The Japanese Type 2 Ka-M1 Amphibious Tank

The Japanese Type 2 Ka-M1 Amphibious Tank

During World War 2, the Japanese armed forces invasions focused on amphibious landings. Of course the troops during their landings required tanks to help secure the landing spots, so the Japanese Army rather than the Navy started the development of amphibious tanks, however the Navy took over this development and in 1942 came up with the Type 2 Ka-M1 based on the Type 95 Ha-Go.

The Type 2 Ka-M1 was propelled in the water by two rear propellers and steered by a pair of rudders by the commander. To decrease the chance of leakage, all apertures had rubber seals and all steel joints were welded. Steel constructed flotation devices were mounted on the glacis plate and rear deck by pincer clamps which could be released from the inside by the crew once the vehicle had landed on the beach.

The Japanese Type 2 Ka-M1 Amphibious Tank Spec’s

Armaments: x1 37mm Main Gun, x2 .303 Machine Guns
Armour: 13mm steel
Crew: 5
Dimension: Length 7.42m / Width 2.79m / Height 2.34m
Weight: 12.3 tonne
Engine: Mitsubishi 6-cylinder 115bhp diesel
Top Road Speed: 37km/h
Operational Range: 200km