Type 74 (C)

This page is about the Japanese medium tank Type 74 (C). For other versions, see Type 74 (Family).

Type 74 (C)

STB-2

Type 74 (E)

Type 74 (C)

STB-2

Type 74 (E)

Japan

V Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
8.3	8.3	8.3

Class:

Medium tank

Research:61 000

Purchase:340 000

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Description

The Type 74 (C) is among the earliest production variants of the Type 74, featuring the early ammunition set for the 105 mm L7A3 cannon. It was built up as the production model for Japan's 2nd generation of MBTs to combat tanks such as the T-62 and compare to the M60 or Leopard 1, while supplementing and replacing the Type 61. While a feature-full tank with hydropneumatic suspension and an effective 105 mm L7A3 cannon, it was a pretty late Gen 2 entry, as the 3rd generation of MBTs (such as the Leopard 2 and M1 Abrams) would enter service just a few years later.

The most distinctive difference between the Type 74 (C) and the subsequent Type 74 (E) is the lack of a thermal shroud around the 105 mm L7A3 cannon (this feature was introduced in the Type 74 (D) variant).

It was introduced in Update "Direct Hit". As the earliest of the Type 74s, and has only APDS, HEAT and HESH ammunition. It does not have the APFSDS rounds that the later versions have. It has average mobility and a hydropneumatic suspension system that allows it to adjust its height and angle according to the terrain. It also has a laser rangefinder and a warning system that make it effective as a sniper.

General info

Survivability and armour

Smoke grenades

Creation of a smoke screen in front of the vehicle

Armourfront / side / back

Hull80 / 30 / 20

Turret132 / 67 / 37

Crew4 people

Visibility96 %

Armour type:

• Rolled homogeneous armour
• Cast homogeneous armour (Gun mantlet)

Armour	Front (Slope angle)	Sides	Rear	Roof
Hull	40 mm (74°), 80 mm (65°) Front glacis 80 mm (57°) Lower glacis	35 mm (44°) Top 30 mm, 10 mm (55-56°) Bottom	20 mm Top 25 mm (47-48°) Bottom	25 mm
Turret	132 mm (27-53°) Turret front 200 mm (34-73°) , 150 + 170 mm (0-44°) Gun mantlet	132 mm (5-57°) Front 67 mm (37-47°) Rear	37 mm (17-39°)	67 mm Front 37 mm Rear
Cupola	80 mm			80 mm

Notes:

• Suspension wheels and tracks are both 20 mm thick.
• Has additional 10 mm mounting plates scattered on the front hull
• The Type 74's hydropneumatic suspension means it could vary the sloped angle of its armour towards the enemy.
• Hull roof is rated to be 25 mm effective against HE.

As with most medium tanks of the rank, the hull of the Type 74 (C) is only capable of stopping some autocannon fire and has very vulnerable sides, however, the turret armour of the Type 74 (C) is closer to US and British turret armour level. While it's unlikely to stop most APFSDS, it is very likely to deflect stray APDS and APHE. Light tanks will likely have to get close and personal to penetrate it, as penetrating cupola even with APDS belt is a challenge due to its size.

The advantage can be kept even when creeping onto the enemy high ground by using hydropneumatic suspension before driving uphill to not allow the enemy to fire at the roof. In rare cases, the tank can "duck" behind cover to hide at least a portion of the turret from enemy fire.

Mobility

 

Controlled suspension

It is possible to adjust the ground clearance or more complex suspension positions

Speedforward / back

AB59 / 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	59	9	38	1,348	1,660	35.47	43.68
Realistic	54	8		769	870	20.24	22.89

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB4 180 → 5 768

RB4 622 → 6 378

SB6 344 → 8 754

Total cost of modifications98 500

164 800

Talisman cost2 200

Crew training98 000

Experts340 000

Aces1 300

Research Aces780 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

130 / 200 / 240 %

202 / 202 / 202 %

Modifications

Mobility	Protection	Firepower
Tracks Research: 5 100 Cost: 8 200 210 Suspension Research: 4 600 Cost: 7 400 185 Brake System Research: 4 600 Cost: 7 400 185 Filters Research: 5 100 Cost: 8 200 210 Transmission Research: 11 000 Cost: 18 000 440 Engine Research: 11 000 Cost: 18 000 440	Improved Parts Research: 3 300 Cost: 8 200 210 Improved FPE Research: 3 000 Cost: 7 400 185 Crew Replenishment Research: 5 100 Cost: 8 200 210	Horizontal Drive Research: 5 100 Cost: 8 200 210 105mm_usa_HESH_ammo_pack Research: 5 100 Cost: 8 200 210 Adjustment of Fire Research: 4 600 Cost: 7 400 185 Laser rangefinder Research: 4 600 Cost: 7 400 185 Elevation Mechanism Research: 5 100 Cost: 8 200 210 105mm_usa_HEAT_FS_ammo_pack Research: 5 100 Cost: 8 200 210 Smoke grenade Research: 5 100 Cost: 8 200 210 Artillery Support Research: 11 000 Cost: 18 000 440

With the Type 74 (C) offering M456 HEAT-FS over the STB-1, it still has to be researched at rank III. While it's best to research parts and FPE first, priority should lie with getting the laser rangefinder, after which HEAT-FS and mobility can make a major difference in the vehicle's performance.

