Basic Information

Name

ZTZ-59D (Type 59D) Chinese Main Battle Tank (MBT)

Designation

Type 59D

Alternate Designation

Type 59D; ZTZ-59D

Equipment Type

Main Battle Tank (MBT)

Manufacturer

First Inner Mongolia Machinery Factory, Norinco

Date of Introduction

1995

Description

The ZTZ-59D (Type 59D) Chinese Main Battle Tank (MBT) was the first computerized version of the Type 59 series as well as the first version to feature ERA. It most closely resembles a modernized Russian T-55 although is lacking in firepower and mobility when compared with a T-72. Type 59D (also known as WZ-120D) is an upgrade with Type 59D1. The Type 59D has a longer 105 mm gun, called Type 83A, or Type 94. The gun has a range of 2000 m and may fire ATGMs out to 5500 m. A thermal sight is available.

Ground Specifications

Crew 4

Mobility Type Tracked

Main Weapon 105 mm gun

Engine V-12 Diesel (520 hp)

Active Protection Yes

NBC Protection Yes

Range 450.0 km

Variants

Type 59 The basic variant, a T-54A clone without IR searchlight. Entered production in 1957.

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 system, automatic fire suppression system, and rubber track skirt. The Type 59-I includes several versions with different armor and fire control configurations.

Type 59-II This version was fitted with a two-axis, stabilized, a rifled 105-mm gun with a fume extractor and thermal sleeve. The Chinese-made gun is very similar to the British L7/U.S. M68 105-mm tank gun. The Type 59 II also has a 580-hp diesel engine, a light spot fire-control system, and an automatic fire extinguisher. New radios and communication systems were installed. It is known to U.S. forces as Model 1984, representing the first year it was identified. Mass increased to 36.5 tonnes.

Type 59D1 The Type 59D1 (also known as WZ-120C) is an upgrade with explosive reactive armor, computerized stabilized fire-control system, the 105 mm. gun of the Type 59-II, and a night vision system

Type 59G An upgrade of the Type 59, featuring a redesigned turret and armor. It uses a turret similar to that of the Type 96A, a 125 mm gun, modern fire control systems, arrow-shaped armor, spaced armor, and possibly third-generation subsystems.

Jaguar The Jaguar was a prototype vehicle based on the Type 59 chassis that was jointly developed by the United States and China during the 1980s, made possible by the US-Chinese détente of the 1970s. Planned to replace China's existing tank fleet, as well as for the export market, the tank featured improvements to the standard Type 59's engine, armament, armor, turret, optics, electronics, fire control, and suspension. Following Tiananmen Square massacre, American-Chinese relations soured and the Chinese withdrew from the project. The Americans continued alone and successfully completed the design, however, the end of the Cold War saw a glut in the international tank market, and thus no orders were ever placed for the vehicle

Type 62 Light Tank In the 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 weighs only 21 tons and is equipped with a Type 62-85TC 85 mm rifled gun, and 3 machine guns. 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 earth-mover. 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 penetrated easily by hand-held anti-tank weapons, such as the 40 mm RPG. The Type 62 tank suffered severe losses during the conflict, which convinced the PLA to develop new second-generation MBTs. The Type 62 tank received a major upgrade in 2000, with a new welded turret, vertically stabilized 105 mm rifled gun, fire-control system, night vision device, smoke grenade launchers, and explosive reactive armor (ERA) package

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 worldwide.

Type 73 This armored recovery vehicle is a Type 59 with its turret removed. The vehicle is armed with a single 12.7 mm machine gun. This armored recovery vehicle is not believed to have a winch and is limited to towing operations.

Type 59 Heavy Infantry Fighting Vehicle The modernized HIFV model of Type 59 weighs around 40 tons and can carry up to seven passengers. Modifications include moving the engine to the front of the vehicle chassis, increasing tank armor including explosive reactive armor on all sides, and installing a rear door for dismounting infantry.

