With the kind correction of Mr Akira Takizawa (Taki)
In the 1920s, the Japanese industry was not yet able to develop its own models of armored cars, which is why it sought to acquire foreign models in order to accumulate experience. It naturally turned to the victorious countries of the First World War (France and England who had acquired a certain know-how in this field) and ordered either single chassis or complete vehicles.
The French attempts :
1- Renault armored car:
In 1928 IJA bought a Renault 6-wheel type MH 2,5 t truck and developed a modern armour around the vehicle. The vehicle had a drivers position in the bow and in the rear. Armament consited of a Type Taisho 3 6,5 mm MG in a conical turret. In 1929 several trials and tests were made at IJA Cavalry School. The vehicle was used in Manchuria in the cavalry 1st brigade automobile group for the last time.
2- St Chamond M21 armored wheel/track armored car:
In 1924, the Japanese Army (IJA) purchased a model of the 1921 St Chamond wheel-cum track armored car from France in order to test this new technology. The results were not considered satisfactory, in fact the change from the wheels to the tracks was done quickly in 10 min just by lifting the wheels, but the reverse was complicated because the wheel suspension was unable to lift the vehicle, so it was necessary to build a ramp, get the vehicle up on this ramp then lower the wheels without them coming into contact with the ground to be able to lock them and finally lower the vehicle from the ramp until the wheels touch the ground. In addition, the ramp had to be of sufficient size for the tracks but not too large so that the wheels did not touch it on the way down, and its sides were sufficiently reinforced to support the weight of the vehicle. In addition, in the raised position, the wheels obstructed the driver’s side vision. All these inconveniences led to the cancellation of subsequent purchases.
The British attempts :
1 – Sumida Wolseley :
In the second half of the 1920s, the Japanese general staff wanted to acquire an armored force for its armies with national equipment. In the field of armored cars, at that date, the Japanese army was equipped with some Austins and 3 vickers Crossley ordered in 1925. As the national means were limited, in particular in terms of chassis, It was necessary to look for an existing chassis and sufficiently tested, this is why, the army approached Ishikawajima which manufactured the trucks Wolseley CP. On this chassis, an armored body was adapted based on the Vickers Crossley which gave birth to the Wolseley Sumida armored car also called simple armored car or Wolseley armored car. It was the first domestic armored car. We do not know how many copies were built, we can see a maximum of five in the photos, these vehicles were received in 1928 by the army. The armament consisted of a single 6.5 mm Taisho 3 machine gun. The first mentions of this armored car come from an exercise of cavalry units around Mount Fuji in 1930. The five armored cars were sent to Manchuria (with one Crossley) during the invasion of 1931 but did not give excellent results, indeed the weight of 4.2t was a bit exaggerated for a chassis of 1.5t, and the engine of 30 CV was too anemic to properly propel a weight of 4.2t. The last mention of their existence dates from the mid-thirties and it is likely that they were quickly withdrawn from active service in favor of newer vehicles (Chiyoda). However, this first national attempt served as a working basis for Japanese engineers to design future models more suited to the demands of the army.
Data:
vehicles built: at least 5
battle weight: 4,2 t
crew: 3 men
armor 6 mm
length: 5562mm
width: 1892 mm
height: 2615 mm
power: 30 hp
maximum speed: 40 km/h forward, 8 km/h reverse
range: 200 km
Power/weight ratio: 7,1 hp/t
armament: 1 X Type Taisho 3 6,5 mm MG
2-Vickers Crossley:
In 1923 Crossley supplied a number of chassis to Vickers at Crayford to be fitted with armoured car superstructure. Completed vehicles were sold to India (approx 100) and exported in certain countries including 12 for Japan. The contract was signed in 1925 with 3 copies for the army (IJA) and 9 copies for the navy (IJN) under the type designation 2587 Crossley. The body had a turret fitted with two 0.303 machine-guns and a « clamshell » opening for the commander. The dome shape was intended to deflect rifle shots. The side doors on either side opened opposite ways to provide cover for a crew member getting out while under fire. The crew area was lined with asbestos to keep the temperature down and the entire body could be electrified to keep large crowds at bay. Solid tyres were fitted and the complete vehicle weighed around 7.5 tons.
The Japanese army, in April 1928, sent two of these copies to China, in the Japanese garrison of Tianjin and in July of the same year the last copy was sent to the Kwantung army with two Wolseley armored cars. During the invasion of Manhuria in 1931, these vehicles participated in the operation.
The other 9 vehicles were received in 1928 by the imperial navy and sent to the NLF guard detachment of Shanghai where they took part in the fighting from January – May 1932 and where some were damaged. It can be noted that all the photos of this period show Crossley khakis with navy flag (at this time, sun centered or off-centered sun were navy vehicles, Army vehicles didn’t wear any bages) on the sides, with turret without white circling before the fighting in January 1932 or with white circling during the fighting (aerial reconnaissance ?), numbered from 1 to 9 (which corresponds to the 9 IJN vehicles). Subsequently, we find these armored cars with the modified imperial navy flag only (off-centered sun), without the white turret circling and we see no more than eight in total on the photos. We also find these armored cars during the second battle of Shanghai in 1937. The color is khaki for 1932 and still khaki (or gray) when they display the IJN flag after 1932.
To summarize:
– before 1932: khaki with IJN (first model) flag
– during the fighting of 1932: khaki with white circle on the turret and IJN flag
– after 1932: khaki (or gray) with IJN flag
Note that the IJN version tires were made of rigid rubber.
Note that in August 1945, the Shanghai garrison still had a working copy.
vehicles bought: 12
battle weight: 4,85 t
crew: 4 men
armor 4 – 5,5 mm
length: 5020mm
width: 1870 mm
height: 2580 mm
engine: Crossley 4-cylinder inline gasoline
power: 50 hp
maximum speed: 64 km/h forward, 8 km/h reverse
range: 200 km
Power/weight ratio: 11,1 hp/t
armament: 2 X 7,7 mm Vickers MG
IJA
IJN NLF before 1932
IJN NLF 1932
IJN SNLF after 1932