Armaments

Laser rangefinder

Reduces the error and increases the maximum measurable distance of the rangefinder

Main armament

105 mm L7A3 cannon

Two-plane stabilizer

Reduces the swing of the gun in two planes while moving

Ammunition50 rounds

First-order16 rounds

Reloadbasic crew → aces

8.7 → 6.7 s

Vertical guidance-6° / 9°

105 mm L7A3					Turret rotation speed (°/s)					Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode	Capacity	Vertical	Horizontal	Stabilizer	Stock	Upgraded	Full	Expert	Aced	Stock	Full	Expert	Aced
Arcade	50	-6°/+9°	±180°	Two-plane	22.8	31.6	38.4	42.5	45.2	8.71	7.70	7.10	6.70
Realistic					14.3	16.8	20.4	22.6	24.0

While the 105 mm gun is relatively equal to one of other nations. It has all the same shell types of NATO tanks at its BR range. The Type 74 (C) also has a laser rangefinder, which makes it really easy to check aim in RB, compared to tanks it fights in down-tiers and sometimes even in up-tier.

The gun depression is somewhat limited at -6°, but the vehicle's hydropneumatic suspension can be used to compensate for this to -12°.

Ammunition

Penetration statistics
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
		10 m	100 m	500 m	1,000 m	1,500 m	2,000 m
M392A2	APDS	350	347	333	317	302	287
Type 75	HESH	127	127	127	127	127	127
M456	HEATFS	400	400	400	400	400	400

Shell details
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Velocity (m/s)	Projectile mass (kg)	Fuse delay (m)	Fuse sensitivity (mm)	Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (kg)	Ricochet
							0%	50%	100%
M392A2	APDS	1,478	4	-	-	-	75°	78°	80°
Type 75	HESH	760	10.8	0.1	4	3.89	73°	77°	80°
M456	HEATFS	1,174	10.5	0.05	0.1	1.27	65°	72°	77°

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the Type 74 (C)

Full ammo	1st rack empty	2nd rack empty	3rd rack empty	Visual discrepancy
50	17 (+33)	10 (+40)	1 (+49)	Yes

Notes:

• Shells are modeled individually and disappear after having been shot or loaded.
• Racks 2 and 3 are first stage ammo racks. They total 16 shells and get filled first when loading up the tank.
  • These racks are also emptied early: the depletion order at full capacity is: 2 - 3 - 1.
  • Simply not firing when the gun is loaded will move ammo from racks 1-8 into rack 9. Firing will interrupt the restocking of the ready rack.
• The visual discrepancy concerns racks 1 and 3.
  • Rack 1 has 3 shells which, while modelled in the rack, are never present (crossed out shells).
  • Rack 1 is modelled as 30 shells but contains 34 shells.
  • Rack 3 has a shell which remains in the rack even after having been shot.

Optics and night vision

Type 74 (C) Optics
Type of optic	Magnification	Night Vision Devices
		Image Intensifier			Thermal Imager Resolution	Notes
		Resolution	Light Mult	Noise Level
Gunner's Sight	X8 - X16	800X600	8.0	High	Not Fitted	Image intensifier unlocked by "NVD" modification (tier 4)
Commander's View	X6	800X600	8.0	High	Not Fitted	Image intensifier unlocked by "NVD" modification (tier 4)
Driver's View	X1 / 3PV	800X600	5.0	High	Not Fitted	Image intensifier unlocked by "NVD" modification (tier 4)

Machine guns

12.7 mm M2HB machine gun

Ammunition600 rounds

Belt capacity200 rounds

Reloadbasic crew → aces

10.4 → 8.0 s

Fire rate575 shots/min

Vertical guidance-10° / 60°

Horizontal guidance-180° / 80°

7.62 mm Type 74 machine gun (coaxial)

Ammunition4 500 rounds

Belt capacity250 rounds

Reloadbasic crew → aces

10.4 → 8.0 s

Fire rate701 shots/min

12.7 mm M2HB
Mount	Capacity (Belt)	Fire rate	Vertical	Horizontal
Pintle	600 (200)	575	-10°/+60°	-180°/+80°

7.62 mm Type 74
Mount	Capacity (Belt)	Fire rate	Vertical	Horizontal
Coaxial	4,500 (250)	701	-	-

While it's not recommended, it's still possible to use 12.7 mm to fight light tanks like AUBL/74 HVG or Rooikat Mk.1D and most SPAA tanks at <100 m range.

