Type 63 (tank): Difference between revisions
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==Development History== |
==Development History== |
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The Chinese obtained a few PT-76 amphibious light tanks in mid 1950s. In October 1958, the PLA decided to develop an indigenous amphibious tank based on the PT-76 design. The development program was carried out by 201 Institute and 615 Factory. A prototype known as WZ221 was built and tested in 1959, but the design suffered from a number of problems including engine overheating. The [[PLA]] wasn't satisfied with the performance of the vehicle, which led to the development of a new vehicle based on Type 60. It was jointly developed by Military Engineering Institute (MEI) and the No. 60 Research Institute of Fifth Ministry of Machine Building. The prototype was completed in 1962 and |
The Chinese obtained a few PT-76 amphibious light tanks in mid 1950s. In October 1958, the PLA decided to develop an indigenous amphibious tank based on the PT-76 design. The development program was carried out by 201 Institute and 615 Factory. A prototype known as WZ221 was built and tested in 1959, but the design suffered from a number of problems including engine overheating. The [[PLA]] wasn't satisfied with the performance of the vehicle, which led to the development of a new vehicle based on Type 60. It was jointly developed by Military Engineering Institute (MEI) and the No. 60 Research Institute of Fifth Ministry of Machine Building. The prototype was completed in 1962 and was sent to Factory 615 (Shaanxi Weiyang Diesel Engine Plant (陕西渭阳柴油机厂)) for continued research. After it later passed the extensive trials (mostly dealing with crossing river, lake and sea water obstacles), the amphibious light tank was finally approved for design finalization in April 1963, and was officially designated Type 63.<ref name="Sino Defense">[http://www.sinodefence.com/army/tank/type63.asp "Sino Defense"]</ref><ref name="Global Security">[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/china/type-63-t.htm "Global Security"]</ref> |
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Because of continuing tension with [[Taiwan]], the PRC felt the need to upgrade its fleet of amphibious tanks. The original Type 63 was rapidly becoming obsolete and incapable of facing modern tanks, so a new version was designed, called the Type 63A. |
Because of continuing tension with [[Taiwan]], the PRC felt the need to upgrade its fleet of amphibious tanks. The original Type 63 was rapidly becoming obsolete and incapable of facing modern tanks, so a new version was designed, called the Type 63A. |
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Revision as of 18:57, 20 March 2008
| Type 63 | |
|---|---|
 A Type 63 tank at the China People's Revolution Military Museum. | |
| Typ | Amphibious Light Tank |
| Place of origin |  People's Republic of China |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1963 – present |
| Used by | See Operators |
| Wars | See Combat History |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Military Engineering Institute (MEI) and the No. 60 Research Institute of Fifth Ministry of Machine Building |
| Designed | 1960 - 1963 |
| Manufacturer | Norinco Factory 615--Shaanxi Weiyang Diesel Engine Plant (陕西渭阳柴油机厂) and Factory 256--Southwest Vehicles Factory (西南车辆制造厂) |
| Produced | 1963 - ? (ended) |
| No. built | More than 1,550 |
| Variants | See Variants |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 19.83 tonnes[1] |
| Length | 8.44 m[2] |
| Width | 3.2 m |
| Height | 3.122 m (with the AA HMG)[1] 2.522 m (without the AA HMG)[1] |
| Crew | 4 (commander, gunner, loader, driver) |
| Armor | Welded rolled steel[2] 11 mm hull front[1] 14 mm hull upper side[1] 10 mm hull rear[1] 10 mm hull bottom[1] 10 mm hull top[1] |
Main armament | 85 mm Type 62-85TC rifled gun (47 rounds)[1] |
Secondary armament | 7.62 mm Type 59T coaxial medium machine gun (2000 rounds)[1] 12.7 mm Type 54 anti-aircraft heavy machine gun (500 rounds)[1] 7.62 mm Type 59T anti-aircraft medium machine gun (optional) |
| Engine | 12150-L2 12-cylinder liquid-cooled diesel 402 hp (300 kW) at 2,000 rpm |
| Power/weight | 20.3 hp/tonne (15.1 kW/tonne) |
| Transmission | Mechanical, planetary[3] |
| Suspension | torsion bar |
| Ground clearance | 400 mm[1] |
| Fuel capacity | 545 l[1] |
Operational range | 370 km (road)[3] 340 km (cross country)[3] 120 km (water)[3] |
| Maximum speed | 64 km/h (road)[2] 30 km/h (cross country) 12 km/h (water)[2] |
The Norinco Type 63 is a Chinese light amphibious tank. First fielded in 1963, it is in many ways similar to the earlier Soviet PT-76. However contrary to the popular belief it has some essential differences from the PT-76 in waterjet propulsion system etc. It is also known under it's industrial designation, WZ211.
