Description
Japanese Type 74 Main Battle Tank
Written by Koji Miyake with Gordon Arthur
The Type 74 Tank (74TK) is a main battle tank (MBT) of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF). It was built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries as a supplement to the earlier
Type 61 Tank. The first prototype was delivered in 1968.
It was a second-generation MBT equipped with an L7A1 105 mm main gun. The 74TK was designed to present as small and low a profile as possible. It was unique when introduced because it could alter its posture by using its hydro-pneumatic suspension to raise or lower the hull. This also provided a stable shooting platform, increasing firing accuracy.
The Type 74 was considered outdated even before it entered service. Since 2019, the retirement of Type 74 has been taking place, to be replaced by the 8-wheeled Type 16 Mobile Combat Vehicle, the subject of another Trackpad book.
Featured in this book are the Recovery, Anti-aircraft and Bridge-laying versions all based on the same chassis.
