Too Vulnerable? Japan’s Type 96 Armored Personnel Carrier

JGSDF’s First wheeled APC

Armored Personnel Carriers (APC), which can swiftly and safely transport troops alongside other armored units,  have become one of the essential equipments for any modern army.

The Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) is no exception and has been using vehicles like the Type 73 Armored Personnel Carrier for quite a long time. But, as the road network rapidly expanded throughout Japan in the 1980s, the preference for wheeled APCs over conventional tracked ones started to grow within the organization.

This led to the development of the Japan’s first wheeled armored personnel carrier, the Type 96 APC.

• General Overview

Developed by Komatsu Ltd, the Type 96 Wheeled Armored Personnel Carrier has eight combat tires that not only provides better mobility on road, but can also continue running even after being hit by rounds from small firearms.

With a width just below 2.5m/8.2ft, the vehicle can travel on nearly all roads without violating traffic regulations, enabling nationwide deployment via the highway network.

Inside the vehicle are seats for the driver and commander, along with bench seats for up to twelve personnel. These soldiers can either disembark from the opened ceiling or the rear hatch.

Compared to the previous Type 73 APC, the interior is more spacious and the addition of cushioning materials has improved overall comfort for passengers.

soldiers deploying from the Type 96 APC (photo: JGSDF)

The main armament is a 40mm automatic grenade launcher, though the enhanced  “Type B (Type II)” variant that was deployed to Iraq features a 12.7mm heavy machine gun instead. The Type B variant is also equipped with air conditioning to withstand the intense heat – something envious for most JGSDF personnel and those lucky enough to ride on this version have expressed their obvious preference.

For protection, the Type 96 APC can withstand rifle rounds and shell fragments, but it is unable to resist firearms larger than heavy machine guns. This has often been criticized as a vulnerability and has been addressed by putting additional armor, though it comes at a cost of reducing the vehicle’s mobility.

Nonetheless, various measures have been implemented to protect the crew, including the fire suppression system in the engine compartment and an air purifier designed to tackle NBC threats(nuclear, biological, chemical) .

To-Be-Replaced By Patria AMV

Ever since its introduction in 1996, more than 380 units have been produced and is used by JGSDF infantry units nationwide.

Some units utilize it as a replacement for the outdated Type 82 Command Communication Vehicle, taking advantage of the interior space to accommodate monitors and makeshift desks.

Though it has yet to become obsolete,  Japan has already selected the Finnish “Patria AMV XP” as its future replacement. There were plans to develop a new “Wheeled Armored Vehicle (Kai)” with enhanced armor and off-road capabilities, but the project was called of in 2018 due to test failures.