At the Igromir 2016 expo, we spoke about a Chi-Ha modification with a 47 mm cannon. We’re not going to miss out the base model either – all the more because this tank is the second most mass-produced Japanese tank in the Second World War. Furthermore, the Type 97 Chi-Ha served as a basis for the development of a large number of modifications (many of which will also be represented in the Japanese armored vehicle tech tree in War Thunder). The tank’s chassis and parts were used to make SPGs, repair and evacuation vehicles, engineering vehicles and special vehicles – in other words, this tank really is special!

So without further ado, we introduce the early-series Type 97 Chi-Ha Japanese medium tank. The idea behind this tank was born as a result of the experience in using tanks during military operations in Manchuria and China, which revealed that Japan’s tanks didn’t meet the requirements for modern armored vehicles of the age. The army required a faster and more well-defended tank with superior armament. Based on the results of an analysis of battles in Manchuria and China, the military were forced to choose between several projects in development with the Japanese tank designers.  The medium (by Japanese classification) Chi-Ha tank was deemed the most successful. It was deployed in 1937 and took part in the Battle of Khalkhin Gol 1938 in limited numbers. Although the latest and already full-scale war proved that this tank could still not compete with its enemy contemporaries, more than 2,000 tanks of this series were produced in the 1937-1943 period. These included the Chi-Ha Kai modification.