Looks like Marks info is pretty much "
spot on" concerning the
TYPE 74 MBT. Just some points with additional data from some other sources the
first of which is a "
conglomerate" of several different ones in one "
comprehensive" format with additional independent supporting ones also offered.
Background: The first post war indigenous tank built by Japan was the
TYPE 61 which was meant to address the "
shortfalls" of the USA tanks they inherited the
CHAFFEE which the Japanese liked as it
well suited their terrain issues but sorely lacked in firepower even against
T-34/85 tanks as shown in Korea. The other (And the number varies from
250 -300 tanks. Versus several hundred
CHAFFEES.) was the
Sherman tank of the "
Easy Eight" variant (
M4A3E8) which had it's own issues also to include the terrain were maneuver was a problem.
The doctrine adopted was simply to combine
light armor, solid firepower and, most importantly, the ability to traverse rough terrain. This doctrine still guides them today to a degree, but improved upon based on their potential adversary-
RUSSIA as we've seen starting with the
TYPE 90.
The
TYPE 61 was already obsolete when it was fielded. Which lead to the development of the
TYPE 74. Many sites attribute the
TYPE 74 as the
first tank to have a
Ballistic FC Computer and to address the terrain issue, it has a
hydropneumatic suspension, allowing this MBT to "
sit", "
stand", "
kneel" or to "
lean" (Still used today.). This feature was
incorporated from the
canceled German-US MBT-70 design. The driver can adjust the suspension to suit the type of terrain on "
the fly" which is a big advantage to the Japanese even today.
Unfortunately, and only
slightly so compared to the
TYPE 60, the
TYPE 74 was shortly after being fielded in
1980 also pretty much
out dated. With Russia in continuing to develop the
T-72 and later the
T-80, Japan saw the need to develop a new tank which started in
1977 as the
TK-X. It would be known as the
TYPE 90 which took
13 years to be fielded.
I have to
respectfully disagree with Mark, math (Though
200 are still in service. See Army Rec ref.
first below.) aside I see the the [b]TYPE 74 Mod E "
sticking around" much closer to games end due to
COVIDs economic impact and other factors as noted below to include
very recent Russian activity right "
next door".
This tank is a "
survivor" first the
TYPE 90 was to replace it in the
mid-late 90's but, the Cold War ended and Defense Budgets were cut world wide and many
international MBT development projects also were cut.
Russia and a "
rising" China would bring about the development of the
TYPE 10 which was also to replace the the
TYPE 74 and also the
TYPE 90. All that planning was laid waste in
2008/2009 in the world wide economic crash, soaring developmental costs and delays in getting the
TYPE 10 in the field. The cost per tank just soared.
Japan has just in the last couple of years started making more
TYPE 10 tanks at a
much slower pace. What will replace the
TYPE 74 will be the
MCV-16 I submitted for the last patch (And fielded this year if
I remember correctly.) which Don entered. Production of which will be at a
modest rate which is why I see the
TYPE 74 sticking around longer, again, along with the Russian issue from above.
https://www.armyrecognition.com/may_...anks_mbts.html
Highlights below for the TYPE 74...
Main Gun: Japanese designation is the
L/51 produced in Japan based on the Royal Ordnance
L7 105mm rifled gun (Specifically the
A3 version.) but modified by Japan to have the characteristics more closely resembling the
USA M68 105mm rifled gun. It was therefore
not a copy of the
L7.
Initial ammo:
L28A1 APDS (imported from
Britain, 240mm penetration at 1km)
Type 91 HEAT
Type 75 HEP-T (license-produced
M393 HEP)
Armor:
Mantlet: 195mm
Turret front: 120mm
Turret side: 110mm
Turret rear: 60mm
Turret top: 40mm
Hull upper frontal plate: 40mm at 75 degrees
Hull mid frontal plate: 80mm at 65 degrees
Hull lower frontal plate: 80mm at 55 degrees
Hull side: 35mm
Hull rear: 25mm
It’s worth noting that several “
patterns” of this tank were produced over the years:
Type 74 initial production model (roughly
400 were built)
Type 74 Mod B with an
improved FCS and the ability to fire
APFSDS rounds (
all initial production models were upgraded to this pattern)
Type 74 Mod C is basically
Mod B, but with
actual camouflage instead of the standard khaki color
Type 74 Mod D features a
thermal sleeve for the gun (
everything older was gradually
upgraded to Mod D)
Type 74 Mod E features
another upgrade to its
FCS and the ability to fire
Type 91 HEAT-MP rounds instead of the older Type 75 HEP loadout, this is the
last major pattern and
most of the older vehicles were gradually upgraded to
Mod E
There were
two more patterns developed:
Type 74 Mod F with a mine-clearing device (around
10 vehicles built)
Type 74 Mod G, also known as
Type 74 Kai (or Type 74 Improved) with improved night-fighting equipment and protection, consisting of additional spaced armor and a rudimentary soft-kill APS (laser warning receiver connected to its smoke grenade launchers, deploying smoke automatically as soon as the vehicle is targeted by a laser)
Of the
Type 74 Mod G only
four vehicles built as
prototypes before it was decided this program was not economically feasible.
https://aw.my.games/en/news/general/development-type-74
(Again above
compresses data from TankNut, National Interest ("Think Tank"), Military Factory and other sites.)
http://www.military-today.com/tanks/type_74.htm
https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/coldw..._War_tanks.php
(To supplement Dons need to get his ICON "fix" in.)
https://www.facebook.com/tanksbeingt...99673606758035
What this about Russia...
https://www.armyrecognition.com/defe..._warships.html
https://news.yahoo.com/time-solve-ku...233000316.html
I guess they "
fear" Japan is going to invade them!?!
COVID and Economic Impact: The following was originally posted in the
Int. Defense Green and White Paper Thread Post #61 last week this quote taken from the ref below as was posted last week as indicated.
"The
pandemic has
wiped around 20 years’ worth of growth off of the
UK’s Gross Domestic Product (
GDP)."
https://www.army-technology.com/feat...nce-secretary/
If your an investor, it could be
10 years to recover fully (World Economies) if you listen to the experts. I'm hoping for
half that, Thank You very much!?!
Dinner!!!!!
Regards,
Pat