Type 62 | ||
| Country | China | |
| Role | Light tank | |
| In service | 1961 – 2013 (China) | |
| Built | Unknow | |
The Norinco Type 62 (Chinese: 62式; pinyin: Liù’èr shì) is a Chinese light tank developed in the early 1960s and is based on the Chinese Type 59 with a reduced main gun calibre, lighter armour and a smaller suite of electronics and other equipment to help reduce weight. The Type 62 is retired from the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Ground Forces, but is still in use with other nations. It had recently been upgraded to modern standards and to provide the PLA with a dedicated light tank. It is also known under its industrial designation, WZ-131.
Source: Type 62 on Wikipedia
| Type 62 Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| Photographer | Unknow |
| Localisation | Unknow |
| Photos | 19 |
See also:
General Characteristics
The Type 62 (industrial designation WZ-131) is a Chinese light tank developed in the early 1960s. It was essentially a scaled-down and lighter version of the Chinese Type 59 medium tank (which was derived from the Soviet T-54) to allow it to operate effectively in the hilly, mountainous, and swampy terrain of Southern China, where heavier tanks struggled. The design achieved a substantial weight reduction by reducing the size, thinning the armor, and fitting a smaller main gun. About 1,500 units were produced, and the tank saw combat during the Sino-Vietnamese War in 1979.
| Property | Typical Value (Type 62) |
|---|---|
| Role | Light Tank, Reconnaissance, Infantry Support |
| National Origin | People’s Republic of China |
| Manufacturer | NORINCO (Factory 674) |
| Service Entry | 1963 |
| No. Built (Total) | ~1,500 |
| Crew | 4 (Commander, Gunner, Loader, Driver) |
| Combat Weight | 21.0 tonnes |
| Length (Gun Forward) | 7.9 m (25 ft 9 in) |
| Width | 2.86 m (9 ft 4 in) |
| Height (To Turret Roof) | 2.25 m (7 ft 4 in) |
Armament
- Main Armament: 1 x 85 mm Type 62-85TC rifled gun (47 rounds carried).
- The gun is similar to that found on the Type 63 amphibious tank.
- Ammunition: Fires AP, APHE, HE, HEAT, and later, APFSDS-T rounds.
- Fire Control: Lacks a gun stabilizer, which significantly hampered accuracy when firing on the move.
- Coaxial Armament: 1 x 7.62 mm Type 59T machine gun.
- Bow Armament: 1 x 7.62 mm Type 59T machine gun (fixed in the hull).
- Anti-Aircraft Armament: 1 x 12.7 mm Type 54 heavy machine gun (pintle mount on turret roof).
Protection and Mobility
- Armor: Thin, welded/cast steel armor for weight reduction, making it vulnerable to almost all dedicated anti-tank weapons and high-caliber cannon fire.
- Hull Front (Glacis): ~35 mm.
- Turret Front (Maximum): ~50 mm.
- Engine: 1 x 12150L-3 V-12 liquid-cooled diesel engine.
- Power Output: 321 kW (430 hp) at 1,800 rpm.
- Power-to-Weight Ratio: 20.5 hp/tonne.
- Maximum Speed (Road): 60 km/h (37 mph).
- Maximum Speed (Off-Road): 35 km/h.
- Operational Range (Road): 500 km.
- Key Feature: Uses torsion bar suspension and smaller, single road wheels (compared to the double wheels of the Type 59) to save weight and reduce ground pressure.
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