AC70076 JAPANESE ARMORED VEHICLES SET 1

The Komatsu G-40 was a Japanese WWII tracked bulldozer. The vehicle was powered by a single 50 HP gasoline engine. The first copy was ready in January 1943. In the same year, mass production began, which lasted until 1945. About 150 vehicles of this type were built in its course. The bulldozer did not have permanent weapons. The Komatsu G-40 was designed and produced for the Japanese Navy, which during the Pacific War of 1941-1942 realized the need to build makeshift field airfields on islands scattered around the Pacific Ocean as quickly as possible. The battles in Guadalcanal, in particular, had a huge impact on this decision of the naval command, when the pace of the work of American sappers and engineering troops was several times greater than that of the Japanese. The task was entrusted to the Komatsu company, which so far has mainly dealt with the production of trucks. To minimize research and development time, Komatsu used the undercarriage, engine and gearbox of the existing G-40 tractor and added a specially designed plow that was hydraulically lowered and raised. The vehicle turned out to be quite successful and was quickly put into production. It is fairly commonly believed that the Komatsu G-40 was the first Japanese bulldozer.The Type 2 Ka-Mi was a Japanese amphibious tank from the Second World War. The first prototypes were built in the early 1940s, and serial production continued in 1943-1945. In total, about 180 examples of this tank were built. The Type 2 Ka-Mi was powered by an engine Mitsubishi with 115 HP. The vehicle was armed with a single 37mm tank gun in the turret and two 7.7mm Type 97 machine guns. The Type 2 Ka-Mi was created in connection with the need to develop a floating tank for units of Japanese marines attacking or defending themselves on numerous islands in the Pacific Ocean. From the outset, the Type 2 Ka-Mi was designed as an infantry support tank with the greatest possible mobility. Many components of the Type 95 Ha-Go tank were used in its construction, mainly the engine, suspension and, in fact, the entire chassis. On the other hand, a new turret and metal pontoons - in the front and rear of the hull - were added, which improved the buoyancy of the vehicle and could be thrown very quickly when leaving the water. Type 2 Ka-Mi tanks were used in combat mainly during the fighting in the Philippines in 1944 and in the battles for the Marian archipelagos and the Marshall Island.