Development History
The Chinese obtained a few PT-76 amphibious light tanks in mid 1950s. In October 1958, the PLA decided to develop an indigenous amphibious tank based on the PT-76 design. The development program was carried out by 201 Institute and 615 Factory. A prototype known as WZ221 was built and tested in 1959, but the design suffered from a number of problems including engine overheating. The PLA wasn't satisfied with the performance of the vehicle, which led to the development of a new vehicle based on Type 60. It was jointly developed by Military Engineering Institute (MEI) and the No. 60 Research Institute of Fifth Ministry of Machine Building. The prototype was completed in 1962 and was sent to Factory 615 (Shaanxi Weiyang Diesel Engine Plant (陕西渭阳柴油机厂)) for continued research. After it later passed the extensive trials (mostly dealing with crossing river, lake and sea water obstacles), the amphibious light tank was finally approved for design finalization in April 1963, and was officially designated Type 63.[3][4]
Because of continuing tension with Taiwan, the PRC felt the need to upgrade its fleet of amphibious tanks. The original Type 63 was rapidly becoming obsolete and incapable of facing modern tanks, so a new version was designed, called the Type 63A.
Description
Type 63 has a typical tank layout: steering compartment at the front, combat compartment in the center and the engine compartment in the back. Although it it is externally similar to PT-76 it has some essential differences from it's Soviet equivalent. Instead of a three-man crew on the PT-76, the Type 63 has a four-man crew for better efficiency. Unlike in the PT-76 where the driver's station is located in the center of the front of the hull, the type 63 has the driver's station located on the left hand side of the front of the hull. The driver has a round hatch with three periscopes over his station. Gunner and commander have their stations in the left hand side of the turret and the loader has his in the right hand side of the turret. The turret has two hatches. The right turret hatch opens backwards and has a mount for 12.7 mm Type 54 anti-aircraft heavy machine gun. The left turret hatch opens forwards, has a periscope and can be fitted with the 7.62 mm Type 59T anti-aircraft medium machine gun. There's a dome-shaped ventilator behind the hatches. It is wider and higher than PT-76. The Type 63 has a flat, boat-like hull similar to the design of the PT-76, apart from a nearly horizontal glacis plate, higher gradient of the bottom of the bow, different engine grills with three separate vertical slot side air inlets on the Type 63, in contrast to the single large inlet with inset vertical baffle plate on the PT-76. There's also a slight bulge in the center of each side of the hull (hull sides in PT-76 are smooth). Also the tracks are mounted higher and the roadwheels are bigger. The half-egg-shape turret, which is sometimes considered to be a modified Type 62 turret, is actually a modified Type 60 turret. It is placed in the center of the vehicle (unlike in PT-76 which has the turret closer to the front of the vehicle) and has a ventilator dome with a snorkel fitting.[3]
The weapons array consists of the 85 mm Type 62-85TC rifled gun, the 7.62 mm Type 59T coaxial medium machine gun and the 12.7 mm Type 54 anti-aircraft heavy machine gun. 85 mm Type 62-85TC rifled gun is the same gun as the one fitted in Type 62 light tank and can fire AP, APHE, HE, HEAT and smoke rounds. It has a rate of fire of eight rounds per minute. The gun is not stabilized and is aimed via an optical gun sight. It can be elevated or depressed between +22 and -4 degrees. Type 63 amphibious light tanks are also equipped with a man-portable anti-aircraft missile launcher which is fired by a crew member standing in one of the turret hatches.[3][1][2][5]
The armour of Type 63 is composed of welded rolled steel. It is 11 mm thick in the front of the hull, 14 mm thick in the upper sides of the hull, 10 mm thick in the rear of the hull, 10 mm thick in the bottom of the hull and 10 mm thick in the top of the hull. The tracks aren't protected by any armour and are an easy target.[1]
