FineMolds FM47 JGSDF Tank Crew 1965-1990

Japanese Self-Defense Forces (eng. The Japan Self-Defense Force (JSDF for short) was formed in July 1954, after the official end of the occupation of Japan by US troops. These forces consist of three elements: navy, aviation and land forces (Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, JGSDF for short, Japanese Rikujo Jieitai). The latter currently have around 150,000 soldiers. During the Cold War, but also today, armored forces were an important element. Initially, the JGSDF was equipped with American-made tanks (mainly the Sherman and Patton vehicles), but at the beginning of the 1960s, they introduced the Type 61 tanks to the line, and later (in the mid-1970s) the Type 74 vehicles. to be replaced by the Type 90 vehicles, and since 2012, the very modern Type 10 tanks have appeared in the JGSDF. The latter is considered to be one of the most modern tanks in the world with a very high combat value. It is worth noting that after the end of the Cold War, there was a noticeable tendency to reduce the production of MBTs and, for example, when the Type 74 was built in approx. 900 copies, it is assumed that the Type 10 tank will probably not exceed 200 vehicles. Currently, the core of the Japanese armored forces is the 7th Division stationed in the city of Chitose and with a stock of, among others, about 230 tanks and about 350 infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs). It is worth adding that there are also armored components in Japanese motorized and mechanized infantry divisions. For legal reasons (provisions in the constitution), the Japanese land forces do not have highly offensive weapons, although this state of affairs is slowly changing.