Type 97 Te-Ke
In service 1939 - 1945
Also known asType 97 Ke-Ke, Type 97 light tank Te-Ke
Japan's last light tank - a two-man diesel scout that ended up fighting American armour it could not hurt.
Built byHino Motors, Tokyo Motor Industry
Photograph pending. No clearly licensed photograph of this vehicle was found.
Development history
The Te-Ke replaced the tankette-like Type 94 with a proper if tiny light tank, its air-cooled diesel well suited to the heat and poor fuel of Asian campaigns. It served in China, Burma, the Philippines and across the Pacific islands, usually in reconnaissance and infantry-support roles. Against Shermans it was defenceless, and many were dug in as static pillboxes in the final island defences.
Notable actions
- Second Sino-Japanese War
- Burma Campaign
- Battle of Luzon