Type 19 Medium Tank

The Type 19 was a Chiseian used during the Second Escar-Varunan War. It was unofficially nicknamed the Furukame (古亀, 'Old Turtle') by its crews.

Design began in 1937, and the first vehicles were operational by late 1938. Faced with superior Yamataian armoured forces, the Royal Army was in urgent need of a tank with a 75mm armament, leading to a number of compromises in the design to facilitate rapid production. Based off the earlier Type 17, the Type 19 had excellent armour and firepower, but at the cost of a high silhouette, a riveted construction, poor off-road performance and an archaic sponson mounting for the main armament that prevented the vehicle from taking a position. Early units also suffered from frequent mechanical issues due to manufacturing inexperience and material shortages.

Despite these issues, Chisei's desperate strategic situation meant the Type 19 would remain in service in large numbers throughout the entirety of the war, surpassed only in production by the more refined Type 21. Yamataian accounts generally consider it to be equal or superior to most early war Yamataian designs.

Operators

 * Chisei
 * Kuiju - 43 captured, modified into P-2151(C)