Type 2 Ho-I SPG (Japanese)

Description

The Type 2 Ho-I was a Japanese tank designed for infantry support during World War II. It was based on the chassis of the Type 1 Chi-He medium tank and armed with a 75 mm Type 99 gun. The gun could fire both high-explosive and armor-piercing shells, making it effective against enemy fortifications and tanks. The Ho-I also had a coaxial 7.7 mm machine gun for anti-infantry defense.

The development of the Ho-I began in 1937, after the Japanese army realized that a larger caliber gun was needed to deal with Chinese pillboxes and bunkers. The Type 97 Chi-Ha, the main Japanese medium tank at the time, had a low-velocity 57 mm gun that was insufficient for this task. The Japanese decided to mount a modified version of the Type 41 75 mm mountain gun on the Chi-Ha chassis. The mountain gun, known as the Type 99 tank gun, was completed in 1940 and fitted into a modified turret of the Type 97 Shinhoto Chi-Ha in 1942. This prototype was called the Experimental Type 1 Ho-I.

However, by then, the Japanese had developed a new medium tank, the Type 1 Chi-He, which had improved armor, engine and suspension. The production model of the Ho-I used the chassis of the Type 1 Chi-He instead of the Type 97 Chi-Ha. The turret was also slightly modified to accommodate a larger rear hatch. The Ho-I had a crew of five: a commander, a gunner, a loader, a driver and a hull machine gunner. The armor ranged from 12 to 50 mm thick, and the top speed was 44 km/h.

The Ho-I was intended to be part of a fire support company in each tank regiment. It could provide direct fire support for the standard medium tanks, as well as indirect fire support for the infantry.

The production of the Ho-I was hampered by material shortages and Allied bombing raids. Only about 30 units were built, all converted from existing Type 1 Chi-He tanks. There is no record of any Ho-I being used in combat before the end of the war. They were allocated to the home islands defense units in case of an Allied invasion, but this never happened.

The Ho-I was an innovative attempt by the Japanese army to create a self-propelled howitzer that could keep up with the armored formations. It was one of the few Japanese tanks that had a gun capable of engaging Allied tanks such as the Sherman. However, it was too late and too few to make any difference in the outcome of the war.

• Model: Type 2 Ho-I
• Country/Army: Japanese
• Dimension (mm) (WxLxH): 28mm
• Material: UV Cured resin
• Original Designer: TigerAce1945
• Painted by: MarDav Miniatures
• Model supplied unassembled and unpainted. Additional finishing may be required during assembly. 
• Finished colour of the product may vary from images shown.
• Photos and dimensions are at 28mm unless noted otherwise.
• All dimensions are complete with weapons unless otherwise stated.
• Other scales and dimensions may be available upon request.

*****photos and dimensions are at 28mm unless noted otherwise*****