Saipan Chi-ha pix

J-Hulk

Member since
February 2003
From: Tochigi, Japan

Posted by J-Hulk on Friday, September 26, 2003 7:51 PM

The members have spoken!
I'm only certain about the 1/35 Tamiya and 1/72 Airfix, as well as a 1/76 Fujimi. I've never seen a Hasegawa Chi-Ha. Finemolds makes a great bunch of 1/35 Japanese vehicles, but no Type 97 Chi-Ha.

~Brian

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Keyworth

Member since
January 2003
From: NE Georgia

Posted by Keyworth on Friday, September 26, 2003 5:01 PM

Hasegawa used to have one in 1/72 as well. Tamiya had a Chi-Ha kit at one time in 1/35, if I recall correctly. Hope this helps.

"There's no problem that can't be solved with a suitable application of high explosives"

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wildwilliam

Member since
December 2009
From: West Grove, PA

Posted by wildwilliam on Friday, September 26, 2003 2:29 PM

juniormodeler & Frosty - greatmodels.com still shows:
1/35 tam35075 Chi Ha Type 97 Tank
in stock, so i think it is in production in 1/35.
their price is $14.40 (US)
Tamiya had it under another number earlier(35137) and that is out of production.
i guess the current one is re-release ?

i got one of the older ones (35137) on eBay for $6 a few weeks ago.

you should be able to find one.

ed.

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 26, 2003 12:00 PM

QUOTE: Originally posted by juniormodeler

hey j-hulk.. are there any kits of that tank? i would like to built one.

juniormodeler:
airfix does have a chi-ha type 97 in their range... scale somewhere between 1/72 and 1/76, supposedly. if u decide to go with that one, i have a good article on upgrading the kit i can pass along... it's a project i want to try myself at some point. i did see one chi-ha in a larger scale but can't remember the manufacturer,,, sorry .
good luck in ur search!
frosty Smile [:)]

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 26, 2003 10:55 AM

hey j-hulk.. are there any kits of that tank? i would like to built one.

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J-Hulk

Member since
February 2003
From: Tochigi, Japan

Posted by J-Hulk on Tuesday, September 23, 2003 12:40 AM

Glad ya'll are diggin' the pix!

Aside from being thin-skinned and lightly armed, it's a decent design, I reckon. Good suspension and overall layout. Fine for infantry support against other infantry. Lousy against anything else!
I love the way gun elevation was accomplished by simply shouldering the cannon.
That HAD to hurt!

~Brian

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renarts

Member since
April 2003
From: Sunny Florida

Posted by renarts on Monday, September 22, 2003 7:39 PM

Arrrrrgh, and I spent all that time taking out sink holes and gaps! What was I thinking of?!!!

These are some great pics J-hulk. Thanks for sharing. Gaps, thats a good one.

Mike

Mike "Imagination is the dye that colors our lives" Marcus Aurellius A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...but, a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, "Damn...that was fun!"

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Dwight Ta-ala

Member since
July 2003
From: Philippines

Posted by Dwight Ta-ala on Monday, September 22, 2003 6:44 PM

QUOTE: weren't they made to use in China as infantry support?
probably not designed to faced armored opposition.

I guess you're right.

It was also supposedly the best Japanese tank of the war. When the Japanese invaded (word is just for historical reference) the Philippines in WWII, they had with them the Type 95 Ha-go Tanks. They were shocked when they encountered the American M3's which were already stationed here. Not only that the M3's armor is difficult for Type 95 to penetrate (or cannot at all) the M3's main gun can easily penetrate the Type 95's armor.

For this reason, they brought in the Type 97. However, I have no reference indicating that there was any confrontation between the Type 97 and the M3 or the M4 that the Americans brought in later in the war.

Thanks for the pics J-hulk. It reminds me of my provincial home were there used to be a rusting remains of a Type 97.

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, September 22, 2003 6:25 PM

J-Hulk. Nice pics. Approve [^]

One of the guys in my model club is absolutely nuts about Japanese armour and vehicles (he filled a whole 1m x 1.5m corner of our club display with 1/35th Japanese models-no dio's). He has been to the Phillipines, etc 5 times in the past 6 years and still wants more.

The guys that drove these tanks must have been tough - I imagine it would be like driving around in an oven. Looking forward to seeing your other pictures.

Hey Jim, don't stop the "Where's Shermie" yet. I still get a chuckle out of these (in my case, small things do amuse small minds I guess). Big Smile [:D]

Happy Modelling

Peter

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shermanfreak

Member since
January 2003

Posted by shermanfreak on Monday, September 22, 2003 5:39 PM

I must admit .... I certainly do get around.

How come I don't remember any of these places ........first thing to go, the hair, second the memory, we won't even mention the third.

Happy Modelling and God Bless Robert

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tigerman

Member since
March 2003
From: Rain USA, Vancouver WA

Posted by tigerman on Monday, September 22, 2003 5:03 PM

Keep 'em coming Build, they just get better and better. You just might want to pause and give second thoughts to posting your picture. Wink [;)]

Now you wouldn't want to go and say Shermie is a stalker.........would we?

"It is well that war is so terrible, lest we grow too fond of it."-R.E.Lee

Eric

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, September 22, 2003 3:46 PM

Wow.. Its tiny! Compare that to, say, a king tiger.. Brave guys indeed.

