Type 3 Ka-Chi Amphibious tank – without floats (Japanese)

Description

The Type 3 Ka-Chi was an amphibious medium tank developed by the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. Based on the chassis of the Type 1 Chi-He medium tank, the Ka-Chi was designed to support amphibious operations, particularly in the Pacific theatre. It featured a Mitsubishi Type 100 air-cooled V-12 diesel engine, which provided 240 horsepower and allowed the tank to reach speeds of up to 32 km/h on land and 10 km/h in water.

The Ka-Chi was equipped with a Type 1 47 mm tank gun as its main armament, along with two Type 97 7.7 mm machine guns for secondary armament. The tank’s armour ranged from 10 to 50 mm, providing decent protection for its crew of seven. One of the most distinctive features of the Ka-Chi was its flotation pontoons, which could be jettisoned once the tank reached land.

Despite its advanced design, only 12 to 19 Ka-Chi tanks were produced between 1943 and 1945. The limited production was due to the Japanese Navy’s focus on warships and aircraft, as well as the lack of significant amphibious operations requiring such tanks. The Ka-Chi remains a notable example of Japan’s innovative approach to amphibious warfare during the war.

• Model: Ka-Chi 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.