Place of origin Japan Used by Japan Unit cost 1.6 million $ | In service 1996 - present Manufacturer Komatsu | |
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Type Armored personnel carrier | ||
The Type 96 Wheeled Armored Personnel Carrier (96式装輪装甲車, kyuu-roku-shiki-sourin-soukou-sya) is an armoured vehicle that entered service with Japan in 1996.
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Description
The driver sits on the right side of the vehicle with the engine to his left. His position is fitted with three periscopes, the center of which can be replaced by a passive night vision periscope. For service in Iraq it appears that his position was fitted with an assembly of three windows to enable him to drive with his head out of the vehicle for greater situational awareness while still protected from small-arms fire. Behind him is the commander/gunner in a cupola that traverses 360° that can carry either a 40 mm grenade launcher (Type A) or a .50 caliber (12.7 mm) M2HB machine gun (Type B). The passenger compartment has space for 8 infantrymen who can use 2 firing ports on each side. Photographic evidence shows no sign of any firing ports in the rear ramp despite numerous assertions to the contrary, unless they've been deleted or added at some point during the production run.
As of 2001 Japan reported to the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs that 72 Type 96s were in service, with an additional 22 procured that year.
Replacement
On 10 January 2017, a new 8×8 APC prototype called the Wheeled Armoured Vehicle (Improved) was handed off to the Japanese Armed Forces to replace the 365 Type 96 vehicles in service. Developed by the Japanese Defense Ministry in collaboration with Komatsu Limited, the wheeled vehicle was designed to offer more protection against improvised explosive devices (IEDs) with a similar layout to the Patria AMV and Stryker providing the Japanese Army with a family of different vehicles on a common chassis. It is 8.4 m (27 ft) long, 2.5 m (8 ft) wide, and 2.9 m (9 ft) high, weighing 20 tons and carries two crew and nine troops with a new more powerful 500 hp diesel engine and strengthened suspension to run at 100 km/h. The vehicle will equip JGSDF combat and combat-support units for peacekeeping operations as well as “counter island invasion” scenarios. Trials of the prototype will continue until 2019.