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Type 63



Overview


Type 63-I

Left side view of Type 63-I amphibious light tank on display at the Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution as seen in 2018.
Source: Tyg728 - © CC BY-SA 4.0

Origin
China
Type
Light tank
Entered service
1963
Status
Limited service
Development
1958 - 1963
Developer
China
Production
1963 -
Producer
China
Number produced
Over 1.550
Designations
WZ211 (industrial index)
63式
Notable users
China
Vietnam

Details


Facts Type 63-I
General
Origin
China
Type
Amphibious light tank
Crew
4 (commander, driver, gunner, loader)
Dimensions
Weight
18.4 t combat load
Length
8.44 m gun forward
7.15 m hull
Width
3.2 m
Height
2.52 m to turret roof
3.12 m over anti-aircraft machine gun
Main armament
Type
85mm Type 62-85TC rifled gun
Mount
Main gun in turret
Ammunition
47 rounds
Elevation
-5° to +18°, powered
Traverse
360°, powered
Stabilizer
No
Coaxial armament
Type
7.62mm Type 59T machine gun
Mount
Coaxial with main armament
Ammunition
2.000 rounds
Traverse
Traverse and elevation as main armament
Secondary armament
Type
12.7mm Type 54 heavy machine gun
Mount
Pintle mount on turret roof
Ammunition
500 rounds, 50 ready to fire
Elevation
Manual
Traverse
Manual
Stabilizer
No
Chassis
Chassis type
Tracked chassis, 6 roadwheels
Layout
Idler front, drive sprocket rear
Tread
2.82 m
Track width
0.36 m
Track on ground
4.44 m
Ground pressure
0.58 kg/cm²
Suspension
Torsion bar
Amphibious propulsion
Two water jets combined with tracks
Automotive
Engine model
Model 12150L-2
(240 hp 6-cylinder diesel in early production models)
Engine type
Liquid-cooled V12 diesel
Power output
400 hp at 2.000 rpm
Transmission
Manual, 5 forward, 1 reverse
Fuel
400 L internal
Mobility
Speed
64 km/h on road
25 - 35 km/h in the field
Range
370 km on road
120 km afloat
Power to weight ratio
21.7 hp/t
Obstacle crossing
Ground clearance
0.4 m
Wall
0.85 m
Trench
2.9 m
Gradient
60 %
Slope
30 %
Fording
Amphibious
Protection
Armor type
Steel armor, welded hull and cast turret
Armor thickness
11 mm glacis at 80°
14 mm hull sides
10 mm hull floor, top and rear
Smoke system
Exhaust diesel injection
NBC system
No
Equipment
Night vision
Image intensifier for driver
Fire control
TSh-1A sight with 3.5x and 7x magnification
Radio
Type A-220A radio with 16 km range
Type A-221A intercom

Media


Related articles


PT-76

The Type 63 is inspired by the Soviet PT-76, but is not a direct copy as some source claim. The hull design and amphibious propulsion are different, as is the turret and its armament.

Type 62

The Type 63 takes several design elements of the Type 62 light tank. Most obvious is the turret, although the one on the Type 63 has less armor. The Type 63-I also uses an engine derived from the one used on the Type 62.