Editing Tank destroyer (section)

=== Japan ===
[[File:Type 3 Ho-Ni III.jpg|thumb|[[Type 3 Ho-Ni III]]]]

The [[Type 1 Ho-Ni I]] was the first self-propelled gun design of the [[Imperial Japanese Army]].{{sfn|Tomczyk|2007|p=15}} They were meant to be [[self-propelled artillery]] and tank destroyers for [[Division (military)|armoured divisions]].{{sfn|Tomczyk|2007|p=3}}{{sfn|Zaloga|2012|p=34}} The plan was for the Type 1 Ho-Ni I gun tank to form part of a fire support company in each of the tank regiments.{{sfn|Zaloga|2012|p=34}} The Type 1 Ho-Ni I was developed by using the existing [[Type 97 Chi-Ha medium tank]] chassis and engine, and replacing the [[gun turret]] with a [[Type 90 75 mm field gun]] mounted in an open [[casemate]] with frontal and side armour only.{{sfn|Zaloga|2007|p=19}} They entered service in 1942 and were first deployed in combat at the [[Battle of Luzon]] in the [[Philippines]] in 1945. Some were used in static entrenched positions.{{sfn|Zaloga|2007|pp=37–39}}

A variant, known as the Type 1 Ho-Ni II mounted a [[Type 91 10 cm howitzer|Type 91 105 mm howitzer]] and had a slightly changed superstructure as far as the side armor with re-positioned observation visors.{{sfn|Tomczyk|2007|pp=10, 20}} Production began in 1943, with only 54 completed.{{sfn|Zaloga|2007|p=19}}

The other variant produced was the [[Type 3 Ho-Ni III]], which mounted a [[Type 3 75 mm tank gun]] in a completely enclosed armored casemate to address the issue of crew protection in close combat.{{sfn|Zaloga|2007|pp=19, 21}}{{sfn|Tomczyk|2007|pp=9, 27}} The welded superstructure had sloped armour and the gun mount had additional stamped armour plate.{{sfn|Tomczyk|2007|pp=7–8}} The total number produced of all three types in the Ho-Ni series were 111 units.{{sfn|Zaloga|2007|p=19}} Most of the Ho-Ni units were retained within the [[Japanese home islands]] to form part of the defenses against the projected [[Operation Downfall|American invasion]], and did not see combat before the [[surrender of Japan]].{{sfn|Zaloga|2007|p=20}}{{sfn|Tomczyk|2007|p=8}}

The [[Type 2 Ho-I]] Gun tank used the [[Type 1 Chi-He medium tank]] chassis.{{sfn|Zaloga|2007|p=21}} It was designed as a [[self-propelled howitzer]], mounting a short barreled Type 99 75 mm gun to provide close-in fire support.{{sfn|Zaloga|2007|p=21}}<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_type_2_ho_i.html| title = History of War: Type 2 Ho-I Gun Tank}}</ref> For deployment, the gun tank was intended to be used in a fire support company for each of the tank regiments. No Type 2 Ho-I gun tanks are known to have engaged in combat prior to Japan's surrender. The prototype was built in 1942 and 31 units were produced in 1944.{{sfn|Zaloga|2007|p=21}}

The [[Type 4 Ho-Ro]] self-propelled artillery used a modified Type 97 chassis. On to this platform, a [[Type 38 15 cm howitzer|Type 38 150 mm howitzer]] was mounted.{{sfn|Zaloga|2007|p=20}} The main gun could fire Type 88 APHE rounds and [[HEAT]] rounds. Given its breech loader, the maximum rate of fire was only 5 rounds per minute.{{sfn|Tomczyk|2007|p=9}} The gun's elevation was restricted to 30 degrees by the construction of the chassis. Other design issues included the fact that although the gun crew was protected by a [[gun shield]] with armour thickness of 25 mm at the front, the shield only extended a very short distance on the sides;{{sfn|Tomczyk|2007|pp=11, 13, 23–26}} leaving the rest of the sides and back exposed. They were rushed into service, deployed and saw combat during the [[Philippines Campaign (1944–45)|Philippines Campaign]] in the last year of [[World War II]].{{sfn|Zaloga|2007|pp=38, 39}} Remaining units were deployed to [[Okinawa Prefecture|Okinawa]] in ones and twos for island defense during the [[Battle of Okinawa]], but were severely outnumbered by American artillery.{{sfn|Trewhitt|1999|p=108}}