FM45 JGSDF TYPE 60 SELF-PROPELLED 106M

The Type 60 is a modern Japanese tank destroyer. The first prototypes of the vehicle were created in 1956, and serial production continued in the period 1960-1977, ending with the production of 252 cars. The Type 60 is powered by a single motor Komatsu 6T 120-2 with 150 hp . It is armed with two 106 mm M40 recoilless rifles and one 12.7 mm machine gun. The Type 60 was developed as a lightly armored and highly mobile tank destroyer. The emphasis on high mobility was dictated by the topographic conditions of the Japanese islands, especially Hokkaido. The use of recoilless guns was dictated by the desire to reduce the size of the vehicle, which was to operate primarily in ambushes and, after a violent attack, withdraw from position as quickly as possible. Conceptually, it referred to the American M50 Ontos in a way. The Japanese armed forces at the beginning of the 21st century still had 60 vehicles of this type in the line.