Difference between revisions of "Chi-To Late"

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Similar to the Chi-To, the tank's mobility is only average with average armour and a decent gun. Like most Japanese tanks in Rank III, it is most effective as a sniper due to its thin armour, low turret traverse, and good gun depression. Sticking to the rear and letting heavier units advance is most ideal, however, this is not always possible and you will need to push with your team on the front at times. At times like this, play cautiously and stick to cover, as your thin side armour, poor hull traverse, and poor turret traverse can result in you easily being flanked. The lack of APC rounds like all Japanese guns gives the tank poor performance when fighting heavily sloped armour like the [[T-34-57|T-34's]] or [[IS-1|IS's]], and ricochets will be a common occurrence. It is best to aim for flat spots of armour where you will easily penetrate and let the HE filler do the rest.
 
Similar to the Chi-To, the tank's mobility is only average with average armour and a decent gun. Like most Japanese tanks in Rank III, it is most effective as a sniper due to its thin armour, low turret traverse, and good gun depression. Sticking to the rear and letting heavier units advance is most ideal, however, this is not always possible and you will need to push with your team on the front at times. At times like this, play cautiously and stick to cover, as your thin side armour, poor hull traverse, and poor turret traverse can result in you easily being flanked. The lack of APC rounds like all Japanese guns gives the tank poor performance when fighting heavily sloped armour like the [[T-34-57|T-34's]] or [[IS-1|IS's]], and ricochets will be a common occurrence. It is best to aim for flat spots of armour where you will easily penetrate and let the HE filler do the rest.
  
A more armoured tank than the Chi-To before it, the Chi-To Late is a bit more forgiving. Like many Japanese tanks of Rank III, the Chi-To Late possesses the [[Type II Model II (75 mm)|Type II Model II 75 mm gun]] that allows it to penetrate nearly everything it fights with decent consistency. The high muzzle velocity, above average pen against flat and gently sloped armour, good gun depression and good explosive filler make the tank a good sniper in most cases. However, unlike the Chi-To, the sloped armour and smaller, symmetrical turret design make the tank more capable in a brawling situation where you are more likely to get hit.
+
A more armoured tank than the Chi-To before it, the Chi-To Late is a bit more forgiving. Like many Japanese tanks of Rank III, the Chi-To Late possesses the [[Type II Model II (75 mm)|Type II Model II 75 mm gun]] that allows it to penetrate nearly everything it fights with decent consistency. The high muzzle velocity, above average penetration against flat and gently sloped armour, good gun depression and good explosive filler make the tank a good sniper in most cases. However, unlike the Chi-To, the sloped armour and smaller, symmetrical turret design make the tank more capable in a brawling situation where you are more likely to get hit.
  
 
In terms of raw thickness, the armour is the same. However the Chi-To Late's hull armour is roughly equivalent to that of the [[KV-1 (L-11)]] frontally and therefore is fairly safe from many guns beneath its battle rating such as the [[M3 (75 mm)|75 mm  M3]], [[Ordnance QF 6-pounder Mk.V (57 mm)|57 mm QF 6-pdr]], and [[F-34 (76 mm)|76 mm F-34]]. Guns of its rank such as the [[M1 (76 mm)|76 mm M1]], [[KwK40 L48 (75 mm)|KwK40 L48]], [[D-5T (85 mm)|85 mm D-5T]], or the [[Ordnance QF 17-pounder (76 mm)|76 mm QF 17-pdr]] will not struggle with its armour however, so you should not push as if your armour is effective as such.
 
In terms of raw thickness, the armour is the same. However the Chi-To Late's hull armour is roughly equivalent to that of the [[KV-1 (L-11)]] frontally and therefore is fairly safe from many guns beneath its battle rating such as the [[M3 (75 mm)|75 mm  M3]], [[Ordnance QF 6-pounder Mk.V (57 mm)|57 mm QF 6-pdr]], and [[F-34 (76 mm)|76 mm F-34]]. Guns of its rank such as the [[M1 (76 mm)|76 mm M1]], [[KwK40 L48 (75 mm)|KwK40 L48]], [[D-5T (85 mm)|85 mm D-5T]], or the [[Ordnance QF 17-pounder (76 mm)|76 mm QF 17-pdr]] will not struggle with its armour however, so you should not push as if your armour is effective as such.
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{{main|Type II Model II (75 mm)}}
 
{{main|Type II Model II (75 mm)}}
  
The 7.5 cm Tank Gun Type II Model II performs very well at 4.7, and there are seldom any targets that can bounce the Type 4 Kou APHE shell from the front of their armour. It also has decent reloading and great explosive filler, meaning that shots that penetrate will either inflict heavy damage or result in a one-shot.
+
The 7.5 cm Tank Gun Type II Model II performs very well at this BR, and there are seldom any targets that can bounce the Type 4 Kou APHE shell from the front of their armour. It also has decent reloading and great explosive filler, meaning that shots that penetrate will either inflict heavy damage or result in a knock-out.
  
