The Special Type 2 Launch Ka-Mi (特二式内火艇 カミ, Toku-ni-shiki uchibitei kami) was the first amphibious tank of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN). The Type 2 Ka-Mi was based on the Imperial Japanese Army’s Type 95 Ha-Go light tank with major modifications. It first saw combat service during the Guadalcanal campaign in late 1942.
Armament: 1 gun (37 mm Type 1). Crew – 5 people.
Engine: Mitsubishi A6120VDe air-cooled inline 6-cylinder diesel 115 hp (84.6 kW)
Museum of the Victory, Moscow.
History
As early as 1928, the Japanese Army had been developing amphibious tanks and created several experimental models such as the Sumida amphibious armored car (AMP), SR I-Go, SR II Ro-Go, SR III Ha-Go, which were produced only as one-off prototypes for concept testing in the 1930s. Each of the SR series were 3.6 to 7 tonne amphibious tanks with a 2 to 3 man crew, and armed with machine guns.
In 1940, the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) took over development of amphibious vehicles. Mitisubishi used the knowledge gained from the SR program and the Type 95 Ha-Go light tank as a base. The Type 1 Mi-Sha a/k/a/ “Type 1 Floating Tank Ka-Mi” was the first IJN prototype produced.
The Type 1 led to the development of the Type 2 Ka-Mi being produced in 1942. The Type 2 Ka-Mi was designed for the IJN’s Special Naval Landing Forces for the amphibious invasion of Pacific Islands without adequate port facilities, and for various special operations missions.[4] The Type 2 Ka-Mi tanks were organized into “several amphibious tank units”. Beginning in 1942, only 182 to 184 units of this tank were built.
