Type 2 Ka-Mi Amphibious tank – with floats (Japanese)

Description

The Type 2 Ka-Mi was the first amphibious tank used by the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. Developed in 1941 and produced between 1942 and 1943, the Ka-Mi was based on the Type 95 Ha-Go light tank, with significant modifications to enable amphibious operations. The tank featured an all-welded hull with rubber seals to ensure watertight integrity, and large, detachable pontoons made of steel plates were attached to the front and rear for buoyancy. These pontoons could be jettisoned once the tank reached land.

Powered by a Mitsubishi A6120VDe air-cooled diesel engine, the Ka-Mi had a top speed of 37 km/h on land and 10 km/h in water. It was armed with a Type 1 37 mm tank gun and two Type 97 7.7 mm machine guns, providing both anti-tank and anti-infantry capabilities. The tank’s armour ranged from 6 to 12 mm, offering basic protection against small arms fire.

The Ka-Mi saw combat during the Guadalcanal campaign in late 1942 and was used in various Pacific island battles. Despite its innovative design, only 182 to 184 units were produced, and its effectiveness was limited by its vulnerability on land and the changing strategic situation for Japan

• Model: Type 2 Ka-Mi Amphibious tank
• 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.