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Type 5 "Na-To" 75mm SP AT Gun

The Type 5 [some sources report as Type 4] Na-To (Go-shiki hosensha), officially known as the Experimental 7.5cm self-propelled anti-tank gun Na-To (Shisei nana-senchimetoru hantaisensha jisoho Na-To) was the penultimate tank destroyer developed by the Imperial Japanese Army in 1945, during the closing stages of the Pacific War.

Na-To is the self-propelled anti-tank gun. Its gun was converted from Type 4 75mm AA Gun as well as the tank gun of Chi-To. Na-To utilized the chassis of the Type 4 Medium Tracked Carrier "Chi-So". The engine was placed in the rear and the front cabin, where a pilot and a radio operator sat, was protected by 12 mm thick welded armor. The armament was placed on a special carriage to pivot behind the cockpit, it was operated by 5 men and equipped with a 12 mm thick shield.

The transport prototype was ready in April 1945. The hull and the cannon were tested separately in the summer of 1944 and these tests induced the contribution of some changes: to protect the crew, housed in the transport compartment, some protection, 12 mm plates were added to the sides of the vehicle. The Na-To gun was converted from Type 4 75mm AA gun as well as Type 5 75mm tank gun, because the other weapon had set-up problems. But, they were different guns, because Na-To gun was designed as anti-tank gun. However, it was decided to use the common gun as 75mm tank gun for Na-To in early 1945. Na-To gun was redesigned and it was called Mark II (Old one was called Mark I). Na-To on above photos was mounted with Mark II.

The weapon system as a whole was tested in the spring of 1945 collecting positive criticism for the mobility and effectiveness of the cannon , with an initial speed of 850 m / s and capable of penetrating 75 mm of steel at a distance of 1,000 meters. The Army was satisfied and ordered 200 copies in 1945, but by now the Japanese industry was at its lowest and plagued by a shortage of resources of all kinds. Only a second vehicle was manufactured, and neither was ever used in battle. Another source reports instead that perhaps some other units were completed, and that a pair of Na-To, sent to Manchuria for further testing, were probably destroyed in August 1945 while fighting against Soviet forces.