Description

Hi-Ro is a Japanese tank destroyer concept based on the Shi-Ro tank chassis. According to its blueprint, this tank destroyer was supposed to be equipped with a 140 mm gun, and its superstructure was positioned at the rear, similar to the Ho-Ri tank destroyer. Unfortunately, this tank never reached the prototype stage and only existed on paper.

History

At the same time the Shi-Ro prototype was being tested, the same person designed a tank destroyer variant of the Shi-Ro and submitted the blueprint to Hirohito. However, by that time, Japan had already surrendered to the Allies, leading to the project's abandonment.

Specifications

Type: Tank Destroyer

Weight: 60-64 tons

Length: 6.9 meters (10.8 meters with main gun)

Width: 3.42 meters (3.44 meters with side skirts)

Height: 2.43 meters

Crew: 5 (Commander, Gunner, Driver, Radio Operator, Loader)

Armor

Hull:

1. Upper glacis: 170 mm @62° = 362 mm

2. Lower glacis: 100 mm @60° = 200 mm

3. Upper side plate: 130 mm @30° = 150 mm

4. Lower side plate: 100 mm

5. Rear plate: 82 mm

6. Side skirt thickness: 10 mm

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Casemate

1. Frontal plate: 267 mm @18° = 282 mm

2. Side plate: 130 mm @30° = 150 mm

3. Rear plate: 92 mm

4. Gun mantlet: 250 mm

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Main Armament:

14 cm Type 96 L/55 Cannon
Can fire the following shells:

1.APCBC

2.HE

Penetration

APCBC can penetrate 360 mm of armor, weighs 40 kg, and has a muzzle velocity of 960 m/s.

Secondary Armament:

None

Performance:

Max speed: 53 km/h

This tank was also planned to be equipped with an Assisted Loading Mechanism, reducing it reload time to 11 seconds.