Difference between revisions of "Type 87"

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{{Specs-Card|code=jp_type_87}}
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{{Specs-Card
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|code=jp_type_87
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|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
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}}
  
 
== Description ==
 
== Description ==
The Type 87 is a Rank VI Japanese Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun with a battle rating of 8.0. It is incredibly similar to the German Flakpanzer Gepard, using the same 35mm Oerlikon KDA Autocannons with a similar turret. The key difference being that the Type 87 uses the chassis of a Type 90, compared to the Gepard being on the Leopard 1 chassis.
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<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
 +
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} Japanese self-propelled anti-aircraft vehicle {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.67 "Assault"]]. It is incredibly similar to the German [[Gepard|Flakpanzer Gepard]], using the same [[Oerlikon KDA (35 mm)|35 mm Oerlikon KDA]] autocannons with a similar turret. The key difference is that the Type 87 uses a modified chassis of the [[Type 74]], compared to the Gepard being mounted on the [[Leopard I]] chassis.
  
The Type 87 performs fairly well at its rank, being able to effectively engage aircraft quite well 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 infantry fighting vehicles (BMP, Warrior, M3 Bradley) and effectively killing them in seconds with its rapid fire guns. The Type 87's default belts have less penetration than its predecessor, the M42 Duster SDF, although this is not much of a difference (72mm on M42 compared to 68mm on Type 87), however the Type 87 gains the ability to fight other MBTs when it unlocks the Armour Piercing belts, which have 116mm of penetration at 100m. While this is not advised, it is an incredibly handy ability to have in an emergency.
+
The Type 87 performs fairly well at its rank, being able to effectively engage aircraft quite well 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 infantry fighting vehicles (BMP, Warrior, M3 Bradley) and effectively killing them in seconds with its rapid-fire guns. The Type 87's default belts have less penetration than its predecessor, the [[M42 (Japan)|M42 Duster SDF]], although this is not much of a difference (72 mm on M42 compared to 68 mm on Type 87), however the Type 87 gains the ability to fight other MBTs when it unlocks the Armour Piercing belts, which have 116 mm of penetration at 100 m. While this is not advised, it is an incredibly handy ability to have in an emergency.
  
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 in destroying.
+
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 in destroying. However, for more modern helicopters, most notably the Kamov [[Ka-50]], the Type 87 is harmless.
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpfull for survival in combat?''
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{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}
 +
<!-- ''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' -->
  
''If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.''
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'''Armour type:'''
 +
 
 +
* Aluminum Alloy AMS 4050A (Turret)
 +
* Rolled homogeneous armour (Hull)
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
|-
 +
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
 +
|-
 +
| Hull || 30 mm (78°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 30 mm (21-63°) ''Lower glacis'' || 20 mm || 20 mm (16°) ''Top'' <br> 20 mm (49°) ''Bottom'' || 15 mm
 +
|-
 +
| Turret || 25 mm (6-37°) <br> 20 mm (76°) ''Turret underside'' || 20 mm ''Turret side'' <br> 10 mm ''Cannons'' || 15 mm (3°) || 15 mm <br> 20 mm (69°) ''Turret underside''
 +
|-
 +
|}
  
 
=== Mobility ===
 
=== Mobility ===
''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and maneuverability as well as the maximum speed forward and backward.''
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{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}
 +
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' -->
 +
 
 +
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=1,023|rbMinHp=637}}
 +
 
 +
=== Modifications and economy ===
 +
{{Specs-Economy}}
  
 
== Armaments ==
 
== Armaments ==
 +
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
 
=== Main armament ===
 
=== Main armament ===
''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibilty of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.''
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{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}
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<!-- ''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibility of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.'' -->
 +
{{main|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 (Japan)|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.
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="6" | [[Oerlikon KDA (35 mm)|35 mm Oerlikon KDA]] (x2) || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
 +
|-
 +
! Mode !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
 +
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
 +
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
 +
|-
 +
! ''Arcade''
 +
| rowspan="2" | 680 (320) || rowspan="2" | 550 || rowspan="2" | -5°/+80° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | Two-plane || 79.3 || __._ || __._ || __._ || __._ || rowspan="2" | _.__ || rowspan="2" | _.__ || rowspan="2" | _.__ || rowspan="2" | _.__
 +
|-
 +
! ''Realistic''
 +
| 53.5 || __._ || __._ || __._ || __._
 +
|-
 +
|}
  
