yes the title is misleading. It is not a Tank. It was not designed as a tank or used as a tank and it is not intended to be a tank. I grant you it does look like a tank, but a very small one. It was actually designed and used as an armoured car. Yes it has tracks but with only 12mm of armour (which is enough to stop bullets and shrapnel of the period,) It was never intended to be a tank. 
The models are "battlefront" Flames of War 15mm vehicles. based on plastic-card 30mm frontage and 40 mm long. So feel free to measure the photos and see how big they are. (They are small) . During WW2 about 620 were built and they were used in China, Burma and the pacific Islands. In PBI they have an armour value of 4 and a gun value of 5, which is pretty low. BUT as they are intended to be used as tracked armoured cars we cannot really hope for them to stand up to late war heavy armour. They just could not. They only have a crew of 2 the driver and the commander. The commander takes the role of gunner, loader and vehicle officer, while the driver drives.
There are not so many of these that survived the war and many/most would have been destroyed but a couple of examples still do exist I tank museums around the world. These 5 help to give some variety and a very little armour to my Pacific forces. Yes looking at the photo on the right they were this small. And small obviously means both low profile and harder to hit. So perhaps they may be alright on the table (who am I kidding players will kill these as quickly as they can). Which takes nothing away from how much fun they were to paint. Just do not expect them to last long against many opponents.
The fact you could get two people in them was fairly impressive even if the fighting capability wasn't. The fact it carried a machine gun and had minimal armour meant that it was useful more to control a local population than anything else. Still an interesting little vehicle though Clint
ReplyDeleteThank you Andy. Rather than think of them as either a tank or as populace control think of them as a reconnaissance vehicle. Fast and agile. Definitely NOT a mobile PILLBOX!
DeleteYes one of the things I like about the Pacific theatre is the variety of stuff. I get bored with seeing the same tanks over and over.
Those look so cool. I love how you painted the camo (which is something I never got right when painting tanks).
ReplyDeleteI'd hate to think how cramped and claustrophobic working inside those vehicles was. Horrific, probably. Definitely no good for my 6'3" frame.
Thanks Roy. I kind of mucked up the camouflage... but only a complete dingbat would know. I should have started with "Golden Sand" as a base colour. It would have been more authentic. But they look alright so who cares.
DeleteAs for the size issue I am 6'1" and I KNOW I would not fit in many British tanks of this period either.
Wonderful stuff Clint, with some absolutely spot on camo imho. That's a nice looking squadron which certainly disappear amongst your (as ever) terrific basing.
ReplyDeleteThank you Simon. There is more to come of course. Most notably the 3 Tank destroyers. But I think perhaps a little break from the Pacific for a week or so.
DeleteYou do like your obscure vehicle and once again, I knew nothing about these definitely not-tanks. An interesting and far from obvious force.
ReplyDeleteThank you Bryan. I think the Japanese are not an obvious army in ww2 for a wargamer. As such they do tend to have less well known items. It was thanks to you that I found these on eBay at a very good price.
DeleteNever heard of these little afv's before Clint, so thanks for the info accompanying your models of them.
ReplyDeleteI just can't get the idea of Japanese "Bonsai Tanks" out of my head now!
Thanks Addict. PMSL at Bonsai tanks. Just think of them as tracked armoured cars and not as tanks and it all makes sense. Luckily I do not have any Japanese Amphibious tanks to paint or you might well have something to laugh about.
DeleteBrilliant job Clint and I love their name it seems to fit perfectly with their diminutive size.
ReplyDeleteThanks Michael. I have no say in what things are called but I agree in this instance it does seem to fit. One could almost think they might be Pokémon Tanks with that name.
DeleteSome great painting on your armoured cars, and wonderful history as well Clint
ReplyDeleteThanks Dave, Obviously I skimmed the history quite a bit. But I doubt any what to know the names of the designers or factories they were built in or even exactly how many were built. But if you look long and hard on the internet all the info is there.
Deletebless the internet, for being a giant history book. Researching a subject has certainly become a lot quicker and easier
DeleteIndeed. But check all the facts 2-3 places first.... there is also a LOT of Dubious knowledge on the web.
DeleteBut most people over 12 years old already know that and do not take it as gospel
Sound advice Clint, for anyone who's not used to facts on the internet
ReplyDeleteThank you Dave.
DeleteJust what your Pacific project needs, some targets for the Americans - that can probably be destroyed with a 50cal mg.
ReplyDeleteThey do look good though and the camo obviously works too as in the group shot my eyes started blurring htem all together!
Thanks Joe. I Imagine they will be bullet magnets. Yes they should be easy to destroy in game terms. Probably FAR too easy. But While they are being shot something else is being left alone!
Delete(Points wise they are reasonably cheap (20 points with and Average crew) and they can always be mobile ATG s... with their 37mm gun)