Type 98 Ta-Se

The experimental Type 98 Ta-Se was a Japanese self-propelled anti-aircraft gun using a Type 98 20 mm anti-aircraft gun. It used the chassis of the Type 98 Ke-Ni light tank. It did not enter production.

Type 98 Ta-Se self-propelled anti-aircraft gun
Type	Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun
Place of origin	Empire of Japan
Production history
Designed	1938
Produced	1941[1]
No. built	1 prototype[2]
Specifications
Mass	22 tons
Length	4.78 m (15 ft 8 in)
Width	2.19 m (7 ft 2 in)
Height	2.58 m (8 ft 6 in)
Crew	5
Armor	6–16 mm
Main armament	Type 98 20 mm AA machine cannon[1]
Engine	petrol 130hp
Suspension	bellcrank
Operational range	300 km (190 mi)
Maximum speed	42 km/h (26 mph)

History and development

Side view of SPAAG Ki-To

During development of an AA gun tank, the Imperial Japanese Army experimented with various configurations. Prior to the Type 98 Ta-Se, an earlier prototype was produced that was known as the experimental Type 97 Ki-To self-propelled anti-aircraft gun. The original Type 97 Te-Ke tankette turret was removed, and a single Type 98 20 mm AA machine cannon was mounted on the modified chassis without a protective gun shield.^[3] It did not enter production.

Thereafter in November 1941, initial development began on a new prototype single gun AA tank that was designated the Type 98 Ta-Se self-propelled anti-aircraft gun.^[1][2] The name was taken from taikū ('anti-air') sensha ('tank'). The conventional turret was removed from the hull and a new open-top cylindrical shaped turret was installed. It was equipped with a single converted Type 98 20 mm AA machine cannon. During trials, it was determined that the chassis used for the Ta-Se was too small to be a stable "firing platform".^[1][2] It did not enter production.^[2]

Gallery

• 
  Front view of Type 98 Ta-Se
• 
  Side angle view of Type 98 Ta-Se

Twin gun version

After the Type 98 Ta-Se SPAAG was abandoned, a prototype known as the Type 98 20 mm AAG tank was produced using the Type 98 chassis. The gun tank was equipped with a modified twin Type 2 20 mm AA machine cannon mounted on a raised platform with a gun shield. It also did not enter mass production after testing.^[1][2]

See also

• Type 98 20 mm AA half-track vehicle
• 20 mm AA machine cannon carrier truck