• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Experimental Amphibious Halftrack AMP

In 1929 IJA decided to develop a fast amphibious armored car similar to the french AMC Citroën-Kégresse P 16 for cavalry reconnaissance units. The halfrack system was chosen as it has a better cross-coutry ability than wheels.The Sumida factory of Ishikawajima Automotive Works(later became Isuzu Motors) was ordered to develop such a vehicle. The company was chosen as they also had experiences in shipbuilding. The design was done quickly using a boat-shaped hull and a french Kégresse suspension. The prototype was finished in summer 1930. It had two drivers positions, one on the tarck side for driving on land and one on the wheel side for driving in the water. A 40 hp Ford gasoline engine was used. The turret was conical with an extension for the MG. During trials the hull showed very good swimming abilities allowing the projected speed of 9 km/h. The road speed also reached the 45 km/h but the cross country abilities were rated disappointing. In addition the armament of a Type Taisho 3 6,5 mm MG was found too weak. So in late 1930 the decision was made to drop the design in favor of a full-tracked vehicle. The fate of the prototype is unknown but there are photos of the vehicle used without the turret during a 1934 test of an amphibious tank prototype.