Type 90 Main Battle Tank
Research and development into a new Japanese MBT began in 1976, under the Designation STC, subsequently being renamed the TK-X by the Technical Research Headquarters of the Japanese Self-Defence Force. Funding for the engine, gun, ammunition and fire control system began in the Fiscal Year 1977 and for the suspension and the new armour in Fiscal Year 1978. The prime contractor for the Type 90 is Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, who have been the prime contractor for all Japanese post-Second World War tanks including the Type 74 and the Type 61.
The Type 90 and all its subsystems have been designed and built in Japan, with the exception of the 120mm smoothbore gun, which is made under licence from Rheinmetall of Germany. It is the first Japanese tank to be at the cutting edge of technology, and in several aspects, it is ahead of most its competitors. Major sub-contractors include the Japan Steel Works, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation. Fujitsu and the NEC Corporation.
The final requirements for the Type 90 were completed in 1980, with two prototype vehicles, both armed with the Japanese 120mm gun, firing Japanese ammunition, being produced by 1984. These were used in extensive troop trials that continued throughout the following two years. A second group of four prototypes were built between 1986 and 1988 that incorporated a number of changes as a result of the trials. They were armed with the Rheinmetall 120mm smoothbore gun, which is also fitted to the Leopard 2 and M1A1/M1A2 Abrams tanks. These vehicles were then used for development and user trials, which had been completed by 1989. The TK-X was type classified and redesignated the Type 90. Production started in 1992 and by 1999 is estimated that some 150 vehicles have been built, while production is still underway. The Type 90 and its variants, have not been offered on the export market.
Details of the armour used in the construction of the Type 90s hull and turret have not been released, but is understood that there is an extensive use of composite armour, particularly over the frontal area of the tank. The Mitsubishi Steel Works and Kyoto Ceramic Company have been responsible for much of the development of this armour.
The layout of the Type 90 is conventional, with the driver seated at the front left of the hull and is provided with a single piece hatch and three day periscopes, the centre one of which can be replaced by a passive periscope. The turret is similar to that of the Leopard 2 with vertical front, sides and rear, and a bustle that extends well over the top of the engine compartment. The commander is seated on the right of the turret with the gunner and on the left and an automatic loader been mounted in the turret bustle, for which was designed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. It is believed that it can hold a total of 16 rounds of ammunition for the main gun, with additional ammunition located next to the driver. A number of blow-out panels are provided in the turret roof. The commander is provided with a vision blocs for all-round observation.
The main armament comprises a 120mm Rheinmetall smoothbore gun, made under licence from Germany. The ordnance and breach are identical to the German 120mm smoothbore gun, but the recoil system and gun mount were designed and built locally in Japan. A 7.62mm machine gun is mounted coaxially to the left of the main armament, while eight 12.7mm (0.5) machine gun is mounted on the roof. There are also two banks of three electrically operated smoke grenade dischargers, one on either side of the turret. The gunner has a periscope sight that is stabilised in azimuth, while commander has a periscopic sight capable of 180 degrees traverse with dual axis stabilisation, both linked to a digital fire-control computer. The gunner has a day channel, a thermal infra-red sensor and a laser rangefinder. The gunner's sight is manufactured by the Nikon Corporation, the commander's sight by the Fuji Photo Optical Company and the thermal unit by the Fujitsu Company.
The fire control system includes an advanced auto-tracking capability that is based on the output of the thermal imager and is effective against ground targets and can use while the tank it is both stationary and in motion. The commander's dual axis stabilised sight, permits him to require and engage targets directly, but additionally, the commander can hand-off a target he has acquired to the gunner, by pushing a button on his override control handle. This provides the tank with a hunter-killer capability. Mounted towards the front of the turret roof is a laser detector, which provides an audible signal, as well as an indication of direction at the commander's station.
