Type 98

Type 98
Chinese main battle tank Type 98
General properties
crew	3 (commander, driver, gunner)
length	11.00 m (with gun in 12 o'clock position)
width	3.40 m
height	2.10 m
Dimensions	52 tons
Armor and armament
Armor	Composite armor (corresponds to 700 mm RHA on the turret front )
Main armament	1 × 125 mm ZPT-98 cannon
Secondary armament	1 × 7.62 mm MG Type-86 (axially parallel) and 1 × 12.7 mm anti-aircraft machine gun QJC-88
agility
drive	12-cylinder diesel engine (water-cooled) 1100 kW (1500 PS)
suspension	Torsion bar
Top speed	Max. 65 km / h (road); 35–45 km / h (off-road)
Power / weight	21.2 kW / t
Range	450 km, 600 km with external additional tanks

The Type 98 is a Chinese main battle tank .

Development history

The development of the Type 98 goes back to 1970. This year the experimental tank Type-122 was tested, but this development was stopped after three years, because it became aware that it led to a dead end.

As a result, a new program was launched and a new test vehicle named Type-1224 was manufactured, which was still equipped with an MTU engine. This first test vehicle was followed by two more equipped with Chinese engines of 735 kW (1000 hp) (Type-1225 and Type-1226). Building on these test vehicles, the actual development of the third generation tank was then started, which however turned out to be difficult and suffered several setbacks. It was not until 1991 that the prototype was a usable draft that was produced by Panzerwerk No. 617 was developed. Several prototypes were then tested and refined under all climatic conditions encountered in China by 1998 . In the same year a pilot series was commissioned and these vehicles were then presented to the public at the October 1999 parade . A total of around 120 pieces are said to have been produced, of which only around 40 are said to be in use in a battalion. Full series production will only start with the Type 99 .

Furnishing

The hull of the Type 98 is similar to that of the Type 90 , but is longer and therefore very similar to that of the T-72 . The layout is conventional with the driver in the front (center), the fighting compartment in the middle and the engine in the rear. The driver has a roof hatch that opens to the right and three corner mirrors , the middle one can be exchanged for a passive night vision device. A part of the ammunition is stowed next to the driver. The drive consists of six rollers with torsion bar suspension , several support rollers, a guide wheel at the front and the drive wheel at the rear. In addition, the engine compartment in the rear has a fire suppression system.

The tower is of the welded type. It is equipped with modular special armor and it is also possible to attach reactive armor . The commander sits on the right and the gunner on the left side of the cannon. The commander has a rotatable dome with a skylight with several corner mirrors around it, as well as a fully stabilized all-round view periscope ZTZ88 (× 1.5) with built-in night vision channel (× 7.2). The gunner has a primary stabilized target periscope (× 8) with an integrated laser rangefinder (LEM) and day / night channel (× 3.8), as well as a control channel for the 9M119 guided missile system . The fire control system is supported by a digital ballistic computer, which also takes values ​​from environmental sensors into account. In addition, there is a laser warning device that can automatically trigger the fog cups. A navigation system with GLONASS and GPS receivers is also available. An interesting detail is a JD-3 laser jammer on the roof of the tower. This can be swiveled through 360 ° and contains a laser transmitter to interfere with IR transmitters and directional optics, as well as unprotected eyes. The device can be operated by the commander or the gunner.

The main armament consists of a fully stabilized 125 mm cannon with a protective barrel casing . This has an automatic loader that draws the ammunition from a ring magazine with 22 rounds at the bottom of the tower. To the right of the cannon is a 7.62 mm machine gun mounted parallel to the axis. The commander also has a trunnion-mounted 12.7 mm machine gun. Five fog cups are attached to the left and right of the tower.

The vehicle has NBC protective ventilation and a fire suppression system. Quick-release additional tanks can be installed at the rear. Fog can also be generated by injecting diesel into the exhaust.

Versions

Type 99 : This is a further improved type with a modified tower front and some other changes. Series production will only begin with this type. It is also known as Type 98G or Type 98I. Pre-production vehicles are already being tested by the troops. These vehicles are already being used to continuously manufacture vehicles in which the teething troubles found during the troop trials have been eliminated. The turret has additional armor on the front and reactive additional armor on the turret sides and the hull front. It also has a thermal imaging device and an active protection system.

Technical specifications

• Wading depth: max. 5 m (with preparation)
• Max. Incline: 60%
• Max. Bank slope: 40%
• Suspension: torsion bar
• Main armament: ZPT-98 smoothbore cannon (125 mm) with 8 rounds per minute
• Secondary armament:
  • Coaxial: 7.62mm Type 86 MG
  • AA MG: 12.7 mm MG QJC-88
• Ammunition:
  • 41 × 125 mm (of which 22 in the car loader, of which 8 × 9M119)
  • 300 x 12.7 mm; 2000 x 7.62 mm
• Armor: Front approx. 700 mm RHA equivalent

More Chinese main battle tanks

• Type 96
• Type 99

Web links

Commons : Type 98  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b} Type 98 Main Battle Tank ( Memento from March 12, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) at globalsecurity.org
2. ↑ ^{a b} TYPE 98 MAIN BATTLE TANK ( Memento from September 7, 2005 in the Internet Archive ) at sinodefence.com