Japanese Ha-Go tank conservation Australian War Memorial

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,

I found two articles that outline the restoration of a Japanese Ha-Go Tank which might be of some interest to the Armour Forum. Enjoy

Kind Regards
Lionel

Japanese Ha-Go tank conservation – Part One
01 November 2010 by John Kemister.
Conservation Accessed 9th August 2011 from,
http://www.awm.gov.au/blog/2010/11/0...k-conservation


Japanese Ha-Go tank conservation – Part two
10 February 2011 by John Kemister. Collection,Conservation Accessed 9th August 2011 from,
http://www.awm.gov.au/blog/2011/02/1...ation-part-two

[Mike Kelly]

What the jap tank crews exclaimed as they rolled into Singapore

HA HA tommy soldiers ..... my honourable tank does Go and Go

Sadly, we had to

[colin jones]

Great story and pictures. I would love to be doing some work on that little tank.
Colin.

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

Hi all - a great restoration story and a credit to the restorers.

Bob

[Mike Cecil]

.....and thanks to John Belfield for rescuing it from the scrappie, and the curator who negotaiated the purchase for the AWM, and the movements staff who handled the (delicate) task of getting it from Melbourne to Canberra, and the curatorial staff who tracked down original and replica parts from around the world and managed to have them imported. And all that even before the conservators had finished cleaning the little gem!

The conservation task was/is massive: the tank had been subject to anti-tank mine experiments in Australia during 1943, so suspension arms and armour plates were cracked, bent, broken, or missing, same with road wheels. Many parts, particularly internal, were missing. Then there was the years of neglect sitting in a certain yard in Coburg, before John obtained it for the Melbourne Tank Museum.

Good news is that the AWM collection already held the original type of machine gun with the folding stock that fits the Ha Go.

It was a significant addition to the AWM's national collection, given its history and capture during the pivotal battle at Milne Bay. Despite the years in the open, some of the names and numbers of service pers who scratched their names in the paintwork are still visible.

Mike C

[Steve Greenberg]

Mike,
Your Type 95 restoration looks fantastic! The OMM Type 95 is sitting in front of the new AFRC building at Camp Withycombe. The dedication for the building was last week. They had 60 WWII Veterans from the 41st Div. in attendance.
Steve

[Mike Cecil]

Yes, Steve, they gave it to 'the master conservator', John Kemister, to manage, and he did his usual outstanding job. John is a practical and pragmatic conservator, unlike at least one other who has 'worked' there!

Must say that you were a big help in our 'world quest' for parts and info, as well as Oliver B in the UK. The details we gained from photographing your museum's example were very helpful indeed.

Must drop south a State and come and visit: your only a few hours away now.

So, when's the next 'shoot' ??

Regards

Mike C

[Steve Greenberg]

Mike,
When did you move to the US? Or are you just visiting??? I am taking my Stuart to Lincoln City on the Oregon coast this weekend for an event honoring Veterans. No firing down there I will be at a "pumpkin shoot" in Dayton, Or. 15-16 Oct. I will be firing there
Steve

[Steve Greenberg]

Mike,
Here is a current photo of the OMM Type 95.
Steve