Tier 7 Type 5 88mm cannon (requires upgrade plan 2 turret) Tier 7 Type 5 75mm belt fed auto loader (requires upgrade plan 2 turret) Tier 6 Type 5 75mm model I (single tray auto loader) Tier 6 Type 5 75mm model II (no auto loader) A top engine with 675 HP would give the 37 ton Chi Ri an 18.2hp/ton rating.
Essentially, a suitable de-tuned value could be determined for balance purposes as long as it does not exceed 800. With the 800 HP H9 engine, there is a lot of potential for upgrades from the 550 HP point. Here is a list of HP/ton of other tier 7 medium tanks with their top enginesįor the needs of the game, a little more horse power would be needed. At 37 tons, that would give it 14.8hp/ton. The Engine was a 550 horse power de-tuned version of the Kawasaki H9II 800 horse power engine. Here I will describe how the Chi Ri could be implemented into the game as a tier 7 medium tank. The likely reason why the Chi Ri was found armless is because the Chi To mounted the same 75mm cannon and thus the Chi Ri’s 75mm cannon was likely moved to a Chi To tank. However, the simpler Type 4 Chi To was selected over the Chi Ri for production. It is believed that very likely the Chi Ri underwent running and shooting trials in March 1945. In its place, a single tray auto loader was to be attached to the Type 5 75mm cannon instead thus still maintaining a fast rate of fire. However the large turret was already designed. Likely due to the anxiety of trying to create a belt system that would move 900mm long shells around within the turret. In 1944, the belt fed auto-loading cannon was abandoned.
It was likely intended to be used for soft targets that would be overkill for the 75mm cannon and thus free up the 75mm for more critical targets. Probably the most controversial feature was the secondary 37mm cannon. One other feature is that it was the first Japanese tank, and one of the few tanks in all of WWII, to have a turret basket built in. It was demanded for the Chi Ri to be able to engage targets up to 2000 meters away so a long range observation device was installed. Another advanced feature was the gyro-stabilizer for the 75mm cannon. To increase the speed of target acquisition, the turret would rotate by an electric motor, increasing the speed of turret rotation. The plan 1 turret would likely not be capable of handling this task, therefore the large turret was designed. In order to accommodate a load of 100 75mm rounds and to fit in a belt style auto loader, the turret was enlarged. They must have been thinking about rice paddies. This makes a very strong case for good hull traverse and low ground resistance. Out of all these tanks, only the T-34/76 could match. Compared to other tanks, this was a very good value.
The goal was a ground pressure of about 0.6 to 0.7 kg/cm². For a 35 ton class tank, this would have produced a very impressive ground pressure value. Here is a picture of it being tested with the single tray auto loader. It was planned to attach an auto loader to it. The main armament would become the Type 5 75mm cannon. Improved ventilation was necessary because of the anticipated increased influx of poisonous gas when using the high rate of fire from an auto loading cannon. These included ventilation, transmission, suspension, 550 HP gasoline engine, and easy access to the engine for maintenance. At this time, many technological inspections and planning have occurred for the Chi Ri. Hei: 57mm or 75mm cannon…eventually grows into the Type 5 Chi Ri.ĭuring 1943, by looking at the tank battles between Germany and Russia, there was fear that the Chi He and the Chi To could be underpowered by the time they would enter production. Otsu: 57mm cannon…eventually merges into the hei plan Kou: 47mm cannon….eventually grows into Type 4 Chi To So a gigantic medium tank with modest armor…how is that advance? Sounds more like inefficient use of armor…ġ942: Three new anti-tank capable Japanese medium tank projects The Chi Ri was not designed as a heavy tank it was designed as a medium. This is by no means armored like the 55 ton Tiger. Despite the size, it weighed only 37 tons. The side armor ranged from 25 to 50mm in thickness. But no, it may be disappointing, but the front armor of the turret and hull was only 75mm. It could fool anyone into thinking that there was a lot of armor on the thing, like the Tiger.