QN-506 It is a modernized variant of the Type 59 using the tank's chassis similar to its Russian counterpart the BMPT Terminator. The vehicle was first appeared at the Zhuhai Air Show in China in November 2018 and is armed with two QN-502C anti-tank missiles, ten QN-201 multi-purpose mini-missiles, four S-507 loitering munitions, and unmanned 30 mm cannon, a 7.62 mm machine gun, six grenade launchers, and a quadcopter surveillance drone

Type T-72Z Iran version.

Kok'san North Korea version.

Al-Zarrar Pakistan version. Heavy Industries Taxila of Pakistan has introduced the Al-Zarrar Main Battle Tank. The Al-Zarrar series was designed to improve and rebuild the Pakistani army's Type 59 tanks by way of more modern armament, fire control, defensive equipment, etc. Improvements include: 125 mm smoothbore gun, firing APFSDS, HEAT-FS, and HE-FS. Semi-automatic loading and image Stabilized fire control. 730 hp Engine for improved mobility. Improved suspension. Improved defense with explosive reactive armor and anti-mine cover underneath.

Type 59G(BD) Durjoy Bangladesh version. Bangladesh Army's Type-59 is being upgraded to Type 59(BD)G Durjoy locally with Chinese assistance. 174 are being upgraded in the first batch. The up-gradation process includes: 125mm main gun with new turret (Type 96 turret) 28 rounds, Type-85 12.7×108mm Commander's machine gun (3,000 rounds), Co-axial 7.62mm gun (600 rounds), 81mm Smoke grenades. Chinese 3rd generation ERA on the front, turret, and side skirts. Modular Composite armor on turret front. Cage armor on the back of the turret to protect from RPG hits. NBC protection, Collective Fire suppression system. Laser warning receiver, Laser designator, Fire control system, Combat data link, Thermal imaging system. 730 H.P. Diesel engine Barrel launched ATGM firing capability. Rubber padded tracks. VLC 3000 radio contact system.

System

Alternative Designation Type 59D; ZTZ-59D

Type Main Battle Tank (MBT)

Caliber 105 mm

Manufacturer First Inner Mongolia Machinery Factory, Norinco

Family Type 59

Crew 4 (commander, gunner, loader, driver)

Passenger Capacity INA

Maximum Effective Range 450 km

Add on Parts Yes

Anti-Aircraft Yes

Dimensions

Length (Hull) 6.04 m

Length (Gun Foward) 9.0 m

Height 2.6 m

Width 3.3 m

Weight, Combat 38 tons

Ground Pressure 0.8 kg/m

Automotive

Engine Name 12150L

Engine Type V-12 Diesel

Engine Power 520 hp

Range 450 km

Speed, Maximum Road 55 km/h

Speed, Average Cross 25 km/h

Speed Maximum Swim INA

Fording Depth 1.4 m unprep; 5.5 m snorkel

Gradient 60 %

Side Slope 30 %

Vertical Step 0.7 m

Trench 2.7 m

Fording 1.3 m

Communications

TBR-121

VHF Transceiver Yes

VHF Range 1 to 50 km

Proliferated Widely

Digital Data Yes, Full

Control Self-Adaptive Control (Including Automatic Antenna Tuner)

Frequency Agile Yes

Wireless Network Capabilities Yes

Note: Very similar in capabilities to the US SINCGARS ASIP

Main Gun

System

Name 1 x Type 83A

Type Rifled Gun

Caliber 105 mm

Barrel Length 27 Caliber

Weight INA

Max Rate of Fire 4 rounds per minute

Time the Max Rate of Fire can be Sustained INA

Range Finder Yes

Elevation Range -5 to +65 deg

Traverse Range 360 deg

Muzzle Velocity 1,530 m/s

Maximum Range With the addition of a suitable gunner’s sight, the GP2 tank-fired missile can also be used by the Type 59 with a maximum range of 5,000 m.

