vehicles. In 1959, Gongchen was formally retired and kept within the Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution. Characteristics Gongchen underwent a number of modifications whilst in the hands of the People's Liberation Army, including an extended lower front plate which spreads up to the drive wheel, and the removal of side armour plates at the engine mount. Some Type 97s in PLA service were reportedly equipped with 500HP Kharkiv model V-2 engines for a brief time, but the vehicles on display all have their engines removed. Whilst the Type 97 Chi-Ha tank was classified as a medium tank by the Imperial Japanese Army, the People's Liberation Army, heavily influenced by Soviet war doctrine, classed the tank as a light tank in official documents. References Tanks of China