Type 3 Chi-Nu
In service 1944 - 1945
The most heavily armed Japanese tank to reach production - held back in Japan for a final defence that never came.
Built byMitsubishi
Development history
By 1944 Japanese tanks were hopelessly outmatched, and the Chi-Nu was the fastest available answer: a new hexagonal turret carrying a 75 mm field-gun derivative on the Chi-He chassis. It was a genuine threat to a Sherman at normal combat range, but only around 150 were finished amid bombing and material shortages. All were concentrated with the 4th Armoured Division in the home islands awaiting Operation Downfall, and the surrender came first.