Ammunition

Type Rifle

Caliber 105 mm

Projectile Weight 43.56 kg

Muzzle Velocity 1,530 m/s

Effective Range With the addition of a suitable gunner’s sight the GP2 tank-fired missile can also be used by the Type 59 with a maximum range of 5,000 m

Armor Penetration 50 mm of homogeneous armour set to a 71⁰ angle from a range of 2,000 m

Basic Load 34 Rounds

Coaxial Weapon System

System

Name 1 × coaxial-mounted 7.62 mm Type 59T machine gun

Type General-Purpose Machine Gun

Caliber 7.62 mm

Location Mounted Coaxially

Length, Total 1,192 mm

Length, Barrel 658 mm

Weight (Gun Only) 12.6 kg

Weight (With Tripod) 17.5 kg

Max Rate of Fire 700-800 rds/min

Time the Max Rate of Fire can be Sustained INA

Range Finder Type Scope with Night Vision.

Action Gas-Operated, Open Bolt.

Feed System Belts in 100/200/250 round boxes.

Sights Open sights. Optical/Night vision scope can be outfitted.

Ammunition

Type Rifle

Caliber 7.62 mm

Muzzle Velocity 854 m/s

Effective Range 460 m

Armor Penetration No

Basic Load 3,500 ea

Auxiliary Weapon System

System

Name 1 × roof-mounted 12.7 mm Type 54 machine gun (DShKM)

Type Anti-aircraft Machine Gun

Caliber 12.7 mm

Location Above the Gunner's Hatch

Variants DK, DShKM, DSHKS, Type 54 HMG

Proliferation Over 1 Million

Max Rate of Fire 600 rds/min

Length, Total 1,625 mm

Length, Barrel 1,070 mm

Weight (Gun Only) 34 kg

Weight (on Wheeled Mounting) 157 kg

Sustain Rate of Fire INA

Time the Max Rate of Fire can be Sustained INA

Range Finder Type Optical, Iron Sights.

Action Gas-Operated, Flapper Locking.

Feed System 50 Round Belt.

Ammunition

Type Rifle

Caliber 12.7x108 mm

Muzzle Velocity 850 m/s

Max Effective Range 2,500 km

Armor Penetration API: 21mm at 500 m & 13mm at 1000 m (RHA)

Basic Load 1,200 Rounds

Fire Control

Name Type 37A light spot fire-control system

Computerized FCS Yes

Thermal Sight Tank Commander Available

Thermal Sight Gunner Available

Main Gun Stabilization Yes, 2-plane

Range, Day Sight (With Magnification) 5,000 m

Range, Thermal Sight (With Magnification) 1,000 m

Infrared Searchlight Yes

Laser Rangfinder Yes

Pop-up Vision Blocks Two

Reaction Time (Static Target) 6 seconds

Reaction Time (Moving Target) 9 seconds

Protection

Applique Armor Yes, Track Shirts

Explosive Reactive Armor Yes, The Type 59D carries the FY series ERA. At its lowest level the FY armour can protect from a single HEAT attack. At its highest the manufacturer claims it can protect against multiple kinetic and chemical energy attacks.

Active Protection System Yes

Mine Clearing INA

Self-Entrenching Blade No

NBC Protection Yes

Smoke Equipment Yes, Grenlaunch 8x; VESS

IR Signature No

Armor, Front Upper 97 mm

Armor, Front Lower 99 mm

Armor, Sides Upper 79 mm

Armor, Sides Lower 20 mm

Armor, Hull Rear 46 mm

Armor, Hull Floor 20 mm

Armor, Top 33 mm

Armor, Turret Front 203 mm

Armor, Turret Sides 203 mm

Armor, Turret Rear 64 mm

Armor, Turret Top 39 mm

Smoke Equipment 8 x 81-mm smoke grenade launchers. Vehicle engine exhaust smoke system.

Image Sources

Notes https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Type_59D_tank_20180219.jpg; https://www.armedconflicts.com/Type-59D-Medium-Tank-t48037; https://weaponsystems.net/system/1117-Type+59D;