Gaiaterra: Elysea's Conflict/Type 74 MBT

"Shiki-Sensa rolling in!"

-Type 74 MBT driver

The Type 74 MBT is the medium tank of the Katsuragi Protectorate as a supplement to the Asur made Tsunami Tank. It was based on the best features of a number of contemporary designs, placing it in the same class as the M60 Patton, Leopard 1 and the Mastiff. Like these designs, it mounts the Royal Ordnance L7 rifled 105 mm gun. The design did not enter widespread use until 1980 V.C., by which point other forces had introduced more capable designs. This Katsuragi tank is set to be voiced by Jarrod Greene.

History
The KPSDF began studies on new tank designs with Mitsubishi in 1962 V.C., after the Type 61 had been shown to be outmatched by new Voshkod tanks such as the Rhino. Features from several designs were incorporated, including the controllable suspension of the Aquilan-Andoran-Ferelden MBT-70 project, the hull of the Leopard 1, and a similar 105mm gun. The design included a rotating cupola for the commander, and a new autoloader for the main gun. Prior to the 1965 V.C. decision to design an entirely new tank, some technologies which would later be used in the STB-1 (first prototype) were already in development independently in Ulthuan. The design was finalized in 1964 and various test rigs were built between 1964 and 1967.

The first prototype, designated STB-1, was delivered in late 1968 V.C. and underwent a number of modifications until 1969 V.C.. The autoloader proved too complex and expensive, and was removed, as was the remote-controlled anti-aircraft machine gun. The overall design of the turret was also changed, becoming longer. These changes resulted in the STB-3, which was delivered in 1971 V.C. The final prototype, designated STB-6, was delivered in 1973 V.C. Production finally started as the Type 74 in September 1975 V.C., with 225 being delivered by January 1980 V.C.. Production ended in 1989 V.C., with total production running to 893 examples.

In service, the tanks were updated with the addition of infra-red imagers rather than image intensifiers for the commander and gunner, and a laser rangefinder in the commander's cupola. The gunner's position included a digital fire control computer, fed range data from the commander's range finder. Rounds for the main gun were upgraded from HEP to APFSDS and HEAT-MP.

The Type 74 was considered outdated even before it entered service. The Type 90 was to have replaced it outright, but these plans were scaled back, with Type 90 and later the Type 10 served as their MBTs of the Katsuragi, with the Type 74 relegated as their medium tank alongside the Asur's own homegrown Tsunami Tank.

Guardians of the Tacitus

 * Crusader (Aquila)
 * Coyote
 * Grizzly Tank (Alliance)
 * Cavalier Tank
 * Liberty Tank
 * M1 Abrams (ADI)
 * Type 74 MBT (Protectorate)
 * Tsunami Tank
 * Guardian Tank (Andora)
 * Leopard
 * Battlemaster Tank (Empire)

Destroyers of Balthazar

 * Kodiak Tank (Voshkod)
 * Tick Tank (Brotherhood)
 * ... (Horde)
 * T-72 "Scarab" (MLA)
 * Lasher Tank (Collective)
 * ... (Scrin)

Neutrals

 * ... (Coalition)
 * ... (Heralds)
 * ... (Order)
 * M48 Patton "Mastiff" (Survivors)
 * ... (Syndicate)
 * ... (Conglomerate)

DLC

 * ... (Federation)
 * ... (Corona)
 * ... (Party)
 * ... (Skynet)
 * ... (Dominion)
 * ... (Elemental)
 * ... (Autocracy)
 * ... (League)
 * ... (Legion)
 * ... (Swarm)
 * ... (Pirates)
 * ... (Elona)
 * ... (Ascalia)
 * ... (Confederation)
 * ... (Kingdom)
 * ... (Goo)
 * ... (Community)
 * ... (Security)
 * ... (Imperium)
 * ... (Dynasty)
 * ... (Warlords)
 * ... (Cult)
 * ... (Raiders)
 * ... (Theocracy)
 * ... (ASA)
 * ... (Insurgents)
 * ... (Bastion)
 * ... (Guardians)
 * ... (Hierarchy)
 * ... (Sundered)
 * ... (Ecumene)
 * ... (Concordat)
 * ... (Contingent)
 * ... (Rangers)
 * ... (Eden)
 * ... (InGen)
 * ... (Hallows)
 * ... (Commnune)
 * T-55 (Encantadia)
 * AMX-13