Japanese - Type 95 Ha-Go Light Tank

The Japanese Type 95 Ha-Go Light Tank was the Imperial Japanese Army’s most widely produced light tank of World War II, developed in 1935 to provide fast, mobile support for infantry and cavalry units. Weighing just 7.4 tons, it was lightly armoured but highly reliable and manoeuvrable, capable of reaching speeds up to 45 km/h (28 mph) thanks to its 120 hp Mitsubishi diesel engine. The Ha-Go was armed with a 37mm Type 94 main gun and two 7.7mm Type 97 machine guns, one mounted in the hull and another in the rear of the turret. Armour protection ranged from 6 to 12mm, which was sufficient against small arms fire but vulnerable to even light anti-tank weapons. Its simplicity and ease of maintenance made it ideal for Japan’s campaigns in China, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific islands, where its mobility was a major advantage in jungle and rough terrain.

However, by 1942, the Ha-Go was increasingly outclassed by Allied armour such as the M3 Stuart and later the M4 Sherman, whose superior guns and armour could easily destroy it. Despite this, the Ha-Go continued to serve throughout the war due to Japan’s limited tank production capacity, often repurposed for defensive roles in island fortifications or as improvised static bunkers. Over 2,300 units were built, making it the most common Japanese tank of the war. While obsolete by mid-war standards, the Type 95 Ha-Go remains one of the most recognisable symbols of Japan’s early wartime successes and its light-armour doctrine focused on speed and mobility over protection.

Multi part resin model.

Printed by Imperator Models on License from Wargame 3D.