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 A reconnaissance vehicle, also known as a scout vehicle, is a military vehicle used for forward reconnaissance. Both tracked and wheeled reconnaissance vehicles are in service. In some nations, light tanks such as the M551 Sheridan and AMX-13 h ...

designed and manufactured by

Komatsu Limited or is a Japanese multinational corporation that manufactures construction, mining, forestry and military heavy equipment, as well as diesel engines and industrial equipment like press machines, lasers and thermoelectric generators. Its headq ...

and employed exclusively by the

Japan Ground Self-Defense Force The , , also referred to as the Japanese Army, is the land warfare branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces. Created on July 1, 1954, it is the largest of the three service branches. New military guidelines, announced in December 2010, direct ...

. The JGSDF continued to commission new units up until as recently as 2013.

History

After

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, the United States supplied the newly established Japan Ground Self-Defense Force with several variants of the

M8 Greyhound The M8 light armored car is a 6×6 armored car produced by the Ford Motor Company during World War II. It was used from 1943 by United States and British forces in Europe and the Pacific until the end of the war. The vehicle was widely exported ...

armoured car. However, due to concerns about Japan's poor road conditions—many roads were unpaved and poorly maintained—a relatively small number were deployed for military service. By 1982, improvements in Japanese infrastructure spurred the development of the first

armoured fighting vehicle An armoured fighting vehicle (British English) or armored fighting vehicle (American English) (AFV) is an armed combat vehicle protected by vehicle armour, armour, generally combining operational mobility with Offensive (military), offensive a ...

produced by Japanese industry for the Japanese armed forces: the successful Type 82 "Shikitsu" Command Vehicle. Testing of the Type 87 began in 1985, with Komatsu completing its development based on the earlier Type 82.

Features

The Type 87 accommodates five crew members, with two positioned in the powered-traverse

turret Turret may refer to: * Turret (architecture), a small tower that projects above the wall of a building * Gun turret, a mechanism of a projectile-firing weapon * Optical microscope#Objective turret (revolver or revolving nose piece), Objective turre ...

at the center of the hull. The vehicle's door is situated on the left side of the main body. The hull, constructed from fully

welded Welding is a fabrication process that joins materials, usually metals or thermoplastics, primarily by using high temperature to melt the parts together and allow them to cool, causing fusion. Common alternative methods include solvent w ...

steel, shares many automotive components with the Type 82 and includes

power steering Power steering is a system for reducing a driver's effort to turn a steering wheel of a motor vehicle, by using a power source to assist steering. Hydraulic or electric actuators add controlled energy to the steering mechanism, so the driver can ...

. The primary armament is a Japanese variant of the Oerlikon Contraves 25mm autocannon, produced under license, capable of firing various ammunition types at up to 600 rounds per minute. Its armor, while sturdy enough to protect the vehicle and crew against

small arms A firearm is any type of gun that uses an explosive charge and is designed to be readily carried and operated by an individual. The term is legally defined further in different countries (see legal definitions). The first firearms originate ...

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 of water.

Gallery

File:Japanese - Type 87 Scout - 1.jpg File:Japanese - Type 87 Scout - 4.jpg File:Japanese - Type 87 Scout - 2.jpg File:Japanese - Type 87 Scout - 3.jpg File:Type 87 ARV in Yokosuka 2017.jpg

References

External links

www.army-technology.comwww.tanks-encyclopedia.comperfiles.elgrancapitan.orgwww.deagel.com
{{Modern Recce Armoured cars of Japan Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Wheeled amphibious armoured fighting vehicles Wheeled reconnaissance vehicles Reconnaissance vehicles of Japan Six-wheeled vehicles Military vehicles introduced in the 1980s