With the 105mm main gun, the Japanese Type-16 has more firepower than the Soviet T-54 tank.
Wheeled tank is an informal term used for some modern heavy wheeled armored vehicles, also known as Maneuver Combat Vehicles
Among these modern combat vehicles is the Japanese Type-16
The Type-16 was developed in 2008 to enhance the strength of the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force
The main requirements for the Type 16 were that combat quality should be on par with the old Type 74 main battle tank
while also improving maneuverability
One requirement when designing the Type-16 is that it must be light enough to be transported by existing and future military transport aircraft
The Type 16 was designed by Japanese MoD Technical Research and Development Institute for defense and tactical reconnaissance purposes
able to both assist infantry and destroy enemy armored vehicles
Production of the prototypes went to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and then to mass production
The Type-16 maneuver combat vehicle was first introduced in 2013 after six years of development
The Type-16 weighs 26 tons, 8.45 meters long, 2.98 meters wide, and has a height of 2.87 meters
Type-16 is operated by a crew of four, consisting of: commander, gunner, loader and driver
Due to its light weight and small size, it is designed for easy deployment allowing rapid movement on narrow roads
and in built-up areas in response to various contingencies
In 2009 resistance testing of the shielding against HEAT rounds was conducted using the Carl Gustav M2
and against regular kinetic ammunition the frontal shield was developed to resist shots from 20 mm to 30 mm autocannons
while the side armor was deemed sufficient to resist 14.5 mm heavy machine gun fire
The Type-16 is built on a chassis with an 8x8 wheeled arrangement, simplifying production and repair
It seems that it was specially designed to withstand the violent recoil of the main gun
This fire support vehicle is fitted with a 570 hp turbocharged diesel engine, located in front of the hull
It is claimed that operational range on roads without refueling is only 400 km, with a top speed of up to 100 km/h (62 mph)
The vehicle is fitted with a central tyre inflation system
Tyre pressure can be adjusted to increase mobility over various off-road terrain
The primary weapon is the turreted 105mm gun, a proven tank-killer at range while also able to fire a useful HE (High Explosive) shell against "soft" targets
Low-flying aerial threats are countered by way of a turret-roof-mounted 12.7mm heavy machine gun
while a coaxial 7.62mm is used against infantry and light-skinned vehicles when the main gun becomes overkill
The Type-16 is fitted with state-of-the-art fire control systems and crew survival features in a compact design
The Type-16 main gun is compatible with standard NATO 105 mm ammunition
The vehicle lacked an automatic loader and required a manual reloader
Approximately 40 rounds for the main gun were carried, with 15 rounds available in the turret and ready for use
According to the plan, a total of about 200-300 of these combat vehicles will be produced for the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
and will replace the old main battle tanks
By 2018, this fire support vehicle was put into service with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
and has proven to work well.
In 2020, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force has ordered an additional 33 units
Production is expected to continue until 2026