High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The Type 4 Chi-To (?????, Yonshiki ch?sensha?) was one of several new medium and heavy tanks developed by the Imperial Japanese Army towards the end of World War II. The Type 4 Chi-To was by far the most advanced Japanese wartime tank to reach the production phase. Development of the Type 4 Chi-To began in 1942, as an intended successor to the Type 97-kai Shinhoto. After a series of delays, the project was finally re-initiated in early 1944. Contemporary German tanks were carefully evaluated, multiple foreign designs consulted, and German veterans recruited in order to advise in the design work.