Taiho Artillery Crew – 3D Printable Japanese Samurai STL Miniatures

This set of digital STL files includes a complete Taiho Artillery battery, featuring multiple crew miniatures and two distinct cannon models. The figures are expertly designed at a 28mm/32mm heroic scale, making them perfectly compatible with the most popular tabletop wargames and role-playing systems. Every file is optimized for 3D printing, with the intricate details of the miniatures, such as armor plating, facial expressions, and clothing folds, best captured using a resin printer. The larger cannon pieces, with their robust construction and pronounced wood grain textures, can also be successfully printed on FDM machines, offering versatility for all hobbyists.

In-game, this artillery unit provides immense tactical value. Use them to anchor your battle line, deny key areas of the board to your opponent, or serve as the focal point of a siege scenario. Their presence on the field is a powerful deterrent, forcing your adversary to reconsider their advance. Whether for historical simulations of the Sengoku Jidai or for fantasy armies with a Japanese aesthetic, the Taiho Artillery brings unmatched firepower and visual impact to your games.

Historical Context: The introduction of artillery, known as ‘Taihō’ (大砲) or ‘great guns’, marked a transformative period in Japanese military history. While personal firearms (tanegashima) arrived with the Portuguese in 1543 and were rapidly adopted, the integration of heavier cannon was a more gradual process. Initially, European cannons were imported and highly prized by powerful daimyō. These early pieces were often used as naval armaments on large ships or as defensive weapons in castles. The first significant use of cannons in Japanese warfare was during siegecraft. Warlords like Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi, master innovators of their time, understood the potential of artillery to overcome the formidable stone and earth fortifications of their rivals. During the pivotal Siege of Osaka (1614-1615), Tokugawa Ieyasu employed a battery of cannons, some of European origin, to bombard Osaka Castle. The psychological and physical impact of this bombardment was a key factor in his eventual victory, demonstrating the end of an era where traditional samurai warfare was paramount. Japanese smiths, renowned for their metallurgical skills, soon began producing their own versions, ranging from heavy bronze cannons to smaller, more mobile breech-loading swivel guns known as ‘Ōzutsu’ (great tubes). This Taiho Artillery set captures the spirit of this era of change, representing the dedicated ashigaru crews tasked with operating these game-changing weapons on the field of battle.