Type 61 (tank)

Type 61
A Type 61 tank on display at the JGSDF Ordnance School in Tsuchiura, Ibaraki prefecture, Japan.
Type	Main battle tank
Place of origin	Japan
Service history
In service	1961 – 2000
Production history
Designer	Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Designed	1955 – 1960
Manufacturer	Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Produced	1961 – 1975
Number built	560
Variants	See Variants
Specifications
Weight	35 tonnes
Length	8.19 / 6.03 m
Width	2.95 m
Height	2.49 m
Crew	4
Armor	55 mm(hull) - 114 mm(turret)
Main armament	90 mm L/52 rifled cannon, Muzzle velocity: 910m/s (M318AP-T)
Secondary armament	7.62mm Browning M1919A4 machine gun 12.7mm M2 Browning machine gun
Engine	Mitsubishi 12HM21WT 4 stroke V type 12 cylinder vertical air cooled diesel 570 hp / 2100 rpm, 29600 cc
Power/weight	17.14hp/t
Suspension	torsion bar
Operational range	200 km
Speed	45 km/h (paved roads)

The Type 61 (61式戦車^?) was a main battle tank (MBT) developed and used by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF), built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Development started in 1955 and the vehicle was first deployed in April 1961. The type number follows the year of deployment. A total of 560 Type 61s were manufactured between 1961 and 1975, when production ceased.

After World War II, Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers (SCAP or aka GHQ in Japan) ceased all military manufacturing and development plants in Japan, resulting in Japan losing the technology needed to build and manufacture tanks and armored vehicles. However, due to the Korean War, SCAP ordered Japan to re-militarize, forming armed police forces (National Police Reserve, later called National Security Force, then finally Japan Ground Self Defense Force) and provided M4A3E8 Sherman and M24 Chaffee tanks. However, the average height of a Japanese tank crew-member at the time was too small for the large interior of the US M4A3E8 Sherman and most Japanese tank drivers had difficulty reaching the clutch-pedal with their foot. In addition, the M4 was becoming obsolete. The M24, even though it was quite popular among Japanese tank crews, was inadequate when facing Soviet T-34/85s as seen in Korea. Thus, as the tanks in JGSDF service at the time were either obsolete, inadequate or unsuitable, the JGSDF was provided with the option of either purchasing the new American-built M46 Patton and later the M47 Patton or develop their own MBT in 1954. Due to the high cost of purchasing American made tanks, and because the M47 did not meet their requirements, the JGSDF decided on developing their own main battle tank, resulting in the development of the Type 61.