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Type 5 Chi-Ri Medium Tank
The Type 5 medium tank Chi-Ri (五式中戦車
チリ Go-shiki chusensha Chi-ri)
("Imperial Year 2605 Medium Tank Model 9") was the ultimate medium
tank developed by the Imperial Japanese Army in World War II. Intended to be a
heavier, more powerful version of Japan's prototype Type 4 Chi-To medium tank,
in performance it was designed to surpass the US M4 Sherman medium tanks being
fielded by the Allied forces. A single prototype was incomplete when the war
ended [Wikipedia 2018]
A single unarmed prototype of the Type 5 Chi-Ri was
completed by May 1945. The project was abruptly abandoned to free up manpower
and critical resources to concentrate on the development and production of the
more practical Type 4 Chi-To medium tank. As with many innovative weapons
projects launched by Japan in the final years of World War II, production could
not advance beyond either small numbers or the prototype stage due to material
shortages, and the loss of Japan's industrial infrastructure to the Allied
bombing of Japan. It was the last tank "developed" by the Imperial
Japanese Army.
Kit: 21cm x 8.7cm x 8.7cm
