A round detonating inside a tank turret is virtually unheard of. The last time it happened in Japan was in 1979
3-MIN READ3-MIN ListenJulian RyallPublished: 9:30am, 25 Apr 2026A turret explosion that killed three Japanese crew members inside a Type 10 tank during manoeuvres earlier this week has caused shock and confusion in military circles.Japan’s defence ministry and experts concur that a round detonating inside a tank turret is virtually unheard of and the cause of the accident will need to be traced before the Ground Self-Defence Force’s (GSDF) newest and most advanced tank can return to training.An analyst suggests the investigation will look closely at anti-tank rounds that were being fired, the vehicle’s self-loading mechanism and the breech system.
The GSDF has temporarily halted firing drills involving tank units.
Commander Kentaro Hamabe, 45, gunner Shingo Takayama, 31, and Kozo Kanai, a 30-year-old sergeant overseeing safety during the drill, were killed instantly when the round exploded at about 8.40am on Tuesday at the Hijudai training area in Oita prefecture.
The driver, who was in a separate compartment, is being treated for serious injuries.
