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TET Typ 2 Ka-Mi (JP)

The Special Type 2 Launch Ka-Mi (特二式内火艇　カミ, Toku-ni-shiki uchibitei kami) was the first amphibious tank of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN). The Type 2 Ka-Mi was based on the Imperial Japanese Army's Type 95 Ha-Go light tank with major modifications.

As early as 1928, the Japanese Army had been developing amphibious tanks and created several experimental models such as the Sumida Amphibious Armored Car (AMP), SR I-Go, SR II Ro-Go, SR III Ha-Go, which were produced only as one-off prototypes for concept testing in the 1930s. Each of the SR series were 3.6 to 7 tonne amphibious tanks with a 2 to 3 man crew, and armed with machine guns.

In 1940, the Imperial Japanese Navy took over development of amphibious vehicles. Mitisubishi used the knowledge gained from the SR program and the Type 95 Ha-Go light tank as a base. The Type 1 Mi-Sha a/k/a/ "Type 1 Floating Tank Ka-Mi" was the first IJN prototype produced.[3] The Type 1 led to the development of the Type 2 Ka-Mi being produced in 1942. The Type 2 Ka-Mi was designed for the IJN's Special Naval Landing Forces for the amphibious invasion of Pacific Islands without adequate port facilities, and for various special operations missions. The Type 2 Ka-Mi tanks were organized into "several amphibious tank units". Beginning in 1942, only 182 to 184 units of this tank were built.

The Type 2 Ka-Mi came into active service after the initial campaigns of World War II, and thus for the most part was too late to be used in its original design mission of amphibious landings. Many units were assigned to naval garrison detachments in the South Seas Mandate and in the Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies.

The Type 2 Ka-Mi was first used in combat during the Guadalcanal campaign in late 1942. Later they were encountered by the United States Marine Corps in the Marshall Islands and Mariana Islands, particularly on Saipan, where they supported the Yokosuka Base Special Naval Landing Force (SNLF) in its failed amphibious operation. They were also used during the fighting on the Philippine island of Leyte in late 1944 when they supported the 101st SNLF at Ormoc Gulf.According to Ralph Zumbro in his book "Tank Aces", several Ka-Mi were destroyed by US Army LVT-1s off the coast of Leyte during history's only amphibious tank vs. amphibious tank action; this is doubtful, however, as most Ka-Mi tanks were destroyed after they came ashore at Ormoc. A handful more were captured by US Army troops on Luzon in 1945, as well as several others captured by Australian and Commonwealth troops.

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n-start engine 1
m-start engine 2
.,-move cannon
u-shoot cannon
p-shoot mg's

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