A question about Japanese RC tanks

[ALPHA]

Great find Steel B ....tough to find stuff on Japanese Armor


ALPHA

[SteelBird]

After viewing the video, I'm a bit disappointed regarding Japanese design during ww2. From light tanks to medium tanks and heavy tanks. I think some of them can only be called tracked armored vehicle. There are many models. maybe even more then German and allied force. But they look so outdated (I mean even by that time). They look ww1 to me. They were nowhere near the standard of German tanks.

[ALPHA]

After viewing the video, I'm a bit disappointed regarding Japanese design during ww2. From light tanks to medium tanks and heavy tanks. I think some of them can only be called tracked armored vehicle. There are many models. maybe even more then German and allied force. But they look so outdated (I mean even by that time). They look ww1 to me. They were nowhere near the standard of German tanks.

So true....they just didn't have the Industrial capability back then....I read somewhere that they captured a Stuart...and figured that tank was the one to be copied...reason their tanks came to be so light weight in armor and firepower ...thing is even though they are pretty much inferior in every way...several of them are rather Cool looking


ALPHA

[Craigm1992]

I could imagine the difficulty trying to make a RC Matilda with the side skirts over the road wheels, the Churchill as well has the same huge number of road wheel situation

Thanks for the link to the video, I'll check that out. I remember hearing that the Japanese considered tanks similarly to the British which was as infantry support, rather than the Germans who used them for independent offensive acts. I might be mistaken but It appears most Japanese industrial capacity was focused on aviation and warship building?

[ALPHA]

I could imagine the difficulty trying to make a RC Matilda with the side skirts over the road wheels, the Churchill as well has the same huge number of road wheel situation

Exactly....I'm sure there must have been some thought at one time to produce such models...but those skirts are pretty complicated...wheels are pretty tiny and the idlers ride differently ...at some point they must have said there wasn't any way to make it truly durable enough for consumption so to say...as there isn't a company that really wants that kind of bad press should the tanks start falling apart from the get go

Thanks for the link to the video, I'll check that out. I remember hearing that the Japanese considered tanks similarly to the British which was as infantry support, rather than the Germans who used them for independent offensive acts. I might be mistaken but It appears most Japanese industrial capacity was focused on aviation and warship building?

You are correct....Japan being and Island...knew that any expansion would require a good Navy ...and Aircraft to support it...their big mistake was to take on the US by attacking Pearl Harbor....because most of the areas they did invade with success had no real armies or armor

[Craigm1992]

"You are correct....Japan being and Island...knew that any expansion would require a good Navy ...and Aircraft to support it...their big mistake was to take on the US by attacking Pearl Harbor....because most of the areas they did invade with success had no real armies or armor "

Yeah the Dutch East Indies was primarily defended by the Navy and the British and commonwealth troops used infantry, heavier guns and what planes they had. The Japanese tanks were ok for infantry support but once the Allies started counter attacking and began landing tanks directly onto the beaches the Japanese tanks were clearly inferior.

[ALPHA]

Yeah the Dutch East Indies was primarily defended by the Navy and the British and commonwealth troops used infantry, heavier guns and what planes they had. The Japanese tanks were ok for infantry support but once the Allies started counter attacking and began landing tanks directly onto the beaches the Japanese tanks were clearly inferior.

Exactly...and that's the reason for a good Navy on their part....as they could blockade any ships that tried to supply those outposts....but once the US got in the mix...we countered their blockades by just destroying their light Navy....when they tried to back those up with the heavy carriers and battleships...well..we caught those too...and pretty much the rest is history as Japan had to resort to a more defensive battle strategy....The biggest turning point was when they lost Admiral Yamamoto ...the guy was a pure strategist...too bad they didn't listen to him as he was opposed to attacking the US
He was educated in the states...and knew the Industrial Strength that could be imposed during a war....Reason after Pearl...He made the Statement that all Japan did was wake a Sleeping Giant

ALPHA