TKX (P)

This page is about the Japanese medium tank TKX (P). For other versions, see Type 10 (Family).

TKX (P)

TKX (P)

Description

The TKX (P) is an earlier iteration of the TKX, serving as a prototype of the Type 10 MBT. As the Japanese Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) pursue ongoing advancements in tank technology, they've prioritized key enhancements over the Type 90, These upgrades include a focus on reduced weight without compromising armour effectiveness, heightened integration of C4I capabilities, and the introduction of modular armour configurations. These modular slots allow for the seamless interchangeability of armour kits, ranging from lightweight to standard and even specialized war kits. The TKX (P) is the foundational platform for the Type 10 series, presenting a "barebones" configuration ready to accommodate various modular armour configurations tailored to specific operational requirements.

It was introduced in Update "Sons of Attila". The TKX (P) comes as a supplement to the Type 90 with the improved Gen 3 thermals as opposed to Gen 1 and a smaller mantlet at the cost of turret side protection and overall mobility. As an early prototype of the Type 10, it doesn't come with its distinct Type 10 APDSFS shell. This leaves the TKX (P) as a hybrid of the Type 16 in overall manoeuvre paths and spotting visibility with the firepower of a Type 90.

General info

Survivability and armour

Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.

Armour type:

Armour	Front (Slope angle)	Sides	Rear	Roof
Hull	___ mm	___ mm Top ___ mm Bottom	___ mm	___ - ___ mm
Turret	___ - ___ mm Turret front ___ mm Gun mantlet	___ - ___ mm	___ - ___ mm	___ - ___ mm
Cupola	___ mm	___ mm	___ mm	___ mm

Notes:

Mobility

Game Mode	Max Speed (km/h)		Weight (tons)	Engine power (horsepower)		Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
	Forward	Reverse		Stock	Upgraded	Stock	Upgraded
Arcade				1,626			__.__
Realistic				1,061			__.__

Armaments

Main armament

120 mm TKG					Turret rotation speed (°/s)					Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode	Capacity	Vertical	Horizontal	Stabilizer	Stock	Upgraded	Full	Expert	Aced	Autoloader
Arcade	35	-7°/+10°	±180°	Two-plane	28.6	39.5	48.0	53.1	56.5	4.00
Realistic					17.9	21.0	25.5	28.2	30.0

Ammunition

Penetration statistics
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
		10 m	100 m	500 m	1,000 m	1,500 m	2,000 m
JM12A1	HEATFS	480	480	480	480	480	480
JM33	APFSDS	481	478	470	461	450	440

Shell details
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Velocity (m/s)	Projectile mass (kg)	Fuse delay (m)	Fuse sensitivity (mm)	Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (kg)	Ricochet
							0%	50%	100%
JM12A1	HEATFS	1,140	13.5	0.05	0.1	2.15	65°	72°	77°
JM33	APFSDS	1,640	4.3	-	-	-	78°	80°	81°

Ammo racks

Full ammo	1st rack empty	2nd rack empty	3rd rack empty	4th rack empty	5th rack empty	6th rack empty	Visual discrepancy
35	__ (+__)	__ (+__)	__ (+__)	__ (+__)	__ (+__)	__ (+__)	__

Machine guns

12.7 mm M2HB
Mount	Capacity (Belt)	Fire rate	Vertical	Horizontal
Pintle	1,000 (200)	575	-8°/+60°	±180°

7.62 mm Type 74
Mount	Capacity (Belt)	Fire rate	Vertical	Horizontal
Coaxial	3,000 (250)	700	-	-

Usage in battles

The TKX (P) is a prototype of the Type 10 with the modular turret side armour not equipped and only able to fire JM33 as it's too early in development to fire the new Type 10 APDFS shell. With these missing upgrades, the TKX (P) bolsters the Type 90 line-up as a sidegrade trading these features:

• + Stronger frontal protection
• + Better thermals (Gen 3 instead of 1)
• - Relatively slower, especially in acceleration
• - Smaller autoloader rack (14 instead of 18)

