According to a source from the Ministry of Defense of Japan cited by Janes, the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force will retire its old Type 74 tanks, which were manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries from the mid-1970s to the late 1980s. It has also been reported that the units or battalions that used these armored combat vehicles will be disbanded, without mentioning the new destination of the personnel and crews. In this regard, the defense ministry spokesperson stated that at least 90 units were decommissioned, while the 9th Tank Battalion of the JGSDF based in Iwate, the 10th Tank Battalion based in Imazu, and the 13th Tank Troop were also disbanded.
Designed and manufactured during the Cold War by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries as a replacement for the Type 61, the Type 74 is a second-generation tank used by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force that entered service in the mid-1970s, ending its production in the late 1980s.
Its propulsion system consists of a Mitsubishi 10ZF Type 22 air-cooled 10-cylinder diesel engine, producing 720 horsepower. This engine allows it to reach a maximum road speed of about 53 km/h and an approximate range of 300 kilometers with a full tank. Additionally, it includes an advanced fire control system equipped with a laser rangefinder, ballistic computer, and a thermal imaging system for night operations.
The main gun of the Type 74 tank is a 105 mm cannon, similar to the British Royal Ordnance L7. This cannon is capable of firing various types of ammunition, including anti-tank projectiles, high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) projectiles, and high-explosive squash head (HESH) projectiles. In addition to its main gun, the Type 74 is equipped with secondary armament, including a coaxial 7.62 mm machine gun and a 12.7 mm anti-aircraft machine gun mounted on the commander’s cupola.
Although the Japanese Defense Ministry did not indicate the fate of these 90 decommissioned units, there is speculation about the possibility of selling them to third-party countries. In recent years, the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force has partially progressed in their replacement, which was realized with the design, manufacture, and incorporation of the new generation Type 10 tanks.
Designed to replace the Type 74 and complement the Type 90, the Type 10, designed and manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, is the most modern battle tank in service with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. Its incorporation into the force occurred in the early years of the past decade, emerging from the so-called TK-X Project (MBT-X), with the aim of introducing a new armored combat vehicle incorporating the latest advances in protection, mobility, firepower, and command and control capabilities.
One of the latest developments regarding the incorporation of more Type 10 tanks occurred last October when the Japanese defense ministry disclosed its plans to acquire additional units. Specifically, authorities sought the acquisition of an additional batch of ten units for a total cost of US$110 million as outlined in the Defense Budget for the year 2024.
*Photographs used for illustrative purposes.
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