Argentina

NORINCO Type 59 People's Republic of China

After the Soviet Union delivered a number of T-54 MET in the mid fifties China subsequently produced the vehicle under the local designation Type 59. The major differences being in the adoption of a number of locally designed and built equipments such as fire control systems, etc. The 100 mm fired main gun is a copy of the Soviet D-1OT tank gun with a total of 34 rounds carried for use. Most of the ammunition types used are direct copies of Soviet rounds but NORINCO has produced an indigenous 100 mm APFSDS-T round capable of effective engagements out to 2400 metres. Over the years a number of variants have been identified. These are: Type 59 Basic - believed similar to the T-54 Basic Model 1953, with most now upgraded to Type 59-1 standard. Type 59-1 - similar to T-54A/B standard with a 100 mm gun fume extractor, active infra-red night fighting capability and, during the early eighties, the addition of a Yangzhou laser rangefmder module mounted over the main gun with matching improvements in the fire control system. Type 59-11 - a Type 59-1 armed with a 105 mm rifled gun (Israeli in origin) that has the characteristic fume extractor and thermal sleeve of this weapon. NORINCO has developed its own 105 mm APFSDS-T round with an effective engagement range of 2500 m. Type B9R - A NORINCO retro-fit package for upgrading export Type 59/59-1 models. It involves a new 730 hp diesel engine, the 100 mm APFSDS-T round, a new fire control system, full NBC protection and better running gear. Type 59 ARV - the Type 59 Basic MET converted to ARV towing configuration by removal of the turret.

The Pakistani Army has its own Type 59 rebuild facility, built with Chinese aid. In 1993 Pakistan started production of the Type 69-11 MET at the factory. This was followed by co-production of the Type 85 MET and eventually the MET 2000 or Al KhalidMBT. Prototypes of the latter are already being trialled.

Specification

First prototype: 1956 First production: 1957-1987 Current users: Albania, Bangladesh, Iran, China, Congo, Cambodia, North Korea, Pakistan, Tanzania, Vietnam, Zimbabwe

Crew: 4

Combat weight: 36 000 kg Ground pressure: 0.8 kg/cm2

Length, gun forwards: 9 m Width: 3.27 m Height (with AA gun): 2.59 m Ground clearance: 0.43 m

Max. road speed: 50 km/h Max. range (with external tanks): 600 km Fording: unprepared 1.4 m;

prepared 5.5 m

Gradient: 60% Side slope: 40%

Vertical obstacle: 0.8m Trench: 2.7 m

Powerpack: Model 12150L V-12 watercooled diesel developing 520 hp coupled to a manual transmission Armament: (main) 1 x 100 mm gun (Type 59 & Type 59-1) - 34 rounds), 1 x 105 mm (Type 59-11 - 40 rounds); (coaxial) 1 x 7.62 mm MG; (bow) 1 x7.62 mmMG; (anti-aircraft) l x l 2 . 7 m m M G.

Chinese Army Type 59 MBTs advancing with infantry support.