Type 16 MCV (Maneuver Combat Vehicle)

History of the Type 16 MCV (Motorized Combat Vehicle)

As a result of China's power projection in Southeast Asia, several of its neighbors have developed various plans and purchasing efforts to bolster their stockpiles of military equipment - setting off a whole new arms race in the Pacific that has grown from far away spread to the coast. from Australia and other countries. The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) is improving or modernizing aspects of its warfighting capabilities, increasingly divorced from U.S. influence, coupled with lax constitutional laws on its ability to design, develop and procure military hardware at home.

At the same time, the theory of possible war with neighboring countries is being revised, and for the Japanese, this means a move to light, fast-reacting ground forces - a sharp contrast to the long-held beliefs of the Cold War, when heavy, Tracked, large-caliber ground systems dominate the battlefield.

"Mobile Combat Vehicle" ("Kidou-Sentou-Sha") - MCV - is a new initiative of the Japanese Army that requires a self-propelled tank kill platform with a range of 28.5 tons (short) to help offset the service's intended A reduction in the number of complex, high-maintenance and expensive main battle tanks (MBTs) in service in the near future. The MCV features an 8x8 wheeled arrangement that simplifies manufacturing and maintenance, a marked departure from the tracked nature of combat vehicles of the Cold War decades.

Designed for long-range combat against enemy tanks and other armored vehicles, the MCV offers state-of-the-art fire control systems and crew survivability in a lighter, more compact design that can be either airlifted or amphibious landing support ships. The main weapon is the 105mm turret, a proven long-range tank killer that can also fire useful HE (High Explosive) rounds against "soft" targets. A 12.7mm heavy machine gun mounted on top of the turret can deal with low-flying aerial threats, while a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun is used against infantry and light vehicles when the main gun is overpowered.

Power is said to come from a 570-horsepower diesel engine, enabling the vehicle to travel 250 miles on the road at 62 mph.

While the MCV lacks the armor protection of a main battle tank, it is a faster and more mobile battlefield component that is deployed alongside front-line troops as a support vehicle - the nascent Type 1 MBT that began to replace it in The forefront of the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force - the spear. The compact size of the MCV also allows for smaller targets on the horizon, and the advanced FCM fire control system allows the use of a moving vehicle while the MCV itself is moving. Survivability is enhanced by a suite of threat indicators that feature the shielding protection provided by traditional smoke grenade launch systems commonly found on MBTs and IFVs today. All efforts to improve situational awareness are applied to the final MCV.

The standard four-person crew consists of the driver in the front right of the hull and the commander, gunner and loader in the turret. The engine is located in the front left of the fuselage. The chassis is fully popped up for powerful off-road handling, and the eight large wheels are run-flat.

The turret provides a full 360-degree motorized rotation to engage the target regardless of the vehicle's orientation.

The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force will procure up to 300 MCVs indefinitely. The MCV program has been running since 2008 and is expected to deliver "first results" during 2016, when the vehicle will officially enter JGSDF service.

There is no doubt that the MCV will be on display across the region as Japan's military pushes forward and will join other local powers in their efforts to contain Chinese influence.

As of early 2015, four MCVs have been completed, with an additional 99 on order.

Specification

Basic

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Performance

for everyone else in our database)

Armor

Not disclosed.

Changes