With all the excitement of Wehrmacht 47 (which is great), let's not forget that Germany wasn't the only enemy the Allies were facing. What about the Japanese who had some equally nasty things planned such as :
Experimental O-I Super HeavyTank
The O-I had three-turrets and weighed 120 tons. Its dimensions were 10 meters by 4.2 meters by 4 meters high. The armor was 200mm (MAX). The tank had a top speed of 25km/hr. This version a two gasoline engines developing 550 PS/1500 rpm. The O-I had 1 x 105mm Cannon, 1 x Type 1 37mm (in a forward mounted sub turret), and 3 x Type 97 7.7mm (one mounted in a forward sub turret) where as the Experimental version also mounted a Type 1 37mm in a rear facing sub turret. It has been reported the one copy of the O-I was manufactured before the end of the war and was shipped to Manchuria according to a engineer concerned with the project. Crew: 11. No known photo exists.
Anyone else interested in a second front for '47?
Banzai 47 anyone?
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sultanbev
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Some Type 5 heavy tanks would be nice, at least they built one of them for sure. There's no photo evidence of the O-1 being built, although a model would certainly look impressive. I think there were some odd large SPGs as well.
Would give you an excuse to field spear armed militia bands for the defence of Japan!
Would give you an excuse to field spear armed militia bands for the defence of Japan!
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Donald M. Scheef
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I posted this several months ago in Wermacht '47:
Japanese in Wermacht ‘47
If Germany had survived until 1947, it seems reasonable that additional US forces would have been siphoned from the Pacific theater to Europe and that the Japanese might also have continued to this time. After all, the Japanese lasted longer than the Germans in the historic war. The following vehicles could have been active in a 1947 campaign, either on the Asian mainland or in defense of the Home Islands:
Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun So-Ki: This was a twin 20 mm mount on the modified chassis of a Ha-Go (Light Tank Type 95). Historically, a small number were built but there is no record of extensive use.
Chi-Ha (Medium Tank Type 97), flail attachment: This was a late-model Chi-Ha tank (retaining turret and armament) with a mine-clearing flail attachment (similar to Sherman Crab). Since this would have been useful primarily in offensive operations and was not developed in time for the Japanese expansion of early 1942, these saw little use.
Chi-Ha (Medium Tank Type 97), bulldozer attachment: This was a late-model Chi-Ha tank (retaining turret and armament) with a bulldozer blade. Since this would have been useful primarily in offensive operations and was not developed in time for the Japanese expansion of early 1942, these saw little use.
Chi-Ha (Medium Tank Type 97), “jungle cutter†attachment: This was a late-model Chi-Ha tank (retaining turret and armament) with a large wedge-shaped attachment on the front of the hull (purpose similar to Culin hedgerow device, but appearance totally different). Since this would have been useful primarily in offensive operations and was not developed in time for the Japanese expansion of early 1942, these saw little use.
Chi-Ha (Medium Tank Type 97), bridgelayer: This was a Chi-Ha tank chassis with the turret removed and a roller-mounted bridge set on top. Since this would have been useful primarily in offensive operations and was not developed in time for the Japanese expansion of early 1942, these saw little use.
Se-Ri armored engineer/recovery vehicle: This was a Chi-Ha tank chassis with the turret removed and a low cupola in place of the turret. Various versions had either an A-frame or jib crane on the back decking. Some had earth-moving equipment (shovel-buckets) mounted on the jib crane. Since these would have been useful primarily in offensive operations and were not developed in time for the Japanese expansion of early 1942, these saw little use.
Ho-Ni I self-propelled anti-tank gun Type 1: This was a Chi-Ha tank chassis with the turret replaced by a high-velocity 75 mm gun in a three-sided shield. A small number were encountered in the Philippines and Okinawa, but most were reserved for defense of the Home Islands.
Ho-Ni II self-propelled howitzer Type 1: This was the same chassis and shield as the Ho-Ni I, but with a 105 mm howitzer in place of the 75 mm gun. The small number built was reserved for defense of the Home Islands.
Ho-Ni III self-propelled anti-tank gun Type 1: Generally similar to the Ho-Ni I, but with a top and back added to the shield and a higher-powered 75 mm gun. Very few were built and none saw combat.
Ho-Ro self-propelled howitzer Type 4: This was a 150 mm howitzer mounted on a modified Chi-Ha tank chassis. The concept was similar to the German Hummel, but the Japanese version was badly over-weight and not successful. Apparently, only a very small number were built.
Chi-He (Medium Tank Type 1): This was an improved Chi-Ha with welded armor, lengthened wheelbase and wider tracks. Some may have seen combat in China.
Chi-Nu (Medium Tank Type 3): A further improvement of the Chi-Ha with a larger turret and a high-velocity 75 mm gun. Only 60 were completed, all of which were reserved for defense of the Home Islands.
Chi-To (Medium Tank Type 4): [No, this is not a pun on the Cheetos Cheetah.] The Japanese considered this their equivalent of the German Panther. The chassis was similar to the Chi-Ha with a seventh wheel added to each side. A well-shaped turret mounted a high-velocity 75 mm gun. Only six were completed; none of which left the immediate vicinity of the factory.
Chi-Ri (Medium Tank Type 5): The Japanese considered this their equivalent of the German Tiger. The chassis was similar to the Chi-Ha but with eight wheels on each side. The turret was to contain a 85-to-100 mm gun. Only one prototype was completed, with no armament fitted.
Ho-Ha (Half-tracked armored personnel carrier Type 1): This was similar in concept to the German Sd.Kfz.251, but less sophisticated and slightly larger. A small number were encountered in the Philippines and in China. The total number built was relatively small.
Ho-Ki (Fully-tracked armored personnel carrier Type 1): Same engine and tracked chassis as the Ho-Ha with an open-topped rear compartment. The total number built was relatively small.
