Type 59 Series:

Fourth Must of the Great Helmsman

Type 59

In the early 1950s the Soviet Union supplied a quantity of their T-54 Model 1951 tanks to the PRC and production was commenced in 1957 at Baotao in the Beijing MR as the Type 59 (WZ120). The Type 59 was to be the progenitor of every PRC MBT produced after its inception. 32 Type 59 preproduction tanks were ready for 10th anniversary parade on October 1, 1959, but the type really did not enter widespread service until several years later. These first vehicles produced had no fume extractor on their D-10 100mm gun or night vision systems but later these improvements were made. Eventually production and remanufacture of the tank assumed at least five variants, most of which are still in PLA service today. Here are some of the main variants:   Type 59: Initially a T-54 clone, later improved with IR sights and fume extractor (D-10TG gun).   Type 59-I: Added bolt-on laser rangefinder from the Yangzhou 2nd Electronics Plant and Krauss-Maffei licensed armored skirts.    Type 59-II: Upgunned to 105mm L7 rifled gun design provided by Israel. aka WZ120B.   Type 59-IIA: Fitted with thermal sleeve for 105mm gun and some composite armor (?).  Referred to as M1984 by US Army.   Type 59-D: Essentially a Type 59-II with reactive armor and passive night vision.   Type 59 Kai: Mounts a 120mm smoothbore gun similar to US M256.  Reportedly in use with PLA Marine Corps. The Type 59 has been exported all over the world.  Users include Albania, Bangladesh, Cambodia, PRC, Congo, Iran, Iraq, DPRK, Sudan, Tanzania, Vietnam, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. -Desperado6

Type59-II

Type59-IIA

Type 59-D

Type 59-IIA Composite Armor on Glacis

Type 59 Kai

Type 59-D

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Type 59-II Tanks vs the Fifth Modernization

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