Type 59

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Type 59

General characteristics
Crew	4
Length	6.04 m
Width	3.27 m
Height	2.59 m
Weight	37 tonnes
Armour and armament
Armour	203mm
Main armament	100mm rifled gun
Secondary armament	7.62mm coaxial machine gun, 12.7mm air-defence machine gun
Mobility
Power plant	diesel 520 hp (390 kW)
Suspension	torsion bar
Road speed	50 km/h
Power/weight	14 hp/tonne
Range	440 km, 600 km with external tanks

The Chinese Type 59 Main Battle Tank is a copy of the ubiquitous Soviet T-54A medium tank. The Chinese based several later designs, such as the Type 69 and Type 79, on the Type 59. Other developments included a variant sporting a 120mm gun, and a scaled-down Type 62 with an 85 mm gun.

1 History
2 Variants
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] History

After the signing of Sino-Soviet Treaty of Friendship, Alliance, and Mutual Assistance, the Soviets agreed to assist China in building a tank manufacturing facility to manufacture the T-54A MBT in 1956. Initially, the tanks were assembled with Soviet-supplied parts, which were gradually replaced by Chinese-made components. The tank was accepted into service by the PLA in 1959, and given the desgination Type 59.

The Type 59 MBT represented China's first-generation tank development. Over the years, it was upgraded with various domestic and western technologies. When the PLA captured a Soviet T-62 from the Sino-Soviet border conflict in 1969, improvements based on the T-62 were incorporated into the T-59 design to become the Type 69 MBT, which was further upgraded with western technology and became the Type 79 MBT. The Type 59 was the beginning of China's first-generation MBT, and the Type 79 last, superseded by the Type 80 second-generation MBT.

The Type 59 MBT is also known as WZ-120 by its manufacturer name. It was produced in great numbers from 1959 to mid 1980s, totaling over 10,000. The Type 59, and its successor, the Type 69, were widely exported, with thousands sold. Today an estimated 5,000 Type 59 MBT's remain in PLA inventory, but is used primarily for training and support roles. The Type 59-series are being replaced by the more capable Type 96 and Type 99 MBTs.

T-59 MBT Development History

In the early 1950s the Soviets supplied China with a quantity of T-54 MBTs, production of which was subsequently undertaken in China under the designation Type 59. The first production models were similar to the Soviet T-54 and not fitted with infrared night vision equipment or a stabiliser for the main armament. Later models were fitted with a fume extractor as on the T-54A. Late production Type 59s have been fitted with an infrared searchlight for both the commander and gunner and a larger infrared searchlight has been mounted above the main armament and moves in elevation with it. Some vehicles have been seen fitted with a laser rangefinder to the right of the infrared searchlight mounted over the main armament.

Some years ago British company MEL supplied China with 30 sets of passive night vision equipment for the Type 59 MBT. These include the commander's image-intensified periscope Type DC 1026/00, the gunner's image-intensified periscope Type DC 1024/00 and the driver's image-intensified periscope Type DC 1028/00. The Chinese have developed and placed in production a 100 mm APFSDS-T projectile for the Type 59 MBT. This is designated the AP100-2 and has a long rod penetrator and a semi-combustible cartridge case. The round has a saddle-type sabot and eight fins. All that remains after firing is the stub case which is ejected when the breech opens. NORINCO has also developed a 100 mm APFSDS-T round with a conventional brass cartridge case. This has a muzzle velocity of 1,480 m/s and will penetrate 150 mm of armour at an angle of 65° at a range of 2,400 m.

It is believed that production of the Type 59 tank began in 1957 to 1960 at Baotou in the Beijing military region. More recently, some Type 59 MBTs have been observed fitted with a bank of four smoke grenade dischargers on the side of the turret.

Chinese Type 59 tanks approaching Beijing's Tiananmen Square during the 1989 protests
Jeff Widener (The Associated Press)

Variants :

Type 59-I MBT

Factory No 617 carried out a number of improvements to the Type 59 MBT which resulted in the Type 59-I. This featured hydraulic booster technology to improve the opening and closing mechanisms for the safety door cover and cupola door cover, installation of a simplified fire-control system, laser rangefinder, engine low-pressure alarm and automatic fire extinguisher.

