Here's What's Special About Japan's Type 16 Maneuver Combat Vehicle - HotCars

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It appears that the world is currently in the midst of a significant geopolitical shift; especially, when discussing the Northern Hemisphere. For those of you who are unaware or who have just been ignoring the news (kudos to you), China has been the subject of intense controversy in recent years. Specifically, we are discussing the scrutiny that has stemmed from the country's desire to become more influential in the South China Sea and abroad.

In order to maintain more control in the waters located south of China, the country has attempted to occupy various areas in these regions. This has resulted in an increased Chinese military presence in these zones. As one can imagine, countries like that of the United States, Australia, and Japan are not exactly thrilled about these initiatives. The resultw has been a complete change in military strategy and preparation for these nations.

While everyone has something to lose (or gain) if a conflict were to erupt (fingers crossed that never happens), it is arguable that Japan would take the brunt of such a war. Japan acknowledges this potential problem and has begun to prepare for such an event. While the country has recently purchased massive amounts of military hardware from the US, it is not planning to solely rely on Americans for help. That is why the island nation has developed and implemented the Type 16 Maneuver Combat Vehicle.

Let's take a closer look at this tough and maneuverable piece of Japanese military hardware.

It's Designed For Speed and Steering On The Battlefield

The infancy stages of the Type 16 can be traced back to 2003, when it was dubbed the "Future Combat Vehicle". Unlike most tanks that are used in warfare, this vehicle utilized an 8x8 wheel setup instead of the traditional track layout. Shortly after it was designed, however, the program came to an abrupt end due in large part to budget cuts.

Despite this, the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) sourced the chassis from the Future Combat Vehicle for use in their new Light Combat Vehicle Program. In 2008, this would eventually culminate in the development of the Type 16. Due to its relative smallness and lightness, the Type 16 was built for easy deployment via a Kawasaki C-2 airplane.

Rear of Type 16 — Via: Wikimedia Commons

Thanks to its turbocharged 11.3 L 4-cylinder diesel engine, the tank has an output of 570 horsepower and can reach a maximum speed of 62 miles an hour. This power is transmitted to all eight wheels, which makes it quite capable in rough terrain. Additionally, the vehicle is only large enough for four people, which makes it perfect for rapid response and counter-insurgency missions.

Despite Not Being A Conventional Tank, It Still Packs A Punch

Even though this tank is built for speed, it does not mean that it can't defend/protect itself. Generally speaking, all Type 16s leave the Mitsubishi factory (yes, that Mitsubishi) with enough armor up top to shield its occupants from 30mm auto-cannons. Additionally, the sides can protect against machine-gun fire of up to 14.5mm.

All Type 16s are outfitted with a 105 mm L/52 caliber cannon. Oddly enough, the cannon was developed to be manually loaded after each shot. This has brought into question whether or not the vehicle will actually be efficient in hot environments (which much of Japan is). Additionally, the vehicle has no air conditioning (doesn't sound like a great road trip vehicle).

For extra measure, each tank is equipped with a secondary armament. This can be either a Type 74 machine gun, a Type 96 40mm automatic grenade launcher, or an FN Minimi light machine gun. Because the Type 16 is so versatile, it truly allows the military to deploy it into almost any kind of operation.

Japan Has Incorporated The Type 16 Into Its Military Strategy Against China

Like that of many of the countries in the West, Japan was also heavily concerned about the potential for a Soviet invasion throughout much of the late 1900s. As a result of this potential threat, the island nation worked tirelessly to properly prepare it country for such an event. However, as mentioned earlier, things have begun to change in the former location of the Asiatic-Pacific Theater.

Due to China's continued encroachment into the South China Sea, Japan has begun to shift its strategies to better repel a Chinese storm instead of a Russian one. It is expected that if China does attempt to invade any part of the Land of the Rising Sun, it will be via their southern island chain. The implementation of the Type 16 perfectly reflects this transition in strategy, as the tank is expected to be used to defend Japan's outlying islands (instead of its cities).

Hopefully, Japan and its allies will somehow be able to sort everything out before an all-out war breaks out. We were able to stop a full-scale conflict from breaking out between the US and the Soviet Union (even when everyone thought it was inevitable), so maybe there is cause for hope. Until then, Japan can rest assured that the Type 16 will be patiently ready and waiting if ever such a day comes.

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About The Author

Austin Cassell (49 Articles Published)

Austin Cassell is a graduate from Purdue Global University with a major in Homeland Security and Emergency Management. Despite spending the last 6 years writing about law, he has decided that he would also like to write about some of the cars that are more than capable of breaking the law. He resides in an area of Northern New York that shares a border with both Quebec and Vermont. Because of the area, he is a big fan of cars that look good with a mountain bike or a snowboard on it.