Japan Ground Self-Defense Force to investigate communications after fatal Type 10 tank training accident
The Facts
- A fatal accident occurred during a GSDF tank live-fire training exercise at the Hijudai training area in Oita Prefecture on April 21.
- A shell exploded in or near the tank's gun/turret area during the exercise.
- The accident involved a Type 10 tank.
- Four GSDF personnel were in the tank or were its crew, and the blast left three dead and one injured.
- The three people killed were men, and the injured survivor was a woman who was conscious after the accident.
- The personnel involved belonged to the GSDF's Western Army Tank Unit, which was conducting the training.
- The GSDF is investigating the cause and details of the accident.
- As part of the investigation, the GSDF plans to examine radio communications or question nearby personnel about communications around the time of the blast.
Context
What happened in the accident?
During a GSDF tank gunnery drill at the Hijudai training area, a shell exploded inside a Type 10 tank, killing three crew members and seriously injuring the fourth Central News Agency,Tuoi tre news.
Why is the GSDF looking at radio communications?
The tank was communicating with two other Type 10 tanks and nearby GSDF personnel during the exercise, and investigators want to reconstruct what was happening at the time of the blast through those exchanges Tuoi tre news,Central News Agency. The C4I system used in the exercise did not automatically record the communications, so the GSDF plans hearings with personnel who were nearby Tuoi tre news.
Why has this accident drawn particular attention?
Reports say the explosion occurred inside the turret area of a Type 10 tank during live-fire training, and GSDF officials described that kind of internal ammunition rupture as highly unusual Central News Agency. The Type 10 is one of the GSDF's main modern tanks, which has added to the scrutiny of the incident Central News Agency,China News.
View all 100 sources
Wire services (2)
Independent coverage (50)
About these frames
See this differently than someone you know would? Two ways to keep it going.
The dial works on any URL — paste an article you read elsewhere this week.