1/35 IJA Type 1 Field Gun

The Type I 75mm SPG (Honi I) is an open-topped gun tank with a 75mm field gun mounted on a modified Type 97 medium tank (Chiha) late model chassis. The Type I gun tank was originally designed as a self-propelled gun to give fire support to tank troops. In the battlefield of Luzon Island in 1945, four of the SPGs belonging to the Japanese 2nd. Tank Div proved the efficiency of this design. Not only was it capable of fierce combat in its role of providing extensive fire support against US troops, its 75mm gun was able to punch out the front armor of a M4 Sherman! Thus this model was the only weapon of the Imperial Japanese Army which had effective anti-tank capability at that time. Tamiya reproduced this SPG with crisp moldings; moldings are excellent even though the kit was initially released in 1977. The interior of the combat compartment with the gun and its control device, is thoroughly detailed. The very thick front armor of the gun shield is not a a casting flaw; this SPG actually had 50mm armor! Two gunner figures in action, in tropical uniform, and some 75mm ammunition, are included. Tracks are the cementable rubber belt type.