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8th Tank Regiment
September 19, 1945
September 28, 1945
Peter Flahavin 1996
Delivered to the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) as Type 97 Chi-Ha Shinhoto medium tank. Hull number unknown.
This tank was transported as cargo aboard a ship and unloaded at Rabaul. Assigned to the 8th Tank Regiment at Rapopo to the south of Rabaul. This tank survived until the end of the Pacific War.
On September 8, 1945 Japanese forces on New Britain officially surrendered. Afterwards, all the operational tanks and vehicles were assembled at Rapopo Airfield. On September 19, 1945, the Australian Army 2/4 Armoured Regiment inspected 40 tanks and other vehicles, which were parked in lines. These included Type 97 Chi Ha medium tanks, Type 95 Ha Go light tanks and amphibious tanks and other vehicles
On September 28, 1945 one of forty Japanese tanks surrendered at Rapopo Airfield to the Australian Army 2/4 Armoured Regiment. Afterwards, the tanks were driven by Japanese drivers with Australian commanders from Rapopo to Rabaul. This tank and Type 97 Te-Ke Tankette were selected as war prizes and shipped to Australia. The other surrendered tanks were abandoned or destroyed.
This tank is displayed at the Royal Australian Armoured Corps Museum (RAACM). Painted in a three color scheme including dark green, light green and tan with a yellow lightning bolt motif on each side of the turret. The front of the hull has two Japanese flags.
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