Medium Tank Type 97 CHI-HA with Additional Armor

Plastic model kit for a Type 97 Chi-Ha of the Imperial Japanese Army with additional armor

• Scale: 1:35
• Dimensions (LxW, assembled): 160 x 67 mm
• Includes clear parts and photo-etched parts
• Gun features a detailed replica of the breech block
• Vinyl tracks
• 1 marking option
• Unassembled, unpainted
• Paint and glue not included

The Type 97 Chi-Ha was the standard main battle tank of the Imperial Japanese Army at the outbreak of World War II. Its development began in the mid-1930s with the aim of providing a mobile and reliable medium tank to support infantry. Mass production commenced in 1938. Equipped with a short-barreled 57mm Type 97 gun, the Chi-Ha was primarily intended to engage infantry, machine-gun nests, and field fortifications. However, the weapon was of limited effectiveness against enemy tanks—a fact that became particularly apparent during the 1939 battles against Soviet forces at Khalkhin Gol, eventually leading to the development of the Shinhoto Chi-Ha, which featured a more powerful 47mm gun.

Weighing approximately 15 tons, the tank was powered by an air-cooled Mitsubishi V12 diesel engine producing around 170 hp, allowing for a top speed of approximately 38 km/h. Its riveted armor reached a thickness of up to 25 mm at the front of the hull, offering adequate protection against infantry weapons and light anti-tank guns; however, it struggled to withstand the increasingly powerful tank guns fielded by the Allies later in the war.

To improve the protection of existing vehicles, additional armor was retrofitted to some Chi-Ha tanks towards the end of the war. These were not standard production models, but rather modifications carried out in the field or at the factory in limited numbers. Particularly well-known are the vehicles featuring additional armor plates riveted onto the front of the turret and the hull. Some vehicles also received extra armor plating on the hull sides or in front of the driver's and radio operator's positions. The aim of these measures was to increase resistance to armor-piercing rounds and provide better protection for the Chi-Ha during the anticipated defense of the Japanese home islands. However, due to limited industrial capacity and the end of the war, the number of these modified vehicles remained very low, and they are considered rare variants today. While the additional armor improved protection, it also increased the vehicle's weight and compromised its mobility and driving performance. Historical photographs reveal variations in the armor plating, suggesting that there was no standardized modification protocol; instead, several local solutions were tested.

The Type 97 Chi-Ha saw action in China, Southeast Asia, and across almost all major theaters of the Pacific War. Despite its outdated main armament, it remained in service in large numbers until the end of the war, employed for both infantry support and the defense of fortified positions. Many vehicles were held back for home defense only during the final months of the war.

For modelers, the early Type 97 Chi-Ha equipped with the 57mm gun is a particularly interesting subject, as it represents the original Japanese tank design. Even more compelling are the rarely documented vehicles featuring retrofitted, riveted-on armor plating on the turret and hull. The additional armor plates, with their distinctive rows of rivets, give the otherwise familiar vehicle a much more rugged appearance and offer numerous possibilities for creating a unique model or diorama. Since the execution of the add-on armor varied from vehicle to vehicle, historical photos provide a valuable basis for achieving the most authentic representation possible.