California State Military Department
The California State Military Museum
Preserving California's Military Heritage
Camp San Luis Obispo
Japanese Type 97b "Te-Ke" Tankette
 
 
 
 
 
The Type 97 Te-Ke was the main battle tank of the Imperial Japanese army at the beginning of World War II. It was developed to provide direct support for the army's infantry force. Prior to the outbreak of the Second World War the Mk.1 was Japan's primary battle tank. With Imperial expansionist visions rapidly moving toward fruition, the need for a more reliable and versatile replacement became necessary. Early armor development focused primarily on the Type 97 medium tank platform. This single platform concept proved impossible given the varied weather and terrain conditions encountered by increasing theater of Japanese operations. The 97-type initially mounted a 37mm Mountain Gun. This proved to be less than ideal. the Mountain Gun proved unable to provide adequate infantry support and was also unable to contend with increasingly well armored and equipped enemy armor. The thickness of armor being only maximum 25mm was demonstrated to be wholly inadequate when the Japanese engaged the Russian army at Nomonnha. The Type 97 tank therefore only truly able to contend with the weak guerrillas (the Chinese army in those days) and the colony garrisons (the ground army of each province in Asia at the outbreak of the war). The diesel engine proved to have been an excellent choice however. A diesel engine has the characteristics that it doesn't catch fire easily when a bullet hits it. Diesel engines also have a low rate of fuel consumption (thus leaving more gasoline available which was the fuel that the aircraft required). The Type 97 Te-Ke which saw service from 1938 to 1945, was actually obsolete by the beginning of the war.
 
The model on display mounted a single Type 97 7.7mm machine gun in lieu of the 37mm Mountain Gun.
 

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