The Japanese Type 10 is one of the most notable land combat systems today. It is
naturally confusing to design a low-weight main battle tank in a world where increasingly heavier
armoured vehicles are being developed in line with the growing need for ballistic protection.
Still, the Type 10 is not the only one of its kind. Analyzing it will help us understand this
different approach to main battle tank design. As the Weapon Detective, we are investigating
the Type 10, the latest tank of Japan. Please don't forget to subscribe to our channel,
before we start and give us a thumbs up if you like our video. To be notified of our new video,
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Type 10 is a highly advanced and a handsome tank. But, the different characteristics
of this main battle tank inevitably cause controversy. Before starting our analysis,
let's take a brief look at the history and examine the technical features of the Type 10.
The Type 61 became operational in 1961. However, a year later, Japan started a
new main battle tank development programme. Serial production of the Type 74, which was
the fruit of this programme, began in 1974. Two years later, a new tank project began.
This project paved the way for the Type 90 which was introduced in 1990. And again,
Japan launched a programme of its new main battle tank in the 1990s.
There were two main reasons for this development model adopted by Japan.
First of all, during the First Cold War years, Japan had feared for a massive Soviet invasion
through its northernmost island, Hokkaido. In this period, the USSR was developing
a new tank, which was superior to its predecessors, every ten years.
Japan had designed the Type 61, Type 74, and Type 90 against the T-55, T-62, and T-72, respectively.
The second reason was that NATO member countries were constantly developing
advanced gun, armour and automotive technologies against Soviet tanks. Japan
naturally wanted to adopt these innovative works. So, in the 1990s, Japan began to work on a new
tank that could compete with the T-80s. Also, newly developed Command, Control,
Communications, Computers, Intelligence, shortly C4I, systems were offering new opportunities. And
Japan did not want to miss these advantages. So, why did Japan choose to develop a new tank
instead of modernizing its existing fleet? The answer was actually simple.
Japan's infrastructure was not suitable for heavy military vehicles.
For this reason, Japanese tanks were more compact than other examples in the world.
Therefore, neither the Type 74 nor the Type 90 had enough interior space for the fitting of C4I
systems through extensive modernization. Also, the Type 74, designed in the 1970s
and had a 105mm gun, could not meet the modern combat requirements even after it is modernized.
The 50-ton Type 90 was already too heavy for Japan's infrastructure.
The tank could use only 65 per cent of the bridges connected to highways in the country.
Therefore, it was wise to develop a new low-weight
tank with a powerful main gun and equipped with modern electronics.
After the Japanese Government's Technical Research and Development Institute finalised
the study phase of the new tank, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries launched the design works in 2002.
On February 13, 2008, the prototype of the tank was unrevealed.
On January 10, 2012, the first mass-produced Type 10 was officially introduced at the
Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Fuji School. The 3-person crew of the Type 10 consists of a
commander, gunner, and driver. Its hull length is 7.9 metres. The tank is 9.42 metres long,
3.24 metres wide, and 2.3 metres high. Depends on its armoured package configurations, the combat
weight of the tank changes between 40, 44, and 48 tons. 1,200 horsepower Mitsubishi 8VA34WTK
water-cooled V8 diesel engine provides a maximum road speed of 70 kilometres
per hour. The range of the tank is 500 kilometres. The Type 10 has active hydropneumatic suspensions.
It can negotiate 1-metre vertical steps, 2.7-metre trenches and can ford to a depth of 1 metre.
The Type 10 has a 120 mm 44 calibre smoothbore main gun and one 7.62mm
Type 74 coaxial machine gun. There is also a 12.7mm M2HB machine gun on the commander's hatch.
Now, let's look at the technical characteristics of the Type 10.
The previous Type 90 has a Japanese licence-production
model of the L44 gun of Rheinmetall. But, Japan favoured developing a new
120mm 44 calibre gun for the Type 10. The name of this gun is also the Type 10.
So, why did Japan choose to develop a new 44 calibre gun rather than 55 calibres?
Because the shorter gun is lighter and easier to operate in narrow urban areas and woods. The Type
10 is 13 per cent lighter than the Rheinmetall's gun. The new gun's chamber is strengthened to
enable higher chamber pressure. So, it can fire the newly developed armour-piercing
fin-stabilized discarding sabot munition with a muzzle velocity of 1,600 metres per second.
Guess what? The name of this new munition is the Type 10 too. So,
thanks to its high muzzle velocity, the Type 10 munition has a similar armour-piercing capability
with a round fired from Rheinmetall's L55 gun. There is a muzzle reference system on the front
right of the gun. This system is an electronic device that is intended to measure the current
value of a tank barrel bend when firing the gun. So, it improves the accuracy.
The ammunition holding mechanism of the Type 10's auto-loader is tubular,
different from the Type 90's claw-shaped one. So, it provides a more problem-free loading feature
when the tank on the move on rough terrain. Also, it has a faster loading speed.
Another factor that improves the Type 10's combat capability is its C4I systems. The tank has the
automatic enemy search function. After the sensors detect a target, the computer automatically
identifies it. A Type 10 tank in a platoon can detect, identify, and track up to eight targets
simultaneously. The platoon leader can automatically assign the optimum target to
each tank by pressing the "automatic allocation" display. This feature prevents more than one tank
from attacking the same target unnecessarily. Thanks to its network-centric warfare capability,
the information can be exchanged between platoon to corps levels.
