Type 1 Chi-He Medium tank (Japanese)

Description

The Type 1 Chi-He was a medium tank developed by the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II. Introduced in 1943, it was designed to address the shortcomings of earlier Japanese tanks, particularly the Type 97 Chi-Ha. The Chi-He featured improved armour, firepower, and mobility, making it a more formidable opponent on the battlefield.

The tank was powered by a Mitsubishi Type 100 air-cooled diesel engine, producing 240 horsepower, which allowed it to reach speeds of up to 44 km/h. The Chi-He had a crew of five and was armed with a Type 1 47 mm tank gun, which was more effective against enemy armour compared to the 57 mm gun of the Chi-Ha. Additionally, it was equipped with two Type 97 7.7 mm machine guns for secondary armament.

The Chi-He’s armour ranged from 12 to 50 mm, providing better protection against small arms fire and shrapnel. Despite its improvements, the Chi-He was produced in limited numbers, with only around 170 units built. This was due to Japan’s focus on naval and air forces, as well as the challenges of wartime production.

The Type 1 Chi-He saw limited combat, primarily in the defence of the Japanese home islands and in the Philippines.

• Model: Type 1 Chi-He
• Country/Army: Japanese
• Dimension (mm) (WxLxH):
• Material: UV Cured resin
• Original Designer: TigerAce1945
• These models are designed for modellers and collectors. They are not toys and are not suitable for children.
• 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.
• Models supplied at scales smaller than 20mm may be an alternative design more suitable for small scale prints. These are designed by Bergman or TigerAce1945.