Military of China, force comment.
Military of China, force comment.

data for: the first generation of main battle tanks made Type 59

59 tanks are medium tanks developed by China, has strong firepower, better armor protection and mobility, lighter, smaller, simple structure, reliable operation and maintenance more convenient. Tank combat weight 36 tons, crew of four, the maximum speed of 50 km, the maximum travel 440 km. There are a main weapon 100 mm rifled gun (see artillery), combat rate of fire 7 rounds/min, a 12.7 mm machine gun and two 7.62 mm machine gun, with infrared night vision to night driving. First side of the body armor and thick turret into a streamlined, with a good bullet-proof.

Overview

1959 annual production of the first Type 59 medium tanks, and complete production models. The tank structure and key performance indicators and medium-sized Soviet T54A same tank. The early 1960s, the new Development and application of armor steel for high-volume Type 59 medium tanks to create the conditions. 70 years, according to the army and tanks to reflect technological development, a gradual development of the Type 59 medium tank improvements, during which a number of experimental prototype development, completion of 59-1,59-2 and 59-2A medium-sized tanks development work. 80, Type 59 medium tank volume has stopped, but as a T-type tank improvement and modernization work is still continuing.

structural features

an overall layout

hull and turret of the tank by the two parts. Rolled steel plates welded together by the body, the left side of the cockpit in front of the body, the body is fighting the middle compartment, on which a turret, rear body-powered – drive tanks, horizontal engine layout. Turret for the casting, the car has four passengers, the driver left the car in front, easy to forward observation; drivers in the left rear cannon, the gunner position of a long position in the car before the bottom; loading hand gun position right.

car carrying 34 shells made right there in front of artillery shells frame 20 rounds, the left side of the deck fixed with 2 fat, 4 hair fixed right deck, fixed with 2 turret made the right wall, the tail turret 5 hair fixed, and 1 gun bullets stored in the bottom end of the fighting compartment floor. Security door in the rear of the driver’s seat.

Second, the weapons systems

the tank’s main weapon is a 100mm rifled gun, the barrel length 5350mm, barrel end with suction devices, anti-recoil device recoil mechanism into the machine and re-arranged side by side in the top guns, artillery capable of firing armor-piercing ammunition and grenades blunt, the maximum rate of fire of 7 rounds/min.

supporting arms has a turret mounted on top of the 12.7mm machine gun, a gun mounted on the right side of the coaxial 7.62mm machine gun and a parallel installation of the driver before the right front 7.62mm machine guns.

The tank is equipped with 1959-style 100mm tank gun gunner sight. In the drivers door around the control tower is equipped with four viewers; in front of the tower is equipped with a car length command viewers. The right side of the turret is equipped with a front loader for the loader to use the periscope observation, the left front of the turret with a periscope for gunner with the observation that two periscope can pitch in the vertical plane can also be In the horizontal plane rotation.

the level of the tank is equipped with artillery to the one-way horizontal stabilizer and the electric drive unit, to stabilize the level of accuracy is ± 1 mil, many aimed at stabilizing the angle range of -3.5 ° ~ +16 °. Drivers through objective indicators beyond the maximum level of transfer when the gun aiming speed 10 °/s, the gunner through the console when the level of manipulation of target speed of 0.05 ~ 10 °/s, high and low target rate of 0.05 ~ 4.5 °/s.

Third, the propulsion system

the tank using water-cooled V-12 cylinder diesel engine Rated power 382kW (520 hp), rated speed 2000r/min, the maximum torque of 2256 ± 98N · m (230 ± 10kgf · m), maximum torque speed of 1200 ~ 1300r/min, the minimum steady speed is not greater than 500r/min. Average fuel consumption is not greater than 238g/kW · h (175g/hp h); average oil consumption rate is not greater than 10.9g/kW · h (8g/hp h). Cooling and Lubrication System uses segment type water radiator and oil cooler.

fixed axis of the tank gearbox, five forward gears and one reverse gear, and the use of multi-disc dry clutch, two planetary gear steering, and a single spur gear side of the reducer of foreign .

mobile device using torsion bar suspension, each side has five steel road wheels, the left and right side of the first and fifth wheel load location on each install a hydraulic shock absorber. Single-pin metal track plate, each side 91.

Fourth, the protection system

the tank using homogeneous steel armor, vehicles from the rolling of the welded steel plate, turret for the casting. The car is equipped with semi-automatic fire extinguishing system and portable fire extinguishers 2. Car is equipped with electric ignition smoke tube 2.

model evolution and variants

in the tank has developed on the basis of type 59-1 ,59-2-and 59-2A medium-sized tanks and 73 medium-sized tank rescue tractor.

1.59-1 medium-sized tanks

1979 an improved design was conducted in 59 medium-sized tank laser range finder installed on the loading table and automatic fire control system, hydraulic power steering system, automatic fire extinguishing device thermocouple sensor, body shielded apron, camouflage antenna, loss of oil pressure warning device and easy to open security doors. Improved the tanks first hit in the artillery, protection, mobility and reduce crew fatigue, ease of use so than Type 59 medium tanks were greater degree of improvement, and for the subsequent improvement of old products has laid a good basis. Chinese troops have been equipped.

As technology advances, Type 59 and Type 59-1 Medium Tank can be installed 100mm rifled gun firing armor-piercing tungsten head, shaped charge, and grenades. Tungsten penetrator velocity of the first 1435m/s, armor-piercing power has greatly improved.

2.59-2 medium-sized tanks

80 early in the Type 59 medium tanks installed on the self-tight tube 105mm rifled gun, can effectively prevent the secondary effects of the automatic fire extinguishing explosion suppression systems, VRC-8000 VIC-I-type radio and intercom-type vehicle, keep a 59-1 medium-sized tanks on the number of mature improvement projects, this is a new design and development of the 59-2 medium-sized tanks.