The suspension of the Type 90 is really a hybrid type, with torsion bars for the centre two road wheels and hydro-pneumatic units for the first and last two road wheels. There are six dual rubber-tyred road wheels, drive sprocket at the rear and an idler at the front. The upper part of the track is protected by a light-weight skirt. The engine is a Mitsubishi 10ZG 10-cylinder diesel (1,500hp) coupled to an automatic transmission incorporating a torque converter with an automatic car lock-up clutch. An NBC system is fitted as standard.
Variants include the Type 90 mine-clearing MBT (which has a Type 92 mine clearing roller system fitted), the Type 90 Armoured Recovery Vehicle and the Type 91 Armoured Vehicle-Launched Bridge.
Hull length: 7.5m. Hull width: 3.05m. Height: 2.34m. Crew: 3. Ground Clearance: 0.45m (adjustable between 0.2 to 0.6m front and back) Weight: 50,000kg (combat) Ground pressure: 0.89kg/sq.cm Max speed: 70km/h. Max range (internal fuel): 400km on road. Armament: 120mm smoothbore gun, 1 x 7.62mm machine gun mounted coaxially, 1 x 12.7mm (0.5) machine gun on turret roof.
Additional Sources: www.globalsecurity.org
www.defencetalk.com
en.wikipedia.org
fortus.hp.infoseek.co.jp
tankguy.gooside.com
www.panzerbaer.de
ww5.ocn.ne.jp
www.tamiya.com
On This Day In History
Birthdates which occurred on January 11:
1746 William Curtis English botanist/publisher (Botanical Magazine)
1757 Alexander Hamilton West Indies, 1st US Secretary of Treasury ($10 face)
1807 Ezra Cornell founder (Western Union Telegraph, Cornell University)
1807 Alfred Eugene "Stonewall" Jackson Brigadier General (Confederate Army)
1814 Richard Griffith Brigadier General (Confederate Army), died in 1862
1815 Sir John A MacDonald (C) 1st PM of Canada (1867-73)
1816 Fitz-Henry Warren Brevet Major General (Union volunteers), died in 1878
1818 John Reese Kenly Brevet Major General (Union volunteers), died in 1891
1831 James Ronald Chalmers Brigadier General (Confederate Army), died in 1898
1885 Alice Paul ERA advocate/founder (National Woman's Party)
1886 George Zucco England, actor (Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Captain Fury)
1887 Aldo Leopold founder (Wilderness Society)
1903 Alan Paton South Africa, writer (Cry, the Beloved Country)
1904 Frederick Boland Irish diplomat/President (UN General Assembly)
1922 Neville Duke English test pilot
1924 James Moore aka Slim Harpo Blues musician
1926 Grant Tinker broadcasting executive (NBC-TV)
1934 Jean Chrétien Canada PM (Liberal, 1993- )
1942 Clarence Clemons rock saxophonist (Bruce Springsteen's E St Band)
1946 Naomi Judd [Diana Ellen], Ashland KY, singer (Judds-Why Not Me)
1952 Lee Ritenour Los Angeles CA, jazz musician
1959 Brett Bodine auto racer
1974 Rosenkowitz sextuplets Cape Town South Africa (1st known to survive infancy)
Deaths which occurred on January 11:
