Type 60 Self-propelled 106 mm Recoilless Gun
Encyclopedia
The is a light anti-tank vehicle developed by Japan in the late 1950s. It mounts two M40 106 mm recoilless rifles
as its main armament.
contracted for one prototype from Komatsu (SS1) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
(SS2) powered by a 110 hp six-cylinder diesel engine
and fitted with two 105 millimetres (4.1 in) recoilless rifle
s. They were delivered in 1956. A second series of prototypes was built with 4 recoilless rifles, but adoption of the American M40 forced the reversion to two weapons. A third series of three prototypes was built by Komatsu as the SS4 that were heavier with a more powerful engine, a new transmission and clutch and a two-speed auxiliary transmission. They were accepted into service in September 1960.
Starting in 1974 a 150 hp Komatsu SA4D105 air-cooled, 4-cylinder diesel engine was fitted.
The commander is seated to the left of the two weapons and his position is attached to their mounting so that he remains at the same height when they are elevated for firing. The M40s can be fired from the lowered position, but their traverse is limited to 20°, elevation to +10° and depression to -5°. The elevation mechanism is manually operated. The loader is seated to the left of the commander and must exit through his rear-opening hatch to reload the recoilless rifles while on top of the engine deck or behind the vehicle.
Only 6 rounds of ammunition are stowed on board.
As of 2001, Japan reported to the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs
that 140 Type 60s were in service.
M40 recoilless rifle
The M40 recoilless rifle was a lightweight, portable, crew-served 105 mm weapon intended primarily as an anti-tank weapon made in the United States...
as its main armament.
Development
In the mid-1950s the Japan Ground Self-Defense ForceJapan Ground Self-Defense Force
The , or JGSDF, is the army of Japan. The largest of the three services of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, the Ground Self-Defense Force operates under the command of the chief of the ground staff, based in the city of Ichigaya, Tokyo. The present chief of ground staff is General Yoshifumi Hibako...
contracted for one prototype from Komatsu (SS1) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
, or MHI, is a Japanese company. It is one of the core companies of Mitsubishi Group.-History:In 1870 Yataro Iwasaki, the founder of Mitsubishi took a lease of Government-owned Nagasaki Shipyard. He named it Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works, and started the shipbuilding business on a full scale...
(SS2) powered by a 110 hp six-cylinder diesel engine
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
and fitted with two 105 millimetres (4.1 in) recoilless rifle
Recoilless rifle
A recoilless rifle or recoilless gun is a lightweight weapon that fires a heavier projectile than would be practical to fire from a recoiling weapon of comparable size. Technically, only devices that use a rifled barrel are recoilless rifles. Smoothbore variants are recoilless guns...
s. They were delivered in 1956. A second series of prototypes was built with 4 recoilless rifles, but adoption of the American M40 forced the reversion to two weapons. A third series of three prototypes was built by Komatsu as the SS4 that were heavier with a more powerful engine, a new transmission and clutch and a two-speed auxiliary transmission. They were accepted into service in September 1960.
Starting in 1974 a 150 hp Komatsu SA4D105 air-cooled, 4-cylinder diesel engine was fitted.
Operation
Only 6 rounds of ammunition are stowed on board.
As of 2001, Japan reported to the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs
United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs
The UN Office for Disarmament Affairs is a department of the United Nations Secretariat established in January 1998 as the Department for Disarmament Affairs as part of the United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan's plan to reform the UN as presented in his report to the General Assembly in...
that 140 Type 60s were in service.