IJA TANK DESTROYER
By: Graeylin


These were later war period soldiers (1944-1945) typically found on Okinawa, Tarawa, etc. where resistance was highest.

These soldiers were living tank destroyers. They carried a tank mine on a bamboo pole, and would rush a tank to detonate it near the tracks, or in the soft sides between track wheels. Of course, this was a one-way mission.

They would also carry packs of explosives, grenades, etc. on their backs, and throw themselves at the drive wheels, hoping to get caught up and crushed in the treads. The pressure would detonate their packs, and blow the treads and wheels off the tank. incapacitating it.

This figure shows both methods... A long-pole anti-tank mine, and if that fails to work (as many did fail to detonate on contact), a pack of explosives to be ground into the tread/drive wheels.

















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