The TKX is a highly mobile and fast-firing MBT that excels in flanking and sniping roles. However, its armour is not reliable and it is vulnerable to enemy fire, so it requires constant situational awareness and effective use of its hydropneumatic suspension, LWS, Laser Rangefinder and smoke grenades. The Type 10 should not engage in frontal assaults or close combat, but rather support allied MBTs from a safe distance and exploit its mobility and firepower to deal damage and relocate as needed. Getting early warnings of potential incoming fire thanks to its LWS, providing enough time and knowledge to retreat or dodge incoming shells.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Autoloaded 120 mm cannon, 4-second reload unaffected by crew or fire
• Has access to 3rd generation thermal sights for the gunner and commander
• Quite mobile, high power-to-weight ratio and high reverse speed
• Fitted with hydropneumatic suspension, although this can only be operated when stationary
  • Can lower the tank significantly, allowing you to hide behind relatively low hills and ridges
• Primary ammunition storage protected within blow-out containment in the rear of the turret
• Relatively small profile

Cons:

• Only three crew, a well-placed shot can easily cause a full crew knock-out
• Can only carry 15 rounds before additional ammo is stored in the unsafe hull racks
• Hydropneumatic suspension ceases to work when the engine is hit
• Relatively poor gun depression, unless the suspension is used
• Armour is very spread out in the front with the only well-defended places being the upper front plate, turret cheeks, and breech
• Lacks turret side armour
• While fast in top speed, this tank is a bit slow to accelerate
• Slow elevation/depression speed for the main gun
• Slower turret traverse than most other MBTs

History

Challenges of New Millennium

In the mid-1990s, after the introduction of the previous TKX-1, Type 90 MBT, the Ministry of Defense soon realised that, despite its superior FCS even for NATO standards, further upgrading the Type 90 would be impractical (for the time being) due to its already heavy weight in Japan's standards; while the previous Type 61 Medium Tank had no chance when facing even the earliest MBTs and Type 74 MBT was too costly to be upgraded. The possible rivals of Japan, like Mainland China and the Russia Federation had already developed their new MBTs (PLAGF ZTZ96 and ZTZ99/Russian T-90A); in view of maintaining a team of tank designers as well as a part of national defense, JGSDF passed a new plan for a next-generation MBT with redundancy for further upgrades (modularity), thus inherited the project name: TKX-2.

A JGSDF Type 10 at Camp Takeyama, Japan.

From Kyumaru to Hitomaru

The TKX-2 project aimed for the light weight of a Type 74 (at 40 tons, loaded) while being smaller than Type 90, equipping a domestic 120 mm smoothbore gun with latest C4ISR system, modular composite armour, and new engines paired with HMT transmission. TKX-2 was led by the TRDI with help from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. The new smoothbore gun and its new APFSDS were developed by Nippon Steel Corporation and Daikin Industries respectively. These designs were tested on a Tank Test Bed (TTB) developed from the 6th prototype of Type 90 and was first shown in a booklet in the early 2000s; the result of TTB proved the designs and project TKX-2 started in 2002. The 1st prototype was assembled in November 2004 and tested at JGSDF Camp Higashi-Chitose; MHI built the 2nd prototype in 2005, while there were also 3 Type 90s converted as the test bed for tank platoon command systems.

Finally, with the evaluations from JGSDF Fuji School, Ordnance School, and leaked photos of the 2nd prototype, the TKX-2 was unveiled on 14 June 2010 to the public during the opening of JGSDF East Fuji Manoeuvre Area and it was then named Type 10 in October. It served as the most advanced MBT of the first decade of the 2000s, and is an icon of the JGSDF moving forward into the 21st century.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the TKX (P) from live.warthunder.com.

See also

Related Development

• Type 90 (Family) - (predecessor)
• Type 10 (Family)
  • TKX - (Prototype with armour kit)
  • Type 10 - (Production model)

Other vehicles of similar configuration and role

• Leclerc (Family)
• Leopard 2 (Family)
• Ariete (Family)
• M1 Abrams (Family)
• Challenger MBT
• Merkava (Family)
• T-72 / T-90 (Family)
• T-80 (Family)
• ZTZ96 (Family)
• ZTZ99 (Family)

External links

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

• topic on the official game forum;
• other literature.