TYPE 98A KE-NI

The Type 98A Ke-Ni was a Japanese light tank from the interwar period and World War II. The first prototypes of the vehicle were built in 1938, and its production continued in 1942-1943. In total, slightly more than 100 tanks of this type were created. The hull length was 4.11 meters and the width was 2.12 meters. The drive was provided by a single 130 HP engine. The armament of the car consisted of a 37 mm gun and a single gun Machine gun Type 97, caliber 7.7 mm. The Type 98A Ke-Ni was developed to replace the Type 95 Ha-Go light tanks. Compared to its predecessor, the new tank had slightly reinforced armor, a different power unit and different suspension. It was also slightly better off-road. However, when it entered production, the car was clearly inferior to Allied vehicles such as the M3 Lee or the M4 Sherman, not to mention the Soviet T-34/76 or the German Panther. Moreover, its production was clearly limited due to the shortage of steel in the Japanese economy. The vehicle was used in the fighting in the Pacific, as well as in the final stages of the Japanese-Chinese War.