page_title: Tanks in the Japanese Army
section_title: Type 1 Ho-Ni I Gun tank
hierarchical_section_title: Tanks in the Japanese Army / Overview per tank / Tank destroyers and assault guns / Type 1 Ho-Ni I Gun tank
context_section_description: The Type 1 Gun tank Ho-Ni I (一式砲戦車 ホニ I, Isshiki ho-sensha Ho-NiI?) was a tank destroyer and self-propelled artillery developed by the Imperial Japanese Army for use during World War II in the Pacific theater. As units of the Japanese Army began to encounter advanced Allied medium tanks, such as the M4 Sherman, it was seen that the Japanese Type 97 Chi-Ha main battle tank lacked sufficient armor or armament to deal with this threat, and work was begun on a tank destroyer version.
  The Type 1 Ho-Ni I was developed by utilizing the existing Type 97 chassis and engine, and replacing the gun turret with a 75 mm Type 90 Field Gun mounted in an open casemate with frontal and side armour only, which made it very vulnerable in close combat. The mounting for the 75 mm Type 90 field gun allowed for 20 degrees of traverse to either side and -5 to +25 degrees of elevation. The plan was for self-propelled guns of the Ho-Ni series to form part of a fire support company in each of the tank regiments. Production of the Type 1 Ho-Ni I took place during 1942. It was first deployed in combat during the Battle of Luzon in the Philippines in 1945, but like the rest of the Japanese armor, they were defeated in action against superior US Army forces.
  One variant produced was known as the Type 1 Ho-Ni II, which mounted a Type 91 105 mm howitzer. It had a slightly changed superstructure as far as the side armor with re-positioned observation visors. This version entered production in 1943. The total limited number produced of both the Type 1 Ho-Ni I and Ho-Ni II were 80 units.
caption: Type 1 Ho-Ni I tank destroyer
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