Type 62
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| Type 62 | |
|---|---|
 Chinese Type 62 maneuvering. |
|
| Type | Light tank |
| Place of origin | China |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 21 tonnes |
| Length | 7.9 m overall 5.6m hull |
| Width | 2.9 m |
| Height | 2.3 m |
| Crew | 4 |
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|
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| Armour | Maximum hull thickness of 25mm and turret thickness of 50mm. |
| Primary armament |
105mm gun |
| Secondary armament |
7.62 mm coaxial 7.62mm bow mounted machine gun 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun |
| Engine | Liquid-cooled diesel. 430hp |
| Power/weight | 20.4hp/t |
| Suspension | torsion bar |
| Operational range |
500 km on road. |
| Speed | Road: 60 km/h |
The Chinese Type 62 light tank was developed in the 1960s based on the Chinese Type 59 with a reduced main gun size, lighter armour and a sweep of electronics to help reduce weight. The Type 62 is still used by the Chinese People's Liberation Army, as well as the North Korean military and other nations. It has recently been upgraded to modern standards and provides the PLA with a dedicated light tank.
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[edit] Development history
The Type 62 was born out of a Chinese military requirement for a light tank which could be deployed successfully in the southern areas of China. This entailed a tank capable of crossing the multitude of rivers, mountain ranges and rice paddy fields[1]. It's also used as a reconnaissance vehicle, mostly in Southern China[2]. Development of the Type 62 began with 674 Factory in 1958, producing the first Type 62 prototype, WZ132, in 1952[3]. The tank officially entered service with the PLA in 1963, with some 800 models produced between 1963 and 1989[4].
The Type 62 was designed to be a downscaled Type 59, with a smaller 85mm Type 62-85TC rifled main gun, a much simpler gunner sight and thinner armour. Unlike Chinese medium battle tanks, the Type 62 also lacks a gun stabilization system. Although, like the Type 59, the Type 62 uses a liquid-cooled diesel engine, its horsepower output was reduced to 430 horsepower, also to save weight[5]. The Type 62 was given a four man crew configuration, with the driver in the forward area of the hull, the tank commander and gunner on the left side of the turret and the loader in the rear right side of the turret[6]. The Type 62 is characterized by having poor accuracy, given the lack of a gun stabilizer, a fire and control system and a night vision system[7]. As a secondary armament the Type 62 was given a 12.7mm Type 54 heavy machine gun and two 7.62mm machine guns, one mounted co-axially and the other mounted at the bow of the tank. The armor of the Type 62 is so thin that any light anti-tank weapon can perforate the front plate[8].
The tank, however, has seen a multitude of upgrades since its inception in the Chinese Army. The first of these was the Type 62-I which was given a laser rangefinder to improve the 85mm gun's accuracy, as well as storage racks along the outside of the turret and a sideskirt to protect against HEAT ammunition and anti-tank missiles. Most Type 62s which are in service with the PLA have been upgraded to the I version of the tank since 1979[9]. Since the year 2000 the Type 62 saw another upgrade called the Type 62G, which was given a new flat-plate turret and up-armed with a 105mm main gun with a fume extractor in the center of the barrel[10]. Some sources also claim that some were also outfitted with light explosive reactive armour tiles, a night vision system, a new fire and control system and a one-plane stabilization system[11]. The Chinese military retains in between 400 and 800 Type 62s, depending on the source, and most of them should be upgraded to either the Type 62-I or the Type 62G[12]. The tank was also rebuilt into the Type 70 which includes an outside laser range finder, although not much information is readily available on this version of the tank[13].
The original Type 62 can be recognized by its half egg style turret with the smaller 85mm gun and its five roadwheels. It also lacks an external rangefinder. The Type 62-I is recognizable based on the external storage racks, and the side skirts, while the Type 62G is distinguishable based on the new flat-plate turret and the larger 105mm gun with the fume extractor.
[edit] Deployment history
The Type 62 was deployed primarily to Southern China, where it remains to this date, and was used during the Sino–Vietnamese War of 1979. About two hundred tanks saw service in Vietnam, most of these Type 62s[14]. Based on the improvement programs after the 1979 war with Vietnam the Type 62 was found to be too lightly armoured and too poorly armed. Of the two hundred tanks which invaded Vietnam about half were knocked out, underscoring the Type 62's lack of armour and armament. Since then the Type 62 has been shifted to secondary duties in Southern China, such as reconnaissance[15]. There are no indications to date that suggest the near future retirement of the Type 62 from the Chinese military.
The Type 62 has also been exported widely. Foreign nations which field, or have fielded, the Type 62 include North Korea, Bangladesh, Tanzania[16], Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, Albania, Sudan and Zaire[17]. Unlike some sources claim the North Korean Ch'onma-ho is not based off the Chinese Type 62. The Ch'onma-ho is based on the Russian T-62 medium tank. It's not clear which nations still have them in service, although based on available knowledge it seems that all original users still have it either on active or reserve status.
[edit] Variants
GJT 211 - Armoured bulldozer on Type 62 chassis.
GSL 131 - Mine clearing version of the GSL 211.
Type 59-16 - Prototype Type 62.
Type 62 - Scaled down and thinly armoured version of the Type 59.
Type 62-I - Upgrade featuring laser rangefinder, turret storage racks and sideskirts.
Type 62G - More recent upgrade with improved armour layout.
Type 70 - Redesigned Type 62 with external laser range finder.
Type 79 - Experimental recovery vehicle.
Type 762 - Light mine clearance system fitted to Type 62.
Type 762A - Light multi-purpose mine-clearance system.
[edit] Notes
[edit] References
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