Type 59 tank

The Type 59 (industrial designation: WZ-120) main battle tank is a Chinese-produced version of the Soviet T-54A tank, the earliest model of the ubiquitous T-54/55 series. The first vehicles were produced in 1958 and it was accepted into service in 1959, with serial production beginning in 1963. Over 10,000 of the tanks were produced by the time production ended in 1980 with approximately 5,500 serving with the Chinese armed forces. The tank formed the backbone of the Chinese People's Liberation Army until the early 2000s (decade) with an estimated 5,000 of the later Type 59-I and Type 59-II variants in service in 2002.

The Type 59 was modified several times during its service with the replacement of the 100 mm Type 59 rifled gun with a 105 mm rifled gun. It was also the basis of several later Chinese tank designs including the Type 69 and Type 79 tanks.

Description
Essentially the Type 59 is almost identical to the early production Soviet T-54As, however there are some key differences. The Type 59 was not originally fitted with the infrared searchlight or main gun stabilization of the T-54.

The Type 59 has a conventional post-war layout with the fighting compartment at the front, an engine compartment at the rear, and a cast dome-shaped gun turret in the centre of the hull. The hull is welded steel varying in thickness between 99 mm on the front lower glacis to 20 mm on the hull floor. The turret varies from 39–100 mm thick.

The driver sits in the front left of the hull, and is provided with hatch immediately above his seat, which opens to the left. The driver has two pop-up vision blocks which give coverage ahead and slightly to the right when buttoned up. The commander sits in the turret along with the gunner and loader. The commander's hatch is on the turret left, with the gunner sitting forward and below him. The loader sits on the right of the turret and has a hatch above him. The turret has a non-rotating floor, which complicated the crew's operations.

The turret mounts a rifled 100 mm Type 59 cannon, for which 34 rounds are typically carried. A Type 59T 7.62 mm machine gun is mounted coaxially with the main gun. A Type 54 12.7 mm anti-aircraft machine gun (a Chinese copy of the Russian 12.7 mm M1938/46 DShKM ) is provided above the gunner's hatch for which 200 rounds is carried. Additionally a Type 59T 7.62 mm bow machine gun is provided for the driver, which fires through a very small hole in the center of the glacis. 3,500 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition are normally carried.

The turret has a powered traverse mechanism that is probably comparable to the T-54 traverse mechanism which can rotate the turret through 360 degrees in 21 seconds. Very early models of the Type 59 gun had manual elevation gear, later replaced with a powered system which allowed the gun to be aimed at between +17 and -4 degrees (the average depression for Western tanks is -10, which allows for better usage of hull-down tactics). Later models added vertical stabilization to make firing on the move practical. An infrared searchlight based night vision system was retrofitted to the tank with infrared periscope for the commander gunner and driver.

The tank is powered by a Model 12150L V-12 liquid-cooled diesel engine, which develops 520 horsepower at 2,000 rpm. The engine feeds a manual gearbox with five forward and one reverse gear. A total of 815 litres of diesel can be carried internally in the tank, with a further 400 litres carried externally giving a maximum road range of 600 kilometers, or approximately 430 km using only internal fuel. The tank has five road wheels on each side with a prominent gap between the first and second road wheel. The track is driven by a drive sprocket at the rear, with an idler at the front. It is notable that there are no return rollers. The suspension is a torsion bar system. Engine exhaust is on the left fender.

Ammunition is stored inside the turret, which increases the odds of a catastrophic secondary explosion should the tank's interior be penetrated by enemy fire. Crew survivability is hence low. (Gelbart 1996:16)

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 designation Type 59.

Over the years, the Type 59 design was enhanced with various domestically developed and western technologies; When the PLA captured a Soviet T-62 during the Sino-Soviet border conflict in 1969, improvements based on the T-62 were incorporated into the Type 59 design to become the Type 69 MBT. The Type 69 was further upgraded with Western technology and became the Type 79 MBT. The Type 59 was therefore, the first in China's first generation of main battle tanks, the Type 79 being the last. The Type 79 was superseded by the Type 80 second-generation MBT.

The Type 59 MBT is also known as WZ-120 by its manufacturer. Over 10,000 were produced between 1959 to mid 1980s,. This tank gained worldwide infamy after the "Tank Man" incident in 1989. The Type 59, and its successor, the Type 69, were widely exported, with thousands sold overseas. Today an estimated 5,000 Type 59 MBTs remain in PLA inventory, but its being supplemented by the more capable Type 96 and Type 99 MBTs.

Combat Service
The Sino-Vietnamese War was the largest use of tanks to date in Chinese military history. China committed nearly 300 Type 59, Type 62, and Type 63 tanks into the conflict, of which 48 were lost to Vietnamese action. The tanks of 42nd Corps as the vanguard force responsible for cutting off the city of Cao Bằng bore the brunt of the losses, advancing only 30 km in 3 days. The poor performance of tanks in this battle was attributed to the mountainous terrain in North Vietnam that was inherently unsuited for mechanized warfare. The light armor on the Type 62 variant also proved inadequate in protection against small anti-tank weapons.

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 armour and fire control configurations.

Type 59-II
The Type 59-II (also known as WZ-120B) is an upgrade mounting a 105 mm. rifled gun, similar to the Royal Ordnance L7, and adding an image intensification/infrared night sight. Mass increased to 36.5 tonnes.

