NORINCO Type 59

1959 COLD WAR INDO-PAK WAR MAIN BATTLE TANK VIETNAM WAR

• 1 The 59-style history of China North Industries
• 2 NORINCO Model 59 Specification
  • 2.1 Basic
  • 2.2 Roles
  • 2.3 Dimensions
  • 2.4 Performance
  • 2.5 Performance
  • 2.6 Armor
  • 2.7 Changes

The 59-style history of China North Industries

The Type 59 Main Battle Tank (MBT) produced by NORINCO became a locally produced variant of the former Soviet-era T-54A MBT. Externally it is more or less the same as the Soviet design, although the interior has been modified to suit local Chinese requirements.

Many of the world's second-rate, budget-conscious militaries were committed to the type as a front-line weapon of the day.

The Type 59 was armed with a 100mm main gun, later models were equipped with movement devices such as a laser rangefinder (mounted on the gun). Both the commander and the loader were assigned to the cupola on the top line of the turret, with the loader operating the 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun (HMG) mounted on the turret.

The commander manages a 7.62mm machine gun for localized defense of the infantry. Another 7.62mm machine gun was mounted coaxially and operated by the main gunner. The driver is seated in the front left, with some ready ammunition stored directly to his right.

The vehicle created a smoke curtain by injecting raw diesel fuel into the exhaust -- a common feature of Soviet main battle tanks of the era -- eliminating the need for smoke grenade launchers.

The Type 59 chassis is the framework for many related variants, demonstrating the versatility of the base design. These variants include upgraded Type 59 combat models, Armored Rescue Vehicles (ARVs), and vehicles equipped with Explosive Reactive Armor (ERA) blocks to accommodate newer, more powerful enemy weapons and ammunition.

Style 59 became the focus of the world when it was used against Chinese students in Beijing's Tiananmen Square during the 1989 riots. A lone but unidentified student becomes a symbol of global peace when he blocks a column of advancing Type 59 tanks.

The Type 59 is exported to many countries in the Middle East and Africa. From 1958 to 1985, North Industries (Inner Mongolia No. 1 Machinery Factory) produced about 9,500 copies.

When completed, the vehicle weighs 40 tons (short), is 6 meters long, 3.25 meters wide and 2.6 meters high. The crew consists of four people with special duties on the hull and turret. The turret was fitted with a rifled 100mm main gun and allowed a 360-degree traverse.

Armor protection on the most critical panels of the vehicle reaches 203 mm. Power comes from a 12150L V-12 liquid-cooled diesel engine rated at 520 horsepower. The drive sprocket is at the rear and the chain idler is at the front - no chain idler is used.

Five twin wheels are mounted on each side of the fuselage in a track and wheel arrangement. The hull is mounted on torsion bar suspension for off-road capability.

The range is up to 450 km, but can be increased to 600 km by adding external fuel tanks (another common Soviet tank feature). Road speeds reach 50 km/h.

Myanmar and Sri Lanka are former operators of the Type 59 tank series.

NORINCO Model 59 Specification

Basic

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Performance

Armor

34 x 100 mm projectile.

200 x 12.7mm ammo.

3,500x7.62mm ammo.

Changes