tankette; car-sized tank
Military term for a small, lightly armored tracked vehicle, typically with a crew of one or two, used for reconnaissance or infantry support. The kanji 豆 (bean) suggests small size.
During World War II, tankettes were used for reconnaissance missions.
Compound of 豆 (まめ, 'bean', here meaning 'miniature') and 戦車 (せんしゃ, 'tank'). The term is a calque from English 'tankette' or similar Western military terminology.