Type 96 Armored Personnel Carrier

Type 96 Wheeled Armored Personnel Carrier
A Type 96 of the JGSDF displayed at Camp Shimoshizu
Type Armored personnel carrier
Place of origin Japan
Service history
In service 1996 - present
Used by Japan
Production history
Manufacturer Komatsu
Unit cost 1.6 million $[1]
Produced 1996-present
No. built 365 (2014)
Specifications
Weight 14.6 tonnes (16.1 short tons)
Length 6.84 metres (269 in)
Width 2.48 metres (98 in)
Height 1.85 metres (73 in)
Crew 2 + 8
Main
armament
 1x Type 96 40mm Automatic grenade launcher or 1x 12.7 mm M2HB machine gun
Engine Mitsubishi 6D40 water-cooled 6-cylinder diesel
360 hp
Suspension 8x8 wheeled
Operational
range
 500 kilometres (310 mi)
Speed 100 kilometres per hour (62 mph) (road)

The Type 96 Wheeled Armored Personnel Carrier (96式装輪装甲車, kyuu-roku-shiki-sourin-soukou-sya) is an armoured vehicle that entered service with Japan in 1996.

Description

The driver sits on the right side of the vehicle with the engine to his left. His position is fitted with three periscopes, the center of which can be replaced by a passive night vision periscope. For service in Iraq it appears that his position was fitted with an assembly of three windows to enable him to drive with his head out of the vehicle for greater situational awareness while still protected from small-arms fire. Behind him is the commander/gunner in a cupola that traverses 360° that can carry either a 40 mm grenade launcher (Type A) or a .50 caliber (12.7 mm) M2HB machine gun (Type B). The passenger compartment has space for 8 infantrymen who can use 2 firing ports on each side.

As of 2001 Japan reported to the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs that 72 Type 96s were in service,[2] with an additional 22 procured that year.

A Type 96 on display at JGSDF Camp Matsudo

Replacement

On 10 January 2017, a new 8×8 APC prototype called the Wheeled Armoured Vehicle (Improved) was handed off to the Japanese Armed Forces to replace the 365 Type 96 vehicles in service. Developed by the Japanese Defense Ministry in collaboration with Komatsu Limited, the wheeled vehicle was designed to offer more protection against improvised explosive devices (IEDs) with a similar layout to the Patria AMV and Stryker providing the Japanese Army with a family of different vehicles on a common chassis. It is 8.4 m (27 ft) long, 2.5 m (8 ft) wide, and 2.9 m (9 ft) high, weighing 20 tons and carries two crew and nine troops with a new more powerful 500 hp diesel engine and strengthened suspension to run at 100 km/h. The vehicle will equip JGSDF combat and combat-support units for peacekeeping operations as well as “counter island invasion” scenarios. Trials of the prototype will continue until 2019.This as since been delayed due to issues with the armor quality of the prototypes.[3][4][5]

Operators

Notes

  1. ↑ http://newpacificinstitute.org/jsw/?p=4904
  2. ↑ "JGSDF Inventory circa 2001". United Nations. Archived from the original on 21 May 2011. Retrieved 24 December 2008.
  3. ↑ Japan Unveils Armored Vehicle Prototype for 'Counter Island Invasion' - Defensenews.com
  4. ↑ Japanese Ministry of Defense unveils new 8x8 APC armoured vehicle personnel carrier - Armyrecognition.com, 16 January 2017
  5. ↑ https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/landwarfareintl/dsa-2018-development-delays-japanese-8x8-apc/

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