Combat vehicles / Armored personnel carriers / SU 60
SU 60
General Facts
- TYPE
Armored personnel carrier - ORIGIN
Japan - NICKNAMES
Type 60 - DESIGNED
1956 - 1958 - DESIGNER
Mitsubishi - PRODUCTION
1959 - 1972 - PRODUCERS Japan - Mitsubishi
- QUANTITY
755 SU 60
18 SV 60
18 SX 60 - UNIT COST
Unknown - CHARACTERISTICS
Small silhouette
Thin armor
Limited speed
Introduction
The SU 60 is an armored personnel carrier of Japanese origin. It was developed in the late 1950's to become the standard armored personnel carrier in Japanese service. Over time it has been supplemented by the more capable Type 73, but small numbers remain in service.
Layout
The SU 60 has a unique layout. The driver, commander and gunner are seated behind each other at the right. The engine is mounted at the left in the middle of the vehicle. In front of the engine the bow machine gunner is seated. The troop compartment is at the rear.
Firepower
Armament consists of a 12.7mm M2HB heavy machine gun on a pintle mount with gun shield. A .30-06 M1919A4 machine gun is fitted in the bow. Two types of mortar carriers were produced, armed with a 81mm and 107mm mortar respectively.
Protection
The steel armor protects against shell splinters and small arms fire. The armor can be pierced by heavy machine gun fire. No NBC system or smoke grenade dischargers are fitted.
Mobility
The tracked chassis provides a reasonable cross country performance. Even though the power to weight ratio is adequate the maximum speed is low. A 220 hp diesel engine provides propulsion.
Users
As with most Japanese weapon systems developed after World War 2 the SU 60 was not exported and the sole user of the SU 60 is Japan. It is gradually being replaced by newer armored personnel carriers.
Armored personnel carrier
The SU 60 is the standard armored personnel carrier. It was produced in only one version and is the most numerous vehicle on this chassis. A small number of SU 60 have been used as launch vehicles for the KAM-3D anti-tank missile. Those vehicles were fitted with a launch box on either side of the hull. Two vehicles have been fitted with dozer blades for clearing snow.
- Specifications:
- SU 60
| Type | Armored personnel carrier |
|---|---|
| Crew | 4 + 6 (commander, driver, gunner, bow gunner, 6 infantry) |
| Length | 4.85 m |
| Width | 2.4 m |
| Height | 1.7 m hull top, 2.31 m incl mg |
| Ground clearance | 0.4 m |
| Weight | 10.6 t empty, 11.8 t combat load |
| Ground pressure | 0.57 kg/cm2 |
| Wheelbase | Tracked chassis, 5 road wheels, drive sprocket front, idler rear |
| Turn radius | 7 m |
| Engine | Mitsubishi Model 8 HA 21 WT, V8 turbo diesel, 220 hp at 2.400 rpm |
| Power ratio | 18.6 hp/t |
|---|---|
| Transmission | Manual, 3 forward, 1 reverse |
| Speed | 45 km/h |
| Fuel | ? |
| Range | 300 km |
| Wall | 0.6 m |
| Trench | 1.82 m |
| Gradient | 60% gradient |
| Fording | 1 m |
| Armor | Steel |
| NBC equipment | No |
| Night vision | No |
|---|---|
| Smoke | No |
| Remarks | - |
| Armament | 12.7mm M2HB heavy machine gun .30 M1919A4 bow machine gun |
| Weapon1 | 12.7mm M2HB heavy machine gun on pintle mount 100 rounds ready to fire manual traverse and elevation non-stabalized |
| Weapon2 | .30-06 M1919A4 machine gun in bow manual traverse and elevation non-stabalized |
| Weapon3 | - |
| Weapon4 | - |
| Weapon5 | - |
| Weapon6 | - |
Mortar carrier
The first mortar carrier to be developed was the SV 60. The chassis is similar to the SU 60, but the rear compartment mounts a 81mm mortar that fires to the rear through two large doors. The SX 60 is similar but is fitted with a 107mm mortar and carries less ammunition. It can be distinguished from the SV 60 as it lacks the bow machine gun. In both versions a bipod and baseplate are carried allowing the mortars to be used away from the vehicle.
| Type | Self-propelled mortar |
|---|---|
| Crew | 5 (commander, driver, 3 mortar crew) |
| Length | 4.85 m |
| Width | 2.4 m |
| Height | 2.31 m incl mg |
| Ground clearance | 0.4 m |
| Weight | 12.1 t combat load |
| Ground pressure | 0.58 kg/cm2 |
| Wheelbase | Tracked chassis, 5 road wheels, drive sprocket front, idler rear |
| Turn radius | 7 m |
| Engine | Mitsubishi Model 8 HA 21 WT, V8 turbo diesel, 220 hp at 2.400 rpm |
| Power ratio | 18.2 hp/t |
|---|---|
| Transmission | Manual, 3 forward, 1 reverse |
| Speed | 45 km/h |
| Fuel | ? |
| Range | 300 km |
| Wall | 0.6 m |
| Trench | 1.82 m |
| Gradient | 60% gradient |
| Fording | 1 m |
| Armor | Steel |
| NBC equipment | No |
| Night vision | No |
|---|---|
| Smoke | No |
| Remarks | - |
| Armament | 81mm mortar 12.7mm M2HB heavy machine gun .30 M1919A4 bow machine gun |
| Weapon1 | 81mm mortar in hull rear 24 rounds, all ready to fire 40 degrees left and right manual traverse, +40 to +85 degrees manual elevation non-stabilized |
| Weapon2 | 12.7mm M2HB heavy machine gun on pintle mount 100 rounds ready to fire manual traverse and elevation non-stabalized |
| Weapon3 | .30-06 M1919A4 machine gun in bow manual traverse and elevation non-stabalized |
| Weapon4 | - |
| Weapon5 | - |
| Weapon6 | - |
| Type | Self-propelled mortar |
|---|---|
| Crew | 5 (commander, driver, 3 mortar crew) |
| Length | 4.85 m |
| Width | 2.4 m |
| Height | 2.31 m incl mg |
| Ground clearance | 0.4 m |
| Weight | 12.9 t combat load |
| Ground pressure | 0.62 kg/cm2 |
| Wheelbase | Tracked chassis, 5 road wheels, drive sprocket front, idler rear |
| Turn radius | 7 m |
| Engine | Mitsubishi Model 8 HA 21 WT, V8 turbo diesel, 220 hp at 2.400 rpm |
| Power ratio | 17.1 hp/t |
|---|---|
| Transmission | Manual, 3 forward, 1 reverse |
| Speed | 45 km/h |
| Fuel | ? |
| Range | 300 km |
| Wall | 0.6 m |
| Trench | 1.82 m |
| Gradient | 60% gradient |
| Fording | 1 m |
| Armor | Steel |
| NBC equipment | No |
| Night vision | No |
|---|---|
| Smoke | No |
| Remarks | - |
| Armament | 107mm mortar 12.7mm M2HB heavy machine gun |
| Weapon1 | 107mm mortar in hull rear 18 rounds, all ready to fire 40 degrees left and right manual traverse, +37 to +65 degrees manual elevation non-stabilized |
| Weapon2 | 12.7mm M2HB heavy machine gun on pintle mount 100 rounds ready to fire manual traverse and elevation non-stabalized |
| Weapon3 | - |
| Weapon4 | - |
| Weapon5 | - |
| Weapon6 | - |
