Type 61
Origin Japan
Main Gun 90mm
Secondary Gun 7.62mm MG 12.7mm MG (AA)
Crew 4
Weight 34.000 Kg
Speed 45 km/h
Range 200 km

When the Japanese Ground Self-Defence Force was formed in 1950, one of it's first requirements was for new tanks. To meet its immediate needs, the USA supplied Japan with numbers of Sherman and M24 Chaffee tanks. A few American M 47 tanks were supplied for trials but, as was soon found out, they had one principal drawback. There are not designed with the small stature of the Japanese in mind. Additionally, their bulk and weight make them unsuitable for transportation across many parts of Japan . In 1954, design work on the first Japanese post-war tank began under the direction of the Ground Armaments Directorate, at the Technical Research and Development Headquarters of the Japanese Self-Defence Force. The first four prototypes were completed in 1957 and comprised two model ST-A1s and two model ST-A2s. These four prototypes were then followed by two ST-A3 and ten ST-A4 tanks, which were actually almost identical to the final production tank. The tank was designated the Type 61 Main Battle Tank and the first production vehicles were completed in 1962 at the Maruko works of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Initial production was very low with 10 tanks being produced in 1962, another 10 in 1963, 20 in 1964, 30 in 1965 and another 30 in 1966. By late 1970, 250 tanks had been completed and it is believed that total production has amounted to some 560 units. The tank is still in service with the Japanese Ground Self-Defence Force but is being phased out of service and replaced by the Type 74 Main Battle Tank, which is also manufactured by Mitsubishi.

Type 63
Origin Japan
Main Gun 105mm
Secondary Gun 7.62mm MG 12.7mm MG (AA)
Crew 4
Weight 39.000 Kg
Speed 50 km/h
Range 440 km

In the 1960s, the Japanese realised that the Type 61 would not meet their requirements in the 1980s and so Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and the Japanese Ground Self-Defence Force began project definition studies into a new MBT in 1962. The tank was designated the Type 74 with the first production vehicle completed in September 1975 and by January 1980, some 225 had been built. Production has now been completed and there are 870 vehicles in service. The relatively long gestation period for this tank has meant that the unit costs have been relatively high and but it is a clear generation ahead of its predecessor.

Type-61
Origin Japan
Main Gun 90mm
Secondary Gun 7.62mm MG 12.7mm MG (AA)
Crew 4
Weight 35.000 Kg
Speed 45 km/h
Range 450 km

Since being officially adopted by Japan 's Ground Self Defense Force in 1961, the Type 61 tank has been in continuous service for more than 30 years. Designed from the outset to carry a 90mm main gun, the tank also had to be able to traverse the narrow railways throughout Japan . The result was a very compact medium tank, with a low profile that is only 2.96m wide and 2.46m high, and weighing 35 tons. Its 90mm gun was produced by the Japan Steel Works, Ltd., using the renowned U.S. type M3A1 gun as a pattern. The gun is mounted in a cast steel turret, and elevated either manually or by hydraulic pressure. Loading is manual and capable of firing 15 rounds per minute. Auxiliary armament is a 12.7mm M2 machine gun mounted on the commander's cupola, and a 7.62mm M1919A4 machine gun mounted co-axially with the main gun. Power plant is a Mitsubishi Type 12HM21WT, air-cooled V-12 cylinder, diesel engine, capable of 570 horsepower, which provides a top-speed of approximately 45km/h. inor improvements, such as smoke discharging units, were added to keep this venerable armoured vehicle in the front lines of Japan 's self defence operations

Type-74
Origin Japan
Main Gun 105mm
Secondary Gun 7.62mm MG 12.7mm MG (AA)
Crew 4
Weight 35.000 Kg
Speed 49 km/h
Range 450 km

Soon after the Japanese Type 61 tank was put into service, the Ground Self Defence Force and the Japanese Defence Agency began development and design of their next tank. Thorough research was conducted to produce a tank that could fulfill the demands of a modern fighting vehicle. Two experimental prototypes were built during 1968 for basic study, which were followed by improved evaluation prototypes in 1970. Following extensive testing and modifications, the final tank version was officially adopted as the Type 74 in September 1974. The tank featured the NATO standard type L7A1 105mm main gun, that was produced by the Vickers company in Great Britain . This gun uses a coaxial buffer, developed by the Japan Steel Works Ltd. The main gun unit is mounted in a low profile cast steel turret and matched to the latest fire control system, comprised of a laser range finder, trajectory computer and gun stabilizer. An infrared viewer is also used for efficient night operations. The engine for the Type 74 tank is supplied by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. And is the Type 10ZF22WT, air cooled, V10 cylinder 2-stroke diesel engine, which is capable of 720 horsepower. The air and hydraulic suspension system incorporates a height control system to lower its profile even more during stationary combat conditions.

Type-90
Origin Japan
Main Gun 120mm
Secondary Gun 7.62mm MG 12.7mm MG (AA)
Crew 3
Weight 50.000 Kg
Speed 70 km/h
Range 450 km

Development of the Type 90 tank was initiated in 1977, and it was accepted for service in 1990. The Type 90, equipped with 120mm gun, is a first-class tank that is equal to any tank made by leading nations of the world. The tank is equipped with a the same Rheinmetall 120-mm tank gun as the the German Leopard 2. The Type 90 tank carries a smoothbore barrel rather than a rifled barrel, and ammunition includes armour-piercing projectiles, antitank howitzer shells, and adhesive [high explosive plastic (HEP)] howitzer shells. The Type 90 weighs 50 gross tons, is powered by a 1,500-horsepower engine, and has a 30-horsepower-per-ton power-to-weight ratio.