Model number: AL-97B
Code name: Samson
Unit type: military labor
Manufacturer: Hishii Heavy Industries
Operator: Japan Self-Defense Forces
Rollout: June 1997 AD
Accommodation: pilot only, in standard cockpit in torso
Dimensions: overall height 9.10 meters; overall width 5.60 meters
Weight: standard 7.63 metric tons; full 8.31 metric tons
Armor materials: high tension steel
Powerplant: unknown
Maximum weight lifting capacity: 4.00 metric tons
Minimum revolving radius: 5.88 meters
Equipment and design features: sensors, range unknown; infrared search light, mounted on left shoulder
Fixed armaments: many x smoke discharger; Mk.22 20mm minigun, mounted on forearm
Optional fixed armaments: 90mm cannon; multiple missile launcher

The AL-97B Samson was a military labor manufactured by Hishii Heavy Industries that served as one of the main ground units of the JSDF. The heavily armored Samson could be equipped with a variety of weapons depending on its mission, including smoke dischargers, a minigun, a cannon and a multiple missile launcher. In 1998, the JSDF deployed several Samson units in an unsuccessful attempt to stop the runaway labor HAL X-10 outside Gotenba. In 1999, Samson units at a military testing ground in Oshima came under attack from Schaft’s mysterious experimental Type-R13EX Phantom.

First appearance: Mobile Police Patlabor
Original mechanical designer:
 Yutaka Izubuchi

al-97b-cockpit

Cockpit

al-97b-rear

Rear view

Patlabor Info

Director:
Naoyuki Yoshinaga

Writer(s):
Kazunori Ito
Mamoru Oshii
Hiroyuki Hoshiyama
Naoto Kimura
Tetsuo Takahashi
Michiko Yokote
Hibari Arisu

Mechanical Designer(s):
Yutaka Izubuchi
Yoshinori Sayama

Character Designer:
Akemi Takada

Musical Composer:
Kenji Kawai

Format:
47 episodes

Airdates:
Japan 10.11.1989 – 09.26.1990

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