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| Type 95 Ha-Go Light Tank at the Singapore National Musuem |
The workhorse of the Imperial Japanese
The Type 95 Ha-Go was a Japanese light tank used during the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II. Developed in the mid-1930s to support infantry and cavalry, it had a crew of three, weighed about 7.4 tons, and was armed with a 37mm Type 94 or Type 98 gun and two 7.7mm machine guns. Powered by a 120 hp Mitsubishi diesel engine, it could reach 28 mph (45 km/h).
Around 2,300 were produced, making it Japan's most numerous tank of the war. It saw action in Manchuria, China, Southeast Asia (including Singapore) and the Pacific, but was outdated by 1943. It was out classed by the M3 Stuart at Tarawa (1943), M4 Sherman at Saipan (1944) and the M3 Lee at Imphal (1944).
Records
Nevertheless, the Ha Go still has the following records:
Longest-service: The Ha-Go remained in service from its introduction in 1936 through the end of World War II in 1945, a span of nearly a decade. Despite being outdated by 1943, it was used until the war’s end due to Japan’s limited industrial capacity, making it one of the longest-serving Japanese tank designs in combat.
America's first clash of armor: The first ever tank on tank combat the Americans ever experienced was Battle of Damortis (Philippines) on December 22, 1941. The Japanese won this clash against the M3 Stuarts, attributed to the fact as the Japanese crew were more experienced and shot first.
First foreign tank to invade the Americas: During the 1942 Alaskan Campaign, the Japaense managed to land some Ha-Go light tanks in Attu, Alaska.
Most exported Japanese tank: Imperial Japan supplied its Chinese and Thai allies the Ha-Go. It gave Thailand an estimated 50 Ha-Go light tanks during the war.
The one at the Singapore National Museum
If you visit the Singapore National Museum, you may see the replica of the Ha-Go light tank. It is not a real tank, but was used during the HBO mini-series the Pacific.
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