Type 97 Te-Ke

Japan's Type 97 Te-Ke tankette began its developmental life in 1936 as an up-gunned Type 94 with a more powerful engine. The version that made it into production still retained some features of its predecessor, but also had a re-arranged interior for the two-man crew in which the engine was put to the rear of the vehicle, and the turret to the center. What resulted was a slightly heavier 4.7-tonne vehicle with only slightly increased armor that most often featured a 37 mm Type 94 (L36.7) tank gun in its fully-rotating turret (but sometimes only a single 7.7 mm Type 97 machine gun). Its light weight enabled the tank to traverse unsupported bridges and ferry crossings, and to be transported easily across the sea or rivers. It had a top speed of 26 mph. The Japanese Army used Type 97s to support infantry divisions as armored tractors, supply vehicles, and for scouting. The type had success in China during the Second Sino-Japanese War of 1938–1945, where it primarily faced even smaller and more lightly-armed imported tanks of the Chinese National Revolutionary Army. When it faced Soviet tanks and anti-tank guns during Summer 1939, however, it was not as successful. The Type 97 also contributed to the Japanese victories at the Battle of Malaya and the Battle of the Philippines. Hino Motors manufactured 616 examples from 1938 to 1944.