Type 85 Series:

Welded is Better

Type 85-IIM

Finally decisively breaking the T-54 mold, the Type 85 tank combines a streamlined hull design with a welded turret.  Initial versions started with the same 105mm rifled gun as the Type 80.  Later a 125mm 2A46C gun with autoloader was added offering significantly more firepower.  The main armament is fully stabilized and has a computerized fire control system with internal laser rangefinder.  The primary variants are as follows:   Type 85: Type 80 chassis plus welded turret prototype.   Type 85-I: Production version with heat sleeve for main gun.   Type 85-II: Adopted all solid-state electronics.   Type 85-IIA: Developed for Pakistan, same as Type 85-II but integrates Weston Simfire 2 training equipment.   Type 85-IIM: First version with the 2A46C autoloading 125mm smoothbore gun.  Widely adopted by PLA.   Type 88: Prototype upengined to 1000hp diesel.  Many pics showing new reactive armor installed.  Also known as Type 85-III.   Type 88A: Greatly enhanced fire control system.   Type 88B: Upgraded with Simfics training system for export.  No relation to Type 80 variant Type 88B.   Type 88C: Domestic version in use with PLA. -Desperado6

Type 85-II

Type 88

Type 88C

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Type 85-IIA