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Armored Engineer Vehicle Soukou Sagyou Ki "SS-Ki"

SS-Ki was Japan's first Engeneering vehicle. Developed in 1935, it was based on the Type 89 Medium Tank. The vehilcle was designed to perform the following tasks:
1) Blasting tochca (pillbox) with 300kg demolition
2) Excavating trench
3) Disinfecting gas attack
4) Flame throwing
5) Breaking through obstacle
6) Scattering poison gas
7) Removing mines with mine plow
8) Throwing up smoke screen
9) Crane
10) Bridge layer
The "Manchurian Incident" showed that the vehicle was too small to perform all these tasks perfectly. The vehcile was redesigned and the tasks required of it were decreased. The last type was called the "SS SS-Ki Bo Gata" and could only do tasks 1, 4, 7, and 10 listed above. When Pacific War with the U.S. began, SS-Ki was sent to south front, as a bridge layer. In the battle of Philippines, 1945, the US captured 8 SS-Ki, without bridges. So US forces mistakenly classified SS-Ki as flame throwing tank. SS-Ki's detailed military service is unknown. 119 Produced (total of all types, Kou, Otsu, Hei, Tei, Bo).

Armored Cable Layer

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Type 97 Mini Engineering Vehicle "Yigo"

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Tank Recovery Vehicle "Ri-Ki"

Ri-Ki recovery vehicle is based on the So-Ki. See Japanese Armored Cars/Personnel Carriers/Railroad Cars for details.

Tank Recovery Vehicle "Seri"

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T G Armored Bridge Layer

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Japanese Armored Lumberjack "Ho-K"

This vehicle worked in conjunction with another known as "Brasso Ki". Brasso Ki picked up the felled lumber. The vehicle was used for clearing a path through jungles (note that I did not use the politically correct term of "rain forest"). The chassis was based on the Type 97 Medium Tank.

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Japanese Armored Lumberjack "Brasso Ki"

This vehicle worked in conjunction with another known as "Ho-K". Ho-K cut the timber and Brasso Ki picked it up. No further information is available.

Armored Cable Layer

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Last Update: Thursday, February 13, 2003