Type 93 Kokusan Armoured car (Japanese)

The Type 93 Kokusan Armoured Car, also known as the Hokoku-Go, was a Japanese armoured vehicle developed in the early 1930s. Designed by the Ishikawajima Motorcar Factory (Isuzu), it was based on a 6×6 Ford truck chassis and intended for use by the Imperial Japanese Navy’s Special Naval Landing Forces. The vehicle featured a 4×4 configuration and was powered by an 85-horsepower gasoline engine, allowing it to reach speeds of up to 50 miles per hour on roads.

The Type 93 was equipped with a 7.7 mm Vickers Mk I medium machine gun and four 6.5 mm Type 91 or Nambu Type 11 machine guns, providing substantial firepower for its size. Its armour thickness ranged from 4 to 11 mm, offering basic protection against small arms fire. The vehicle’s design included a gable-roof bonnet to deflect grenades and a sloping front plate on the turret for high-angle fire.

The Type 93 saw limited production, with only around five units built. It was primarily used in China, where it proved effective in urban combat and against lightly armed opponents. Despite its limited numbers, the Type 93 Kokusan Armoured Car remains a notable example of Japan’s early armoured vehicle development.