Like all armies and although it could not fully deploy for war far from its shores, the Japanese Ground Self Defense forces developed a command vehicle during the 1970's and started to build it in 1982. For defense, it came equipped with a 12.7mm and 7.62mm machine gun as well as firing ports for soldiers within the vehicle. The Type 82's main function was to operate some distance behind friendly lines and give its occupants, particularly the commander a good personal view of the battlefield. If it ran into any trouble, its speed of 100km/hr was its best advantage, particularly on paved roads.

Despite the weak weapons suite it had and the important occupants it carried, the Type 82 command vehicle did participate in several direct actions against Godzilla and other kaiju during the 1980's and 1990's. Not surprisingly in those engagements, they suffered heavily at the hands of the kaiju such as Godzilla and Destoroyah. The long reach of the monsters and the speed in which they retaliated against their foes ensured that the Type 82 could not avoid the same fate that the main battle tanks and the armored fighting vehicles of the JSDF met when they engaged Godzilla and the other kaiju directly. Furthermore, the weak range of the machine guns ensured that they could not directly participate alongside the tanks as they battled against the kaiju. Fortunately, in other instances such as during the fighting with Mothra in Tokyo, they remained at a safe distance as their occupants observed the action at the front lines.