=== Additional armament ===
+
==== Ammunition ====
''Some tanks are armed with several guns in one or more turrets. Evaluate the additional weaponry and give advice on its use. Describe the ammunition available for additional weaponry. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage. If there is no additional weaponry remove this subsection.''
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* '''Default:''' {{Annotation|API-T|Armour-piercing incendiary tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEI-T*|High-explosive incendiary tracer (self-destroying)}} - 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:''' {{Annotation|HEI-T*|High-explosive incendiary tracer (self-destroying)}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEI-T*|High-explosive incendiary tracer (self-destroying)}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEI-T*|High-explosive incendiary tracer (self-destroying)}}{{-}}{{Annotation|API-T|Armour-piercing incendiary tracer}} - 75% of this belt does critical damage to aircraft but does nothing to ground vehicles.
 +
* '''DM13:''' {{Annotation|API-T|Armour-piercing incendiary tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|API-T|Armour-piercing incendiary tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|API-T|Armour-piercing incendiary tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEI-T*|High-explosive incendiary tracer (self-destroying)}} - 75% of this belt does significant damage to light tanks but does less damage to aircraft.
 +
* '''DM23:''' {{Annotation|APDS|Armour-piercing discarding sabot}}{{-}}{{Annotation|APDS|Armour-piercing discarding sabot}}{{-}}{{Annotation|APDS|Armour-piercing discarding sabot}}{{-}}{{Annotation|APDS|Armour-piercing discarding sabot}} - 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 2km range. Cannot be chosen as the main belt.
  
=== Machine guns ===
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'''Note''': HEI-T does no damage to armoured targets, but critically damages planes. Penetration numbers are displayed for strongest shell in belt.
''Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft, but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.''
 
  
== Usage in the battles ==
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{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).''
+
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
 +
|-
 +
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Belt
 +
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)'''
 +
|-
 +
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m
 +
|-
 +
| Default || 68 || 65 || 52 || 40 || 30 || 23
 +
|-
 +
| DM11A1 || 68 || 65 || 52 || 40 || 30 || 23
 +
|-
 +
| DM13 || 68 || 65 || 52 || 40 || 30 || 23
 +
|-
 +
| DM23 || 127 || 125 || 119 || 111 || 104 || 97
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
 +
<!-- [[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]] -->
 +
<!-- '''Last updated:''' -->
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 +
|-
 +
! Full<br>ammo
 +
! 1st<br>rack empty
 +
! 2nd<br>rack empty
 +
! 3rd<br>rack empty
 +
! 4th<br>rack empty
 +
! 5th<br>rack empty
 +
! 6th<br>rack empty
 +
! Visual<br>discrepancy
 +
|-
 +
| '''2''' || __&nbsp;''(+__)'' || __&nbsp;''(+__)'' || __&nbsp;''(+__)'' || __&nbsp;''(+__)'' || __&nbsp;''(+__)'' || __&nbsp;''(+__)'' || __
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
===Radars===
 +
{{main|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.
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 +
! colspan="5" | [[MPDR 12]] - Target Detection Radar
 +
|-
 +
! {{Annotation|Maximum<br/>Detection<br/>Range|The maximum possible range at which a target can be detected}}
 +
! {{Annotation|Minimum<br/>Detection<br/>Range|The range, below which, a target cannot be detected}}
 +
! {{Annotation|Max Azimuth<br/>Scan Angle|How far to each side the radar can scan (widest search mode)}}
 +
! {{Annotation|Max Elevation<br/>Scan Angle|How far up and down the radar can scan (widest search mode)}}
 +
! {{Annotation|Minimum<br/>relative speed|The minimum speed a target must be moving, relative to the radar, in order to be detectable by the radar}}
 +
|-
 +
| 15,000 m || 500 m || 360° || ??? || 10 m/s (36 km/h)
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="5" | [[Albis]] - Target Tracking Radar
 +
|-
 +
! {{Annotation|Maximum<br/>Tracking<br/>Range|The maximum range at which a target can be tracked}}
 +
! {{Annotation|Minimum<br/>Tracking<br/>Range|The range below which targets cannot be tracked by the radar}}
 +
! {{Annotation|Azimuth Tracking<br/>Angle|How far to each side the radar can track a target}}
 +
! {{Annotation|Elevation Tracking<br/>Angle|How far up and down the radar can track a target}}
 +
! {{Annotation|Minimum<br/>target speed|The minimum speed a target must be moving, relative to the radar, in order to be tracked by the radar}}
 +
|-
 +
| 15,000 m || 75 m || ±100° || -20°/+85° || 15 m/s (54 km/h)
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
== Usage in battles ==
 +
<!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' -->
 +
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 HEAT-FS rounds or by large kinetic shells into the engine compartment area.
 +
 