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
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Against most heavies such as the [[IS-1]]/[[IS-2|2]], [[Tiger H1|Tiger]], or [[Panther D|Panther]], it is only worthwhile to engage if you are already entrenched in a solid defensive position. Your gun's lack of APCBC gives you poor performance against slopes and rounded armour on the IS, Panther, and angled Tigers, making any ranged engagement near useless. Against tanks such as the [[M4A3E2|Jumbo 75]] or [[M4A3E2 (76) W|76]], it is best to disengage and flank them or have teammates flank them. Against all other medium tanks, shots to the hull will suffice at most range.
 
Against most heavies such as the [[IS-1]]/[[IS-2|2]], [[Tiger H1|Tiger]], or [[Panther D|Panther]], it is only worthwhile to engage if you are already entrenched in a solid defensive position. Your gun's lack of APCBC gives you poor performance against slopes and rounded armour on the IS, Panther, and angled Tigers, making any ranged engagement near useless. Against tanks such as the [[M4A3E2|Jumbo 75]] or [[M4A3E2 (76) W|76]], it is best to disengage and flank them or have teammates flank them. Against all other medium tanks, shots to the hull will suffice at most range.
  
The M4A3E2 Jumbo could be a menace if not handled properly as they are nigh impenetrable from the front due to its thick armour. Either try for a very precise shot through the MG port in the front or shoot the armour behind the tracks if they are angled. The best way to deal with a Sherman Jumbo is to shoot it through the side or between the side plate and the tracks. There is a small gap between the top of the tracks and the bottom of the side plate that can be easily penetrated by the Chi-To Late, and a successful penetration here usually results in a one-shot, or a destroyed/alight engine. This weak spot is relatively easy to exploit as most Jumbo drivers make the mistake of angling their armour, which gives you full view of this weak spot. If you are struggling to hit it, then a shot through the drive wheel at an angle of 45º or more usually works quite well also. You should feel no pressure to get this right the first time, as a well-angled Chi-To Late can reliably bounce the Jumbo's shells, unless the Jumbo in question happens to be sporting the 76mm M1A1 cannon.
+
The M4A3E2 Jumbo could be a menace if not handled properly as they are nigh impenetrable from the front due to its thick armour. Either try for a very precise shot through the MG port in the front or shoot the armour behind the tracks if they are angled. The best way to deal with a Sherman Jumbo is to shoot it through the side or between the side plate and the tracks. There is a small gap between the top of the tracks and the bottom of the side plate that can be easily penetrated by the Chi-To Late, and a successful penetration here usually results in a knock-out, or a destroyed/alight engine. This weak spot is relatively easy to exploit as most Jumbo drivers make the mistake of angling their armour, which gives you full view of this weak spot. If you are struggling to hit it, then a shot through the drive wheel at an angle of 45º or more usually works quite well also. You should feel no pressure to get this right the first time, as a well-angled Chi-To Late can reliably bounce the Jumbo's shells, unless the Jumbo in question happens to be sporting the 76 mm M1A1 cannon.
  
The IS series of tanks can also be a bit of a bother to deal with. At this battle rating, you may find the IS-1, IS-2 or IS-2 mod. 1944 (rare). However, they can be defeated by exploiting the shot trap on the turret front (requires some luck), shooting the driver's hatch on the front or the gun mantlet (requires extreme precision and luck), shooting the lower frontal plate (the most reliable way to kill an IS) or shooting the frontal armour plate from a 90º angle. That being said, your tank can still one-shot the IS series you'll face by shooting directly beneath the turret ring.
+
The IS series of tanks can also be a bit of a bother to deal with. At this battle rating, you may find the IS-1, IS-2 or IS-2 mod. 1944 (rare). However, they can be defeated by exploiting the shot trap on the turret front (requires some luck), shooting the driver's hatch on the front or the gun mantlet (requires extreme precision and luck), shooting the lower frontal plate (the most reliable way to kill an IS) or shooting the frontal armour plate from a 90º angle. That being said, your tank can still knock out the IS series you'll face by shooting directly beneath the turret ring.
  