0705 John VI Catholic Pope (701-05), dies
1055 Constantine IX Monomachos emperor of Byzantium, dies
1674 Jan Zoet actor/playwright/poet (Brutal-Roffel), dies at 58
1797 Francis Lightfoot Lee US farmer (signer Declaration of Independence), dies at 62
1843 Francis Scott Key composer (Star Spangled Banner), dies at 63
1914 Ambrose Bierce writer, dies at 71
1923 Constantine I king of Greece (1913-17, 20-22), dies at 54
1928 Thomas Hardy novelist (Maddening Crowd), dies at his home near Dorchester at 87
1929 Julio Antonio Mella Cuban revolutionary, murdered at about 28
1953 Ernst H Ridder Rappard Dutch Nazi founder (NSNAP), dies at 53
1959 Dr Mohammed Zakaria Ghonein discoverer of 6,000 year old pyramid, dies
1979 Jack Soo actor (Nick Yemana-Barney Miller, Green Berets), dies at 63
1981 Beulah Bondi actress (It's a Wonderful Life), dies at 91
1988 Gregory (Pappy) Boyington ace WWII pilot, dies at 75 of cancer
1994 John Bradley, raised US flag at Iwo Jima, dies at 70
1995 Willem N "Pim" Koot pianist (Concert Building), dies at 76
1997 Sheldon Leonard producer/director (Dick Van Dyke), dies at 89
Reported: MISSING in ACTION
1966 GODFREY JOHNNY HOWARD---PHOENIX AZ.
1968 ANDERSON DENIS L.---HOPE KS.
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1968 BUCK ARTHUR C.---SANDUSKY OH.
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1968 MANCINI RICHARD M.---AMSTERDAM NY.
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1968 OLSON DELBERT A.---CASSELTON ND.
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1968 ROBERTS MICHAEL L.---PURVIS MS.
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1968 SIOW GALE R.---HUNTINGTON PARK CA.
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1968 STEVENS PHILLIP P.---TWIN LAKE MI.
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1968 THORESEN DONALD N.---DETROIT MI.
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1968 WIDON KENNETH H.---DETROIT MI.
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1970 CHORLINS RICHARD DAVID---UNIVERSITY CITY MO.
POW / MIA Data & Bios supplied by
the P.O.W. NETWORK. Skidmore, MO. USA.
On this day...
0314 St Militiades ends his reign as Catholic Pope
0532 Nika-revolt against Justianus & Theodora in Hippodrome Constantinople
0705 John VI ends his reign as Catholic Pope
1158 Vladislav II of Bohemia becomes king
1569 1st recorded lottery in England is drawn at St Paul's Cathedral
1599 Jacob van Necks fleet leaves Bantam Java with pepper, clove & muskaat
1672 Isaac Newton is elected a member of Royal Society
1693 Mt Etna erupts, Sicily
1758 Russian troops occupy Königsberg, East-Prussia
1759 1st American life insurance company incorporated, Philadelphia
1774 Messier adds M51 (spiral galaxy in Canes Venatici) to his catalog
1775 Francis Salvador becomes 1st Jew elected to office in America (SC)
1785 Continental Congress convenes in New York City NY
1787 Titania & Oberon, moons of Uranus, discovered by William Herschel
1803 Monroe & Livingston sail for Paris to buy New Orleans; they buy Louisiana
1805 Michigan Territory is organized
1813 1st pineapples planted in Hawaii
1861 Alabama becomes 4th state to secede
1863 Naval engagement near Galveston between CSS Alabama & USS Hatteras
1863 Union forces capture Arkansas Post, or Fort Hindman AR
1865 Battle of Beverly WV
1879 Zulu war against British colonial rule in South Africa begins
1892 Paul Gauguin marries a 13-year-old Tahitian girl
1913 1st sedan-type car (Hudson) goes on display at 13th Auto Show (New York City NY)
1919 3 year old German communist party (Spartacus) crushed
1919 Romania annexes Transylvania
1922 Insulin 1st used to treat diabetes (Leonard Thompson, 14, of Canada)
1925 Franc B Kellogg replaces Charles Hughes on as US Secretary of State
1940 Sergei Prokofiev's ballet Romeo & Juliet premieres in Leningrad
1942 -23ºF (-31ºC), Kingston RI (state record)
1942 Japan conquers Kuala Lumpur, Malaya
1943 US & Britain relinquish extraterritorial rights in China
1944 Crakow-Plaszow Concentration Camp established
