Enjoyable. Like Italia, Nihon's industrial base was not up to the exigencies of Total War. Unlike the Soviet Union and the USA, Japan was an oil poor nation and a metal poor nation with a small town/cottage industry mentality. Her tanks were built within strict rail and shipping size and tonnage limits; all the better to send them to the Mainland for some imperial adventurism thinly disguised as economic assistance. That set of constraints lent well to the military's philosophy of "avanti!" as the Italians might say, or Elan, as the French put it. It simplified the logistical tail of "flying columns" used to outflank and outrace enemies still in process of motorization such as China and India.
4:50 GB and the UK had similar training freedom on 2pdr equipped tanks like Matilda II. I think the idea was it would be easier to track a moving target if the gunner could move the breech freely. Also, the British said these free swinging gun mounts made it easier to fire on the move. It was definitely a simpler solution than the Sherman's single axis stabilizer.
I watched this whole video and I would like to know more about the turret. You said that its from a Chi-He tank but from what you showed, I don't think it is. I think its just a upgraded Chi-Ha turret.
I find it funny that this is the video I find Zackoroni's channel after being in his event discord since over a year ago now 8 days ago being the 1 year anniversary of joining it
These Japanese tanks were actually very effective against American M4 Shermans because of how the Japanese used them. They were primarily used in the defensive hidden under brush or camouflaged in the jungles. The 47mm gun could penetrate the sides and rear of a M4 Sherman but had little effect on the front armor plate. Still the Sherman had more protection and a more powerful 75mm gun that could easily destroy any Japanese tanks used. Actually the Japanese kept their new and improved tanks on mainland Japan incase of an American invasion.
Great video ! And you are indeed correct regarding the turret. When i saw the pictures of this tank on google the first thing i noticed was the applique turret armor which was only done to the Type 1 Chi-He making this tank incredibly priceless consider the fact that there is no surviving Chi-He today. There is however a surviving Chi-He hull in Japan in the form of a Type 3 Chi-Nu which shared the same hull as Chi-He. So if you combined the turret from this Chi-Ha with the hull of the Chi-Nu you will get a Type 1 Chi-He !!! lol
This video is excellent. Since the end of the war, it has been against the law in Japan for the anti-Japanese left and the media to give good coverage of the former Japanese military due to the policies of the Democratic Party of the United States. This was originally the policy of the U.S. State Department. You are the first person to praise the Jiha tanks. If someone in Japan praises the Chi-Ha tank, he or she will be crushed by the Japanese media and leftists. It is common in postwar education to be taught that all Japanese weapons are basically junk and not good.
They couldn't do about your height cause I guess the average height at that time was a little more than 5 feet. But what I am surprised on this tank is the visibility was too lacking. Drivers and gunners were just blinded and gave up making their own decisions but wholly depended on the commander's visibility. So they die without noticing what happens outside of the field. Very traumatic experience.
The 57mm was anti-infantry and better for high explosive and anti personnel rounds the 47mm with the longer barrel had higher velocity and could use armor piercing rounds so was a better gun for tank on tank encounters.
One thing you've confirmed here, is something I read long ago: Soviet tanks were not known for their creature comforts. On a side note....is each tank going to get its own Music?? Pz IV got the Panzerlied, this one gets the PATTON Theme. {If so, I rather like the idea.}
Ah yes the panzer 4 the back bone of the German army in 1942 to 1945 with 80mm of armor and a long 75mm like the panther it was like a mini tiger cause Sherman’s had a hard time killing it at distance
"Rivetted tank manufacture fell out of fashion pretty quickly", and that's based on...? There were still many tanks with near wholly or partially rivetted hulls/ turrets through WWII. 35+ years rather would indicate riveting was in fashion for a while. I just make this comment as it comes across as the video's statement's derisive to the Chi-Ha, when rivets were the norm in the era it was made - rather than the Chi-Ha being backwards.
Muito obrigado por compartilhar sua experiencia, acho que o panzer 4 ainda tem um bom design ate para hoje em dia, nem parece algo feito nos anos 30. Realmente fascinante!
The next time I go to a museum open to the public I’ll be sure to have the docent kick out the public. Since you found my presentation lacking, what would you recommend I do in future videos?
Their tanks were very advanced in the 30s. They slowed the tank development later to fund the navy and air force. Also, their best tank was the Chi-Nu, armed with a 75 mm cannon.
