Type 73 AFC, Japan

Type SU 60 APC

Soon after the Japanese Self-Defence Force was established in the 1950s a requirement was placed for a tracked APC; two prototypes were produced. These, and following prototypes, underwent a prolonged period of development before a design was finalised in 1960. Production followed but was slow and fragmented to the extent that the result, the Type SU 60 APC, can lay claim to being one of the most costly in its category. For all the development work involved, the Type SU 60 which emerged is still rather underpowered and has limited speed and agility The vehicle has a crew of four, commander, driver, bow machine gunner and main gunner for the roof-mounted 12.7 mm MG, although the latter may be one of the six troops carried, The interior is rather cramped, there is no provision for the troop compartment occupants to utilise their personal weapons from within the vehicle, and vision to the outside world is limited. No NBC protection system is fitted and the vehicle is not amphibious.

All of these limitations were typical of the time when specialised APCs were still an innovation, and it has to be stated that the Type SU 60 is still soldiering on with the Japanese Self-Defence Force (no export sales were made or attempted).

A few variants have appeared and remain in service. The Type SV 60 is an 81 mm mortar carrier while the Type SX 60 carries a 4.2-inch (107 mm) rifled

Japan

mortar, both types having the mortar firing to the rear from inside the troop compartment. Some Type SU 60s have been modified to carry two ATGW over the hull rear and a few carry snowclearing dozer blades.

Prototypes of NBC reconnaissance vehicles based on the Type SU 60 have been developed but are apparently not yet in widespread service,

The Type SU 60 APC is destined to be replaced by the Type 89IFV

SU60APC

Specification

Crew: 4 Seating: 6

Weight: (combat) 11,800 kg

Length: 4.85 m

Width; 2.4m Height: (hull top) 1.7 m Ground clearance: 0 4m

Track: 2.05 m

Max speed: (road) 45 km/h Fuel capacity: not known Range: 230 km

Fording: 1 m Vertical obstacle: 0.6 m

Engine: Mitsubishi Model 8 HA 21 WT Vdiesel Power output: 220 hp Suspension: torsion bar Armament: 1 x 12.7 mm MG; l x 7 . 6 2 m m MG Variants: Type SV 60, Type SX 60, Type SX 60

Typical of its era in design terms, the Type SU GOAPC.