Most likely, they were completely made up in 2017.
My understanding so far is this:
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When Gaijin created the Japanese tree for War Thunder, they needed a tank for high BR.
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Gaijin outsourced Reddit user MaiWaffentrager to find information about such tanks.
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MaiWaffentrager fabricated/provided false materials about the Ho-Ri project, claiming there were two possible options: a historical version, the production of which was planned according to her sources, and a fictitious “what if” version.
MaiWaffentrager claimed there was a sketch of a “Ho-Ri 3” tank, supposedly by Tomio Hara, who actually worked on the Ho-Ri 1 and Ho-Ri 2 projects (the tank in War Thunder was based on this Ho-Ri 3 sketch), and that five Ho-Ri units were produced by the end of WWII, citing two images as evidence. Both claims turned out to be false: the sketch was fabricated by user MaiWaffentrager (which she admitted to in 2023), and the information about the alleged production of five Ho-Ri tanks turned out to be a cropped and edited document about their planned maintenance by April 1945. -
Gaijin received feedback; they were dissatisfied with the tank’s poor statistical performance and requested a copy of one of the tanks, but with improved performance for the sake of gameplay.
Gaijin accepted MaiWaffentrager’s ideas and decided to use the information in the game. -
When Gaijin and MaiWaffentrager’s collaboration ended, she deleted those posts and, according to her, began trying to assist in the initiative to replace the tanks with authentic historical ones, stating “I am not in support of the Ho-Ri as shown in game.”
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The Hori project actually existed. But its appearance and characteristics had little (nothing?) in common with those in WT and Enlisted.
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The Ho-Ri project was planned to use the Chi-Ri chassis. However, only one unfinished prototype of the Chi-Ri itself was built before the end of the war.
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The Japanese WT wiki page summarizes all available information and refutes speculation that any “production” or “prototype” Ho-Ri ever existed as actual vehicles.
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The Ho-Ri in the game weighs 65 tons instead of 40 tons, has a 935 hp engine instead of 550 hp, has no 37 mm cannon or 20 mm cannon, etc., which also conflicts with the Ho-Ri project specifications given in some Japanese sources.
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The infamous image of the wooden mockup, even if we believe its authenticity, was likely a dimensional or size model that didn’t take into account the final planned shapes and additional armament (such as the 37mm cannon), and the pizza-shaped sharp angle of the front armor plate was never planned for implementation.
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It’s likely that the only Ho-Ri variant approved for real development was the Ho-Ri 2 (the one that resembles the Jagdtiger), based on the Chi-Ri chassis already in development at that time.
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As a result, two fake tanks from WT were shamelessly included in Enlisted, following the sacred rule of “BR5 for everyone,” where they still exist successfully.
Moreover, neither the “production” nor the “prototype” Ho-Ri as seen in the game likely ever existed, even as prototype projects.
Sources and images:
Zaloga, Steven J. (2007). Japanese Tanks 1939–45.
“Zaloga only gave a handful of sentences on tank destroyer projects such as the Ho-Ri 1 and Ho-Ri 2 (which did not get built) and the Ho-To and Ho-Ro tank destroyers which at least got to prototype stages”
https://www.reddit.com/r/Warthunder/s/oDkoUus5zk
https://www.reddit.com/r/Warthunder/s/LGpmGThwdI
Potentially real scetches of Ho-Ri 1 and Ho-Ri 2
Fake scetch of a “Ho-Ri 3” which was chosen for WT
Original post from MaiWaffentrager’s blog (now deleted)
Approximate visualization of Ho-Ri 1 project
Approximate visualization of Ho-Ri 2 project
Alleged specifications for the Ho-Ri project with a scale/dimensional wooden model
Automated translation:
(Experimental 105mm SPG HO-RI Type 1; Wooden Mockup)
This vehicle was developed from the Type 5 Medium Tank Chi-Ri, with two designs: Type I and Type II. It was equipped with a newly designed high-velocity 105mm cannon as its main gun, and additionally, a 37mm tank gun was installed as a secondary weapon. In the Type I, the engine compartment was placed at the front and the fighting compartment at the rear. The wooden mockup shown above is also this Type I. The Type II was a heavy tank destroyer type with the engine compartment located at the rear of the hull.
The gun design was carried out by the 3rd Section of the First Army Technical Research Institute, and the hull was scheduled to be manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. However, it never reached completion.
Comparison Table: Historical Project HO-RI Type I vs. Enlisted Game Version
| Parameter | Historical Project | Enlisted Game Version |
|---|---|---|
| Combat Weight | ~40.0 t | 65.0 t |
| Crew | 6 | 6 |
| Dimensions | ||
| - Overall Length | 6.500 m | ~10.6 m (with gun) |
| - Overall Width | 3.050 m | ~3.05 m |
| - Overall Height | 3.100 m | ~3.10 m |
| Armament | ||
| - Primary | 1x 105mm Cannon | 1x 105mm Cannon |
| - Secondary | 1x 37mm Gun, 1x 20mm Auto-cannon | 2x 7.7mm Type 97 MGs |
| Ammunition Load | ||
| - 105mm Shells | 60 rounds | ~50 rounds |
| - 37mm Shells | 100 rounds | 0 |
| - 20mm Shells | 480 rounds | 0 |
| - MG Rounds | 4,980 rounds | ~4,500-5,000 rounds |
| Performance | ||
| - Max. Speed | 40 km/h | ~40-42 km/h |
| - Engine Power | ~550 HP (est.) | ~935 HP (Fictional) |
| - Gradient Ability | 2% (~1.15°) | ~30-35% (Gameplay) |
| - Operational Range | 200 km | N/A (Not a game mechanic) |
| Armor (Frontal) | Not specified (Designed for ~40t) | Very Heavy (~200mm) |
Poll - what would you prefer to do with “Ho-Ri Production” and “Ho-Ri Prototype”?
- Change fake “Ho-Ri Production” (tech tree) to prototype Ho-Ri 2 project and/or fake “Ho-Ri Prototype” (premium) to prototype Ho-Ri 1 project models and stats
- Delete the fake “Ho-Ri Production” and “Ho-Ri Prototype” from the game, reimburse those who bought the premium
- Do nothing, I don’t mind fake tanks
- Other (specify in comments)
If anyone has any other sources, I would be happy to see them and discuss!
Cheers.