You may encounter the German "Big Cat" tanks (Tiger H1, Tiger E, Panther D, Panther A) if you get seriously up tiered. In this case the best thing you can do is hit them from the side, which usually results in a one-shot. If facing a Tiger (or any German Big Cat for that matter) from the front, you should retreat. However, if his frontal plate is not angled, then it might be worth a shot to shoot between the machine gun port and driver's hatch, which will result in a one-shot. As for the panther, try to exploit the shot trap on the turret, but only as a last resort. Your first port of call should be to shoot the drive wheel, basically following the same tactics you'd use for dealing with a Sherman Jumbo.
+
You may encounter the German "Big Cat" tanks (Tiger H1, Tiger E, Panther D, Panther A) if you get seriously up tiered. In this case the best thing you can do is hit them from the side, which usually results in a knock-out. If facing a Tiger (or any German Big Cat for that matter) from the front, you should retreat. However, if his frontal plate is not angled, then it might be worth a shot to shoot between the machine gun port and driver's hatch, which will result in a knock-out. As for the panther, try to exploit the shot trap on the turret, but only as a last resort. Your first port of call should be to shoot the drive wheel, basically following the same tactics you'd use for dealing with a Sherman Jumbo.
  
 
As for some other enemies:
 
As for some other enemies:
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* [[M6A1]]: the frontal armour on this thing can be a bit fiddly. Aim for a spot that doesn't seem to have more than one armour plate layered on it.
 
* [[M6A1]]: the frontal armour on this thing can be a bit fiddly. Aim for a spot that doesn't seem to have more than one armour plate layered on it.
  
Most tanks you face can penetrate you frontally if they shoot your frontal plate when it is not angled. It is recommended to get the first shot off and then retreat, and make a second surprise attack. Most of the time, a penetration results in a one-shot with this tank. You can penetrate pretty much any medium or light tank frontally by shooting the upper front plate, so use that to your advantage.
+
Most tanks you face can penetrate you frontally if they shoot your frontal plate when it is not angled. It is recommended to get the first shot off and then retreat, and make a second surprise attack. Most of the time, a penetration results in a knock-out with this tank. You can penetrate pretty much any medium or light tank frontally by shooting the upper front plate, so use that to your advantage.
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
Line 152: Line 152:
 
'''Pros:'''
 
'''Pros:'''
  
* Sloped hull armour, a first in Japan tank designs, roughly equivalent to the hull of a KV-1 frontally and can withstand several lower-rank guns.
+
* Sloped hull armour, a first in Japan tank designs, roughly equivalent to the hull of a KV-1 frontally and can withstand several lower-rank guns
* 75 mm Tank Gun Type 5 has good muzzle velocity, penetration, and filler.
+
* 75 mm Tank Gun Type 5 has good muzzle velocity, penetration, and filler
* Good gun depression.
+
* Good gun depression
* Smaller turret than the Chi-To.
+
* Smaller turret than the Chi-To
* Good reverse speed.
+
* Good reverse speed
* Thickest side armour of all Japanese tanks tied with the Chi-Ri II at 35mm. Resistant to .50 cals.
+
* Thickest side armour of all Japanese tanks tied with the Chi-Ri II at 35 mm. Resistant to .50 cal rounds
* Symmetrical turret placement and gun placement in the turret, no odd angles of fire like the Chi-To.
+
* Symmetrical turret placement and gun placement in the turret, no odd angles of fire like the Chi-To
* Great penetration and explosive filler, a successful penetration usually results in a one-shot.
+
* Great penetration and explosive filler, a successful penetration usually results in a knock-out
* 42 km/h top speed is quite respectable.
+
* 42 km/h top speed is quite respectable
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
  
 
* Poor turret traverse.
 
