Light / Medium Tank Type 89 (Type 89 Medium Tank I-Go). Obsolete from birth

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Light / Medium Tank Type 89 (Type 89 Medium Tank I-Go). Obsolete from birth


Type 89A Early Type (Type "Ko")


It was in production since 1931. The hull remained almost unchanged. The frontal armor of the prototype hull was divided: the upper 1/4 was installed vertically, and the lower 3/4 was installed at an angle. The front door for the crew to board and disembark was divided into two halves and opened to the right of the center of the hull. In the driver-mechanic's inspection hatch on the left side of the hull tank A round stroboscope is installed. Large headlights are installed on the left and right sides of the front of the vehicle. Some tanks were additionally equipped with a tail and an air intake cover for the carburetor. The tank is equipped with an early type of steel large-link track, later in 1932 the pitch of the links was reduced, and the track was made of high-manganese steel.




This version had two types of turrets - Type 1 and Type 2. These turrets had a vertical cylindrical observation turret. Instead of one hatch in the turret, the tank had two hatches on top, left and right. The right hatch was located under the turret, which folds to the right.

The tank was initially equipped with a licensed 6-cylinder petrol engine. aviation Daimler engine. Over time, it was replaced by a domestic Mitsubishi gasoline engine with water cooling. The suspension system, as well as the chassis, were modernized compared to the prototype, the armor screen also differed from the prototype.


The development of the Type 90 tank gun was completed in 1930, but serial production did not begin immediately. As a result, the first I-Go tanks were equipped with a 37 mm Sogekihō gun. Only 5 I-Go tanks with this gun were produced (they are also called pre-production), and they participated in combat in February 1932 in Shanghai. The remaining tanks were equipped with a 57 mm Type 90 gun and two 6,5 mm Type 91 machine guns.

Type 89A Transition Type (Type "Ko")


In 1932, the Type 89 tank was modernized, and this modification was designated as the Transitional Type. The modernization included: instead of a broken frontal part, the front of the I-Go hull was made in the form of an inclined part, which was divided in the center into two parts: left and right. This part was fastened with rivets and had additional armor on the front hatches. The front door for boarding and disembarking became a single one and opened to the right of the body.

In the driver's inspection hatch, the stroboscope received a cover with an arched cutout. Instead of two headlights, one was installed, retractable in the front central part of the body (with a two-stage "bright/dark" switch). It was equipped with an armored cover for protection. In the "cheekbones" of the fender niches of the hull, inspection hatches on hinges were installed. On the left side, there is a loophole for a pistol. A "tail" was installed at the stern of the hull for overcoming obstacles, as well as for transporting spare parts and crew items, but it was not installed on all tanks.

The carburetor air intake cover is mounted on the rear upper surface of the tank hull. In addition, an inspection door is mounted on the upper surface of the rear hull. In addition, the Type 89A tank of 1932 received shorter track links made of high-manganese steel to reduce overall track wear and provide better maneuverability.


The transitional type already received three types of turret. Type 1 turrets are equipped with vertical cylindrical observation turrets. Type 3 turrets received a new observation turret ("mushroom"). Type 2 turrets were equipped with observation turrets of these two types. The gun mantlet was changed. The machine gun barrels, as well as the exhaust pipe outlet, are protected by armored casings. The vehicle used a water-cooled gasoline engine, the same as the previous modification.

A version with a "Late" suspension type and a Transitional Type hull was produced, the tank was equipped with a Type 3 turret. There was another version, where the Early Type hull was installed on a "Late" suspension type, while retaining the Type 2 turret with a large ("mushroom") cupola and a new gun mantlet. The year from which this version was produced is not specified, most likely from 1934.

It is believed that the transitional type tanks were produced the least of all the Type 89A tank variants.


Pictured: A Type 3 turret was fitted to a Type 89A Transitional Type hull and a "Late" type suspension was installed.

Type 89A Late Type (Type "Ko")



The 1934 modernization was the largest, these tanks entered service in 1935. Beginning in 1934, the tank used a new type of "late" suspension to improve mobility, although it may have been used earlier. The front of the tank hull was made in the form of an inclined part, which was divided in the center into two parts: left and right. In the "cheekbones" of the fender niches of the hull there are loopholes for a pistol.

