IJA Type 97 "Chi-Ha" Early Production, 3rd Tank Company, 1st Tank Regiment, Malaya 1941 Scale 1:72

IJA Type 97 "Chi-Ha" Early Production, 3rd Tank Company, 1st Tank Regiment, Malaya 1941 Scale 1:72 The 1/72 scale Late-Production version of the Japanese Type 97 Chi-Ha tank has proved an extremely popular Dragon Armor item. Now Dragon is adding an Early-Production variant to the collection. The Type 97 was Japan’s most widely produced medium tank of WWII. Boasting a 57mm main gun and two Type 97 machine guns, this tank was intended to serve as an up-scaled version of the Type 95 for infantry support. Armor protection was modest on this vehicle. A total of 2,123 Chi-Ha tanks were produced from 1938-43, most of which carried the low-velocity 57mm gun. The tank could move at a speed of 38km/h. One area where the Chi-Ha was deployed was Malaya from December 1941 through to the fall of Singapore in February 1942. Three Japanese tank regiments saw combat on the Malay peninsular as Japanese forces quickly moved south, and Dragon Armor’s model depicts a tank belonging to the 3rd Tank Company of the 1st Tank Regiment. This regiment had a total of 31 Type 97 tanks, as well as some lighter Type 95s during this campaign. As well as being an Early-Production version, what stands out most on this model is the colorful camouflage scheme consisting of three colors plus bright bands of yellow. Company-level tactical markings are painted onto the turret and hull too. This attractive item allows collectors to field another Japanese tank in addition to the previously released Type 95 Ha-Go and Type 97 Chi-Ha Late Production.