| Type 98 Ta-Se self-propelled anti-aircraft gun | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun |
| Place of origin | Empire of Japan |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1938 |
| Produced | 1941 |
| No. built | 1 prototype |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 22 tons |
| Length | 4.78 m (15 ft 8 in) |
| Width | 2.19 m (7 ft 2 in) |
| Height | 2.58 m (8 ft 6 in) |
| Crew | 5 |
| Armor | 6–16 mm |
| Main armament | Type 98 20 mm AA machine cannon |
| Engine | Petrol 130hp |
| Suspension | Bell crank |
| Operational range | 300 km (190 mi) |
| Maximum speed | 42 km/h (26 mph) |
The experimental Type 98 Ta-Se was a Japanese self-propelled anti-aircraft gun using a Type 98 20 mm anti-aircraft gun. It used the chassis of the Type 98 Ke-Ni light tank. It did not enter production.
Development
During development of the AA gun tank, the Imperial Japanese Army experimented with various configurations. This single gun prototype was designated the Type 98 Ta-Se self-propelled anti-aircraft gun. Initial development began in November 1941. The name was taken from taikū ('anti-air') sensha ('tank'). The conventional turret was removed from the hull and a new open-top cylindrical shaped turret was installed. It was equipped with a single converted Type 98 20 mm AA machine cannon. During trials, it was determined that the chassis used for the Ta-Se was too small to be a stable "firing platform". It did not enter production.
Gallery
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Front view of Type 98 Ta-Se
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Side angle view of Type 98 Ta-Se
Twin gun version
After the Type 98 Ta-Se SPAAG was abandoned, a second prototype version, known as the Type 98 20 mm AAG tank was produced using the Type 98 chassis. The gun tank was equipped with a modified twin Type 2 20 mm AA machine cannon mounted on a raised platform with a gun shield. It also did not enter mass production after testing.
Prior single AA gun tank
Prior to the Type 98 Ta-Se, an earlier prototype was produced that was known as the experimental Type 97 Ki-To self-propelled anti-aircraft gun. The original Type 97 Te-Ke tankette turret was removed, and a single Type 98 20 mm AA machine cannon was mounted on the modified chassis without a protective gun shield. It did not enter production.
See also
Notes
- ^ Taki’s Imperial Japanese Army Page: Anti-Aircraft Tank "Ta-Se"
- ^ Tomczyk 2007, p. 14.
- "日本陸軍 試製対空戦車 キト". gunsight.jp. Retrieved 2023-02-22.
References
- Taki's Imperial Japanese Army Page - Akira Takizawa
- Tomczyk, Andrzej (2007). Japanese Armor Vol. 5. AJ Press. ISBN 978-8372371799.
