IJA I-Go Medium tank (Type 89A, Chi-Ro)

The design of I-Go tank started in 1925 (The imperial year 2585) at that time Japanese Army formulated 2 design requests for a light and a medium tank. Interestingly I-Go was designed as the Light Tank but due to a number of challenges with the Chi-I medium tank it’s specification was adjusted resulting in its gross weight to reach 14 tons putting I-Go in the medium tank segment. The kit is a late version of model A (I-Go). It’s still fitted with a petrol engine (unlike Model B which was fitted with an air-cooled Mitsubishi A6120VD 120 hp diesel engine) but already has the one piece driver hatch relocated to the other side of the hall and an asymmetrical turret which included a copula for the commander. This late version of I-Go was produced only in 1934 before Model B was introduced in 1935. The tank was in service until the end of WW II and a total of 291 ‘diesel-powered’ I-Go’s were manufactured by Mitsubishi.