The keen reader of previous post will have noticed two new Japanese Walker names! The Watatsumi and Hachiman are new designs! Robert and I talked a lot about the possibility of the new Shiki models and agreed to use them a bit more to provide the Japanese players some more toys.
Shiki 38 Command - by DP9, Jungle Buildings and Peasants by Peter Pig
The Watatsumi
The Watatsumi combat walker was based on the German Panzerkämpfer VI, known as the "Donner" ("Thor"). In 1944 some Donner walkers, along with a few Tiger tanks, were sold to Japan. The blueprints could be delivered in 1943 by a successful Yanagi submarine mission. At the time the German walkers were delivered to Japan, Japanese Engineers already worked on unique solutions to adapt the German design to the Pacific operation theatre. The first combat ready Watatsumi walker was delivered in March 1944 to the Imperial Japanese Army.
Since the German Donner was designed from the beginning to be highly modular, with multiple reinforced hardpoints, redundant wiring and hydraulic networks, and spacious engine compartment most modifications proved to be easily done.
It was very soon decided to use the same multifunctional turret that was used on the Shiki walker variants. The sturdier frame of the Donner walker enabled the vehicle to carry a better armoured turret that could also mount bigger guns. The unusual – at least for a Japanese AFV - big engine compartment could take the 400 HP Air-cooled Type 4 V12 Diesel engine with supercharger that was also used in the Type 4 Chi-To Medium tank. The combination of the Donner frame and the V12 Diesel engine proved to be a great success, no Watatsumi walker was plagued by the random shutdowns of the frequently overheated engine that bugged the original Donner walker.
The Hachiman
A single Uller was sold to Japan in early 1943, but was never delivered thanks to an Allied commando operation. Later that year another Uller – including all necessary blueprints to rebuild the walker - was successfully delivered to Japan by a Yanagi mission. The walker was renamed Hachiman, as the Shinto god of war and divine protector of Japan and the Japanese people.
As with the Watasumi walker Japanese engineers could benefit a lot from the experiences made during development of the German original. It was soon decided to make the armour on the heavy Hachiman walker a little bit thinner on the sides to decrease the weight of the walker. Mobility and engine endurance was more important in jungle warfare as thick armour.
The Type 3 Hachiman was initially to be powered by a Diesel engine, but the advancements needed to provide the necessary horsepower could never be realized, and a 800 HP V-12 gasoline-driven aircraft engine designed by BMW in Germany and licensed to Kawasaki Heavy Industries in Japan was selected instead. The "Kawasaki Type 98 800 HP engine Ha-9-IIb" was detuned for the walker to 550 HP. The engine performed better the original Uller engine, which required continuous maintenance.
In June 1943 the first production Hachiman walkers immediately shipped to frontline units in the Solomon Islands and the rest of the Pacific theatre.
Both walkers are based on the Donner and Ullr models, to build them you will obviously need a fitting Shiki blister and either a Donner or Ullr blister. Since both blister are equipped with an abundance of parts you can still build two complete walker and do not have to sacrifice anything!
More here->
http://www.adpublishing.de/html/gear_krieg_banzai_.html
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