The Type 4 Ha-To

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Luftflotte2
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The Type 4 Ha-To

#1

Post by Luftflotte2 » 17 Jun 2011, 23:25

Hello guys,

Just another fact gathering thread for those interested in this odd machine.

The Ha-To was designed as an SPG sometime in late 1943, consisting of the Type 3, 300 mm and a chassis of a Chi-So prime mover. Images of the Chi-So can be seen here: http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... 5&t=170543
The first prototype was made a year later and sent to the Imperial Japanese Army Academy for testing. 3 more vehicles were made. More prototypes or were these 3 actual production?

Data for the Ha-To;
Introduced : 1944
Weight : 15 ton
Dimensions: 6.8(l) x 2.4(w) x 2.75(h) m
Armor : 8 mm [2] 12-25 mm [1]
Speed (max) : 40 km/h [1 & 2] 28km/h [3]
Engine : Diesel Engine 165 PS/2000 rpm [2] water-cooled 6cyl Mitsubishi gasoline
115 HP [1] Mitsubishi Air-Cooled V12 Diesel, 170 hp [3]
Range: 120km [3]
Suspension : bell crank
Armaments : Type 3 300 mm Heavy Mortar, (range of 3,000 m, 170 kg (374 lb) projectile).
Type 97 7.7 mm
Crew : 7
Production : 4
The gun itself weighed close to 1.5 tons, and to keep the center of gravity from shifting and tipping the vehicle over, it could not be elevated more than 50 degrees.
from
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_4_Ha-To
[2] http://www3.plala.or.jp/takihome/Ha-To.htm
[3] http://ww2drawings.jexiste.fr/Files/1-V ... 4-HaTo.htm


Of course more details of its history are greatly welcomed as well as corrections!
Photos are also good!
:D


This color image was supposedly taken in 1945 and in it we can see the colours of the camouflage, unusual for a prototype. Behind the Ha-To we can see a portion of a German Elefant so I believe this was picture was taken at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, where the Elefant still stands but the Ha-To must have been scrapped.
Attachments
Type_4_Ha-To.jpg
Type_4_Ha-To.jpg (38.7 KiB) Viewed 949 times

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Akira Takizawa
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Re: The Type 4 Ha-To

#2

Post by Akira Takizawa » 18 Jun 2011, 04:00

> The first prototype was made a year later and sent to the Imperial Japanese Army Academy for testing. 3 more vehicles were made. More prototypes or were these 3 actual production?

No, only four. Four Ha-To were deployed at IJA Heavy Artillery School at the end of the war.

> Photos are also good!

I uploaded.

Taki
Attachments
Japanese 30cm SP mortar RG319 P B26451.jpg
Ha-To.gif


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Luftflotte2
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Re: The Type 4 Ha-To

#3

Post by Luftflotte2 » 18 Jun 2011, 04:06

Thank you Taki!

I was looking for info on the Type 3 300mm as well. For instance, was the gun specifically developed for the Ha-To? A 300mm mortar in 1943 would seem impractical. Also what is the apparatus above the barrel itself, a loading mechanism?

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Akira Takizawa
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Re: The Type 4 Ha-To

#4

Post by Akira Takizawa » 18 Jun 2011, 04:34

The development of Type 3 300mm mortar started in Jan 1943 and finished in March 1944.

> Also what is the apparatus above the barrel itself, a loading mechanism?

Yes. A bomb was loaded from the muzzle.

Taki

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Luftflotte2
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Re: The Type 4 Ha-To

#5

Post by Luftflotte2 » 18 Jun 2011, 06:10

How many rounds a minute could it fire? Ammunition would have been carried in another vehicle, correct?

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Akira Takizawa
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Re: The Type 4 Ha-To

#6

Post by Akira Takizawa » 18 Jun 2011, 06:58

> How many rounds a minute could it fire?

I don't know. But, it will take a few minutes to load a bomb.

> Ammunition would have been carried in another vehicle, correct?

Yes. Five ammo vehicles were built. But, the details of the ammo vehicle is not known.

Taki

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Re: The Type 4 Ha-To

#7

Post by Luftflotte2 » 18 Jun 2011, 07:02

Thanks again!
These questions have bugged me for a while.

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