20 cm rocket launcher Type 4: This was an army design for launching unguided rockets. It had the appearance of a giant mortar. Small numbers were encountered by US forces late in the island-hopping campaign, but many more were reserved for defense of the Home Islands.
Rocket motor and launching trough Type 10: This was a naval design consisting of a crude launching trough, a 150-pound aircraft bomb and a rocket booster. These were encountered late in the island hopping campaign wherever Naval Infantry were based.
44.7 cm rocket and launcher: This was a spin-stabilized rocket with a crude wooden or metal launching trough. A large number were to be built an emplaced to cover likely landing areas in the Home Islands.
Don S.
Japanese in Wermacht ‘47
If Germany had survived until 1947, it seems reasonable that additional US forces would have been siphoned from the Pacific theater to Europe and that the Japanese might also have continued to this time. After all, the Japanese lasted longer than the Germans in the historic war. The following vehicles could have been active in a 1947 campaign, either on the Asian mainland or in defense of the Home Islands:
Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun So-Ki: This was a twin 20 mm mount on the modified chassis of a Ha-Go (Light Tank Type 95). Historically, a small number were built but there is no record of extensive use.
Chi-Ha (Medium Tank Type 97), flail attachment: This was a late-model Chi-Ha tank (retaining turret and armament) with a mine-clearing flail attachment (similar to Sherman Crab). Since this would have been useful primarily in offensive operations and was not developed in time for the Japanese expansion of early 1942, these saw little use.
Chi-Ha (Medium Tank Type 97), bulldozer attachment: This was a late-model Chi-Ha tank (retaining turret and armament) with a bulldozer blade. Since this would have been useful primarily in offensive operations and was not developed in time for the Japanese expansion of early 1942, these saw little use.
Chi-Ha (Medium Tank Type 97), “jungle cutter†attachment: This was a late-model Chi-Ha tank (retaining turret and armament) with a large wedge-shaped attachment on the front of the hull (purpose similar to Culin hedgerow device, but appearance totally different). Since this would have been useful primarily in offensive operations and was not developed in time for the Japanese expansion of early 1942, these saw little use.
Chi-Ha (Medium Tank Type 97), bridgelayer: This was a Chi-Ha tank chassis with the turret removed and a roller-mounted bridge set on top. Since this would have been useful primarily in offensive operations and was not developed in time for the Japanese expansion of early 1942, these saw little use.
Se-Ri armored engineer/recovery vehicle: This was a Chi-Ha tank chassis with the turret removed and a low cupola in place of the turret. Various versions had either an A-frame or jib crane on the back decking. Some had earth-moving equipment (shovel-buckets) mounted on the jib crane. Since these would have been useful primarily in offensive operations and were not developed in time for the Japanese expansion of early 1942, these saw little use.
Ho-Ni I self-propelled anti-tank gun Type 1: This was a Chi-Ha tank chassis with the turret replaced by a high-velocity 75 mm gun in a three-sided shield. A small number were encountered in the Philippines and Okinawa, but most were reserved for defense of the Home Islands.
Ho-Ni II self-propelled howitzer Type 1: This was the same chassis and shield as the Ho-Ni I, but with a 105 mm howitzer in place of the 75 mm gun. The small number built was reserved for defense of the Home Islands.
Ho-Ni III self-propelled anti-tank gun Type 1: Generally similar to the Ho-Ni I, but with a top and back added to the shield and a higher-powered 75 mm gun. Very few were built and none saw combat.
Ho-Ro self-propelled howitzer Type 4: This was a 150 mm howitzer mounted on a modified Chi-Ha tank chassis. The concept was similar to the German Hummel, but the Japanese version was badly over-weight and not successful. Apparently, only a very small number were built.
Chi-He (Medium Tank Type 1): This was an improved Chi-Ha with welded armor, lengthened wheelbase and wider tracks. Some may have seen combat in China.
Chi-Nu (Medium Tank Type 3): A further improvement of the Chi-Ha with a larger turret and a high-velocity 75 mm gun. Only 60 were completed, all of which were reserved for defense of the Home Islands.
Chi-To (Medium Tank Type 4): [No, this is not a pun on the Cheetos Cheetah.] The Japanese considered this their equivalent of the German Panther. The chassis was similar to the Chi-Ha with a seventh wheel added to each side. A well-shaped turret mounted a high-velocity 75 mm gun. Only six were completed; none of which left the immediate vicinity of the factory.
Chi-Ri (Medium Tank Type 5): The Japanese considered this their equivalent of the German Tiger. The chassis was similar to the Chi-Ha but with eight wheels on each side. The turret was to contain a 85-to-100 mm gun. Only one prototype was completed, with no armament fitted.
Ho-Ha (Half-tracked armored personnel carrier Type 1): This was similar in concept to the German Sd.Kfz.251, but less sophisticated and slightly larger. A small number were encountered in the Philippines and in China. The total number built was relatively small.
Ho-Ki (Fully-tracked armored personnel carrier Type 1): Same engine and tracked chassis as the Ho-Ha with an open-topped rear compartment. The total number built was relatively small.
20 cm rocket launcher Type 4: This was an army design for launching unguided rockets. It had the appearance of a giant mortar. Small numbers were encountered by US forces late in the island-hopping campaign, but many more were reserved for defense of the Home Islands.
Rocket motor and launching trough Type 10: This was a naval design consisting of a crude launching trough, a 150-pound aircraft bomb and a rocket booster. These were encountered late in the island hopping campaign wherever Naval Infantry were based.
44.7 cm rocket and launcher: This was a spin-stabilized rocket with a crude wooden or metal launching trough. A large number were to be built an emplaced to cover likely landing areas in the Home Islands.
Don S.
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CG1
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