http://users.swing.be/tanks.edito/edito/3407.html

To spare valuable oil, the Japanese were the first in 1932 to develop a usable diesel engine and to generalize its use in their tanks after 1934. Even Russia did not go so far and so quickly. The Japanese were also pioneers for amphibious tanks, although they played only a modest role in actual combats.

Between 1931 and 1945, Japan produced 6450 tanks. Half of them (3300) were made by the Mitsubishi Company.

The sub-total of tanks produced between 1940 and 1945 is 4424, i.e. a yearly average comparable to Italy.The fleet and the air force had priority.

In 1945, only 130 tanks left the production lines. That was due to the American air offensive but above all to the submarine offensive that effectively cut off the supply of raw materials.

__________________