The Type 97 medium tank was a significant tank used by the Japanese army during WWII. It featured a low silhouette and was armed with a 57mm main gun and two 7.7mm machine guns. As it was initially developed for infantry support, it was ineffective for anti-tank roles and thus received upgrades during its production. This late version featured a more powerful 47mm gun mounted in a larger turret and an improved engine. It first saw action in May 1942 during the Battle of Corregidor in the Philippines and went on to serve as a mainstay tank for the Japanese army throughout the war.