Only In Hokkaido
Among the infantry units of the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) infantry units, the most reliable weapon that can provide absolute firepower is perhaps the 120mm heavy mortar.
This is usually towed by a truck or Toyota Mega Cruiser, but there is also a self-propelled variant known as the “Type 96 Self-Propelled 120mm Mortar.”
Unfortunately, this is only deployed to Hokkaido’s 7th Division, making it one of the rarest equipments in the entire army.
- General Overview
| Mass | 23.5t |
| Length | 6.7m (22ft) |
| Width | 2.99m (9.8ft) |
| Height | 2.95m (9.7ft) |
| Crew | 5 people (2 for firing) |
| Speed | 50km/h (31 mph) |
| Armament | 120mm heavy mortar×1 12.7mm machine gun×1 |
| Unit Price | 2 million USD |
Utilizing the chassis of the Type 92 mine clearing vehicle, development was completed in less than two years, and it is is basically a tracked armored vehicle with a 120mm heavy mortar mounted at the rear.
Basic performance of the mortar is the same as those used in standard infantry units, though the mortar crew itself has been reduced to just two personnel.
Firing in a rearward direction with the roof and rear hatches open, the rotating platform installed on the vehicle allows for adjustment within a 45-degree arc.
Type 96 Mortar ready to fire (photo: JGSDF)
Around 50 rounds of ammunition can be stored inside the vehicle, and being able to move on its own greatly reduces the time for preparation and position changes.
As a result, it has better survivability compared to conventional towed models, thereby making it suitable for modern artillery duels where “shoot & scoot” tactics are widely employed.
Too Few, No Successor
The downside of this weapon is its limited production, as only 24 units were ever built, all of which is deployed in Hokkaido.
The reason for its development in the first place, lies within the nature of the 7th Division – The only armored division responsible to crush the invading Soviet (Russian) Army.
To carry out this crucial task, the 7th Division has enjoyed the luxury of being issued new equipment, resulting in its units to be fully mechanized.
As such, the 11th Infantry Regiment belonging to the division has also been mechanized with vehicles like the rare Type 89 IFVs, and this trend was applied to the mortars as well.
In other words, one could say that the Type 96 self-propelled 120mm mortars were developed solely for the 7th Division. There were plans to arm the 2nd Division with the same mortars, but this was never implemented due to budget constraints.
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