Type 74 tank

The JGSDF began studies on new tank designs with Mitsubishi in 1962, after the Type 61 had been shown to be outmatched by new Soviet tanks such as the T-62. Features from several designs were incorporated, including the controllable suspension of the US-German MBT-70 project, the hull of the Leopard 1, and a similar 105mm gun. The design included a rotating cupola for the commander, and a new autoloader for the main gun. Prior to the 1965 decision to design an entirely new tank, some technologies which would later be used in the STB-1 (first prototype) were already in development independently in Japan. The design was finalized in 1964 and various test rigs were built between 1964 and 1967. The Type 74 was finalized for service in 1974. ==Design==

Armament The first tanks had been designed to bear the 90mm M3 cannon, present in the Type 61, and STA-1, revealing itself underpowered. Later in the development stage engineers opted to license the NATO standard L7 105mm cannon. Japan only produced the barrel under license, developing an indigenous gun mantlet, breech and recoil system. The full length of the cannon was , for a total weight of 1,282 kg (2,862 lb) Royal Ordnance L7. Initially, the main gun only used APDS (Armour-Piercing Discarding Sabot) and HEP (High Explosive Plastic) as its primary ammunition. Later it was modified to fire APFSDS (Armour-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot) and HEAT-MP (High-Explosive Anti-Tank Multi-Purpose) shells as well. Armor Instead of composite armour (as used on the later Type 90 main battle tank), the Type 74 adopted welded steel plates for hull construction, with sloped armour extensively used to defeat armour-piercing shells and other kinetic energy penetrators. It has frontal hull armor of 80 mm with an effective armor thickness of up to 189 mm for the upper glacis and 139 mm for lower glacis. Side armor is 35 mm, while rear armor is 25 mm thick. The cast steel turret has an estimated 195 mm of armor. When compared to other second-generation MBTs, the Type 74 has more armour than a Leopard 1 (122mm and 140mm), but less than comparable Soviet vehicles such as the T-62 (174mm and 204mm). ==Service==

The first prototype, designated STB-1, was delivered in late 1968 and underwent a number of modifications until 1969. The autoloader proved too complex and expensive, and was removed, as was the remote-controlled anti-aircraft machine gun. The overall design of the turret was also changed, becoming longer. These changes resulted in the STB-3, which was delivered in 1971. The final prototype, designated STB-6, was delivered in 1973. Production finally started as the Type 74 in September 1975, with 225 being delivered by January 1980. Production ended in 1989, with total production running to 893 examples. The Type 74 was considered outdated even before it entered service. The Type 90 was to have replaced it outright, but with the end of the Cold War, these plans were scaled back. In 1993, four Type 74s were improved to the new Type 74 Kai (改) [Type 74 mod G (G型)] standard, adding a passive infrared camera and side skirts. The upgrade proved to be extremely expensive, and the program was abandoned. Starting in April 2019, the Ministry of Defense enacted the Medium-Term Development Defense Plan (31中期防), which involved the retirement of Type 74 main battle tanks in service, to be replaced by the newer Type 16 Maneuver Combat Vehicle. At the same time, official tank units based on the main land of Honshu, Kyushu, and Shikoku would be disbanded and replaced by new mobility-based combat units, in the form of a Rapid Deployment Regiment or Reconnaissance Combat Battalion, with the Infantry-based Divisions and Brigades to feature one of either. For each of the new units, they are to be equipped with a unit of Type 16 MCVs (1-2 Companies). Despite the plan being official as of 2019, the first tank units were disbanded throughout 2018, including the 4th Tank Battalion (4th Division), 8th Tank Battalion (8th Division), and 14th Tank Troop (14th Brigade). After the plan's enactment, 6th Tank Battalion of the 6th Division North Eastern Army was disbanded, and changes were made to existing tank formations, including at JGSDF Fuji School, to phase out numbers of Type 74 tanks in service. As of March 17, 2022, the disbandment of the 1st Division's 1st Tank Battalion of the Eastern Army has been the most recent change to the armored formation of the JGSDF. Type 74 was scheduled to be retired by March 2024. As all remaining Type 74 units (9th Tank Battalion, 10th Tank Battalion and 13th Tank Troop) were disbanded in March 2024, all Type 74s were retired from JGSDF. The Ministry of Defense plans to store about 30 Type 74s in mothballing. JGSDF personnel assigned to work the Type 74 are reassigned to the Type 16. ==Variants==

• Type 74 first mod (74式戦車 初期生産型) • Type 74 mod B (74式戦車 B型) • Type 74 mod C (74式戦車 C型) • Type 74 mod D (74式戦車 D型) • Type 74 mod E (74式戦車 E型) • Type 74 mod F (74式戦車 F型) • Type 74 mod G/Kai (74式戦車 G型/改) • Type 87 self-propelled anti-aircraft gun (87式自走高射機関砲) • Type 78 armoured recovery vehicle (78式戦車回収車) • Type 91 armoured vehicle-launched bridge (91式戦車橋) ==Operators==

• – 893 produced between September 1975 and 1989, with 225 delivered by January 1980. 822 in service in 1990, 870 in service in 1995 and 2000, 700 in service in 2006. As of March 17, 2022, from the disbandment of the 1st Division's 1st Tank Battalion of the Eastern Army, approximately 130 Type 74 tanks remained in service. All Type 74 tanks were retired in March 2024. ==References==