Type 93 Kokusan (Hokoku-Go)

6x6 Armored Car

Imperial Japan | 1932

"The Type 93 Kokusan was one of the several Japanese World War 2-era military armored cars based on existing commercial truck chassis."

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 06/01/2016 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

In the years leading up to World War 2, Imperial Japan had procured many different types of foreign trucks and these then went on to serve as the foundation for several armored cars for the Japanese military. The Type 93 Kokusan was adopted around 1932 and this development was built atop an existing Ford truck chassis. The chassis retained the truck's 6x6 wheel arrangement across three axles (one forward, two aft) with the rear axle pairing set to counter the sheer weight of armoring and machine guns installed. Unditching metal wheels were situated aft of the forward axle. The armored hull superstructure encapsulated the engine block a front, a driver's position at center and a fighting cabin for the gunners over the rear. The end result was typical of armored cars seen from World War 1 onwards with its tall-profile and multi-wheel approach.

In practice, these vehicles proved their value in urban fighting and against foes armed and protected with much less. They suffered from their clumsy designs and large turning radius but, on the whole, they served their role well. Dimensions included a length of 4.8 meters with a width of 1.83 meters and height to turret top of 2.3 meters. The turret was added over the rear section of the superstructure and, in this way, given a commanding view over the vehicle with a full 360-degree traversal allowing freedom to engage targets at all angles. A typical operating crew numbered six and included the driver, commander, and all applicable machine gunners. Armor thickness (bolted-on steel plating) spanned from 4mm to 11mm giving the crew some protection against small arms fire. This protection quickly gave way under large caliber fire. A single vehicle could be outfitted with up to 5 x 6.5mm Type 91 series machine guns including one held in the turret, one at the front panel of the driver's cabin and several used to protect the sides of the vehicle. An optional mounting atop the turret could serve as an Anti-Aircraft fixture.

The Type 93 vehicles retained their Ford powerplants for expediency's sake. These were local, license-built versions of 6-cylinder Ford powerplants outputting at 85 horsepower. Coupled to its transmission system, chassis and hull design, and wheel arrangement, the vehicle could make headway at approximately 50 miles per hour on roads.

Kokusans were known to have been deployed against China with good results, typically by the Imperial Japanese Navy in support of Army or Marine actions. Production is believed to have totaled some 50 units.

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Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one land system design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the Type 93 Kokusan 6x6 Armored Car.

1 x Ford 6-cylinder gasoline engine developing 85 horsepower.
Installed Power

50 mph
80 kph
Road Speed

Structure
The physical qualities of the Type 93 Kokusan 6x6 Armored Car.

6
(MANNED)
Crew

15.7 ft
4.8 meters
O/A Length

6.0 ft
1.83 meters
O/A Width

7.5 ft
2.3 meters
O/A Height

Armament & Ammunition
Available supported armament, ammunition, and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the Type 93 Kokusan (Hokoku-Go) 6x6 Armored Car.

1 x 0.30 caliber Vickers machine gun in turret
1 x 6.5mm Type 91 machine gun in front hull
1 x 6.5mm Type 91 machine gun in left hull panel
1 x 6.5mm Type 91 machine gun in right hull panel

OPTIONAL:
1 x 6.5mm Type 91 machine gun on turret for local air defense.

AMMUNITION:
1,000 x 0.30 caliber ammunition
2,000 x 6.5mm ammunition.

SPECIAL EQUIPMENT:
Nightvision - NONE
Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear Protection (CBRN) - NONE

Variants
Notable series variants as part of the Type 93 Kokusan (Hokoku-Go) family line.

Type 93 "Kokusan" - Base Series Designation

Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the Type 93 Kokusan (Hokoku-Go). Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national land systems listing.

Total Production: 5 Units
Contractor(s): State Factories - Imperial Japan

[ Imperial Japan ]

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Image of the Type 93 Kokusan (Hokoku-Go)

Image courtesy of the Public Domain.

Design Qualities
Some designs are single-minded in their approach while others offer a more versatile solution to battlefield requirements.

ARMOR CAR / SECURITY

Recognition
Some designs stand the test of time while others are doomed to never advance beyond the drawing board; let history be their judge.

Military lapel ribbon for the World War 2

Going Further...
The Type 93 Kokusan (Hokoku-Go) 6x6 Armored Car appears in the following collections:

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