Cold War: Approximately 1947 (due to U.S. President Harry Truman’s Truman Doctrine) to 1991 (Operation Desert Storm, collapse of Soviet Union). “Near Pear Threats”, a recent U.S. Army code phrase for the expected Third World War.
Japan’s Type-74 battle tank was designed in the 1960s and produced in the 1970s and ’80s (during the Cold War). It was originally scheduled to be retired in the 1990s, but for financial reasons remained active with the Japan Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF) until March 2024, when it was finally, officially, retired.
The Type 74 was originally designed to use a main-gun with an auto-loader, but it had so many problems it was decided to go with a manually loaded gun that was compatible with NATO ammunition.
Here is a boring USMC video (by Sergeant Cristian Bestul) of a Type 74, and its crew, posing for the camera, on MCAS Iwakuni, 17OCT2019:
In 1987, Mitsubishi modified the Type 74 chassis to create the Type 87 SPAAG (Self Propelled Anti Aircraft Gun). Japan also has a Type 87 Recon Combat Vehicle (RCV), but it is a wheeled armored car not related to the Type 87 tracked vehicle.
In 1980, most Japanese tank units were using the Type 61, and even the older U.S. made M41 Walker Bulldog.
In 1978, Mitsubishi modified the Type 74 chassis to create the Type 78 ARV (Armored Recovery Vehicle).
Vehicle I-D: More of Type 74
Type 74 invades Evergreen State! Preps for war with China?