I was going through my stash not so long ago as I was looking for something a little different from the norm. I have been building a lot of German armour of late and needed a change of pace. As soon as my eyes hit the box, I knew that I had found my next victim! The little (or so I thought), amphibious tank from Dragon, the Ka-Mi.
I have always had a soft spot for some of the lesser known, fringe armour subjects. I love the lines of the Italian and Hungarian subjects, but there is something completely unique with the Japanese subjects. Unmistakable in their origins with a particular identity all of their own.
BACKGROUND
The Japanese Army had been developing an amphibious tank as early as 1928. Concepts and prototypes were produced but nothing ever made it past this stage.
In 1940, the Imperial Japanese Navy took over the development of the tank. Using the Type 95 Ha-Go as the basis of the design, the Navy worked alongside Mitsubishi to produce the Type 1 Ka-Mi.
Further developments would see the Type 2 develop and become part of the IJN’s Special Navel Landing Forces with the vision it would feature in the invasion of the Pacific Islands as well as other special operations.
The tank went into production in 1942 and would see around 184 units being produced (although some sources would suggest only 182). The tank’s main weapon was a Type 1 37mm Tank Gun which was supported by two Type 97 7.7mm machine guns.
Its operational range on land was reported as 170kms at a maximum speed of 37km/h . Interestingly the tanks’ range in the water was 140kms at a maximum speed of 10km/h.