The Shinhoto was an up gunned version of the Japanese Chi-Ha Medium Tank, even though the Chi-Ha cannon, at 57mm, was 10mm wider than that of the Shinhoto. The Shinhoto''s gun was a high velocity antitank weapon vs the low 57mm of the Chi Ha's.
Shinhoto's were armed with a high velocity 47mm antitank gun and two 7.7 mm type 97 machine guns.
The Shinhoto was a desperate attempt by the Japanese to have a tank that could stop Allied armor.
But its weak protection of 33mm (1.3 inches) gave it little chance in a face-to-face meeting with any Allied medium tank.
The 47mm was most effective vs Allied light tanks like the M-3 Stuart. Yet with less than 940 total units in the Army, the Shinhoto was too little, too few and too late to have much of an influence on the outcome of the Pacific War.
Regardless of its weaknesses, the Japanese tankers consistently showed bravery in every engagement, no matter the odds.
This is a Plastic model I built and painted earlier this month. Check out
World Historyprof: Saga of Two Chi-Ha Tanks for more info on how I worked on this tank and its dug in Chi Ha sister.
No comments:
Post a Comment