So, let's play a game.
This is a rough guide to what we are looking at here and is not to be taken as anything except a very superficial look at these vehicles and their capabilities. According to my book on world tanks, the Type 95 Ha Go was speedy and reliable, one of the best tanks the Japanese used during the war, powered by a reliable Mitsubishi 6-cylinder 120 hp diesel engine. The disadvantage of the tank was its three man crew, with the machine gunner sat next to the driver in the hull, and the commander in the turret also responsible for loading the main gun. Armed with a 37mm main gun and a 6.5 mm machine gun and protected by 12mm maximum and 6 mm minimum armour plating, the Ha Go wasn't powerful, but compares favourably to other light tanks of the day, with a road speed of 28 mph. A later variant received the same armament as the Chi Ha, upgunning the design with a 57 mm gun.
Type 95
One Italian tank in service at the beginning of the war was the Carro Velocce CV.33, which was based on the British Carden Lloyd Mk.VI tankette, but was obsolete by the war, having entered service in 1931, but still in use in North Africa. British tanks were easily able to overwhelm this type owing to its light armour and armament of machine gun calibre weapons. Its armament comprised twin 8mm machine guns, with 15 mm maximum and 5 mm minimum armour plating, with a road speed of 26 mph. One disadvantage to this tank is that it doesn't have a moveable turret, but being a tankette was manoeuvrable. It had a crew of two. This is a Carro Velocce Fiamme flamethrower variant, captured in North Africa.
DSC_0196
The Carro Armato L.6/540 replaced the CV.33 in service and although more modern, it was barely more capable against British armour, again, owing to its 20mm main armament and 30mm maximum and 6 mm armour plating. It could manage 26 mph on the road as standard for this size tank. A later version, the Semovente had a 47 mm anti tank gun mounted in the hull. As with the CV.33 it had a crew of two, so the loader also acted as commander, also firing the machine gun, which was mounted in the turret in the main armament mounting. The Semovente had a crew of three, which was an improvement but the type's speed went down owing to the extra weight of the gun and space inside the cab was restricted by the armament.
So, on the face of it, the Ha Go has the most powerful armament, with a 37 mm gun and is reliable and the fastest of the three vehicles here, and when fitted with the 57 mm gun is more than a match for the Italian tanks here, although the 47 mm gun of the Semovente could be effective against the standard armed Japanese tank. Ultimately, Japanese efficiency and discipline would trump Italian manoeuvrability; my money would be on the Ha Go to win.
This is a rough guide to what we are looking at here and is not to be taken as anything except a very superficial look at these vehicles and their capabilities. According to my book on world tanks, the Type 95 Ha Go was speedy and reliable, one of the best tanks the Japanese used during the war, powered by a reliable Mitsubishi 6-cylinder 120 hp diesel engine. The disadvantage of the tank was its three man crew, with the machine gunner sat next to the driver in the hull, and the commander in the turret also responsible for loading the main gun. Armed with a 37mm main gun and a 6.5 mm machine gun and protected by 12mm maximum and 6 mm minimum armour plating, the Ha Go wasn't powerful, but compares favourably to other light tanks of the day, with a road speed of 28 mph. A later variant received the same armament as the Chi Ha, upgunning the design with a 57 mm gun.
One Italian tank in service at the beginning of the war was the Carro Velocce CV.33, which was based on the British Carden Lloyd Mk.VI tankette, but was obsolete by the war, having entered service in 1931, but still in use in North Africa. British tanks were easily able to overwhelm this type owing to its light armour and armament of machine gun calibre weapons. Its armament comprised twin 8mm machine guns, with 15 mm maximum and 5 mm minimum armour plating, with a road speed of 26 mph. One disadvantage to this tank is that it doesn't have a moveable turret, but being a tankette was manoeuvrable. It had a crew of two. This is a Carro Velocce Fiamme flamethrower variant, captured in North Africa.
The Carro Armato L.6/540 replaced the CV.33 in service and although more modern, it was barely more capable against British armour, again, owing to its 20mm main armament and 30mm maximum and 6 mm armour plating. It could manage 26 mph on the road as standard for this size tank. A later version, the Semovente had a 47 mm anti tank gun mounted in the hull. As with the CV.33 it had a crew of two, so the loader also acted as commander, also firing the machine gun, which was mounted in the turret in the main armament mounting. The Semovente had a crew of three, which was an improvement but the type's speed went down owing to the extra weight of the gun and space inside the cab was restricted by the armament.
So, on the face of it, the Ha Go has the most powerful armament, with a 37 mm gun and is reliable and the fastest of the three vehicles here, and when fitted with the 57 mm gun is more than a match for the Italian tanks here, although the 47 mm gun of the Semovente could be effective against the standard armed Japanese tank. Ultimately, Japanese efficiency and discipline would trump Italian manoeuvrability; my money would be on the Ha Go to win.
