In June 2020, it was revealed that among the many armored vehicles stashed on the Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow (one of the many duty assignments of my hardcore Marine Grandfather), California, was a very rare Japanese Type 4 Ka-Tsus amphibious tank.

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Robert Jackson, 10JUN2020.

Apparently only 49 were made before he end of World War Two, and this is supposedly the only one left alive.

USMC photo by Robert Jackson, 10JUN2020.

It was based on the Type 95 hull, and was originally intended to carry personnel and supplies from ship to shore and back again.  However, somebody decided to also use them in suicide attacks on U.S. ships, but testing in 1944 showed they were much to slow and noisy for such a sneaky job.

The Japanese AmTrack could carry 13mm machine guns, and during the Kamikaze testing was able to carry and launch two torpedoes (after setting sail from its submarine transport).

The USMC originally had the Ka-Tsu on display on Camp Pendleton, also in California.

The U.S. Marines found the Ka Tsu after the massive July 1945 attacks on Kure Harbor, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan.

USMC 2020: LAST RIDE FOR 1ST, 2ND & 4TH TANK