Type 61 (tank)

Type 61
A Type 61 tank on display at the GSDF Camp Zentsuji.
TypeMain battle tank
Place of originJapan
Service history
In service1961–2000
Production history
DesignerMitsubishi Heavy Industries
Designed1955–1960
ManufacturerMitsubishi Heavy Industries
Produced1961–1975
No. built560
Specifications
Mass35 tonnes
Length8.19 / 6.03 m
Width2.95 m
Height2.49 m
Crew4

Armor55 mm (hull) – 114 mm (turret)
Main
armament
90 mm L/52 rifled cannon,
Muzzle velocity: 910m/s (M318AP-T)
Secondary
armament
7.62 mm Browning M1919A4 machine gun
12.7 mm M2 Browning machine gun
EngineMitsubishi 12HM21WT 4 stroke V type 12 cylinder vertical air cooled diesel
570 hp (430 kW) / 2100 rpm, 29600 cc
Power/weight17.14 hp/tonne (12.28 kW/tonne)
Suspensiontorsion bar
Operational
range
200 km
Maximum speed 45 km/h (paved roads)

The Type 61 tank (61式戦車, Roku-ichi Shiki sensha) is a main battle tank 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. It was succeeded by the Type 74.[1][2][3]

  1. ^ Foss 1977, pp. 53–56.
  2. ^ Hayashi 2005, pp. 99–135.
  3. ^ Furuze & Ichinohe 2009, pp. 22–45.