* Poor turret traverse.
* Average acceleration and mobility, easily beat by Pz.IVs, Shermans, and T-34s.
+
* Average acceleration and mobility, easily beat by Pz.IVs, Shermans, and T-34s
* Hull cheeks make angling difficult.
+
* Hull cheeks make angling difficult
* Turret armour is no different from Chi-To, still easily penetrated by any gun it can see.
+
* Turret armour is no different from Chi-To, still easily penetrated by any gun it can see
* Lack of APCBC round gives poor performance versus sloped armour. Expect ricochets against Russians and Americans.
+
* Lack of APCBC round gives poor performance versus sloped armour. Expect ricochets against Soviets and Americans
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==

Revision as of 23:33, 27 February 2023

This page is about the Japanese medium tank Chi-To Late. For the early version, see Chi-To.
Chi-To Late
jp_type_4_chi_to_late.png
GarageImage Chi-To Late.jpg
ArtImage Chi-To Late.png
Chi-To Late
AB RB SB
4.7 4.7 4.7
Class:
Research:20 000 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:135 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png

Description

The Type 4 Chi-To Late (四式中戦車 「チト」量産型) is a rank III Japanese medium tank with a battle rating of 4.7 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.69 "Regia Aeronautica". It is an improvement over the original Chi-To with a more sloped hull for better protection.

Similar to the Chi-To, the tank's mobility is only average with average armour and a decent gun. Like most Japanese tanks in Rank III, it is most effective as a sniper due to its thin armour, low turret traverse, and good gun depression. Sticking to the rear and letting heavier units advance is most ideal, however, this is not always possible and you will need to push with your team on the front at times. At times like this, play cautiously and stick to cover, as your thin side armour, poor hull traverse, and poor turret traverse can result in you easily being flanked. The lack of APC rounds like all Japanese guns gives the tank poor performance when fighting heavily sloped armour like the T-34's or IS's, and ricochets will be a common occurrence. It is best to aim for flat spots of armour where you will easily penetrate and let the HE filler do the rest.

A more armoured tank than the Chi-To before it, the Chi-To Late is a bit more forgiving. Like many Japanese tanks of Rank III, the Chi-To Late possesses the Type II Model II 75 mm gun that allows it to penetrate nearly everything it fights with decent consistency. The high muzzle velocity, above average penetration against flat and gently sloped armour, good gun depression and good explosive filler make the tank a good sniper in most cases. However, unlike the Chi-To, the sloped armour and smaller, symmetrical turret design make the tank more capable in a brawling situation where you are more likely to get hit.

In terms of raw thickness, the armour is the same. However the Chi-To Late's hull armour is roughly equivalent to that of the KV-1 (L-11) frontally and therefore is fairly safe from many guns beneath its battle rating such as the 75 mm M3, 57 mm QF 6-pdr, and 76 mm F-34. Guns of its rank such as the 76 mm M1, KwK40 L48, 85 mm D-5T, or the 76 mm QF 17-pdr will not struggle with its armour however, so you should not push as if your armour is effective as such.

General info

Survivability and armour

Armourfront / side / back
Hull75 / 35 / 35
Turret75 / 50 / 50
Crew5 people
Visibility88 %

Armour is as good as Japanese medium tanks will get. It can bounce most guns of Rank III and below if you angle your armour well enough (~35-45º), but long-barrelled guns (such as those mentioned above) will have no trouble getting through you.

Armour type:

  • Rolled homogeneous armour
  • Cast homogeneous armour (Gun mantlet)
Armour Front Sides Rear Roof
Hull 75 mm (36°) Front plate
20 mm (77°) Front glacis
20-75 mm (15-57°) Lower glacis
50 mm (31°) Hull cheeks
35 mm (30°) Top
35 mm Bottom
35 mm 20 mm
Turret 75 mm (16°) Turret front
50 mm (11°) Gun mantlet
50 mm (9°) 50 mm (1°) 20 mm
Cupola 75 mm 75 mm 75 mm 20 mm

Notes:

  • Suspension wheels are 15 mm thick while tracks are 20 mm thick.
  • Belly armour is 20 mm thick.
  • Small bars of RHA exist around the lower side hull, giving an extra 10 mm at their locations.

Mobility

Speedforward / back
AB50 / 10 km/h
RB and SB45 / 9 km/h
Number of gears8 forward
2 back
Weight30.5 t
Engine power
AB954 hp
RB and SB500 hp
Power-to-weight ratio
AB31.3 hp/t
RB and SB16.4 hp/t
Game Mode Max Speed (km/h) Weight (tons) Engine power (horsepower) Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
Forward Reverse Stock Upgraded Stock Upgraded
Arcade 50 10 30.5 620 954 20.33 31.28
Realistic 45 9 354 500 11.61 16.39

The mobility of the Chi-To Late is decent. It will get you to where you need reasonably quickly, and the top speed is respectable. The turning speed and acceleration leaves much to be desired, but isn't terrible overall.

