The Type 93 was specifically designed to be operated on rail or roads.[3] The vehicle had three axles; to provide better balance and pitch control, a pair of auxiliary metal wheels were mounted behind the front axle.[4] Armament consisted of one 7.7 mm machine gun and four 6.5 mm Type 91 machine guns or four Nambu Type 11 machine guns. Its anti-aircraft machine-gun mount could be stowed inside the top turret.[5][1] It is also known as the Type 2593 "Hokoku" or Type 93 "Kokusan" armored car. It has also been incorrectly referred to as a Type 92, when the "right designation is Type 93".[1]
The Type 93 was originally made for use by the Japanese Navy marine units of the Special Naval Landing Forces.[6] Production was very limited, with an estimate of only five being produced for use in China.[1] The vehicle was considered a superior design to the Chiyoda armored car. The "gable-roof bonnet" was designed to deflect grenades and the front sloping plate of its turret allowed it to fire at the high angle needed to reach the top floors of buildings on the narrow Chinese streets.[7] IJN armored cars were to be used in tactical deployment in the coastal regions of China near ports and Japanese bases.[4]
Japanese armored cars in the Battle for Shanghai. Vickers Crossley Armoured Cars and a Type 93 armoured car (second from left) are shown
Daugherty, Leo J. (2002). Fighting Techniques of a Japanese Infantryman 1941-1945: Training, Techniques and Weapons. St. Paul, Minn.: MBI. ISBN0-7603-1145-5.
Tomczyk, Andrzej (2002). Japanese Armor Vol. 1. AJ Press. ISBN83-7237-097-4.
