mi tanks were successful in getting close to Ooarai and were able to carry out their orders without sustaining losses. While unable to penetrate the armor of the Ooarai tanks, the Ka-Mi tanks are able to distract the enemy tanks, allowing for the rest of the force to ambush Ooarai from the other side.

The Ka-Mi tanks were then suposed to escape using the river. However, while the main Chi-Ha-Tan force was engaging in a battle with Ooarai, one of the Ka-Mi tanks disobeyed orders and charged directly at the rear of Ooarai‘s line, aiming to knock out the Hippo Team (StuG III). The Mallard Team was able to spot the Ka-Mi and moved to intercept it, exchanging shots while doing so. Eventually the Mallard Team rammed the Ka-Mi to create some distance between the tanks and fired a shot that removed half of the frontal pontoon of the Ka-Mi but otherwise dealing insignificant damage.

The Ka-Mi however wasn’t so misfortunate and due to the still close range, the tank fired a killing shot at the B1, knocking the Mallard Team out of the battle while also causing the other half of its frontal pontoon to be removed due to recoil. The Ka-Mi then successfully escaped using the river while avoiding the shots fired by the StuG. Both Ka-Mi tanks were both later seen lured along with the seven other remaining Chi-Ha-Tan tanks into a ravine by Ooarai.

All of the Chi-Ha-Tan tanks other than then Fukuda’s Ha-Go and Kinuyo Nishi’s Chi-Ha, initially tried to futilely to charge foward towards Ooarai‘s position and stubbornly refused to back down, still seeing retreating as dishonorable. However, Kinuyo was eventually able to convice her subordinates to change their ways and retreat, this time without using the word “charge“ for psychological effects. The Chi-Ha-Tan tanks including the Ka-Mi tanks are then last seen successfully retreating from the ravine without having suffered a single loss from Ooarai’s ambush.

Trivia

• The Ka-Mi is the first amphibious tank to appear in the series.
• The Ka-Mi is the first Japanesse amphibious tank.

Gallery

Main article: Type 2 Ka-Mi/Gallery