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference
AB1 582 → 2 036 Sl icon.png
RB1 865 → 2 400 Sl icon.png
SB2 312 → 2 975 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications35 000 Rp icon.png
68 000 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost1 300 Ge icon.png
Crew training39 000 Sl icon.png
Experts135 000 Sl icon.png
Aces550 Ge icon.png
Research Aces390 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
80 / 130 / 160 % Sl icon.png
154 / 154 / 154 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Mobility Protection Firepower
Mods new tank traks.png
Tracks
Research:
2 300 Rp icon.png
Cost:
4 500 Sl icon.png
145 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank suspension.png
Suspension
Research:
1 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
3 100 Sl icon.png
100 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank break.png
Brake System
Research:
1 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
3 100 Sl icon.png
100 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank filter.png
Filters
Research:
2 900 Rp icon.png
Cost:
5 600 Sl icon.png
180 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank transmission.png
Transmission
Research:
3 800 Rp icon.png
Cost:
7 400 Sl icon.png
240 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank engine.png
Engine
Research:
3 800 Rp icon.png
Cost:
7 400 Sl icon.png
240 Ge icon.png
Mods tank tool kit.png
Improved Parts
Research:
2 300 Rp icon.png
Cost:
4 500 Sl icon.png
145 Ge icon.png
Mods extinguisher.png
Improved FPE
Research:
1 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
3 100 Sl icon.png
100 Ge icon.png
Mods tank reinforcement jp.png
Crew Replenishment
Research:
2 900 Rp icon.png
Cost:
5 600 Sl icon.png
180 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank horizontal aiming.png
Horizontal Drive
Research:
2 300 Rp icon.png
Cost:
4 500 Sl icon.png
145 Ge icon.png
Mods tank cannon.png
Adjustment of Fire
Research:
1 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
3 100 Sl icon.png
100 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
75mm_type4_APHE_ammo_pack
Research:
1 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
3 100 Sl icon.png
100 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank vertical aiming.png
Elevation Mechanism
Research:
2 900 Rp icon.png
Cost:
5 600 Sl icon.png
180 Ge icon.png
Mods art support.png
Artillery Support
Research:
3 800 Rp icon.png
Cost:
7 400 Sl icon.png
240 Ge icon.png

Armaments

Main armament

Ammunition55 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
8.4 → 6.5 s
Vertical guidance-10° / 20°

The 7.5 cm Tank Gun Type II Model II performs very well at this BR, and there are seldom any targets that can bounce the Type 4 Kou APHE shell from the front of their armour. It also has decent reloading and great explosive filler, meaning that shots that penetrate will either inflict heavy damage or result in a knock-out.

75 mm Type II Model II Turret rotation speed (°/s) Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode Capacity Vertical Horizontal Stabilizer Stock Upgraded Full Expert Aced Stock Full Expert Aced
Arcade 55 -10°/+20° ±180° N/A 12.1 16.7 20.3 22.5 23.9 8.45 7.48 6.89 6.50
Realistic 7.6 8.9 10.8 11.9 12.7

Ammunition

Penetration statistics
Ammunition Type of
warhead
Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
10 m 100 m 500 m 1,000 m 1,500 m 2,000 m
Type 1 APHE APHE 149 146 133 118 105 93
Type 4 Kou APHE 151 148 137 124 112 101
Type 90 HE HE 17 17 15 14 12 11
Shell details
Ammunition Type of
warhead
Velocity
(m/s)
Projectile
mass (kg)
Fuse delay
(m)
Fuse sensitivity
(mm)
Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (g)
Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
Type 1 APHE APHE 865 6.56 1.3 15 84.8 47° 60° 65°
Type 4 Kou APHE 865 6.75 1.2 14 80.64 47° 60° 65°
Type 90 HE HE 830 6.17 0.2 0.1 490 79° 80° 81°

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the Chi-To Late
Full
ammo
1st
rack empty
2nd
rack empty
3rd
rack empty
4th
rack empty
5th
rack empty
6th
rack empty
Visual
discrepancy
55 41 (+14) 35 (+20) 29 (+26) 23 (+32) 11 (+44) (+54) No

Note:

  • Turret and sides empty: 23 (+32) shells.