Type 59-II MBT

Further development resulted in the Type 59-II which has the 105 mm rifled tank gun that can fire AFPSDS, APDS, HEAT and HESH ammunition, two-axis stabilisation system for the main armament, light spot fire-control system, automatic fire extinguishing and explosion suppression system, 580 hp diesel engine, new radios and communications system. The 105 mm rifled tank gun is similar to the Western L7 (UK)/M68 (US) and is fitted with a fume extractor and thermal sleeve. This has been referred to by US forces as the Model 1984 as this was the first year that it was identified. The Chinese 105 mm rifled tank gun fires Chinese-developed ammunition and this gun is also installed in a number of other Chinese MBTs including the Type 79 (qv), Type 80 (qv) and Type 85 (qv).

NORINCO Type 59 Retrofit Package

TEXT : NORINCO is offering an upgrade package for the Type 59 MBT. The original 520 hp diesel will be replaced by a new 730 hp diesel to give a much higher power-to-weight ratio and therefore greater acceleration on the battlefield. Other improvements include APFSDS-T ammunition for the 100 mm gun, rubber-bushed tracks, NBC system, friction shock-absorbers, gun stabilisation in both elevation and traverse and a new fire-control system incorporating spot injection in the gunner's sight.

Type 59 with 105 mm L7 gun

As a private venture Royal Ordnance of the United Kingdom has fitted a Type 59 MBT with the 105 mm L7A3 rifled tank gun. This, together with three other upgraded Type 59s, was tested in Pakistan in 1987.

NORINCO 120 mm T-54/Type 59 Upgrade

China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO) also developed an upgrade package for the widely deployed Chinese Type 59 and Russian T-54/T-55 MBT that includes the replacement of the current 100 mm rifled tank gun by a 120 mm smoothbore gun. The exact origin of the Chinese 120 mm smoothbore is not known as in the past, with the exception of the Western 105 mm rifled tank gun, all Chinese tank guns have been of eastern design. These are the 100 mm rifled tank gun and more recent 125 mm smoothbore gun which is fed by an automatic loader.

The latter is fitted to the Type 90, Type 85-IIM and Type 85-III MBTs and has enabled the crew to be reduced to three, commander, gunner and driver. Some years ago China did develop and place in production the 120 mm self-propelled anti-tank gun Type 89, which has a similar 120 mm smoothbore gun and the 120 mm weapon for the Type 59 upgrade is probably identical. The 120 mm smoothbore gun is 6 m long and weighs 2,600 kg complete with breech mechanism. It is fitted with a fume extractor and thermal sleeve but has no muzzle reference system. To give an increase in barrel life the interior is chrome plated. As well as firing Western natures of armour piercing fin stabilised discarding sabot (APFSDS) ammunition, such as the German Rheinmetall DM23 and DM33, and HEAT multipurpose, it can also fire 120 mm ammunition developed by NORINCO.

Like the Western 120 mm smoothbore ammunition, this has a semi-combustible cartridge case and all that remains after firing is the stub cartridge case. The penetrator has a respectable length-to-diameter ratio of 25.2/1 and complete with saddle weighs 7.33 kg. When in flight the penetrator weighs 4.1 kg. The NORINCO APFSDS round has a muzzle velocity of 1,660 m/s and is claimed to have a similar armour penetration performance to NATO natures of ammunition, for example around 550 mm of rolled homogenous armour (RHA) at a range of 1,500 m. Turret traverse is 360° with weapon elevation from -5 to +18°. A total of 28 rounds of 120 mm ammunition are carried compared to 34 rounds of 100 mm. To improve first round hit probability a simplified fire-control system has been fitted which includes a laser rangefinder. This enables the upgraded tank to engage moving targets when it is stationary, quoted engagement times are around seven seconds for a stationary target and 10 seconds for a moving target. Range, target horizontal angular speed and tilt angle of the 120 mm gun is inputted automatically while charge temperature, ambient air temperature, muzzle velocity and crosswind are entered manually as required.

