Japan’s Extremely Useful Type 92 Mine Clearance Vehicle

Using Rocket-propelled Charges

Overcoming minefields have been one of the most difficult challenges in military history and this is still relevant today as seen in Ukraine.

Heavily mined defensive lines have proven to be effective against modern equipment, with Russia losing hundreds of vehicles to anti-tank mines and Ukraine losing its momentum during the counteroffensive.

Both sides have resorted to using mine-rollers mounted on tanks, but there is one equipment that can speed up the process. That is the Type 92 Mine Clearance Vehicle operated by Japan’s Ground-Self-Defense Force (JGSDF).

• General Overview

The Type 92 Minefield Clearance Vehicle, also known as the “Mine Breaching Rocket System (MRBS) in English, is able to clear a large area of mines using two rockets.

Each rocket is equipped with a string of 26 explosives that lands by a parachute, and are simultaneously ignited to detonate the mines.

With a range of approximately 800 meters or 2,620 feet, a single rocket can clear an area of 300 meters×5 meters (984ft ×16 ft). This means a single vehicle can secure a corridor of 600 meters or 1,970 feet in length.

Compared to conventional devices, which could handle only around 100 meters (330ft), the difference is quite remarkable, highlighting the groundbreaking nature of this equipment.

Such unique mine-clearing vehicle is extremely rare worldwide and certainly can be instrumental in punching a hole in enemy defenses littered with anti-tank mines.

If Japan were to liberate itself from self-imposed restrictions and able to offer military aid to Ukraine, the Type 92 Minefield Clearance Vehicle would certainly be on Kiev’s wishlist.

At the moment, these specialized vehicles are deployed among the JGSDF’s combat engineer units along with the Type 92 Mine-Roller.