Machine guns

Ammunition3 000 rounds
Belt capacity20 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
3.9 → 3.0 s
Fire rate499 shots/min
Ammunition1 000 rounds
Belt capacity20 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
3.9 → 3.0 s
Fire rate499 shots/min
Main article: Type 97 (7.7 mm)
7.7 mm Type 97
Mount Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal
Pintle 1,000 (20) 499 -10°/+70° ±60°
Hull 3,000 (20) 499 ±8° ±8°

Usage in battles

As previously stated, the Chi-To Late best performs in the role of sniper, engaging hulldown at medium to long range against opposing medium tanks. The good gun depression, average mobility, and good reverse speed allow you to make it to good positions at an average pace and allow you to reverse back into cover when reloading.

Against most heavies such as the IS-1/2, Tiger, or Panther, it is only worthwhile to engage if you are already entrenched in a solid defensive position. Your gun's lack of APCBC gives you poor performance against slopes and rounded armour on the IS, Panther, and angled Tigers, making any ranged engagement near useless. Against tanks such as the Jumbo 75 or 76, it is best to disengage and flank them or have teammates flank them. Against all other medium tanks, shots to the hull will suffice at most range.

The M4A3E2 Jumbo could be a menace if not handled properly as they are nigh impenetrable from the front due to its thick armour. Either try for a very precise shot through the MG port in the front or shoot the armour behind the tracks if they are angled. The best way to deal with a Sherman Jumbo is to shoot it through the side or between the side plate and the tracks. There is a small gap between the top of the tracks and the bottom of the side plate that can be easily penetrated by the Chi-To Late, and a successful penetration here usually results in a knock-out, or a destroyed/alight engine. This weak spot is relatively easy to exploit as most Jumbo drivers make the mistake of angling their armour, which gives you full view of this weak spot. If you are struggling to hit it, then a shot through the drive wheel at an angle of 45º or more usually works quite well also. You should feel no pressure to get this right the first time, as a well-angled Chi-To Late can reliably bounce the Jumbo's shells, unless the Jumbo in question happens to be sporting the 76 mm M1A1 cannon.

The IS series of tanks can also be a bit of a bother to deal with. At this battle rating, you may find the IS-1, IS-2 or IS-2 mod. 1944 (rare). However, they can be defeated by exploiting the shot trap on the turret front (requires some luck), shooting the driver's hatch on the front or the gun mantlet (requires extreme precision and luck), shooting the lower frontal plate (the most reliable way to kill an IS) or shooting the frontal armour plate from a 90º angle. That being said, your tank can still knock out the IS series you'll face by shooting directly beneath the turret ring.

You may encounter the German "Big Cat" tanks (Tiger H1, Tiger E, Panther D, Panther A) if you get seriously up tiered. In this case the best thing you can do is hit them from the side, which usually results in a knock-out. If facing a Tiger (or any German Big Cat for that matter) from the front, you should retreat. However, if his frontal plate is not angled, then it might be worth a shot to shoot between the machine gun port and driver's hatch, which will result in a knock-out. As for the panther, try to exploit the shot trap on the turret, but only as a last resort. Your first port of call should be to shoot the drive wheel, basically following the same tactics you'd use for dealing with a Sherman Jumbo.

As for some other enemies:

  • Churchill VII: do not engage from the front at all. Sneak around to the side and shoot there.
  • ARL-44: shoot the sides. It's not worth facing this tank head on, it's too much of a risk.
  • ARL-44 (ACL-1): aim for the turret if you face this tank from the front, then finish it from the sides. Be careful not to get shot.
  • M6A1: the frontal armour on this thing can be a bit fiddly. Aim for a spot that doesn't seem to have more than one armour plate layered on it.

