ASUKA-MPL-96 Taisyo (OVA version)

Model number: ASUKA-MPL-96
Code name: Taisyo
Unit type: law enforcement patrol labor
Manufacturer: Shinohara Heavy Industries
Operator: Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department
Rollout: October 1996 AD
Accommodation: pilot only, in standard cockpit in head
Dimensions: overall height 5.62 meters; overall width 4.32 meters
Weight: standard 6.08 metric tons; full 6.89 metric tons
Armor materials: high tension steel
Powerplant: unknown
Maximum weight lifting capacity: 1.20 metric tons
Minimum revolving radius: 5.20 meters
Equipment and design features: sensors, range unknown
Fixed armaments: none
Optional hand armaments: none

The development of labors proved to be a boon to construction projects around the world. However, the increase of labors sparked a new type of crime: labor crime. To combat labor crime, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department created its own labor division, Special Vehicles Section 2. At first, SV2 used the ASUKA-MPL-96 Taisyo, based on the civilian model ASUKA-SSL-96. However, the police use version had simply been painted in police colors and outfitted with a siren. As labors became more advanced, SV2 kept up with the times by replacing the Taisyo with the AV-98 Ingram, a labor designed specifically for law enforcement by Shinohara Heavy Industries. However, the Ingram was only assigned to Capt. Kiichi Goto’s Division 2, leaving Capt. Shinobu Nagumo’s Division 1 to continue to rely on the aging and ineffective Taisyo.

Pilot: Isao Ota
First appearance: Mobile Police Patlabor: Early Days
Original mechanical designer: Yutaka Izubuchi

Rear view