The fuel, ammunition, malfunction status of each tank are shared with the
different levels of headquarters in real-time. The advanced fire control system of the Type 10
can direct to gun towards the target's weak point automatically. Its circular error probable
at a range of 1 kilometre is about 5 centimetres. This fire control system can also determine
the effect of the round on the target and recommends a new shoot if it is necessary.
The Type 10 has a variable-geometry turbocharger, which is more efficient in terms of power output
and fuel consumption. Also, it is fitted with hydraulic mechanical transmission.
The tank can go both forward and backwards with a maximum speed of 70 kilometres per hour.
Because the power pack is efficient enough, the Type 10 is fitted with a 1,200 horsepower engine.
Naturally, it is lighter than those with 1,500 horsepower.
The driver's equipment is still unclosed officially. But, some sources claim that
the driver has a motorcycle-like T-handle with an accelerator and brakes on it.
So, if it is true, the Type 10 does not have the accelerator and brake pedals.
Many viewers may think that the ballistic protection of the Type 10 is low, considering
its combat weight. Actually, this is not quite true. Thanks to advanced metallurgy technics,
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries use a more durable but lighter kind of steel
for the mainframe of the tank. On this mainframe, there are modular composite and ceramic plates.
These armour plates are removable. So, depends on the mission characteristic,
the protection level of the tank can be increased or decreased. Also, a damaged part of
armour can be changed easily in field conditions. This modular design makes the Type 10 lightweight.
So, it can pass over 84 per cent of the highway bridges of Japan.
As we mentioned before, the basic loadout of the tank is 40,000 kilograms.
Its standard loadout is 44,000 kilograms. The Type 10 has a 48,000-kilogram combat
weight with its full armour packages. But, this configuration has never been seen.
Thanks to its modular design, the tank could be equipped with more advanced
armour packages in the future. There are laser warning receivers
mounted on the four corners of the turret to improve survivability.
When an incoming missile detected, the tank launches its smoke grenades to hide.
However, the Type 10 does not have a modern type active protection system.
We looked at the technical characteristics of the Type 10. Let's start our analysis. According to
the Japan Ground Self Defense Force, survivability and ballistic protection are not the same.
The current general acceptance in the world is that the main battle tank can
fight for a long time on the battlefield. It should be able to protect its area
or continue its attack despite the fire of enemy tanks and infantries.
The Japanese, on the other hand, adopt a more flexible approach.
According to them, a tank should quickly go into battle
and give the heaviest damage possible to the enemy.
And if it is no longer unwise to stay in the combat zone, it should be able to retreat quickly.
The Japanese find it unrealistic for a tank to stand on the battlefield after many hits. If hit,
the tank will leave the area, change its damaged sections, and return to fight again.
It is really difficult to track and hit a vehicle that is fast, agile and can accelerate rapidly.
However, these capabilities decrease as the weight increases. The problem is
not just about the power of the engine. High weight brings along high momentum.
It is difficult for a tank moving at high speed to respond to brake or manoeuvre commands.
It drags harshly. Of course,
this is also a problem for a tank between 40-50 tons.
However, it is an easier problem compering to a 60-70-ton tank.
The autoloader is a complicated mechanism. It is likely to be inoperable after the tank hit
several times. But, it increases the rate of fire significantly.
The autoloader is a good choice for a tank that will quickly enter this battlefield,
shoot at the enemy target as much as possible, and quickly move away from the area when hit.
Japan is not alone in this concept. The trace of the Type 10's design criteria
goes back to the French Leclerc tank. Also, South Korea accepted the
same approach when it designed the K2. Japan plans to have only 300 tanks in the future.
These tanks will mostly be deployed in Hokkaido. A relatively light main battle tank means
easier strategic deployment for Japan. As we mentioned in our Type 16 video,
as an island country, the real defenders of Japan are its naval and air forces.
If the air superiority is lost, this country cannot win a possible battle in Hokkaido.
When the Japan Air Self-Defense Force regains air superiority, the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
will require relatively light armoured but high-speed vehicles to counter-attack.
We explained this thesis in detail with the success of the French Daguet Division
in the 1991 Gulf War. For a more detailed analysis, please check out our AMX-10 RC video.
Many people assume that the Type 10 is a lightweight main battle tank
to deal with asymmetric threats. According to our analysis, it is a wrong assumption.
The tank does not have explosive reactive armour or grill armour packages against the shaped-charge
anti-tank systems with tandem warheads. Its protection level against land mines
and improvised explosive devices is weak. The 12.7mm machine gun operated manually,
whereas all modern tanks designed against asymmetric threats use remote-controlled weapon
station to protect the crew from nearby threats. Compared to many modern Western tanks, the Type 10
is a system designed according to different geographical conditions,
threat perception, and operational requirements of Japan. From this point of view, it makes no
sense to argue whether it is better or worse than the M1 Abrams or the Leopard 2A7. Undoubtedly
he is better for the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force than the others. However, it is a fact that
the Type 10 may have serious problems when used outside of Japan or even outside of Hokkaido.
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