105mm rifled gun, a distance of 2000m in the breakdown 150mm/30 ° homogeneous steel armor plate, greatly enhancing the power of artillery. Automatic fire suppression system has greatly enhanced the tank burst survivability. The use of new communication equipment, communication distance doubled. The tank design in 1981, 1984, finalized the design, production from 1982 to 1985, has been equipped with Chinese troops.

the tank’s 105mm rifled gun with a fin-stabilized APDS, HEAT and broken a bomb; ammunition rounds 38 rounds; installed a laser range finder and automatic fire control system fitted sheet; use a hydraulic power steering devices and powder metallurgy brake with brake watts; apron installed on both sides of the vehicle.

improved 59-1,59-2 medium-sized tanks are able to install the hanging plastic track plates, improved tank on the road driving ability.

3.59-2A medium-sized tanks

1984 end of the Chinese tractor factories, the first unit started to develop 59-2A medium-sized tanks. In October 1985 the system of a prototype car, the installation of a thermal jacket with lightweight 105mm gun, two-way table simple fire control system automatically installed, the first car mounted composite armor, automatic fire extinguishing and explosion suppression device automatic fire extinguishing equipment, smoke while using heat and smoke launchers, control devices and hydraulic power plant and other projects. Tests showed that the tank firepower and mobility than the 59 tanks has been significantly improved, force protection, mobility and performance has improved greatly, work, good reliability, the original 59 tanks, process inheritance and strong, low cost .

4.73 medium-sized tanks and rescue vehicles

the rescue of 59 medium-sized tank variants, remove from the Type 59 medium tanks installed on the chassis after the turret winch, hand-cranked hangers and other devices designed in hoe, used for battle damage, loss of silt traps and other self-help rescue the ability of armored vehicles. The loss of the ability of vehicles to implement their own rigid traction; of silt traps or falling rocks, the implementation of drag winch rescue vehicles to use, drag will save in track hoe into the surface to prevent slippage. Car and other construction vehicles matching pieces to complete field repairs and other technical support for the task, the car equipped with a removable crank hanger, lifting the weight up to 1000kg, can be used to replace the engine and other components.

performance data

Model 59 59-1 59-2

Crew 4 4 4

combat weight 36000kg 36000kg 36000kg

weight 34000kg 34000kg 34000kg

unit power 10.6kW/t 10.6kW/t 10.6kW/t

drivers

 artillery forward 9.000m 9.000m 9.194m

 gun back 8.485m 8.485m 8.494m

body length 6.002m 6.002m 6.002m

car W

 without apron 3.270m 3.270m 3.270m

with apron 3.307m 3.307m

Height

 full height 2.750m 2.750m 2.750m

 to the turret top 2.400m 2.400m 2.400m

FireWire high 1.738m 1.738m 1.738m

vehicle from the ground High 0.425m 0.425m 0.425

fulfill the bandwidth 580mm 580mm 580mm

track ground length 3.840m 3.840m 3.840m

Track gauge 2.640m 2.640m 2.640m

maximum highway speed of 50km/h 50km/h 50km/h

off-road average speed of 20 ~ 25km/h 20 ~ 25km/h 20 ~ 25km/h

fuel reserves 812L 812L 812L +200 L

Highway stroke 420 ~ 440km 420 ~ 440km 500km

wading depth (unprepared) 1.4m 1.4m 1.4m

Climbing degree 58% 58% 58%

roll slope 58% 58% 58%

climbing high vertical walls 0.8m 0.8m 0.8m

more trench width 2.7m 2.7m 2.7m

engine

production company North Industries Corporation (Group) North Industrial (Group) Corporation North Industries Corporation (Group)

 Model 12150L 12150L 12150L

type water-cooled diesel engine 12V 12V 12V water cooled diesel engine

 power/speed 382kW/2000r/min 382kW/2000r/min 382kW/2000r/min

drive

 production company North Industries Corporation (Group) North Industrial (Group) Corporation North Industries Corporation (Group)

 type Fixed shaft mechanically fixed shaft mechanically fixed axis mechanical

 Forward/reverse number 5/1 5/1 5/1

steering type two planetary two planetary-type two planetary

main weapon caliber/type 100mm/rifled 100mm/rifled 105mm/rifled

parallel arms caliber/type 7.62mm/7.62 machine gun/machine gun 7.62mm/machine gun

caliber anti-aircraft weapons/type 12.7mm/machine gun 12.7mm/machine gun 12.7mm/machine gun

smoke launchers Type/number of electrical ignition smoke tube/2 electric-ignition smoke cylinder/2 electric-ignition smoke tube/2

hot smoke No No No

ammunition rounds

shells made 34 fat 38 fat 34

 antiaircraft machine 500 rounds 500 rounds of bullets 500 rounds

 parallel machine cartridge 3000 issue 3000 issue 3000 issue

projectile muzzle velocity of 1435m/s 1435m/s 1455m/s

rate of fire 7 rounds/min 7 hair/min 7 hair/min

turret drive electric/manual Electric/Manual electric/manual

turret rotation range of 360 ° 360 ° 360 °

drivers to a level beyond the level of control to a level to have

gun tilt range -5 ~ +18 ° -5 ° ~ +18 ° -5 ~ +18 °

artillery maximum pitch speed 4.5 °/s 4.5 °/s 4.5 °/s

largest turret rotation speed 10 °/s 10 °/s 10 °/s

gun stabilizer

level to No No No

level there has to have

type of automatic fire control system fitted sheet periscope decline disturbance

rangefinder No Yes Yes

car body side skirts No No

fire explosion suppression system No No