While the weapon is normally laid onto the target by the gunner, if required the commander can also take over, aim and fire. Various types of night vision equipment can be fitted as required by the user. The secondary armament remains the same and consists of a roof-mounted 12.7 mm machine gun, 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun and a 7.62 mm machine gun which is fixed in the glacis plate and operated by the driver.

[edit] Variants

[edit] Type 59

The basic variant, a T-54A clone without IR searchlight. Entered production in 1957.

[edit] Type 59-I

Improved variant fitted with a Type 69-II 100 mm rifled gun, as well as a laser rangefinder, hydraulic servo-system, primitive fire control, automatic fire suppression system, and rubber track skirt. The Type 59-I includes several versions with different armour and fire control configurations.

[edit] Type 59-II

Type 59-II

Manufacturer designation WZ-120B. Mounts the 105 mm Type 81 rifled gun design provided by Austria (copy of the Royal Ordnance L7), distinguished by the fume extractor midway on the barrel, rather than on the muzzle. Other improvements include new radio and fire suppression system. Produced from 1982 to 1985.

[edit] Type 59-IIA

Fitted with thermal sleeve for 105 mm gun and some composite armor. Referred to as M-1984 by US Army. Variants include MBT, command tank, and mine-sweeper tank.

[edit] Type 59 Gai

This is an experimental variant to test various Western technologies integrated on the Chinese-made MBT. Variants include: B59G and BW120K. The BW120K is fitted with an indigenously developed 120 mm smoothbore gun comparable in general performance to the US M-256.

[edit] Type 59D

Also known as WZ-120C. The Type 59D was developed in the 1990s. Instead of replacing all ageing Type 59s in service with newer models, the PLA decided that they should be upgraded with new technologies to meet the requirements for future land battle. The Type 59D is fitted with explosive reactive armour, new tank gun, passive night vision, and new fire control. The 12150L diesel engine was also replaced by a 580 hp 12150L7 engine. Variants include Type 59D and Type 59D1.

[edit] Type 62 Light Tank

In late 1950s, the PLA submitted requirements for a light tank more suitable for operations in China's southern region. Development on the new Type 62 tank began in 1958, which was a scaled-down Type 59 MBT with simplified equipment. The Type 62 light tank entered batch production in 1963, and approx. 800 were produced by 1978.

The Type 62 light tank weights only 21 tons, and is equipped with a Type 62-85TC 85mm rifled gun, and 3 machineguns. An improved Type 62-I version was produced with better FCS with laser rangefinder, and turret storage racks for added protection. Other versions based on the Type 62 include the Type 79 recovery vehicle (prototype only) and Type 82 earthmover.

The PLA deployed the Type 62 light tank to Vietnam during the 1979 Sino-Vietnam conflict. They found that the thin armor of the Type 62 tank could be penatrated easily by hand-held anti-tank weapons, such as the 40mm RPG. The Type 62 tank suffered severe losses during the conflict, which convinced the PLA to develop new second-generation MBT's.

The Type 62 tank received a major upgrade in 2000, with new welded turret, vertically stabilized 105mm rifled gun, fire-control system, night vision device, smoke grendade launchers, and explosive reactive armor (ERA) package. [1]

[edit] Type 69 / 79

Improved Type 59 MBT built by 617 Factory (Inner Mongolia First Machine Group Co. Ltd). Only saw limited service in the PLA, but was an export success in the 1980s with more than 2,000 sold world-wide. See Type 69/79 for more info.

North Korean Kok'san 170mm artillery piece, based on the Type 59 chassis.

[edit] Others

Other derivatives includes the Type 73 tank recovery vehicle.

[edit] Foreign variants

Heavy Industries Taxila of Pakistan has also introduced the Al-Zarar Main Battle Tank. The Al-Zarar series was designed to improve and rebuild the Pakistani army's Type 59 tanks by way of most modern armament, fire control, defensive equipment, etc. It is rumoured to have fifty-four improvements. Features:

125 mm smoothbore gun, firing APFSDS, HEAT-FS and HE-FS. Semiautomatic loading and image Stabilized fire control.
730 hp Engine for improved mobility.
Superior suspension.
Improved defenses with explosive reactive armour and anti-mine cover underneath.

Type 59 tanks played an important role during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. (See Battle of Longewala)

Iran has developed the T-72Z Safir-74 variant.