Japan

The Type 1 47mm AT gun was developed following the Japanese encounter with Russian armour and was the first indigenously developed dedicated anti-tank gun. It lacked the performance of other contemporary weapons of similar calibre, but was deemed sufficiently capable against lightly armoured tanks.

 

By the time it was introduced in 1942, it was therefore already outdated. The same gun was used as the main armament of the Type 97 Chi-Ha Shinhoto tank. It was also used by Japanese paratroops – dropped disassembled in separate containers.

Build a force of the Emperor’s fanatically loyal troops and campaign through some of the most brutal battles of WWII.

 

This starter army gives you a fantastic basis of a Bolt Action Japanese force. At its core is a whopping 42 plastic infantry, enabling you to build a Rifle Platoon packed with a wide variety of infantry squads and weapons teams, as well as all of the Platoon Commanders your force needs. A wide variety of components allows your troops to be assembled and represent the forces of the Imperial Japanese Army, the Special Naval Landing Forces, or evened hardened Jungle Veterans. The plastic infantry even includes options for a MMG team, enabling you to tailor your new force even further, and add a Heavy Weapons Platoon to your new force.

 

Armoured support comes in the form of the dependable Chi-Ha medium tank, backed up by the heavy howitzer of a Ho-Ro assault gun Finally, an Artillery Platoon brings additional long range firepower in the form of a Type 91 105mm Howitzer, meaning this force can take on anything the enemy can throw at it.

 

With an endless number of ways to assemble the contents within, this starter army is the perfect way to start a Japanese Bolt Action collection, or significantly expand an existing one!

 

This starter army contains:

 

42 multi-pose plastic Japanese Infantry

One Type 91 105mm Howitzer (Metal)

One plastic Chi-Ha medium tank

One resin and metal Ho-Ro assault gun

Includes plastic & MDF bases, decals, and vehicle damage markers

Build a force of the Emperor’s fanatically loyal troops and campaign through some of the most brutal battles of WWII.

 

The Imperial Japanese Army would call upon nearly five and a half million men across World War Two. Though many would be conscripts, they would be well-trained, highly motivated, and highly disciplined. Their aggressive tactics saw them capable of striking swiftly and relentlessly, and they displayed a fanatical will to keep fighting, even in the face of an ultimately unassailable adversary.

 

This box contains 30 infantry models allowing you to build a huge variety of Japanese infantry units. On each sprue, you’ll find a wide range of weaponry, including Type 99 Arisaka Rifles, a Type 99 LMGs, a Type 89 Grenade Dischargers (also known as ‘knee mortars’), lunge mines, swords, and more besides. There’s also a Type 92 Machine Gun enabling you to represent a Medium Machine Gun Team (we’ve included a trio of 60mm bases to help with such an endeavour!), and plenty of extra pieces to customise your troops further. Most crucially a variety of heads and gear is included that allow you to represent not only troops of the Imperial Japanese Army, but also those of the Special Naval Landing Forces, or Veteran Jungle Fighters and take advantage of the Yamato Damashii special rule!

 

The following units from Armies of Imperial Japan: Third Edition can be assembled:

 

Platoon Commander

Kempeitai Officer

Medic

IJA Infantry Squad

IJA Grenadier Squad

SNLF Squad

SNLF Grenadier Squad

Sennyuu Infiltration Team

IJA Engineer Squad

Medium Machine Gun Team

Suicide Anti-tank Team

Suicide Anti-infantry Team

Sniper Team

Lone Sniper

Light Mortar Team

The kit can also be used to make a wide range of spotters and forward observers - the possibilities are endless!

The Japanese Light Truck Type 97 was based on the Isuzu truck TX40, sharing parts common to the Type 94 Truck. The Type 97 could be found in almost all areas of the Pacific war as a principal truck for the IJA until the end of the war.

 

Japanese trucks were inclined to be narrow to suit local roads and had high ground clearance to cope with uneven surfaces. They tended to be quite heavy compared to British equivalents and some were almost exact copies of the 1939 Chevrolet.

 

In Bolt Action, the Type 97 counts as a Light Truck, an inexpensive and reliable way to transport up to 8 men across the tabletop, or tow lighter artillery pieces.

 

Box contains one resin & metal Type 97 Isuzu Truck, decal sheet, and vehicle damage marker