This model retained the same engine, but had a new crew arrangement: the driver's seat was moved to the right, and the machine gunner was placed on the left. The driver's observation hatch and machine gun mount were also swapped. The door for boarding and disembarking, which was now moved to the left side, began to open to the left. An additional compartment for storing the battery (180 Ah × 1 pc.) was installed in the center of the rear of the hull, since the starter was more powerful and now required more energy. The exhaust port of the muffler was changed to cylindrical. At the end of each fender niche on the left side there was 1 filler cap for supplying water. The "tail" installation was retained.

Type 89B (Otsu Type)



The final model of the I-Go tank was called the Type 89B (Otsu). Production of this model began in 1934, but it was not accepted into service until 1935. Japan had neither the experience nor the equipment necessary to produce diesel engines when the prototype was introduced. It was not until 1934 that the first diesel engines ready for use in a tank were manufactured. In appearance, the tank remained almost the same as the Type 89A Late Type. Since the diesel was air-cooled, the radiator, which occupied the left side of the engine compartment, became unnecessary. Thus, the fuel tanks, which were previously located in the fender recesses of the hull, were moved to the vacated radiator space, to the left side of the power pack. The filler caps were removed, leaving one water filler cap on the left side. The oil tank was moved to the rear of the right fender recess of the hull.

The upper part of the hull above the engine was changed, and its appearance was very different from that of the Type 89A modification. The armored grille was replaced with a hinged one that opened to the left. This allowed access to the fan, which drew air through a pipe into the diesel engine itself. The inspection door for inspecting the battery in the center of the rear part of the tank hull was also enlarged. The water tank cover and the oil supply cover to the radiator, which were located on the upper surface of the rear part of the tank, were removed. The inspection hatch for the carburetor and the hatch for inspecting the engine were removed. In the left and right fender niches of the hull, where the fuel tanks were located, batteries were installed (120 Ah × 2 pcs. in the left niche and 180 Ah × 1 pc. in the right niche). The muffler exhaust port was modified to a flat triangle shape, and was later used on the Type 95 light tank and all Japanese medium tanks from the Type 97 onwards. The Type 89B tank is not found in China or the Pacific. It is believed that the Type 89B tank was only used in Manchuria and its homeland, Japan.

The Type 89 tank was constantly being improved, so two tanks of the same model may have slight differences. This is due to the fact that several factories were involved in the production of the I-Go. And each had its own unique appearance of the Type 89 tank. Plus, changes were made during operation. The same thing will happen during WWII in the USSR with the T-34 and T-60 tanks, when the tank will be produced at different factories, and each will make something of its own.


The photo shows another armored screen of the chassis.


Late Type 89A tank and Type 89B tank (based on M. Dmitriev's diagram from the aviArmor website).

Modernization


During operation in the troops, the tanks were repaired and modernized. The hulls of the late Type 89A tank could be equipped with early type turrets, or vice versa. In addition, in 1942, the tank tested an experimental long-barreled 37-mm Type 37 gun, and some tanks were possibly re-equipped with it. There are photographs of the Type 89A and Type 89B tanks.


Camouflage and emblems


In China and Manchuria, a deforming four-color paint scheme was used: khaki, brown, yellow, black. Two wavy yellow lines crossing the vehicle from bow to stern and from side to side were not uncommon - among other things, they helped to identify "your" tank from the air. However, this four-color paint scheme was also encountered in 1945 in Manchuria and the Kuril Islands, where green, dirty yellow, light brown, and khaki could be used in painting tanks.

In 1941, in Malaya and the Pacific Islands, the three-color spotted paint scheme was predominant, including the colors "scorched grass" (or sand), khaki, brown, and, less frequently, black. The chassis was painted the color of "scorched grass" with ochre. The size of the spots and the shape of their edges varied considerably. In 1942, yellow was excluded from the standard camouflage paint scheme, and for the area of ​​the southwestern islands, khaki was replaced by light green. Tanks remaining on the Japanese islands could wear either a three-color or a single-color olive-green paint scheme by the end of the war. The standard paint scheme was applied to the tanks at the factory.

The Type 89 tank was never painted in the Marine Corps' blue-gray color.

