Japanese WWII Type 97 Chi-Ha Medium Tank 1:48 Scale Model Kit

Description

Japanese WWII Type 97 Chi-Ha Medium Tank 1:48 Scale Model Kit:

The Type 97 Chi-Ha was a medium tank used by the Imperial Japanese Army during the Second Sino-Japanese War, the Battles of Khalkhin Gol against the Soviet Union, and the Second World War. This highly detailed Japanese WWII Type 97 Chi-Ha Medium Tank 1:48 Scale Model Kit comes from the Aurora tooling! Complete with a decal sheet, detailed instructions, flexible rubber tracks, and 4 crew figures, it's a skill level 2 kit you don't want to miss! Plus, the box top artwork is suitable for framing.

The Type 97 Chi-Ha was the most widely produced Japanese medium tank of World War II, with a total of 1,162 units made from 1938 through 1942. It was equipped with a 57 mm main gun, a short-barreled weapon with a relatively low muzzle velocity, designed for infantry support. The main gun had no elevation gear, therefore, the gunner used his shoulder to elevate it! The 170 hp Mitsubishi air-cooled diesel engine was a capable but slow tank engine in 1938. The Type 97's low silhouette and semicircular radio antenna on the turret distinguished the tank from its contemporaries. After 1941, the tank was less effective than most Allied tank designs. In 1942, a new improved version of the Chi-Ha was produced with a larger three-man turret and a high-velocity Type-1 47mm tank gun. It was designated the Type 97-Kai or Type 97 Shinhoto Chi-Ha. After World War II the Type 97 tanks captured by the Soviets were turned over to the Communists Chinese army. They remained in use under the new ownership during the Chinese Civil War. After victory, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) continued to use them in their inventory. Ages 14 and up.