YW 531

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YW 531 / type 63
Type 63C

Type 63C
General properties
crew 2 (driver, commander) + 13 infantrymen
length 5.476 m
width 2,978 m
height 2,580 m
Dimensions 12.6 tons
Armor and armament
Armor Max. 14 mm welded steel
Main armament 1 × 12.7 mm machine gun
Secondary armament eight fog pots
agility
drive 8-cylinder air-cooled turbo diesel
320 hp
suspension Torsion bar
Top speed 65 km / h (road), 46 km / h (off-road)
Power / weight 25.3 hp / t
Range 500 km (road)

The YW 531 or Type 63 (alternative names: K63, M1967) is a troop transport manufactured in the People's Republic of China .

history

The troop transporter YW 531 (type 63) was first developed by China alone, without Soviet help. The vehicle was manufactured in large numbers by the Chinese engineering company Norinco . In 1963 the development phase was completed and in 1964 the first YW 531s could be handed over to the army of the People's Liberation Army .

The vehicle is or was also used by Albania , North Vietnam , North Korea , Sudan , Tanzania and Zaire and appeared in various armed conflicts, such as the Vietnam War , the Sino-Vietnamese War and the First and Second Gulf War .

technology

The YW 531 is a reliable design, although some improvements were needed after initial difficulties. The armor consists of welded steel plates and offers protection against bullets of the caliber 7.62 mm. The vehicle is usually manned by two people and can accommodate a total of 13 more. In addition, the vehicle is amphibious, the drive in the water takes place via the crawlers, which limits the maneuverability when traveling in water. The YW 531 also forms the basis for the Type 85 and Type 89 troop transports .

variants

  • Type 63 / YW531 : basic version, no mass production
  • Type 63A / A531 : Production version with a 12.7 mm machine gun
  • Type 63I / B531 : extended version with five impellers
  • Type 63C / YW531C : improved export variant that was equipped with the German BF8L413F engine
  • Type 63D / YW531D-Type 63E / YW531E : command vehicle
  • YW701 : command vehicle , equipped with improved radio system
  • YW721 : radio command tank
  • YW750 : medical tank
  • YW381 : mortar carrier 120 mm
  • YW304 : mortar carrier 82 mm
  • Type 70 / WZ302 : Self-propelled howitzer with a 122 mm Type 54 I cannon
  • Type 70 / WZ303 : rocket launcher with a 130 mm multiple launcher (19 tubes)

Web links

Commons : YW 531  - album with pictures, videos and audio files