Type 87

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A-10A Thunderbolt (Early)
This page is about the Japanese SPAA Type 87. For other uses, see Type 87 (Disambiguation).
Type 87
jp_type_87.png
GarageImage Type 87.jpg
ArtImage Type 87.png
Type 87
AB RB SB
8.3 8.3 8.3
Class:
Research:135 000 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:380 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png
Show in game

Description

The Twin 35 mm Self-Propelled Gun Type 87 is a Japanese self-propelled anti-aircraft gun, roughly similar in concept to the Flakpanzer Gepard to replace the M15 and M42 in Japanese service. Initially designed to utilize the Type 61 hull, development was switched to the newly available Type 74 hull to keep it up to date. It is commonly nicknamed as "Guntank" by Japanese crews after the similar-looking mecha in the Mobile Suit Gundam series.

Introduced in Update 1.67 "Assault", the Type 87 is incredibly similar to the German Flakpanzer Gepard, using the same 35 mm Oerlikon KDA autocannons with a similar turret layout. The Type 87 performs fairly well at its rank, being able to effectively engage aircraft thanks to its high rate of fire, quick turret traverse, and radar systems. It is also capable of fighting lightly armoured tanks such as most IFVs (BMP, Warrior, Bradley, etc.), destroying them in seconds with its rapid-firing guns. The Type 87 is also extremely proficient at shooting down helicopters - the AH-1G is a common nuisance that the Type 87 has no difficulty destroying. However, against more modern helicopters (Ka-50, AH-64, etc) that often stay at longer ranges, the Type 87 is harmless and the only thing the tank commander can do is take notice of the laser warning system, deploy smoke, and take cover.

General info

Survivability and armour

Smoke grenades
Creation of a smoke screen in front of the vehicle
LWS
Notifies about the vehicle's exposure to laser emissions
Armourfront / side / back
Hull30 / 20 / 20
Turret25 / 20 / 15
Crew3 people
Visibility313 %

Armour type:

  • Aluminum Alloy AMS 4050A (Turret)
  • Rolled homogeneous armour (Hull)
Armour Front (Slope angle) Sides Rear Roof
Hull 30 mm (78°) Front glacis
30 mm (21-63°) Lower glacis
20 mm 20 mm (16°) Top
20 mm (49°) Bottom
15 mm
Turret 25 mm (6-37°)
20 mm (76°) Turret underside
20 mm Turret side
10 mm Cannons
15 mm (3°) 15 mm
20 mm (69°) Turret underside

Mobility

 
Controlled suspension
It is possible to adjust the ground clearance or more complex suspension positions
Speedforward / back
AB58 / 9 km/h
RB and SB54 / 8 km/h
Number of gears6 forward
1 back
Weight38.0 t
Engine power
AB1 660 hp
RB and SB870 hp
Power-to-weight ratio
AB43.7 hp/t
RB and SB22.9 hp/t
Game Mode Max Speed (km/h) Weight (tons) Engine power (horsepower) Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
Forward Reverse Stock Upgraded Stock Upgraded
Arcade 58 9 38 1,235 1,660 32.5 43.68
Realistic 54 8 769 870 20.24 22.89