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Build22

Member since
May 2003
From: Upstate NY

Posted by Build22 on Monday, September 22, 2003 3:38 PM

J-Hulk,

Nice pictures. If any one wants to know how to model a rusty tank, there it is.

Hey, it's none of my business, but when you and the Mrs J-Hulk to be were in Sapain, did you notice anyone following you. Look in the picture below. I think I see some suspicious activity going on there.

Couldn't help it. I won't do anymore "Where's Waldo Shermie" I don't want to beat a dead horse.

See ya,
Jim

Jim [IMG]

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, September 22, 2003 2:38 PM

Nice Pix!

My uncle (who fought in the Pacific) would've called the thing 'junk' and wondered why it was still around. I, however, think it's pretty cool to see that old stuff, in any condition, being used to memorialize the folks who had to fight in it.
Most of the older vehicles I see at bases around here goes out on the range.

Ron.

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tigerman

Member since
March 2003
From: Rain USA, Vancouver WA

Posted by tigerman on Monday, September 22, 2003 2:16 PM

Thanks Brian for correcting my terrible spelling. Blush [:I]

I knew that wasn't right. I imagine where enemy tanks were few to none, the Japanese felt quite safe in their little tank. Discipline I'm sure kept them going even when the odds were totally stacked against them. They were tough soldiers, as evident to so few surrenders during the war.

I know religion and so on was big during the war, is it still important today? Has the emperors status declined in the publics eye?

"It is well that war is so terrible, lest we grow too fond of it."-R.E.Lee

Eric

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wildwilliam

Member since
December 2009
From: West Grove, PA

Posted by wildwilliam on Monday, September 22, 2003 12:53 PM

weren't they made to use in China as infantry support?
probably not designed to faced armored opposition.

couldn't help myself (chia-pet).
it looks like a big lawn planter now.

ed.

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J-Hulk

Member since
February 2003
From: Tochigi, Japan

Posted by J-Hulk on Monday, September 22, 2003 12:10 PM

You got that right, T-man! Thin soukouban (armor plate) it was.

Origami: Oru (ori) = to fold, Kami (gami) = paper.

I wonder what the poor fellas who had to fight in them called them?

Chia-pet tanks...now that is funny! Big Smile [:D]

~Brian

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tigerman

Member since
March 2003
From: Rain USA, Vancouver WA

Posted by tigerman on Monday, September 22, 2003 12:04 PM

The Japanese should have referred to the Chi-Ha as the moragami(sp) tank, since its armor was as thin as paper. LOL

"It is well that war is so terrible, lest we grow too fond of it."-R.E.Lee

Eric

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wildwilliam

Member since
December 2009
From: West Grove, PA

Posted by wildwilliam on Monday, September 22, 2003 11:32 AM

i'm sure i am not the first to think of this, but:
Chi-ha tank or Chia pet tank?
w/ the foliage, i can't tell !!

ed.

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, September 22, 2003 10:19 AM

Neat pics Brian!

Now, who will be the first to make this into a diorama? Tongue [:P]

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J-Hulk

Member since
February 2003
From: Tochigi, Japan

Posted by J-Hulk on Monday, September 22, 2003 9:52 AM

Hi, Robert!
Hah! So it was the gaps that gave Mike fits? (Pun intended)

~Brian

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shermanfreak

Member since
January 2003

Posted by shermanfreak on Monday, September 22, 2003 9:43 AM

Boy is Mike (renarts) going to be disapointed when he finds out those gaps in the armour were supposed to be there !!

Cool pics Brian, thanks.

Happy Modelling and God Bless Robert

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erush

Member since
May 2003
From: USA, GA

Posted by erush on Monday, September 22, 2003 9:21 AM

Cool pix Brian! It seems that the climate there isn't too compatible with old armor Big Smile [:D]

. I'm glad to hear you enjoyed the vacation and your birthday and it was cool to see you and your fiance...nice pic! Looking forward to seeing the rest of your vacation pix (the ones you can share on here anyway Wink [;)]

)

Eric

Hi, I'm Eric and I'm a Modelholic too. I think I have PE poisioning.

"Friendly fire...isn't"

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J-Hulk

Member since
February 2003
From: Tochigi, Japan

Saipan Chi-ha pix

Posted by J-Hulk on Monday, September 22, 2003 9:16 AM

Hi, folks! Smile [:)]

As promised over at GMD, here is the Japanese Type 97 Chi-ha I got close-up and personal with in Saipan last week. This particular vehicle had been on display up at the American Memorial Park's "Tank Plaza" last year when I visited Saipan, but apparently was moved down to the airport along with other items since then.
You can clearly see the cracked armor plate along the hull sides and turret, supposedly sustained when it tangled with a Sherman. The tour guide (who was Japanese) was quick to point out the superior Japanese craftsmanship of the period, as exemplified by the still free-wheeling return rollers. I jokingly pointed out to the guide that one roller was so free-wheeling, it actually free-wheeled itself right off the tank and onto the ground. The tracks, however, had rusted into solid structures.

I think you can see in the pix just how thin the armor was on these tanks. Any American in a Sheman must've felt like Whittman or Carius going up against these little fellas!
The crews of these Chi-has were brave souls, to be sure.

Here're the pix:

Behind the Chi-ha was a stack of what I reckon are LVT tracks, with some Chi-ha track remnants tossed on top:

That's all the armor-related digipix I have. I have some more pix of beach emplacements and bunkers I'll post later.

Stay tuned for more! Big Smile [:D]

~Brian

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