The Type 74 tank’s main armament was the NATO standard British Royal Ordnance L7 105mm cannon, with the barrel produced under license while the mantlet, breech and recoil system were developed ...

Some 893 of the tanks were produced, and while it was due to be replaced by the more modern Type 90, with the end of the Cold War the 700 Type 74s remained in service until at least 2006.

(AFP via Getty Images) The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) has decommissioned its Type 74 main battle tanks (MBTs) manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), a spokesperson for the ...