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Description |
In 1995, NORINCO developed the main battle tank Type 85-III prototype with a 1,000-hp diesel engine and explosive reactive armor (ERA), after finally solving the engine problem. After further improvements, including incorporating expertise gained from the Type 90 such as the modular armor design, this version was accepted by the PLA in 1996, and entered service in 1997 as the ZTZ96 or Type 96. As of 2005, an estimated 1,500 Type 96 tanks are currently in service with the PLA. As the most advanced MBT in current service, the Type 96s are assigned to the most elite units of the PLA, including 6th Armour Division (38th Group Army) in Beijing Military Region and 8th Armour Division (26th Group Army) in Jinan Military Region.
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Variants :
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Armament |
The main armament of the of the ZTZ96 or Type 96 is composed with a smoothbore 125 mm gun with autoloader of Russian 2A46M design. By introducing the autoloader to reduce the crew to three men, more rounds are available for the higher rate of fire. The tank can carry 42 rounds, 22 of them stored in the carousel of the autoloader, and the gun can fire at 6~8 rounds per minute. The main gun is capable firing APFSDS, HEAT, and HEAT-FRAG. The more recent BK-27 HEAT round offers a triple-shaped charge warhead and increased penetration against conventional armour and explosive reactive armour (ERA). ). Auxiliary weapons include one 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun, with a maximum fire-range of 1,800 m and a fire rate of 250 rounds/min. A 12.7-mm/50-calibre anti-aircraft machine gun is mounted on the command cupola, with a maximum fire-range of 2,000 m. To complete its armament, the ZTZ96 - Type 96 is equipped with six smoke grenade launchers, mounted on each side of the turret. Additional smoke can be generated by injecting diesel fuel in to the engine's exhaust.
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Protection |
The hull and the turret of the ZTZ96 / Type 96 are of all-welded steel armour construction. The turret is surrounded by storage racks are more of a Western design influence. Those storage racks not only offer extra places for the crew to store their equipment but it also provides additional protections against HEAT projectiles.
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Propulsion |
The ZTZ96 / Type 96 tank is powered by a liquid-cooled 1,000hp diesel engine, providing a power to weight ratio of about 24.1hp/t. The engine can be replaced within 40 minutes in field conditions, and gives the tank a maximum road speed of 65km/h. Wheels and tracks are protected by rubber hull skirts. Suspension is of the conventional torsion bar type and there are six rubber-tyred road wheels on each side, with the drive sprocket at the rear.
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Accessories |
Tank crew is protected by a over-pressure collective NBC protection and a fully automatic fire/explosion suppression system. The standard version of the ZTZ96 / Type 96 is equipped with a snorkel. The snorkel system allows the tank to cross water obstacles up to 5 meters, after some preparation of the crew.
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Specifications |
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Armament
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One 125 mm gun, one 12,7 mm anti-aircraft machine gun, one 7,62 mm coaxial machine gun.
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Country user
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China
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Company Designer
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China Northern Industries Group Corporation
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Accessories
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Receive/transmit, telephone, laser communications and IFF, over-presure NBC protection, automatic fire suppression system
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Crew
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3 soldiers
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Armor
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Ballistic protection a
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Weight
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41.500 kg
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Speed
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65 km/h on road
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Range
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400 km, 600 km with external fuel tanks a a
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Dimensions
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Length: 11.65m; Height: 2.30m; Width: 3.30m
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