NORINCO Type 59, People's Republic of China (PRC

NORINCO Type 69/Type 79 People's Republic of China

The Type 69 is an evolutionary development of the Type 59 to field new technology available in the armament, fire control system and night fighting equipment areas. The variants include: Type 69 Basic - small number produced with 100 mm smoothbore main gun firing HVAFDS, HE-FS and HEAT-FS ammunition types, full NBC protection and night fighting capability, Type 69-1 - as for Type 69 Basic but addition of Yangzhou laser rangefinder module over main gun. Exported to Iraq. Type 69-11 - as for Type 69-1 but with a 100 mm rifled main gun firing Chinese designed HEAT, HE, APHE andAPFSDS rounds, new fire control system and side skirts. Exported to Iraq and Thailand. Iraq also modified some of its Type 69II tanks with a stand-off armour package. Built under licence by Pakistan as Type 69-11MP. Type 69-IIB/Type 69-IIC - command tank versions with additional radios and second antenna on turret roof. Type 69-IIC - exported to Iraq. Type 79 - Upgraded Type 69-11 but with 105 mm rifled main gun, deletion of bow MG, modified turret with internal laser rangefinder and improved computer fire control system, new diesel powerpack installation and smoke discharger assemblies on either side of the turret.

Self-propelled AA guns - two twin 37 mm models, the M1986 and M1988 and the twin 57 mm Type 80 vehicle. Of which only the latter is in production. The Type 80 is the Chinese version of the Soviet ZSU-57-2.

Support vehicles - known types on the Type 69 chassis include the Type 84 AVLB and the Type 663 ARV.

Specification

First prototype: -Type 69 1967-68; Type 79 1979-80 First production: Type 69 1969-current; Pakistan (Type 69-IIMP) 1993-current Current users: (Type 69) China, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Thailand; (Type 79) China

Crew: 4

Combat weight: Type 69/Type 69-1 36 500 kg; Type 69-1136 700 kg; Type 79 37 500 kg

Ground pressure: 0.82-85 kg/cm2

Length, gun forwards: 8.68 m Width (with skirts): 3.3 m Height (with AA gun): 2.87 m Ground clearance: 0.43 m

Max. road speed: Type 69 50 km/h; Type 79 60 km/h

Maximum range (with external tanks):

Type 69 600 km; Type 79 520 km Gradient: 60% Fording: unprepared 1.4 m; prepared 5.5m Side slope: 40% Vertical obstacle: 0.8m

Trench: 2.7 m

Powerpack: Type 69 - Type 121 SOL V-12 liquid cooled diesel developing 580 hp coupled to a manual transmission; Type 79 - V-12 diesel developing 780 hp coupled to a manual transmission Armament: (main) Type 69 1 x 100 mm gun - 34 rounds, Type 79 1 x 105 mm gun 40 rounds; (coaxial) 1 x7.62mmMG; (bow) 1 x 7.62 mm MG (Type 69 only); (anti-aircraft) 1 x 12.7 mm MG; (smoke dischargers) 2 x4 (Type 79 only)

Chinese Army Type 69-11 with 100 mm rifled grun.