Type 59

Tank ChinaIn service since 1959

Photo coming soon: side view on a transparent background, with author and license.

Key specs

Type: Tank
Origin: China
Manufacturer: First Inner Mongolia Machinery Factory, Norinco
Entered service: 1959
Produced: 1958–1985
Units produced: 9,500
Status: In service
Crew: 4

Overview

Type 59 is a tank from China, made by First Inner Mongolia Machinery Factory and Norinco. It entered service in 1959; it was produced from 1958 to 1985; 9,500 were built. Its main weapon has a calibre of 100 mm. It is used or was used by Bangladesh, Cambodia, Chad, Iran and 11 other countries, and saw combat in the Iraq War, the Yugoslav Wars, the Gulf War, among others.

Armament

Main armament: 100 mm rifled gun
Caliber: 100 mm
Secondary armament: 2 x Type 59T 7.62 mm machine gun, Type 54 12.7 mm air-defence machine gun

Dimensions and weights

Weight: 36 t
Length: 6.04 m
Width: 3.27 m
Height: 2.59 m

Mobility and protection

Engine: Model 12150L V-12 liquid-cooled diesel
Power: 390 kW
Road speed: 50 km/h
Operational range: 450 km
Suspension: torsion bar
Armour: 20–203 mm

Variants

Type 591959Type 691972

Users & conflicts

Sources

Wikipedia: Type 59 tank, Wikipedia

Figures from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article, completed from Wikidata and the article in other languages where it gives none; where there are several versions, the first one given. Operators include former ones; the side that used a vehicle in a war is derived from its operators.