Most tanks you face can penetrate you frontally if they shoot your frontal plate when it is not angled. It is recommended to get the first shot off and then retreat, and make a second surprise attack. Most of the time, a penetration results in a knock-out with this tank. You can penetrate pretty much any medium or light tank frontally by shooting the upper front plate, so use that to your advantage.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Sloped hull armour, a first in Japan tank designs, roughly equivalent to the hull of a KV-1 frontally and can withstand several lower-rank guns
  • 75 mm Tank Gun Type 5 has good muzzle velocity, penetration, and filler
  • Good gun depression
  • Smaller turret than the Chi-To
  • Good reverse speed
  • Thickest side armour of all Japanese tanks tied with the Chi-Ri II at 35 mm. Resistant to .50 cal rounds
  • Symmetrical turret placement and gun placement in the turret, no odd angles of fire like the Chi-To
  • Great penetration and explosive filler, a successful penetration usually results in a knock-out
  • 42 km/h top speed is quite respectable

Cons:

  • Poor turret traverse.
  • Average acceleration and mobility, easily beat by Pz.IVs, Shermans, and T-34s
  • Hull cheeks make angling difficult
  • Turret armour is no different from Chi-To, still easily penetrated by any gun it can see
  • Lack of APCBC round gives poor performance versus sloped armour. Expect ricochets against Soviets and Americans

History

Development

The lacklustre performance of Japanese tanks in World War II called for the development of newer medium tanks in the Imperial Japanese Army. The standard tank of the time was the Type 97 Chi-Ha, which has its chassis used in many expedient models to provide a bigger gun for the Japanese inventory such as the Chi-Ha Kai, Type 1 Chi-He, Type 2 Ho-I, and Type 3 Chi-Nu. By the time of Chi-Nu, however, the Chi-Ha chassis was becoming outdated and so a new tank design using an improved chassis was needed for future development.[1]

In 1943, development started of the Chi-To tank, which features a new chassis and more powerful engine. Its armament is a 75 mm gun based off the Type 88 anti-aircraft gun, giving it a high-velocity weapon. Armour on the tank was welded and was quite thick in comparison to its predecessor at 75 mm thick. The tank was accepted for service in 1944 and was expected to enter mass production with 20 per month at Mitsubishi and 5 per month at Kobe-Seiko. In terms of Japanese armour development, the Chi-To was the most sophisticated tank to enter production levels.[1]

War's End

Despite its potential, the Type 4 Chi-To was never made in large numbers. At the war's end, only six chassis were made, with only two of those made into tanks. The completed tanks were dumped into Lake Hamana in Shizuoka Prefecture to avoid capture by Allied forces. One tank would be recovered by the U.S. occupation forces following Japan's surrender in World War II. The tank was then transported to Aberdeen Proving Grounds for tests and would eventually be scrapped in October 1952.[2] The second tank still has yet to be located.

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See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

  • reference to the series of the vehicles;
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External links

References

Citations

  1. 1.0 1.1 Zaloga 2007
  2. Sun 2017

Bibliography

  • Zaloga Steven. Japanese Tanks 1939-1945 Great Britain: Osprey Publishing Ltd., 2007
  • Sun, Eun Ae. Chi-Ri & Chi-To: Aberdeen Tank Scrapping. YouTube, YouTube, 7 Aug. 2017, Video


Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (三菱重工業株式会社)
Light Tanks 
Type 95  Ha-Go · Ha-Go Commander
Medium Tanks 
Type 89  I-Go Ko
Type 97  Chi-Ha · Chi-Ha Kai
Type 1  Chi-He · Chi-He (5th Regiment)
Type 3  Chi-Nu · Chi-Nu II
Type 4  Chi-To · Chi-To Late
Type 5  Chi-Ri II
SPGs 
Chi-Ha Derived  Ho-Ro
Chi-He Derived  Ho-I
Chi-Ri Derived  Ho-Ri Prototype · Ho-Ri Production
Other  Na-To · Ro-Go Exp.
Captured  ␗Chi-Ha · ␗Chi-Ha Kai
Note  Most tank designs would be contracted by the Army Technical Bureau to Mitsubishi
See also  Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. (Post-War)

Japan medium tanks
Type 97  Chi-Ha · Chi-Ha Kai · Chi-Ha Kai TD · Chi-Ha Short Gun
Type 1  Chi-He · Chi-He (5th Regiment) · Ho-I
Type 3  Chi-Nu · Chi-Nu II
Type 4  Chi-To · Chi-To Late
Type 5  Chi-Ri II
Type 61 MBT  ST-A1* · ST-A2* · ST-A3* · Type 61
Type 74 MBT  ST-B2* · Type 74 (C) · Type 74 (E) · Type 74 (F) · Type 74 (G)
Type 90 MBT  Type 90 · Type 90 (B) · Type 90 (B) "Fuji"
Type 10 MBT  TKX (P)* · TKX* · Type 10
Other  Ka-Chi
USA  ▅M4A3 (76) W · ▅M47
  *Prototype