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference
AB4 444 → 6 612 Sl icon.png
RB3 802 → 5 657 Sl icon.png
SB4 781 → 7 114 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications112 700 Rp icon.png
189 600 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost2 300 Ge icon.png
Crew training110 000 Sl icon.png
Experts380 000 Sl icon.png
Aces1 400 Ge icon.png
Research Aces830 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
150 / 190 / 230 % Sl icon.png
208 / 208 / 208 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Mobility Protection Firepower
Mods new tank traks.png
Tracks
Research:
6 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
9 600 Sl icon.png
240 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank suspension.png
Suspension
Research:
4 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
7 200 Sl icon.png
180 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank break.png
Brake System
Research:
4 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
7 200 Sl icon.png
180 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank filter.png
Filters
Research:
10 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
16 000 Sl icon.png
400 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank transmission.png
Transmission
Research:
6 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
10 000 Sl icon.png
260 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank engine.png
Engine
Research:
6 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
10 000 Sl icon.png
260 Ge icon.png
Mods tank tool kit.png
Improved Parts
Research:
1 800 Rp icon.png
Cost:
9 600 Sl icon.png
240 Ge icon.png
Mods extinguisher.png
Improved FPE
Research:
1 400 Rp icon.png
Cost:
7 200 Sl icon.png
180 Ge icon.png
Mods tank reinforcement jp.png
Crew Replenishment
Research:
10 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
16 000 Sl icon.png
400 Ge icon.png
Mods smoke screen.png
Smoke grenade
Research:
6 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
10 000 Sl icon.png
260 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
35mm_kda_HE_ammo_pack
Research:
6 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
9 600 Sl icon.png
240 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods new tank horizontal aiming.png
Horizontal Drive
Research:
6 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
9 600 Sl icon.png
240 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
35mm_kda_APHEI_ammo_pack
Research:
4 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
7 200 Sl icon.png
180 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 1.png
Mods tank cannon.png
Adjustment of Fire
Research:
4 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
7 200 Sl icon.png
180 Ge icon.png
Mods counterMeasures.png
LWS/LR
Research:
4 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
7 200 Sl icon.png
180 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank vertical aiming.png
Elevation Mechanism
Research:
10 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
16 000 Sl icon.png
400 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
35mm_kda_APDS_ammo_pack
Research:
6 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
10 000 Sl icon.png
260 Ge icon.png
Mods art support.png
Artillery Support
Research:
6 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
10 000 Sl icon.png
260 Ge icon.png
Mods night vision device.png
NVD
Research:
6 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
10 000 Sl icon.png
260 Ge icon.png

Armaments

Laser rangefinder
Reduces the error and increases the maximum measurable distance of the rangefinder
Night vision device
Improves visibility by enhancing natural light or active illumination.

Main armament

2 x 35 mm Oerlikon KDA cannon
Two-plane stabilizer
Reduces the swing of the gun in two planes while moving
Ammunition680 rounds
Belt capacity320 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
1.3 → 1.0 s
Fire rate550 shots/min
Vertical guidance-5° / 85°
Main article: Oerlikon KDA (35 mm)

Main weapons are the 35 mm Oerlikon KDA autocannons, which are essentially the same as Gepard's. They are different from KDE gun variant of type 89 if you used it - they use completely different ammunition and fire much faster.

Guns will overheat if fired for longer than 15 seconds. They will cool off in about 30 seconds, but you can unjam them earlier by switching between ammunition belts.

The guns are placed close to the centre of a turret, typically, if you missed one shot, you probably missed both shots. For this reason SPAA relies more on precise lengthy bursts with enemy flight path prediction, rather than "fire a 30 shot burst there and forget about it" of Chieftain Marksman. You have more ammunition for the gun than British equivalent, to compensate for this.

35 mm gun is slightly weaker than the Bofors of M42. One thing to keep in mind is with this vehicle you are hunting jets and jets suffer much heavier stress from the speed they employ. This heavier stress equates to greater damage caused by even one or two hits of 35 mm HEI-T which will explode them or rip off their wings. For best results, you just need to hit them once or twice, which 35 mm guns are much better at doing.

For ammunition you can choose one main and one secondary belt. The secondary belt only has 40 shells, but it can be used to attack the enemy from capture points, as it rearms significantly faster. However, the secondary belt can be used in place of the main one for self-defence while the main belt rearms, so as to not leave the Type 87 defenceless.

