The Japanese Type 1 Ho-Ha Half-track was developed in the early 1940s as Japan’s answer to the German Sd.Kfz. 251, intended to provide mobile troop transport with added protection and off-road capability. Introduced in 1941, the Ho-Ha featured an all-steel body with 10mm frontal armor and could carry up to 12 troops. It was powered by a gasoline engine and used a 6x4 wheel and track configuration, combining wheels at the front for steering and tracks at the rear for improved cross-country mobility. Armament typically included up to three 7.7mm Type 97 machine guns, one mounted at the front and two at the sides for all-around defense. The Ho-Ha was primarily used in China and the Philippines, where it transported infantry and supported mechanized operations. While it offered better protection than trucks, it was produced in limited numbers and saw relatively restricted deployment due to Japan’s industrial limitations. Nonetheless, it represented a rare attempt by the Imperial Japanese Army to modernize its troop transport capabilities with an armored, semi-tracked vehicle.
 
Multi part resin model.
 
Printed by Imperator Models on License from Wargame 3D.