Of the emblems used, a flag was almost obligatory, painted on the side of the hull. For "army" tanks, this was usually the national flag of Japan with a round "rising sun", and a stamped five-pointed star - the army emblem of Japan - was usually attached to the upper front plate. Stars along with the registration number of the tank (usual Arabic numerals) and the number were painted on the rear plate of the hull, between the star and the number there could be a code number of the tank regiment written in hieroglyphs. Tanks of the marine infantry (SNLF - special naval landing forces) carried the image of the "naval" flag with a red sun with 16 rays and a stamped anchor. The anchor could also be painted on the side of the turret.


Tank registration numbers were initially four-digit and consisted of two parts: the first two digits were the tank type, the last two were the serial number. As production increased, they were replaced by three-digit serial numbers. The number was applied to the front plate of the hull, as well as to the side. As can be seen in the photo, registration numbers begin with 89, that is, the name of the tank, and not with 92 or 94. At the same time, the tank modifications are different.

Vehicles based on the Type 89 tank


Several self-propelled gun projects were developed on the basis of the Type 89, but they were not built in metal. In particular, in the mid-1930s, a project for a self-propelled gun was developed artillery installations with a 75-mm gun. The swinging part of the field gun with a mask was attached to the frontal plate of the hull, the course machine gun was not installed. On the roof there was a periscope sight and a commander's cupola. But it was not possible to bring it to implementation in metal. Also developed was the "Jiro-Sya" - an anti-tank self-propelled gun with the traditional for vehicles of this class engine location in the front of the vehicle, and the gun in the rear, in an open-topped cabin.


The Type 89 tank was used as the basis for the Armored Engineering Vehicle, also known as the Sokō Sagyō-Ki (SS-Ki). The vehicle was a variant of the Type 89 tank with the turret removed, the hull volume increased, the armored casing removed, and the chassis modified and reduced to eight road wheels. The vehicle was equipped with one Type 1 machine gun. Between 91 and 1931, 1943 engineering vehicles of five modifications were built, and they were used until the very end of the war. The SS had nine functions: 119. Destruction of pillboxes using explosives, 1. Excavator for digging trenches, 2. A folding plough trawl is used for demining, 3. Equipment for destroying barbed wire fences, 4. Spraying and disinfecting chemicals, 5. The vehicle is equipped with 6 or 3 flamethrowers, 5. It is used as an ARV with a crane for lifting and repairing equipment, 7. It has equipment for laying a smoke screen, 8. A folding track bridge is installed on the roof of the hull for creating crossings.

Combat application


After the start of production, it was immediately sent to China along with the Renault NC light tanks. It saw its first battle during the Manchurian Incident in 1932. In 1932, when anti-Japanese unrest escalated into a full-scale military confrontation in Shanghai, the General Staff sent the 2nd Separate Tank Company there - five Japanese Type 89 and 10 French tanks that had undergone modernization, the Renault Type B. In this conflict, the I-Go proved itself much better than the modernized French tanks.

After the Shanghai Incident, the I-Go was constantly used in battles on mainland China. Thus, in February-March 1933, 11 Type 89 tanks as part of the 1st separate tank company, together with two Type 92 armored vehicles (light tank), took part in Operation Jehol. Where in three days the company covered 320 km in battles without suffering any losses.

There was a truce until 1937, when a full-scale war began. In this war, Type 89 tanks were used throughout China constantly, together with other tanks.

During the Battle of Khalkin Gol (called the Battle of Nomon Han in Japan), the Type 89B tank was used, the only time it was used in combat. They were in service with the 3rd Tank Regiment, while the Type 89A tank was in service with the 4th Tank Regiment. According to Japanese sources, they lost 28 Type 89B tanks during the battle, 7 of which were irreparably damaged, while 21 were able to be repaired. According to their reports, this was because the damaged tanks did not catch fire and could be repaired.


The photograph shows Type 89B tanks before the battle. Khalkin-Gol, summer 1939.

During WWII, Type 89 tanks fought in China, Burma, and the Philippines. They are said to have had virtually no involvement in the fighting in Manchuria in August 1945. According to Japanese data, they were not there. The last time Type 89 tanks were used in combat during WWII was in the defense of Luzon Island in the Philippines in April 1945. The exact number of I-Go tanks used there is unknown.