35 mm Oerlikon KDA (x2) Turret rotation speed (°/s) Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal Stabilizer Stock Upgraded Full Expert Aced Stock Full Expert Aced
Arcade 680 (320) 550 -5°/+85° ±180° Two-plane 49.3 68.3 82.9 91.7 97.5 1.30 1.15 1.06 1.00
Realistic 33.3 39.2 47.6 52.7 56.0

Ammunition

  • Default: API-T* · HEI-T* - can attack planes and light tanks alike. HEI-T does fatal damage to aeroplanes, but has 3 mm penetration, being useless against tanks. API-T penetration is about 64 mm at 100 m at a flat angle. Keep in mind that it can fail to penetrate medium tanks. Against planes, API-T does kinetic damage and may rip off their wings on a good hit.
  • DM11A1: HEI-T* · HEI-T* · HEI-T* · API-T* - 75% of this belt does critical damage to aircraft but does nothing to ground vehicles.
  • DM13: API-T* · API-T* · API-T* · HEI-T* - 75% of this belt does significant damage to light tanks but does less damage to aircraft.
  • DM23: APDS - APDS has better penetration value, easily penetrating 100 mm at 100 m at a flat angle, penetrating even decently protected tanks from the side and can threaten lightly armoured tanks even at 2 km range. Cannot be chosen as the main belt.

Note: HEI-T does no damage to armoured targets, but critically damages planes.

Penetration statistics
Ammunition Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
10 m 100 m 500 m 1,000 m 1,500 m 2,000 m
HEI-T* 11 11 9 8 6 5
API-T* 68 66 57 47 39 32
APDS 127 125 118 110 102 95
Shell details
Ammunition Velocity
(m/s)
Projectile
mass (kg)
Fuse delay
(m)
Fuse sensitivity
(mm)
Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (g)
Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
HEI-T* 1,175 0.55 0.1 0.1 204 79° 80° 81°
API-T* 1,175 0.55 1.2 9 37.4 47° 60° 65°
APDS 1,400 0.38 - - - 75° 78° 80°

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the Gepard (identical to Type 87)
Full
ammo
1st
rack empty
Visual
discrepancy
4 (+4) No

Radars

Main articles: MPDR 12, Albis

The Type 87 is equipped with a MPDR 12 search radar and an Albis tracking radar. Both radars are mounted at the rear of the turret, with the search radar mounted on top of an arm and the tracking radar mounted at the base of the arm. The radar system is capable of tracking a target while scanning, but can only track targets within a 200° arc from the front of the turret. It is not possible to fold the radars at this time.

Search radar of this tank may often fail to catch passing by planes at closer ranges, which can be still locked on by tracking radar. In such case, you can try to go to sniper mode and aim crosshairs at enemy aircraft, then press "lock on" key to trigger manual tracking radar scan (will be visible by a quick sweep on radar display). If it failed, then the enemy plane has way too low relative speed to be consistently tracked.

MPDR 12 - Target Detection Radar
Maximum
Detection
Range
Minimum
Detection
Range
Max Azimuth
Scan Angle
Max Elevation
Scan Angle
Minimum
relative speed
15,000 m 500 m 360°  ??? 10 m/s (36 km/h)
Albis - Target Tracking Radar
Maximum
Tracking
Range
Minimum
Tracking
Range
Azimuth Tracking
Angle
Elevation Tracking
Angle
Minimum
target speed
15,000 m 75 m ±100° -20°/+85° 15 m/s (54 km/h)

Usage in battles

As an anti-aircraft vehicle, you should push with your team and defend cap points by protecting allies from aircraft with your powerful 35 mm guns. It should not be a problem to stay away from the main battle unless you are being pushed or your position is being overrun. In case if you see enemy light SPG or light tank, you can try to destroy them as well. With APDS belt you may dare to attack decently armoured medium tanks from the side, but you only have enough ammo for one or two encounters, so make it count.

Despite having radar, staying too far away from allies in arcade mode may backfire, as shells still take some time to reach enemy aircraft and hostile bombers only have to be 1.8 km away from them to drop bombs in the most efficient way possible, and it doesn't take a long time for them to reach that distance. If enemy aircraft is constantly wiggling, radar supported aim will also go all over the place, so try to guess where they are going, or press them to force them to change direction to one away from your allies.

