Type 74 MBT (Family)

Description

Type 74 variants ready in the hangar

The Type 74 (74式戦車) is a main battle tank (MBT) of the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF). Built and designed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) as a supplement and replacement of the earlier Type 61 MBT as it didn't compete with Russian tanks like the T-62. It was designed to be able to compete with western designs like the US M60 or Leopard 1. Like most Gen 2 tanks that usually mounted the Royal Ordnance L7 rifled 105 mm gun. Starting development in 1964 with the ST-B1 and only being finalized in 1974 made the Type 74 quite the latecomer and outdated already as Gen 3 tanks started popping up like the Leopard 2, Challenger and M1 Abrams just a few years later.

As this tank still sees service, it is slowly being replaced by both the Type 90 and Type 10 MBTs in their new role as Gen 3.5 tanks.

Vehicles

Rank V

• ST-B1
• Type 74 (C)

Rank VI

• Type 74 (E)
• Type 74 (F)
• Type 74 (G)

History

Variants

• Type 74*
  • Type 74 + NVG
  • Type 74 + Dozer
  • Type 74 + Dozer & NVG

• Type 74 (B)

Improved FCS and Ammo Racks which allows it to fire APDSFS, Two new APDS shells and Type 75 HEP.

• Type 74 (C)

Default painting scheme changed from olive drab to two-color green and brown.

• Type 74 (D)

Thermal jacket equipped to the barrel.

• Type 74 (E)

Further improved FCS allowing the Type 75 HEP to be switched out for Type 91 HEAT-MP

• Type 74 (F)

Mounting plates were added to allow for the Type 92 Mine Roller

• Type 74 (G)

Otherwise also known as the Type 74 Kai or Type 74 Kaishū (Improved | Modified), was a Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) for the Type 74 which switched out the night vision device to thermal, includes an automatic target tracking function, laser warning system directly linked to the smoke dischargers and a more powerful laser rangefinder. On top of electrical upgrades, side skirts and applique armour was tested with and the program seemed promising to keep all Type 74s in longer service.

But due to the high development cost, the refurbishing cost of all existing Type 74s and the maintenance of said vehicles, the program was scrapped.

4 Type 74 (G)s got adopted and operated by the Fuji Training Corps Tank Training Corps and later restored to the condition of the Model E with exception of keeping the LWS and Thermal NVD, it transferred to the 1st Armored Training Corps until its abolishment where all modified Type 74s but 1 were scrapped.

* While all following Type 74s have been given a variant letter, the initial Type 74s isn't retrospectively designated as model (A), and simply known as the Type 74.

External links

• [Devblog] Type 74: The Height of Technology
• [Devblog] Type 74 mod G/Kai and Pre-Order of the Japanese Packs
• [Devblog] Updates to Japanese Ground Forces: New Vehicles, Camouflages & More

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