Type 3 Light Tank, Ke-Ru

Overview

Type3 Light Tank 'Ke-Ru'
General Data
Type	Light Tank
Place of Origin	Empire of Japan
Designed	1943
Produced	1944
Number Built	~100
Development
Developed From	Type95 Light Tank Ha-Gō, Type97 Medium Tank Chi-Ha
Armament
Main Gun	57mm Type97
Traverse	360° manual
Elevation	-15° to +20° manual
Hull Mounted Gun	7.7x58mm Arisaka Type97 (shared 2970 rounds)
Guns in other locations	Turret, rear facing: 7.7x58mm Arisaka Type97 (shared 2970 rounds)
Defence
Armour Type	Bolting
Armour Layout	6 - 35mm
Misc Specs
Crew	3 (Commander, Driver, Hull Machine Gunner)
Dimensions
Weight	8400kg
Length	4.3m
Width	2m
Height	2m
Automotive
Engine	Mitsubishi NVD 6120
Power/Weight	14.28hp/t
Engine Characteristics	In6, 120hp@1800rpm
Transmission/Gearbox	Straight sliding gear, manual
Gears	4 forward, 1 reverse
Ground Clearance	0.39m
Fuel Capacity	164L of diesel
Fuel Consumption	Onroad: 66L/100km
Operational Range	Onroad: 250km
Speed	Onroad: 48km/h Offroad: 26km/h
Trench Crossing	2m
Maximum Fording Depth	1m
Suspension
Suspension	Bell crank
Maximum Grade	30 - 40° from horizontal
Vertical Obstacles	0.6m
Roadwheels	2 per bogie, 2 bogies (4)
Return Rollers	2 dual
Drive Sprocket	Front, dual
Idler Sprocket	Rear, dual
Track Type	Central guide, steel, dry pin
Pitch	101.6mm
Track Ground Contact	2.337m
Links	98
Steering System	Clutch brake
Track Width	251mm

The Type 3 Light Tank (三式軽戦車), known by the confidential name Ke-Ru (ケル) is a Japanese light tank developed in 1943, which was the result of equipping the Type95 Light Tank with the turret of the Type97 Medium Tank.

Naming

Due to the confusion of research in the past, this vehicle which was long held as Type4 Light Tank 'Ke-Nu' is actually Type 3 Ke-Ru. The real Type 4 Ke-Nu is a turret revision of the Type 2 Ke-To.

Variants

Experimental Type 95 Light Tank (?) Prototype. Type 95 Light Tank, Ha-Gō — Ke-Gō Standard light tank model. Type 95 Light Tank, Ha-Gō (Manchuria Suspension) — Ke-Gō Model with modified suspension to alleviate issues with driving through certain crop fields, a support roller was added to each bogie. Derivatives Type 100 Armoured Carrier, So-To Armoured personnel and munitions carrier. Type 100 Armoured Carrier, So-To (Type 94 37mm Anti-Tank Gun) (?) Makeshift conversion fitting a Type 94 37mm Anti-Tank Gun above the troop carrying compartment. Special Type 2 Launch, Ka-Mi Amphibious tank model. Experimental Type 3 Light Tank, Ke-Ri Prototype up-gunned model with a 57mm Type 90 cannon. Type 3 Light Tank, Ke-Ru Up-gunned model with the turret from the Type 97 Medium Tank, Chi-Ha. Erroneously known as Ke-Nu. Experimental Type 4 12cm Self-Propelled Gun, Ho-To (?) Prototype self-propelled gun model fitting a 120mm short field gun in an open superstructure. Experimental Type 5 4,7cm Self-Propelled Gun, Ho-Ru (?) Prototype (or planned) self-propelled gun model fitting a newer 47mm anti-tank gun in a superstructure. Foreign Thai Type 83 Ha-Gō operated by Thailand. Ha-Gō Bulldozer Post-war modification replacing the fighting compartment with a cabin and fitting a bulldozer blade. Ha-Gō Police Vehicle Post-war modification replacing a section of the fighting compartment with a raised superstructure.

Land Vehicles of Imperial Japan 1919 - 1945

Half-Track Vehicles
Combat	Amphibious Offensive	Chenilette St-Chamond M1921 • Inoma-Kaminishi • Sumida AMP
	Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun	Type 98 Ho-Ki SPAAG
Utility	Transport & Towing	Type95 Kurogane • Type98 Ho-Ki Prime Mover • Type1 Ho-Ha
	Amphibious Transport & Towing	Ishikawan Jime

Wheeled Vehicles
Combat	Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun	Type98 Ta-Se (truck)
	Self-Propelled Anti-Tank Gun	Nissan 80
	Armoured / Scout / Patrol Cars	Austin Model 1918 • British Crossley Mk I • Type92 Osaka • Type87 Armoured Car • Type3 Sumida • Type92 Chiyoda • Type92 Chokei Sensha • Type92 Kokusan
Utility	Transport & Towing	Nissan 180 • Nissan Model 97 • Toyota KB • Toyota KC • Type94 Truck • Type97 Truck • Type1 Truck • Type2 Truck
	Staff Cars	Nissan 70 • Toyota Syoki • Type92 Chiyoda • Model93 Staff Car • Model95 Kurogane • Nissan Model97 Staff Car • Type98 Staff Car
	Amphibious Transport & Towing	Su-Ki Amphibious Truck
	Motocycles	Model 97 Kurogane • Sanrinsha