The torsion bar suspension consists of six road wheels with the drive sprocket at the rear and the idler at the front. The suspension doesn't have return rollers. The tank is powered by the 12150-L2 12-cylinder liquid-cooled diesel engine developing 402 hp (300 kW) at 2,000 rpm which gives it a top road speed of 64 km/h, top cross country speed of 30 km/h, top road range of 370 km and top cross country range of 340 km. Type 63 can cross 2.9 m wide trenches, 0.87 m high vertical obstacles, 60° gradients and 38° slopes. The vehicle has a mechanical, planetary transmission system. The tank can fitted with additional fuel tanks to increase vehicle's operational range.[3][1][2][6]
Type 63 is amphibious thanks to its flat, boat-shaped hull and can swim after erecting the trim vane in the front of the vehicle which improves the vehicle's stability and displacement in water and prevents the water from flooding the bow of the tank and switching the driver's periscope for a swimming periscope that enables the driver to see over the trim vane. When not in use the trim vane is placed in it's laying position in the front of the bow over the barrel of the main gun and serves as additional armour. Like the PT-76 it is propelled in the water by two water jets, one in each side of the hull, with the jet exits at the rear of the tank, however it has it's entrances located in the front of the vehicle and not in the bottom as in case of PT-76. Unlike the PT-76, Type 63 also uses it's moving tracks to swim. The waterjet propulsion system gives it the top swimming speed of 12 km/h and top swimming range of 120 km.[3][1][2]
Type 63 is equipped with an A-221A internal telephone, A-220A receive/transmit radio for which it has a radio antenna on the left hand side of the center of the turret. It also has two headlights on the right hand side of the front of the hull and an IR searchlight on the right hand side of the front of the turret.[3]
Service History
Type 63 entered production and service in 1963. Until the end of production more than 1,550 Type 63 amphibious light tanks were made. The tank was designed for the ground forces to operate in the water regions and rice paddy fields in southern China (this was also carried out by the earlier Type 62 light tank but it didn't have the amphibious ability), which are difficult for conventional main battle tanks. The Type 63 amphibious tank was intended for inland river and lake crossing operations and amphibious landing in the coastal regions and can support the infantry in the attack or engage lightly armoured vehicles and fortifications, it can also be used in reconnaissance and patrol roles. Later the tank was also adopted by the People's Liberation Army Marine Corps for the amphibious assault operations along with various other amphibious units stationed near the Taiwan straits. The original Type 63 tank has been gradually phased out since the late 1990s and replaced by the more capable Type 63A which entered service in 1997. PRC currently has an estimated number of 800 of both types, though only around 300 of these are Type 63As, the remainder being Type 63-I, Type 63G and old Type 63 amphibious light tanks. The original Type 63 amphibious light tanks are kept in reserve and for training purposes.[3]
The Type 63 was exported to Albania, Pakistan, Myanmar, North Korea and Vietnam. It saw action during the Sri Lankan Civil War, the final phases of the Vietnam war and the Sino-Vietnamese War. By all accounts, the Type 63 showed great mobility in terrains that are difficult for the heavy tanks, but its thin armour has caused heavy losses and casualties.[3]
Combat History
- 1959 - 1975 Vietnam war
- 1979 Sino-Vietnamese War
- 1983 – present Sri Lankan Civil War
Variants
- Type 63 - Basic amphibious light tank with half-egg-shape turret and 85 mm Type 62-85TC rifled gun. Entered service in 1963. The industrial designator is WZ211.
- Type 63 fitted with the Norinco external laser rangefinder and infrared night vision equipment. This update was made in 1970s.
