Type 62
62式
Overview
Type 62
Type 62 light tank on display at the Beijing military museum.
Source: Unknown author -
© Copyright lies with original owner
1962 (state trials)
WZ131 (industrial index)
Vietnam
Description
Introduction
The Type 62 is an early Cold War era light tank of Chinese origin. It was designed to complement the Type 59 medium tank for operations in southern China It was formally accepted into service in 1962, hence the Type 62 designation. Series production started in 1963.
Design
The Type 62 is clearly derived from the Type 59 tank, but made smaller and lighter in all areas. The 16 ton design goal was not met, but at 21 tons the Type 62 is very light. The chassis is made shorter by reducing roadwheel spacing, and only single wheels of the original double wheels are used.
Firepower
The main gun is a rifled 85mm Type 62-85TC main gun with prominent fume extractor and muzzle brake. A total of 47 rounds are carried, which are similar to those used by the T-34/85, with the addition of a APFSDS-T shell at a later stage. Direct fire range is quoted as 1.85 km. Rate of fire is 3 to 5 rpm. The gun is not stabilized and can thus not be fired on the move. A coaxial 7.62mm Type 59T machine gun is fitted, as well as a fixed Type 59T in the hull. A 12.7mm Type 59 heavy machine gun is fitted for anti-aircraft use on the turret roof.
Protection
The steel armor is much thinner than on the Type 59 and the protection level is much reduced. For instance the glacis plate was reduced from over 200 mm to 35 mm. The sides are 15 mm and can resist heavy machine gun fire at longer ranges. Maximum thickness on the turret front is 50 mm, which will not stop any type of cannon shell. An exhaust diesel injection smoke system is fitted. Smoke grenade launchers were added in the Type 62-I upgrade.
Mobility
The Type 62 has improved mobility compared to the Type 59 main battle tank. The 430 hp diesel engine provides a better power to weight ratio due to its much lower weight. Maximum speed has increased to 60 km/h on roads. Ground pressure has reduced somewhat, even though the tracks are much narrower. Maximum autonomous range on roads is 450 km.
Users
Type 62 was intended for Chinese service and adopted in the many hundreds. it was actively used in the Sino-Vietnamese war, and lessens learned led to the Type 62-I upgrade program. In the mid 2000's a number was updated to Type 62G standard with new turret. Type 62 was also exported to a myriad of nations and used in several conflicts in Africa and Asia.
Variants
Type 62
Original production model. All ~1.500 tanks were produced to this standard. All tanks exported were in this configuration as well.
Type 62-I
Chinese domestic upgrade program based on lessons learned during the Sino-Vietnamese war. Less than 400 were upgraded in the 1980's to different levels. All of them feature a laser range finder over the gun and provisions for a gun shield on for the Type 59 on the roof.
Type 62-I (late)
A picture indicates that at least 5 vehicles, possibly more, were upgraded with large rubber side skirts, an armored cupola for the 12.7mm and stowage baskets around the turret that act as standoff armor against RPG's.
Type 62G
Various attempts to up-gun the Type 62-I did not prove successful. In the mid 2000's a number of vehicles in Chinese service were fitted with a new welded turret akin, but not identical, to the ZTD05 amphibious light tank. This features a stabilized 105mm rifled gun with fire control system, but has less armor than the earlier dome shaped cupola. The 'G' designation stands for 'Gai' or 'upgraded' in Chinese.
Details
Media
Type 62
Type 62 light tank on display at the Beijing military museum. Photographed in 2007.
Source: Max Smith
Copyright: Public domain
Type 62-I
Forward view of Type 62-I light tank on display in a museum. Photographed in 2018.
Source: Tyg728
Copyright: CC BY-SA 4.0
Type 62
Forward view of a Type 62 light tank in use in the Democratic Republic of the Congo somewhere in the 2010's.
Source: Unknown author
Copyright: Copyright lies with original owner
Type 62
Type 62 light tank in use in the Democratic Republic of the Congo somewhere in the 2010's.
Source: Unknown author
Copyright: Copyright lies with original owner
Type 62G
Right side view of three Type 62G light tanks upgraded with a new welded turret with 105mm rifled gun.
Source: www.chine-defense-mashup.com
Copyright: Copyright lies with original owner
Type 62
Type 62 light tank in Sudanese service.
Source: Unknown author
Copyright: Copyright lies with original owner
Type 62
Type 62 light tank on display in Laos. Photographed in 2010.
Source: Chaoborus
Copyright: CC BY-SA 3.0
Type 62-I
Right side view of Type 62-I light tank in a museum. Note the laser range finder over the gun mount.
Source: Unknown author
Copyright: Copyright lies with original owner
Type 62
Left side view of Type 62 light tank.
Source: Chinese internet
Copyright: Copyright lies with original owner
Type 62
Type 62 light tank on display at the Jianchuan Museum.
Source: Tyg728
Copyright: CC BY-SA 4.0
Type 62
Left side view of a Type 62 light tank at the Zhongshan Warship museum as seen in 2012.
Source: Howchou
Copyright: CC BY-SA 3.0
Related articles
Type 59
The Type 62 light tank is a downsized Type 59 medium tank and many parts are in common.
7.62mm Type 59T
A 7.62mm Type 59T is fitted as bow and coaxial armament on the Type 62.
12.7mm Type 59
A 12.7mm Type 59 heavy machine gun is fitted on the turret roof.