picture 186299

Type 2 Ka-Mi, 3rd Masaki Detachment, Itoh Butai, Ormoc Bay, December 1944. The initial production batches of Ka-Mi tanks were painted in the standard IJN dark gray that changed in late 1943 to the IJN’s new Gaigen No. 21 dark green color as seen here. IJN tanks tended to carry the IJN ensign ( as seen here). The Itoh Butai numbered their tanks by detachment with the HQ numbers being in the 1xx series, 1st Tsurusuki Detachment in the 3xx series, 2nd Murakami in the 5xx series, 3rd Masaki in the 6xx series, and 4th Furusato in the 2xx series. Besides the location on the turret side, the number was repeated on the rear of the hull preceded by the IJN anchor symbol, and on the rear of the snorkel trunk.