japanese heavy transport trailers

[tom!]

Hi.

I´d like to start a series of articles on very less known japanese equipment. This is part 1:

During the russo-japanese war 1904/05 the japanese army realised that there was a lack of heavy artillery avaliable for attacks on fortresses and heavy field fortifications. This lead to the decision to introduce a heavy fortress howitzer which could be disassembled for transport.

In 1912 the type Meiji 45 240 mm howitzer was introduced.



The gun could be disassembled in 8 loads which had to be transported by horse or trucks. As the loads were heavy (up to 6 t) transport was problematic especially as most roads were in bad shape. Cross-country transport was even more problematic. So the guns were rated only semi-transportable.

In the late 1920th large efforts were made to mechanise the army. This includes also mechanisation of heavy artillery pieces like the type Meiji 45 240 mm howitzers and the type Taisho 7 305 mm howitzers.

In 1933 the type 92 8t prime mover for loads up to 7t was introduced. With this vehicle the transport of the type Meiji 45 howitzer on many terrains became possible.



The next step was to develop a standardised heavy loads trailer with compareable cross-country abilities. This was done until 1934.

Yours

tom!

[tom!]

Hi.

In 1934 the type 94 heavy trailer was introduced.



On the rear two fixed tracks were used. The two frontal tracks were mounted turnable for steering. Both track systems were not propelled.

Special superstructures for the gun loads were also introduced allowing a ballanced transport of the heavy parts. A crane could be mounted on the frontal part.



Due to the massive tracks the type 92 prime mover was only able to tow empty trailers. In 1935 the type 95 13t prime movers were introduced. These heavy vehicles were able to tow the fully loaded trailers (32 t maximum weight) on roads with a maximum speed of 15 km/h. For cross-country transport two prime movers had to be used but due to the tracks the cross-country abilities were good enough to use the guns in the field.



Yours

tom!

[tom!]

Hi.

Some pictures of the type Taisho 7 305 mm howitzer loaded on type 94 heavy trailers:


barrel



recoil mechanism



lafette



turning ring and babette

Yours

tom!

[tom!]

Hi.

As the tracked trailers had a heavy weight and the cross-country abilities were somewhat limited to the high ground preassure of the tracks a new trailer was developed in the late 1930th.

In 1941 the new type 1 heavy trailer was introduced.



Main difference was the use of wheels instead of tracks. In the back four pairs of wheels were installed to divide the weight. In the front two pairs were mounted turnable. The wheels were made of steel with a rubber band shrinked on to minimize vibrations. Due to a diameter of 83 cm the center of gravity was much lower than on the type 94 trailers giving a higher stability.



The type 1 heavy trailers were used for the type Meiji 45 140 mm howitzer, the type Taisho 7 305 mm howitzer, the type 3 120 mm aa-gun and also to transport heavy loads between factories.


barrel and recoil mechanism of the type 3 120 mm aa-gun

Yours

tom!

[tom!]

Hi.

Some pictures of the type Meiji 45 240 mm howitzer loaded on type 1 heavy trailers:



barrel and recoil mechanism



lafette



gun shields and accessories



ammunition


Yours

tom!

[tom!]

Hi.

In the mid 1930th new heavy artillery pieces were developed and introduced. The parts of this guns were transported on specially designed trailers to minimise the assembly time. This trailers consisted of wo pairs of steel wheels mounted below a steel frame. The superstructure differed with the loads


barrel trailer of the type 96 150 mm heavy gun



lafette trailer of the type 96 150 mm heavy gun



traverse rails of the type 96 150 mm heavy gun



lafette trailer of the typ 96 240 mm howitzer


The end.


Yours

tom!

[Kyt]

Great photos Tom. Do you have any operational history(s) of the equipment. Where it was used, etc. I'd especially like to know whether any was available on the Pacific islands and/or Burma.

[tom!]

Hi.

From Taki´s website:

THE HISTORY OF BATTLES OF IMPERIAL JAPANESE ARTILLERY FORCES

Hope this helps.

Yours

tom!

[Kyt]

Thanks Tom. I've visited that site before but not for some time, and not that particular page. Great summary.