 +
Use [[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 and cons ===
''Summarize and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Do not use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - they have a substitution in the form of softer "inadequate", "effective".''
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<!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' -->
  
 
'''Pros:'''
 
'''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:'''
+
'''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 ==
 
== History ==
''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the ground vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too big, take it to a separate article, taking a link to an article about the vehicle and adding a block "/historical reference" (example: https://wiki.warthunder.com/Name-vehicles/historical reference) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to include links to sources at the end of the article.''
+
<!--''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).''-->
 +
 
 +
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 [[wt:en/news/4512-development-type-87-the-japanese-gepard-en|Devblog]]''
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
''An excellent addition to the article will be video guides, as well as screenshots from the game and photos.''
+
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
 +
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicleCountry=japan&vehicleType=tank&vehicleClass=spaa&vehicle=jp_type_87 '''Skins''' and '''camouflages''' for the Type 87 from live.warthunder.com.]
  
== Read also ==
+
== See also ==
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example,''
+
<!-- ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
 +
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
 +
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' -->
 +
 
 +
;Vehicles equipped with the same chassis
 +
The Type 87 is based on a modified [[Type 74 (Family)|Type 74]] hull
 +
* [[Type 74]]
 +
* [[Type 74G]]
 +
 
 +
;Vehicles equipped with the same guns
  
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
+
* [[Gepard]]
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''
+
* [[Chieftain Marksman]]
  
''ETC.''
+
;Other vehicles of similar configuration and role
  
== Sources ==
+
* [[M247]]
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
+
* [[ZSU-23-4]]
 +
* [[AMX-30 DCA]]
  
 +
== External links ==
 +
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
* ''other literature.''
+
* ''encyclopedia page on tank;''
 +
* ''other literature.'' -->
 +
 
 +
* [[wt:en/news/4512-development-type-87-the-japanese-gepard-en/|[Devblog] Type 87: The Japanese Gepard]]
 +
 
 +
{{Japan anti-aircraft vehicles}}

Revision as of 13:11, 28 December 2020

Rank 6 USA
F-5C Pack
Type 87
jp_type_87.png
GarageImage Type 87.jpg
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 rank VI Japanese self-propelled anti-aircraft vehicle with a battle rating of 8.3 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.67 "Assault". It is incredibly similar to the German Flakpanzer Gepard, using the same 35 mm Oerlikon KDA autocannons with a similar turret. The key difference is that the Type 87 uses a modified chassis of the Type 74, compared to the Gepard being mounted on the Leopard I chassis.

The Type 87 performs fairly well at its rank, being able to effectively engage aircraft quite well 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 infantry fighting vehicles (BMP, Warrior, M3 Bradley) and effectively killing them in seconds with its rapid-fire guns. The Type 87's default belts have less penetration than its predecessor, the M42 Duster SDF, although this is not much of a difference (72 mm on M42 compared to 68 mm on Type 87), however the Type 87 gains the ability to fight other MBTs when it unlocks the Armour Piercing belts, which have 116 mm of penetration at 100 m. While this is not advised, it is an incredibly handy ability to have in an emergency.

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 in destroying. However, for more modern helicopters, most notably the Kamov Ka-50, the Type 87 is harmless.

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 1,023 1,660 26.92 43.68
Realistic 54 8 637 870 16.76 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°/+80° ±180° Two-plane 79.3 __._ __._ __._ __._ _.__ _.__ _.__ _.__
Realistic 53.5 __._ __._ __._ __._

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 · APDS · 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 2km range. Cannot be chosen as the main belt.

Note: HEI-T does no damage to armoured targets, but critically damages planes. Penetration numbers are displayed for strongest shell in belt.

Penetration statistics
Belt Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
10 m 100 m 500 m 1,000 m 1,500 m 2,000 m
Default 68 65 52 40 30 23
DM11A1 68 65 52 40 30 23
DM13 68 65 52 40 30 23
DM23 127 125 119 111 104 97

Ammo racks

Full
ammo
1st
rack empty
2nd
rack empty
3rd
rack empty
4th
rack empty
5th
rack empty
6th
rack empty
Visual
discrepancy
2 __ (+__) __ (+__) __ (+__) __ (+__) __ (+__) __ (+__) __

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 HEAT-FS rounds or by large kinetic shells into the engine compartment area.

Use 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

See also

Vehicles equipped with the same chassis

The Type 87 is based on a modified Type 74 hull

Vehicles equipped with the same guns
Other vehicles of similar configuration and role

External links


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