Do not charge them with just the MG, especially at long range, as even poorly armoured rank V light tanks can survive frontal MG fire long enough to disarm and explode Type 74 - let them come to you, hit them with the main gun and ensure they never move again by firing at their sides or flat parts, while hiding yours.

Any melee oriented light tanks like BMP-2 or Warrior with add-on armour will have enough armour to absorb the MG fire and will greet Type 74 back with point blank ATGM attack, which machine guns will be unable to stop at such range.

Usage in battles

As all Type 74s, they closely resemble and play like the Leopard 1s while providing slightly better protection in exchange of top speed and stock depression, which Hydropneumatic suspension compensates for up to -12°.

As the earliest in-game production model of the Type 74s, just coming after the STB-1 it changes up the game with a single shell: M456 HEATFS. While overall gameplay remains the same compared to the rest of the Type 74s, the drawback of only providing HEATFS can be negated by the lower rating of the tank facing against easier-to-punch-through vehicles and less protected vehicles against chemical penetration. All the tools that make the tank shine ranging from laser rangefinder, decent mobility, full stabilizer allow it to as versatile as the tank commander wishes. Allowing for a sniper role in the back of the map, cresting over a hill with the suspension, firing on laser-found ranges or CQB with split-second reaction times allowed by the stabilizer.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• A little bit more agile than the Leopard A1A1
• .50 cal machine gun proves useful against SPAAGs, as well as strafing aircraft
• Better frontal armour overall than the Leopards, ZSU-57-2 will have a much harder time defeating it from the front, can also bounce some medium tank APDS
• Hydropneumatic suspension system can give up to -12° of gun depression as well as more compatibility for terrain
• Offers laser rangefinder

Cons:

• Lacks APFSDS
• Hydropneumatic suspension system takes time to deploy and undeploy
• Only -6° of gun depression without deploying the suspension
• 53 km/h top speed compared to Leopard A1A1's 65 km/h (however, both tanks rarely reach this speed)

History

Development

A year after the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) issued out their first post-war main battle tank, the Type 61, development started on its successor, recognizing that the Type 61 was already becoming obsolete in terms of the new Soviet tanks being produced such as the T-62. Working alongside Mitsubishi once more, they looked for a new tank design incorporating many new features introduced in tank technology. This resulted in the tank having the hydropneumatic suspension system from the U.S.-German project MBT-70, a hull shape similar to Germany's Leopard I, and the powerful 105 mm L7 gun for its main armament. Other planned features for the tank was a rotatable commander's cupola and an autoloader system for the main gun.

The first prototype arrived for testing in 1968 as the STB-1. Modifications to the design started in 1969, which saw the autoloader removed for being too complex and expensive, as well as the removal of a proposed remote-controlled anti-aircraft machine gun for the same reason. The turret design was also elongated for various design purposes. The modified prototype was labelled STB-3 and was delivered in 1971. The final prototype, STB-6, was then delivered in 1973. The tank was then accepted for service in 1974 as the Type 74 tank. Production would start in September 1975 all the way to 1989, producing 893 tanks.

Service

Due to the defensive nature of the JSDF and the absence of any hostility rising out of the Cold War, the Type 74 spent its service life in the JGSDF with no battle service. During its service life however, it was upgraded with new hardware such as infra-red imagers for night fighting and a laser rangefinder for the commander. Despite all that, the Type 74 was generally outdated in terms of specifications even before entering service, as second-generation main battle tanks like the Chieftain and T-72 outclass it and development for third-generation main battle tanks like the Leopard 2 and M1 Abrams were already underway.

The tank was to be replaced by the newer Type 90 main battle tank, but the collapse of the Soviet Union and the official end of the Cold War caused the replacement program to be halted. Today, the Type 74 still sees limited service in Japan and it was reported that 700 units were still in use in 2006.

Type 74 (C)

The Type 74 (C) was the third production batch of the Type 74 and as a variant of its own only switches the default painting scheme from olive drab to two-colour green and brown. It included the upgrades the previous Type 74 (B) offers: an improved FCS and ammo racks which allowed it to fire APFSDS, two new APDS shells and Type 75 HEP.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the Type 74 (C) from live.warthunder.com.

Market

Camo "Type 74 (C) 72nd Sensha Rentai, 1st Chutai"

See also

Related Development

• STB-1 - (Prototype Stage)
• Type 74 (Family)
• Type 87 - (SPAAG built on a modified Type 74 Hull)

Other vehicles of similar configuration and role

• Leopard 1 (Family)
  • Leopard I
• AMX-30 (Family)
  • AMX-30
  • AMX-30 (1972)
• OF-40 (Family)

External links

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

• topic on the official game forum;
• other literature.