In case if you actually got attacked by ground forces, you should then aim for cannon barrels and tracks of enemy vehicles. Your hull armour may deflect inbound shots if angled correctly, but don't expect your turret to do the same, as its armour is very thin and generally will be penetrated by everything at your battle rating and rank. Keep in mind, that your tank is a hull breakable vehicle, so avoid being hit by HEATFS rounds or by large kinetic shells into the engine compartment area.

Use your Hydropneumatic suspension to get better search radar coverage and gun depression on your targets, or to keep yourself standing flat. Standing flat is important, as being angled too much may add horizontal targeting error.

In case if you are fighting multiple attackers or rocket helicopters, avoid being carpet-bombed, as the Type 87 is not built to survive such attacks. Be especially careful with Soviet helicopters, as they can carry both rockets and missiles. Remember - radar lock will help your gun to stay on target even when you are moving, and so, if you see a wall of rockets approaching you, sidestep it and don't just stand there and take it.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Powerful, fast-firing 35 mm twin Oerlikon KDA cannon
  • Quick with the Type 74 chassis, up to 58 km/h
  • Hydropneumatic suspension with the Type 74 chassis
  • Can engage tanks from their sides

Cons:

  • -5 degrees of gun depression (bad compared to the Flakpanzer Gepard)
  • 30 mm armour maximum
  • Any main ammunition belts other than the default cost 6,600 silver lions
  • You can only have one secondary belt selected with a meagre ammo count
  • Spinning radar dish may make you more visible in tank realistic battles

History

The Type 87 anti-aircraft gun entered into service in the Japanese Self-Defense Forces as a replacement for the hopelessly outdated American Duster SPAAG. The specification and concept for the new anti-aircraft vehicle was based on the German Gepard SPAAG that our players know so well. The vehicle used a modified Type 74 tank chassis and was equipped with the Oerlikon 35 mm twin cannon system as used in the Gepard. The vehicle was a success – more than 50 of these SPAAGs were put into production and several units remain in service today.

- From Devblog

Media

Skins

See also

Vehicles equipped with the same chassis

The Type 87 is based on a modified Type 74 hull

Other vehicles of similar configuration and role

External links


Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. (三菱重工業株式会社)
Ground Vehicles 
APC  Type 60 · SUB-I-II
IFV  Type 89
MCV  Type 16 (P) · Type 16 (FPS) · Type 16
SPH  Type 75 · Type 99
SPAAG  Type 87
Main Battle Tanks 
Type 61  ST-A1 · ST-A2 · ST-A3 · Type 61
Type 74  ST-B2 · Type 74 (C) · Type 74 (E) · Type 74 (F) · Type 74 (G)
Type 90  Type 90 · Type 90 (B)
Type 10  TKX (P) · TKX · Type 10
Air Vehicles 
Jet Fighters 
F-86  F-86F-30 ▅* · F-86F-40 ▅* · F-86F-40 JASDF▅*
F-104  F-104J*
F-1  T-2 Early · T-2 · F-1
F-4  F-4EJ Phantom II* · F-4EJ ADTW* · F-4EJ Kai Phantom II*
F-15  F-15J*
Naval Vehicles 
Patrol Boats (PT) 
No. 7 class  PT-8 (PT-808)
No. 11 class  PT-15 (PT-815)
Destroyers (DD) 
Harukaze-class  JDS Harukaze (DD-101)
Ayanami-class  JDS Ayanami (DD-103)
  MHI's shipyards are positioned in Kobe, Nagasaki, and Shimonoseki
  * Licensed Production / Variants
See also  Mitsubishi Aircraft Company (1928-1945) · Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. (1938-1945) · Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Company (1884-1945)
  North American Aviation · Lockheed · McDonnell Aircraft Corporation

Japan anti-aircraft vehicles
Ke-Ni Derivatives  Ta-Se · So-Ki
Wheeled  Type 94
Tracked  SUB-I-II
Radar SPAAG  Type 87
Missile SPAA  Type 93 · Type 81 (C)
USA  ▅M16 MGMC · ▅M19A1 · ▅M42