ZTZ96 Main Battle Tank

The ZTZ96 (also known as Type 96 or Type 88C) is the second-generation main battle tank (MBT) in service with the PLA. The tank was developed from the Type 85-IIM/III series introduced in the 1990s for the export market. The PLA had received over 1,500 examples of the ZTZ96 by 2005. Production continued until 2005~06 when it was superseded by the ZTZ96G featuring improved fire-control and armour package. The ZTZ96G is believed to be approaching the ZTZ99 in terms of firepower, armour, and fire-control. A report by Jane’s Defence Weekly in 2006 suggested that Thailand may be interested in acquiring the Type 96G (or an improved model).

Type 85

NORINCO developed the Type 85-II MBT based on the Type 80-II in the mid-1980s for the export market. The tank featured a newly designed box-shape welded turret replacing the original half-egg shape cast turret used by previous Chinese MBTs. The tank was also fitted with the ISFCS-212 image-stabilised fire-control system, which included a laser rangefinder integrated into the gunner’s sight, control panel, ballistic computer, and a sensor for crosswind, tilt and angular velocity. This, together with the two-way stabilised 105mm gun and roof-mounted stabilised sights, enabled the tank to engage moving targets while on the move. The reaction time from detecting target to firing was 6 seconds.

Type 85 main battle tank prototype (Chinese Internet)

The Type 85-II carried 48 rounds, including APFSDS, HEAT, and HEAT-FRAG. The APFSDS with alloy core round can penetrate 150mm armour angled at 60 degrees at 1,000m distance. The hallow-charged HEAT round could penetrate 178mm armour angled at 60 degrees. The High-Explosive round could produce a blast radius of 20m.

The MBT had a combat weight of 39 tonnes, and was powered by a liquid-cooled, turbo-charged 800hp diesel engine, with a planetary gear box and hydraulically-operated transmission. The original steering handles were replaced by a steering wheel arrangement.

The Type 85-II did not enter production due to lack of interest.

Type 85-IIM/-IIAP

Type 85-IIM main battle tank prototype (Chinese Internet)

As the Type 85-II failed to attract any customer, NORINCO continued to develop a radically modified variant Type 85-IIM in the early 1990s. The tank was basically a combination of the Type 80-II’s chassis and the Type 85-II’s turret. The main armament of the tank was a 125mm smoothbore main gun originally developed for China’s third-generation MBT. The tank gun was fitted with an autoloader copied from the Russian 2A46 design, reducing the number of crew from 4 to 3.

The Type 85-IIM had a combat weight of 41 tonnes, and had an enlarged turret to accommodate the gun autoloader. The tank was powered by a liquid-cooled, turbo-charged 12150ZL-V12 diesel rated at 730hp. The tank used mechanical transmission with hydraulic power-assisted steering and clutching. Like the Type 85-II, the Type 85-IIM was also fitted with an ISFCS-212 image-stabilised fire-control system and image-intensified night vision.

Pakistan ordered several hundred Type 85-IIM MBTs in two batches in 1991 and 1992. These were the Type 85-IIAP variant based on the Type 85-IIM, with some minor modifications specifically requested by the Pakistani Army.

Type 85-III

Type 85-III main battle tank prototype (Chinese Internet)

In 1995 NORINCO introduced the improved Type 85-III, which was based on the Type 85-IIM but fitted with a 1,000hp diesel engine for improved travelling performance. The prototype displayed by NORINCO also had externally-mounted explosive reaction armour (ERA) modules on the hull front and turret to provide additional protection. This variant was certified for design finalisation in 1997. The version for domestic use is known as ZTZ96 (Type 96).

ZTZ96

The ZTZ96 was based on the Type 85-III design with minor modificaitons. The tank enter batch production and has been equipped by the PLA ground forces.

The hull and turret of the tank are protected by composite armour plating. Wheels and tracks are protected by rubber hull skirts. The turret is surrounded by storage racks, which not only offer extra places for the crew to store their equipment but also provide additional protections against HEAT projectiles. There are six Type 84 smoke grenade launchers on each side of the turret. Additional smoke can be generated by injecting diesel fuel in to the engine's exhaust.

PLA Type 96 (ZTZ96) main battle tank (Chinese Internet)

The tank has a conventional layout with a crew of three men. The driving compartment is located at the front; the turret is mounted in the middle and the engine compartment in the rear. The driver is seated left in the hull and forward of the turret and the gunner and tank commander occupy the turret. The tank commander is situated to the right of the main gun and the gunner sits on the left side. The tank commander is also responsible for operating the 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun mounted on turret roof of the turret. Tank crew is protected by a over-pressure collective NBC protection and a fully automatic fire/explosion suppression system.

The 41.5t 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. Suspension is of the conventional torsion bar type and there are six rubber-tyred roadwheels on each side, with the drive sprocket at the rear.

ZTZ96G

PLA Type 96G (ZTZ96G) main battle tank (Chinese Internet)

The modified variant ZTZ96G was first revealed in 2006. This variant features arrow-shaped spaced add-on armour modules, which replaced the original vertically faced front armour on the basic variant ZTZ96. Two arrow-shaped spaced add-on armour modules are added to the front of the turret, and explosive reaction armour (ERA) plates are mounted on the front hull and the storage rack on the rear of the turret. The gunner's sight on the ZTZ96G is fitted with a thermal imaging system (TIS).

The export variant of the ZTZ96G also features a passive countermeasures system similar to the Russian Shtora-1, which is mounted on the Russian T-80 and T-90 series and the Ukrainian T-84. The two box-shape on either side of the turret are electro-optical jammers designed to jams the enemy's semiautomatic command to line of sight (SACLOS) antitank guided missiles, laser rangefinders and target designators.

Specifications

Last update: 20 February 2009