1946 Enver Hoxha declares People's Republic of Albania with himself dictator
1949 Snowfall 1st recorded in Los Angeles
1960 Lamar Clark sets pro boxing record of 44 consecutive knockouts
1961 Racial riot at University of Georgia
1962 Mandela leaves South Africa, travels to Ethiopia, Algeria & England
1962 Volcano Huascaran in Peru, erupts; 4,000 die
1963 Beatles release "Please Please Me" & "Ask Me Why"
1963 1st discotheque opens, The Whiskey-a-go-go in Los Angeles CA
1964 US Surgeon General Luther Terry reports that smoking may be hazardous
1970 Super Bowl IV Kansas City Chiefs beat Minnesota Vikings, 23-7 in New Orleans; Super Bowl MVP Len Dawson, Kansas City, Quarterback
1971 Tigers ace reliever John Hiller, 27, suffers a heart attack, misses the 1971 season, but later makes a remarkable comeback to record 38 saves
1972 East-Pakistan becomes independent state of Bangladesh
1973 American League adopts designated hitter rule(BOOOO)
1973 Trial of the Watergate burglars begins in Washington DC
1974 ABC airs final episode of "Love, American Style"
1975 Soyuz 17 carries 2 cosmonauts to space station Salyut 4
1976 Dorothy Hamill wins her 3rd consecutive national figure skating championship
1977 France releases Abu Daoud, a Palestinian suspected of involvement in the massacre of Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics
1983 Billy Martin named New York Yankee manager for 3rd time
1989 140 nations agree to ban chemical weapons (poison gas, etc)
1990 Bobby Knight becomes basketball's Big 10 winningest coach (229)
1991 Ric Flair wins NWA/WCW wrestling title
1991 Soviets storm buildings in Vilnius to block Lithuania independence (To little to late)
1993 Independent presidential candidate Ross Perot publicly returns to politics
2000 The British government declared Chiles Gen. Augusto Pinochet medically unfit to stand trial in Spain.
Holidays
Note: Some Holidays are only applicable on a given "day of the week"
International Thank You Day
Albania : Republic Day (1946)
Chad : Independence Day (1960)
Puerto Rico : De Hostos' Birthday (1839)
US : Pharmacists Day
US : Man Watcher's Week Begins
National Oatmeal Month
Religious Observances
ancient Rome : Carmentalia (a d iij Id Jan)
Roman Catholic : Feast of St Theodosius the Cenobite
Anglican, Roman Catholic : Feast of the Baptism of Jesus Christ
Roman Catholic : Commemoration of St Hyginus, 9th pope (c 136-c 140), martyr
Religious History
1523 German reformer Martin Luther wrote in a letter: 'It is unchristian, even unnatural, to derive benefit and protection from the community and not also to share in the common burden and expense; to let other people work but to harvest the fruit of their labors.'
1777 Anglican hymnwriter John Newton wrote in a letter: 'A soul may be in as thriving a state when thirsting, seeking and mourning after the Lord as when actually rejoicing in Him; as much in earnest when fighting in the valley as when singing upon the mount.'
1791 In Philadelphia, Episcopal Bishop William White, 43, founded the First Day Society. It became the forerunner of the American Missionary Fellowship, chartered in 1817 and headquartered today in Villanova, PA.
1907 The Church of God, headquartered today in Cleveland, Tennessee, and with roots going back to 1886, officially adopted its current name.
1933 In Hamburg, Germany, the Altona Confession was issued by area pastors, offering Scriptural guidelines for the Christian life, in light of the confusing political situation and the developing Nazi influence on the State Church.
Source: William D. Blake. ALMANAC OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. Minneapolis: Bethany House, 1987.
Thought for the day :
"Never put off until tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow."
My family was in Japan as dependents from 1956 to 1960. Tokyo, on the economy, mostly, and 10 months in Camp Zama.
My brother observed that Godzilla is a metaphor for the American bombing of 1944 and 1945, the helpless civilians, the mass destruction, nuclear radiation, all that stuff. Believe he is right. Godzilla is America.