Type 69 tank
| Type 69 | |
|---|---|
 Iraqi Type 69-II captured during the Gulf War. | |
| Type | Main battle tank |
| Place of origin | China |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1972–present (Type 69) 1982–present (Type 69-II) 1984–present (Type 79) |
| Used by | See Operators |
| Wars | Iran–Iraq War Gulf War Iraq War War in Iraq (2013–2017) |
| Production history | |
| Designer | No. 60 Research Institute |
| Designed | 1963–1972 |
| Manufacturer | First Inner Mongolia Machinery Factory (Inner Mongolia First Machinery Group Corporation) |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 36.7 tonnes |
| Length | 6.24 m (Hull) |
| Width | 3.3 m |
| Height | 2.80 m |
| Crew | 4 |
| Armor | 203 mm |
Main armament | 100mm smoothbore/105 mm rifled tank gun |
Secondary armament | 7.62 mm coaxial and bow machine guns, 12.7 mm antiaircraft machine gun |
| Engine | 12150L-7 V-12 diesel engine 580 hp (430 kW) |
| Power/weight | 15.8 hp/tonne |
| Suspension | torsion-bar |
Operational range | 440 km |
| Maximum speed | 50 km/h |
The Type 69 (Chinese: 69式; pinyin: Liùjiǔ shì) and Type 79 (Chinese: 79式; pinyin: Qījiǔ shì) are Chinese first generation main battle tanks. Both were developments of the Type 59 medium tank (a locally produced Soviet T-54A) with technologies derived from the T-62. They were the first indigenously developed main battle tanks by China, although also classified as medium tanks while in development and service. Their lineage from the T-54A can be seen through the distinct gap between the first and second road wheels. Other improvements included a new engine, ballistic computers, and laser rangefinders. The more advanced Type 79 variant was equipped with a 105 mm rifled gun which was also found on the Type 80 tank.