After WWII, the French Army created the Commandos Blindée du Cambodia (Cambodian Armored Unit) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia in September 1945, using Japanese Type 89A and Type 95 tanks in Indochina, Cambodia. In September 1946, it was transformed into the 5th Armored Cavalry (Cuirassiers) Regiment. It is unknown whether they were used in combat. They were in service with the regiment from 1946 to 1948. On August 17, 1945, the Republic of Indonesia was proclaimed. This was followed by a war of independence until 1949. The Indonesian and Dutch armies (KNIL) also used Japanese Type 89A tanks here.




The photo before Khalkin Gol shows a Type 89A from 4 TP, and the destroyed Type 89B from 3 TP.

Conclusion


A tank that appeared in the late 20s and entered service in the early 30s, and immediately became obsolete. It was created for a war that had passed. During this time, the requirements for tanks changed, now fast, mobile machines were needed. Tanks were prepared to fight tanks. It did not have any of this. Low speed, weak armor and a gun that was not capable of fighting tanks. But, despite all its shortcomings, as the first Japanese serial tank, which was created as a light tank, but became a medium one, it became an important stage in the development of Japanese tank building. From the mid to late 1930s, the Type 89 tank remained the main force of the Japanese tank forces. It was the longest-serving tank in Japan, which was used from 1931 until the late 1940s.

Information sources:
Books and magazines:
Japanese Tanks and Tank Tactics_1944
Japanese tank and antitank warfare_1945
Ledwoch, Solarz.Czolgi japońskie 1939-1945
Tomczyk.Japonska Bron Pancerna - Japanese Armor. vol 1
Baryatinsky. All the tanks of the world. From inception to today, 1916-2021
Pyasetsky. Tanks from the first to the modern
Sergeev.Tanks of Japan in World War II. Part 1
Fedoseyev. Armored vehicles of Japan. 1939-1945
Fedoseyev. Japanese tanks of the Second World War
Heigl.Tanks part 2_1937
Kholyavsky. Encyclopedia of tanks. Complete encyclopedia of tanks of the world 1915-2000
AFV Weapons Profile No. 49. Hara.Japanese Medium Tanks
New Vanguard 137. Zaloga.Japanese Tanks 1939-45
Model designer 01.1997
9 comments
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  1. +2
    4 February 2025 05: 31
    The front door for crew boarding and disembarking is divided into two halves and opens to the right of the center of the hull.
    What a strange engineering solution. wink
    1. 0
      5 February 2025 16: 15
      Quote: Dutchman Michel
      What a strange engineering solution.

      And what was the weight of the hatch? Maybe this miracle in a single-leaf version was very difficult to open?
  2. +5
    4 February 2025 05: 35
    The article is definitely a big plus - I liked it!!!
    I wonder what the Author's next creative project will be?
  3. +5
    4 February 2025 08: 35
    Sorry everyone, this fix is ​​in the Late Type. It should read like this - In the center of the rear part of the "tail" was installed ..., not - In the center of the rear part of the case was installed an additional compartment for storing the battery. Forgot to change it.
  4. +1
    4 February 2025 10: 10
    "A round strobe light is installed in the driver's inspection hatch on the left side of the tank's hull."
    "The stroboscope in the driver's inspection hatch has received a cover"
    I think that it was a periscope that was installed, not a strobe.
    1. +2
      4 February 2025 11: 24
      I have prepared a comparison of hatches with strobe lights, commander's cupolas, tracks, but I did not include them here, the article turned out to be long anyway. Plus photos and drawings about the tank, in short, a lot of things.
      1. +1
        4 February 2025 13: 30
        I became interested and started searching the Internet.
        Yes, there were also strobe lights (though they were often in the form of domed superstructures on tank turrets).
      2. +1
        4 February 2025 15: 18
        I have prepared comparisons of hatches with strobe lights, commander's turrets, tracks

        Very interesting! We'll wait!
  5. 0
    10 February 2025 23: 14
    It is interesting that in the war of 1905 the Russian army was not superior to the Japanese army in any way, and the navy was worse, but by Khalkhin-Gol the Red Army was much more progressive.