Type 3 75 mm Tank Gun

The Type 3 75 mm Tank Gun was used as the main armament of the Imperial Japanese Army Type 3 Chi-Nu medium tank. It was one of the largest guns ever to be fitted on a World War II Japanese tank.

Design and use


The Type 3 had a caliber of 75 mm, barrel length of 2.883 m. As fitted to the Type 3 Chi-Nu, elevation was from -10 to +25 degrees. It had a muzzle velocity of 680 m/s and an armor penetration of 90 millimeters at a range of 100 meters and 65 millimeters at a range of 1,000 meters. It shot a 6.6 kilogram projectile. This gun was based on the Japanese Type 90 field gun which in turn was loosely based on the French Schneider et Cie Canon de 85 mle 1927. The Type 3 gun was license-built by the Osaka Arsenal.

The Type 3 Chi-Nu tank, in which the gun was mounted, was the most powerful tank in regular series production for the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II. However, the material and industrial shortages faced by Japan caused production of the tank to be delayed. Between 1944 and 1945, a total of 166 Type 3 Chi-Nu tanks were produced.