Type 87 RCV

Type 87 RCV
Type 87 RCV
	The Type 87 on display at Camp Takeyama.
Type	Armoured Fighting Vehicle
Place of origin	Japan
Service history
In service	1987 – present
Used by	Japanese Ground Self-Defense Forces
Production history
Designed	1983
Manufacturer	Komatsu
Unit cost	About 300 million Yen
Produced	1987
No. built	at least 95
Specifications
Mass	15 tonnes
Length	5.99 m
Width	2.48 m
Height	2.8 m
Crew	5 (driver, radio operator, gunner, observer and commander)
Armor	10–20 mm Rolled homogeneous armour
Main; armament	25mm Oerlikon Autocannon
Secondary; armament	Type 74 7.62 mm Machinegun
Engine	Isuzu 10PBI diesel engine; 305 hp / 2,700 rpm
Suspension	coil springs
Ground clearance	1.5 m
Operational; range	500 km
Maximum speed	100 km/h

The Type 87 Reconnaissance Combat Vehicle, also simply known as "RCV" and nicknamed Black Eye (ブラックアイ), is a 6x6 wheeled reconnaissance vehicle designed and manufactured by Komatsu Limited and employed exclusively by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. The JGSDF continued to commission new units up until as recently as 2013.^[3]

History

After World War II, the United States provided the newly created Japan Ground Self-Defense Force with a number of variants of the M8 Greyhound armoured car. However, a relatively small number of these were employed due to concerns about the poor quality of roads in Japan, as many Japanese roads were unpaved and poorly maintained, limiting the feasibility of wheeled vehicles for military service. By 1982, Japanese infrastructure had greatly improved, motivating the development of the first armoured fighting vehicle developed and manufactured by Japanese industry for the Japanese armed forces, the successful Type 82 'Shikitsu' Command Vehicle. Tests for the Type 87 began in 1985 and the Type 87 would later finish developed by Komatsu based on the earlier Type 82.

Features

The Type 87 accommodates five crew members, two of which occupy the powered-traverse turret located in the center of the hull. The vehicle's door is on the left of the main body. The hull is made out of steel and is fully welded, and utilizes many of the same automotive components of the Type 82 and features power steering. The main armament is a Japanese version of the Oerlikon Contraves 25 millimeter autocannon produced under licence, which can fire various kinds of ammunition at up to 600 rounds per minute. Its armor, while sturdy enough to protect the vehicle and crew against small arms fire and grenade shrapnel, will not protect against heavier ordnance. It is well armed for its class but lacks truly amphibious capabilities, being only able to ford up to 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) of water.

Comparison of Similar Platforms
	Type 87	BRDM-2	VEC-M1	Spähpanzer Luchs
Portrait
Length	5.99m	5.75m	6.2m	7.74m
Width	2.48m	2.35m	2.5m	2.98m
Height	2.80m	2.31m	2.51m	2.84m
Mass	15.0t	7.7t	13.75t	19.5t
Top speed	100 km/h	100 km/h	99 km/h	90 km/h
Amphibious?	no	yes	yes	yes
Crew	5	4	5	4
Weapons	25mm Oerlikon auto-cannon Type 74 7.62mm machine-gun	KPV 14.5mm heavy machine gun×1 PKT 7.62mm machine-gun	M242 auto-cannon MG3 7.62mm machine-gun	Rheinmetall MK20 auto-cannon MG3 7.62mm machine-gun