At first, SS was developed in order to destroy the Soviet pillbox in the border of Manchuria. However, during its development, many functions were added by the request of users. SS could achieved many functions by replacing the devices. Though SS had a lot of functions, most of them were insufficent and the really useful one was a bridgelayer only.
First four SS were deployed in the 1st Independant Mixed Brigade and they executed the flamethrow in the battle near Peking on July 28th, 1937. It was the first time that SS saw the action. After that, SS was deployed in the special engineer regiment for SS, which was established for the service of the destruction of the Soviet pillbox.
When the tank divisions were established, the engineer regiment for SS was taken over to the tank divisions. In tank divisions, SS was mainly used as a bridgelayer. When the 2nd Tank Division went to the Philippines in the last WWII, some SS were also sent there. The action of SS in the Philippines is not known, but eight SS were captured by Americans.
In SS, there were five versions, Ko, Otsu, Hei, Tei and Bo. Above photo is the Bo version.
Version Name |
Inroduced |
Q'ty |
Bridge |
Crane |
Mine Rake |
Flamethrower |
Tank of Flamethrower |
Ko |
1931 |
13 |
folded |
One |
nil |
3 |
exterior tanks |
Otsu |
1937 |
8 |
ditto |
nil |
twin arm |
3 |
ditto |
Hei |
1937 |
1 |
ditto |
nil |
ditto |
3 |
ditto |
Tei |
1939 |
20 |
ditto |
nil |
single arm |
3 |
ditto |
Bo |
1940 |
77 |
catapulted |
nil |
ditto |
5 |
internal tanks |