- Type 63-I - Type 63 upgrade. It was introduced in early 1990s. The original 85 mm Type 62-85TC rifled gun was replaced by a more powerful 105 mm rifled gun similar to those that are fitted on the Type 59-II, Type 69 and Type 80 main battle tanks. It is capable of firing all types of modern tank rounds, such as armour piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS), HEAT and HE. The turret was modified to accommodate the new armament. The tank is also fitted with a primitive light spot fire-control with night vision channel which increases the accuracy of the main armament. The industrial designator is WZ211-1.[3][5]
- Type 63G - Improved Type 63-I. It was introduced in the mid-1990s and the main goal of this variant was to improve vehicle's ability to carry out amphibious assault operations in the sea. The hull was enhanced to improve vehicles performance while it's swimming at long distances from the amphibious assault ships to the shore. This variant served as a basis for Type 63A.[3]
- Type 63A - Improved Type 63G. It was specially designed to suit the needs of the marines. Unlike the original Type 63 which was mainly intended for river-crossing operations at inland rivers and lakes, the Type 63A can be launched from amphibious warfare ships 5 - 7 km offshore and travel to the shore with the speed of 28 km/h (which was accomplished thanks to the new engine and redesigned water jet system). It has a new diesel engine developing 581 hp (433 kW) and computerized fire control system which gives it the capacity to shoot while it is on the move on land and on water. Type 63A has a redesigned welded turret with four smoke grenade dischargers on each side and a stowage bucket in the rear. It also has two extra floating tanks (one in the front and one in the rear) that provide better stability while in water, an improved snorkel fitting and three water inlets on either side of the hull. The tank also has side skirts protecting the tracks. To allow th tank to fire accurately while in water the 105 mm was improved by adding an ability to shoot laser-beam guided ATGM. The PRC has developed a 105 mm gun-launched ATGM based on the Russian 9M117 Bastion technology. The missile has a maximum firing range of 4,000 m - 5,000 m, with a single hit probability of over 90% against static targets. The ATGM can also be used to engage low-flying helicopters. The new fire control system includes a digital fire-control computer, integrated commander sight with laser rangefinder input, and light spot or image-stabilized gunner sight with passive night vision. The standard night vision is an image intensifier. Alternatively the gunner sight can be fitted with a thermal imager night vision with a maximum range of 2,100 meters. The tank is also equipped with the satellite positioning (GPS/GLONASS) system so that it can easily locate the correct landing coordinates in all kinds of weather and at day or night conditions. It entered service in 1997. The industrial designator is WZ213. It is also known as Type 63M, Type 99 and ZTS-63A.[3][5]
- Type 63G - Improved Type 63-I. It was introduced in the mid-1990s and the main goal of this variant was to improve vehicle's ability to carry out amphibious assault operations in the sea. The hull was enhanced to improve vehicles performance while it's swimming at long distances from the amphibious assault ships to the shore. This variant served as a basis for Type 63A.[3]
- Type 63-I - Type 63 upgrade. It was introduced in early 1990s. The original 85 mm Type 62-85TC rifled gun was replaced by a more powerful 105 mm rifled gun similar to those that are fitted on the Type 59-II, Type 69 and Type 80 main battle tanks. It is capable of firing all types of modern tank rounds, such as armour piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS), HEAT and HE. The turret was modified to accommodate the new armament. The tank is also fitted with a primitive light spot fire-control with night vision channel which increases the accuracy of the main armament. The industrial designator is WZ211-1.[3][5]
- Type 63HG (HG stands for Hai Gai - "sea improved") - Prototype vehicle with improved amphibious capabilities. It has a rounded bow nose extension.[5]
- Type 77 - Chinese tracked amphibious APC based on the Type 63 amphibious light tank. Although not a clone of the BTR-50, the Type 77 has similar hull shape and layout. The industrial designator is WZ511.
- Type 77-1 - amphibious armoured personnel/artillery carrier designed to carry a disassembled gun (85 mm towed anti-tank gun or 120 mm towed howitzer) on the roof. The vehicle has hydraulic winch and ramps to load/unload the gun. The industrial designator is WZ511-1.
- Type 77-2 - amphibious armoured personnel carrier. No winch and ramps. The industrial designator is WZ511-2.
- Type 76 ARV - recovery vehicle.
- Type 63 converted into a self-propelled howitzer armed with 122 mm gun.[3]
- Type 63 fitted with the Norinco external laser rangefinder and infrared night vision equipment. This update was made in 1970s.
Operators
Albanien - 200
Myanmar - More than 150.
North Korea -
Pakistan -
People's Republic of China - 1,200 in 1985, 1990, 1995 and 2000. As of now there are 800 of those vehicles in service (About 500 Type 63, Type63-I and Type 63G and over 300 Type 63A).[7]
Sudan -
Vietnam -
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "Gary's Combat Vehicle Reference Guide"
- ^ a b c d e f g "Czołgi Świata" (World's Tanks or Tanks Of The World) magazine issue 17
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Sino Defense"
- ^ "Global Security"
- ^ a b c d e f "JED The Military Equipment Directory"
- ^ http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/row/type-63-dprk.htm
- ^ People's Liberation Army