Japanese - Type 1 Ho-Ki APC

The Japanese Type 1 Ho-Ki was a fully tracked armoured personnel carrier (APC) developed by the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II to improve infantry mobility and battlefield survivability. Introduced around 1942, the Ho-Ki featured fully enclosed armor plating—unlike the semi-open design of the Ho-Ha—and could carry up to 13 troops along with a driver and commander. Its armor thickness ranged from 6mm to 10mm, providing basic protection against small arms fire and shrapnel. The vehicle was powered by a gasoline engine and had good cross-country mobility due to its tracked design, allowing it to operate alongside tanks and other mechanized units. Though typically unarmed or lightly armed with a 7.7mm Type 97 machine gun, the Ho-Ki could be adapted for cargo transport, artillery towing, or medical evacuation. It saw limited service, mainly in China and the Pacific Islands, where rough terrain made wheeled transport impractical. Due to Japan’s limited industrial capacity, production numbers were low, but the Ho-Ki marked a notable step forward in Japan’s attempt to mechanize and protect its infantry forces on the modern battlefield.

Multi part resin model.

Printed by Imperator Models on License from Wargame 3D.