Type 63A (tank)
| Type 63A | |
|---|---|
Type 63A, exhibited in the "Panzer Museum of the People's Liberation Army" (2013) |
|
| General properties | |
| crew | 4 (commander, driver, gunner, loader) |
| length | 9.6 m |
| width | 3.0 m |
| height | 3.2 m (tower top) |
| Dimensions | 22.0 tons |
| Armor and armament | |
| Armor | unknown |
| Main armament | 1 × 105mm cannon |
| Secondary armament | 1 × 7.62mm machine gun (coaxial) 1 × 12.7mm machine gun |
| agility | |
| drive |
Diesel engine with turbocharging 427 kW |
| suspension | Torsion bar suspension |
| Top speed | 75 km / h (land), 28 km / h (water) |
| Power / weight | 19.4 kW / t |
| Range | approx. 400 km |
The Type 63A (other designation: ZTS-63A ) is a light floating tank that was introduced into the People's Liberation Army in the 1990s and a major further development of the Type 63 from 1963.
Development history
Since 1963, the People's Liberation Army introduced the light floating tank type 63 , which, as a light amphibious tank , could cross rivers and stagnant waters without any problems , but can only be used to a limited extent in the sea . With regard to the foreign policy tensions between Taiwan and the People's Republic of China , a seaworthy tank should be developed that can be dropped off by landing ships several kilometers off the coast and reliably reach coastal areas under its own power. With a relatively strong armament, such a floating tank should be able to fight land targets and fortified targets such as bunkers effectively. For Taiwan's current main battle tanks , mainly M-48 and M-60 , the Type 63A is said to be a serious enemy. As part of the development work by the Chinese armaments company Norinco , special attention was paid to the following criteria compared to the outdated Type 63:
- Improved driving characteristics in remote sea regions
- Improved turret with a more powerful 105mm cannon
- Significantly increased speed in the water (made possible by a more powerful motor)
- Installation of a more modern fire control system with night vision devices
- Launch of anti-tank missiles from the main barrel weapon
The development work was completed in the late 1990s, and in 1997 it was finally introduced into the People's Liberation Army. A total of more than 600 Type 63A are said to have been put into service by the 2000s, with the number gradually decreasing in favor of the most modern Chinese amphibious tank Type 05 / ZTD-05 , which is to replace the Type 63A entirely in the near future.
Armament
The main armament was a 105 mm cannon, which is derived from the chariot cannon of the type 59D and type 88 main battle tanks . It can APFSDS - HE - and HEAT -Geschosse be fired. Firing tests showed that the APFSDS ammunition can penetrate 500 mm of steel at a distance of 2000 meters. The ammunition supply is a total of 45 shells. In addition, a 7.62 mm machine gun is installed parallel to the axis and a heavy 12.7 mm machine gun is located on the turret at the commander's hatch, which is used for air defense . For self-protection, a smoke device with a row of four throwing cups is mounted on the left and right front of the tower. The main weapon is only partially ready for use while swimming, as accurate shooting through the swell cannot be guaranteed despite the gyro-stabilized weapon system. As a result, anti-tank missiles of the type 9M117 (or a corresponding Chinese replica ) can be fired by the 105-mm cannon . This tubular rocket, which is guided to the target using the SACLOS method, has a maximum range of 4,000 to 5,000 meters and is said to be able to achieve high hit probabilities. In addition to static and moving land targets, it should even be possible to fight helicopters .
drive
The 22-ton tank is powered by a liquid-cooled 427 kW turbo-charged diesel engine that can reach 75 km / h on the road. The type 63A drive is a torsion bar sprung roller drive with six one-piece rollers on each side. The drive wheels are at the stern, the idlers at the front of the vehicle. In the water, two water jets were switched on, with which maximum speeds of 28 km / h can be achieved, of course depending on the swell. At the bow of the tank there is a hydraulically foldable surge board , which has to be raised especially when driving in water.
Users
-
People's Republic of China : Unknown number in action, e.g. B. in the 73rd Army Group of the People's Liberation Army. -
Tanzania : 24 Type 63A ordered in 2012 and received in 2013.
literature
- David Miller, Christopher F. Foss , Horst W. Laumanns (eds.): Modern combat weapons. 3rd edition, special edition, Stocker-Schmid Verlag AG, Dietikon (Switzerland) 1998, ISBN 3-7276-7092-4 . (German translation; English original title: Modern land combat. )
Web links
- Description on GlobalSecurity.org (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c d e f g h Sinodefence: Type 63A (also known as ZTS-63A) amphibious tank (English)
- ↑ a b c Norinco Type 63A (English)
- ^ Richard D. Fisher: China's Military Modernization: Building for Regional and Global Reach. Greenwood Publishing Group. 2008, p. 158.
- ↑ Description on GlobalSecurity.org (English)
- ↑ Anthony H. Cordesman, Martin Kleiber: Chinese Military Modernization: Force Development and Strategic Capabilities. CSIS. 2007, p. 91.
- ↑ Amphibious light tanks head to shore in formation, 2019 (English)
- ↑ SIPRI - Trade Registers China (English)