| ZTZ-59-I | ZTZ-59-II | ZTZ-59-IIA | PTZ-59 |
The ZTZ-59-II is a Main Battle Tank used by the People's Republic of China. It is a further development of the ZTZ-59-I and rearmed with a 105mm gun.
History
The ZTZ-59-II was developed during the early '80s as a result of China's new military modernization program under Deng Xiaoping. To counter the threat of new American and Soviet MBTs (such as the M1 Abrams and T-72), Norinco added to its Type 59 models a new variant through installing a Austrian licensed Royal Ordinance L7 variant on the ZTZ-59-I (thus replacing the original T69 gun). In addition to the new gun, Norinco also added to the tank new locally designed features, such as a new comparably-modern fire control system. This model would eventually be referred to as the Type 59-II (later ZTZ), and it entered mass production in 1982.
Overview
- Very similar perimeters to the ZTZ-59-I, except for a improved gun and fuel capacities. The Armor values are the same.
- Decent main gun capable of penetrating most enemy armor at short-medium range.
- Useful as a "sniper tank" knocking out even heavily armored enemy tanks at closer ranges while remaining in camouflage (presumably in support of a larger operation with other tanks and vehicles).
- Very good autonomy and fuel cap, capable of sustaining long battles should it escape being destroyed with a single hit (even on the frontal armor) by an top-tier enemy tank.
- As mentioned above, its weak armor is useless in head-on operations against enemy armor formations by itself (even against cheaper tanks, unless of course the sacrifice justify the gains).
- Could be a more valuable target to enemy bombers and will be blown up in rows should it be left in the open without air defense.
Weapons
| Weapons | 
|
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Main Gun | MMG | No Weapon |
| Name | PLA 105 | T54 | |
| Caliber | 105mm [KE] [AoE] | 12,7mm | |
| Ammo | x 33 | x 600 | |
| Range | Ground = 2100 m Helicopters = N/A m  Airplanes = N/A m
|
Ground = 1050 m Helicopters = 875 m Airplanes = N/A m
|
|
| Accuracy | 50% | 15% | |
| Stabilizer | 15% | 5% | |
| AP Power | 12 | N/A | |
| HE Power | 3 | 0.75 | |
| Suppression | 121 | 90 | |
| Rate of fire | 7 r/min | 652 r/min |
Gallery
See also
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