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

The Type 59D1 has a longer 105 mm. gun, called Type 83A. The gun has a range of 2000 m., and may fire ATGMs out to 5500 m. A thermal sight is available.

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.

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 weights 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 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.

United Kingdom
The 105-mm L7 gun was offered as an upgrade package for owners of the Type 59. No Type 59s served with British forces. Marconi offered their Marksman anti-aircraft system as a conversion to operators of the Type 59. The Marksman consisted of a twin 35 mm autocannon system in a turret that could be fitted to almost any MBT.

Iran

 * Type T-72Z

North Korea

 * Kok'san - 170 mm artillery piece, based on the Type 59 chassis.

Pakistan

 * Al-Zarrar - 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 armour and anti-mine cover underneath.

Bangladesh
Bangladesh Army's Type-59 are being upgraded to Type-59BD locally with Chinese assistance. 174 are being upgraded in First batch. According to specialists the Type59BD upgrade is superior to the Pakistani Al Zarrar.
 * 125mm main gun with new turret ( Type-96G turret ),Type-85 12.7×108mm Commander's machine gun,Co-axial 7.62mm gun,81mm smoke dischagers.
 * Chinese 3rd generation ERA on front, turret and side skirts. Modular Composite armours on turret front. Cage armour on back of 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.
 * 730H.P. Diesel engine
 * ATGM firing capability.
 * Rubber padded tracks.

Current operators
🇦🇱 🇧🇩 ' ' 🇨🇩  Republic of the Congo 🇮🇷 🇮🇶 Iraq  Kosovo 50 tanks
 * ~721 Type 59 delivered by China from 1966-1975. 40 in service in 2014.
 * 30 T-54 delivered by Egypt as aid in 1975; later converted to use Type 59 parts with help from China. 36 Type 59s delivered by China as aid in 1980-1981. ~50 Type 69-I and 69-IIs delivered by China in 1991.
 * 80 Type 59s and Type 69s in service in 2004 and 2006. According to IISS, 174 Type 59s and 58 Type 69s in service in 2010; 174 Type 59s, and 58 Type 69/Type 69Gs in 2014. According to SIPRI, ordered ~300 Type 59Gs from China in 2010, the total including upgraded Bangladeshi Type 59s and Type 69s; ~205 Type 59Gs in service in 2014.
 * 50 Type 59s in service in 2004 to 2006, and 2010 and 2014.
 * 36 battalions of Type 59/Type 59-1 (1300 units), 16 battalions of Type 59-2 (510 units), 17 battalions of Type 59D (550 units), in total 2360 units in service in December 2015.
 * 12-17 Type 59s in 2010 and 2014, but may be unserviceable.
 * ~15 delivered by China in 1978. 15 in service in 2010 and 2014.
 * ~300 Type 59s delivered by China from 1982-1984, and ~500 Type 69-IIs from 1986-1988 (possibly through North Korea.)
 * 540 T-54/T-55/Type 59s in service in 2004 through 2010, with that number including Safir 74 conversions by 2014.
 * 250-1300 Type 59s delivered by China from 1982-1987, and ~1500 Type 69-I and 69-IIs delivered from 1983-1987.
 * ~3000 T-54, T-55, Type 59 and Type 69s before the Gulf War. 1000 T-54, T-55, T-77, Type 59 and Type 69s in service in 2003.

🇰🇵 🇵🇰 🇸🇩 🇹🇿 🇻🇳 🇿🇲 🇿🇼 
 * ~175 Type 59s delivered by China from 1973-1975. ~250 ZSU-57-2 turrets delivered by the Soviet Union in 1968-1977 and fitted to Type 59 hulls from China. 175 Type 59s in 1985 and 1990 and 500 in 2000; ~3500 T-34s, T-54s, T-55s, T-62s and Type 59s in 2004; and more than 3500 in 2006 through 2014.
 * ~200 Type 59s delivered by China (possibly as aid) from 1965-1966; ~550 Type 59s delivered (also possibly as aid) from 1967-1970; ~100 Type 59s delivered as aid in 1972; ~825 delivered (possibly as aid) from 1978 to 1988. 1100 Type 59s in service in 2010; 1100 Type 59/Al-Zarrars in service in 2014.
 * ~50 Type 59s delivered by China in 1972; according to SIPRI, ~40 of those rebuild in Sudan as Type 59Ds from 2010-2014. According to IISS, 60 Type 59 and Type 59Ds in service in 2010 and 2014.
 * ~30 Type 59s delivered by China from 1971-1973; according to SIPRI, these were rebuilt as Type 59Gs from 2011-2013. According to IISS, 15 Type 59s in service in 2010, and 15 Type 59Gs in service in 2014.
 * ~350 Type 59s delivered by China in 1970-1972. 350 Type 59s in service in 2010 and 2014.
 * 20 Type 59s in 2006, 2010, and 2014.
 * ~22 delivered by China in 1985-1986. 30 in 2006; 30 in 2010 and 2014, but may be unserviceable.

Former Operators
🇱🇰 🇲🇲
 * ~25 Type 59 delivered by China in 1991. None in service by 2010.
 * ~25 Type 59D delivered by China in 2004. None in service by 2010.