IJN Ab Tei River Gunboat/Soukou-tei (1/300)

The Japanese Ab Tei, also known as Soukou-tei, was a type of armoured river gunboat originally designed to support Japanese army units along rivers in China. As the Pacifc war heated up, some of them were also used to support army units elsewhere.

The Ab Tei displaced 16.5 tons and had a maximum speed of around 15 knots. It also had some light armour to protect itself from small arms.

As usual, armament varied. A combination of 57mm cannons and 7.7mm machine guns were carried, each mounted in turrets taken from tanks (the Type 97 Chi Ha I believe).

Files included:

Ab Tei River Gunboat - the boat with a 57mm turret forward, an MG turret at the rear, and a high-elevation MG turret on the top of the superstructure.

Ab Tei River Gunboat Unarmed - the boat without any armament.

Ab Tei River Gunboat 57mm Turret - the turret with the 57mm gun.

Ab Tei River Gunboat Rear MG Turret - the low elevation version of the MG turret.

Ab Tei River Gunboat Top MG Turret - the MG turret with higher elevation (presumably for AA use).