Basic Information

Name

ZTS-63A (Type 63A) Chinese Amphibious Light Tank

Designation

ZTS-63A

Alternate Designation

ZTS-63A; Type 63A

Equipment Type

Amphibious Light Tank

Manufacturer

—

Date of Introduction

1997

Description

The ZTS-63A (Type 63A) Chinese Amphibious Light Tank was specially designed to suit the needs of the marines. Unlike the original Type 63 which was mainly intended for river-crossing operations at inland rivers and lakes, the Type 63A can be launched from amphibious warfare ships 5 – 7 km offshore and travel to the shore with the speed of 28 km/h (which was accomplished thanks to the new engine and redesigned water jet system). It has a new diesel engine developing 581 hp (433 kW) and a computerized fire control system which gives it the capacity to shoot while it is on the move on land and on water. Type 63A has a redesigned welded turret with four smoke grenade dischargers on each side of the turret, a storage bucket in the rear of the turret, and two stowage buckets on the sides of the turret. The turret was armed with a 105 mm rifled gun instead of the original 85 mm Type 62-85TC rifled gun. It is similar to those that are fitted on the Type 59-II, Type 59D, Type 69, and Type 80 main battle tanks but with reduced recoil force for firing while the vehicle is swimming. It is capable of firing all types of modern tank rounds, such as armor-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS), HEAT, and HE. It also has two extra floating tanks (one in the front and one in the rear) that provide better stability while in water, and improved snorkel fitting, and three water inlets on either side of the hull. The tank also has side skirts protecting the tracks. To allow the tank to fire accurately while in water the 105 mm was given the ability to shoot laser-beam guided ATGM. The PRC has developed a 105 mm gun-launched ATGM based on the Russian 9M117 Bastion technology. The missile has a maximum firing range of 4,000 m - 5,000 m, with a single hit probability of over 90% against static targets. The ATGM can also be used to engage low-flying helicopters. The new fire control system includes a digital fire-control computer, integrated commander sight with laser rangefinder input, and light spot or image-stabilized gunner sight with passive night vision. The standard night vision is an image intensifier. Alternatively, the gunner sight can be fitted with a thermal imager night vision with a maximum range of 2,100 meters. The tank is also equipped with the satellite positioning (GPS/GLONASS) system so that it can easily locate the correct landing coordinates in all kinds of weather and in day or night conditions. Because of the additional equipment, the weight of the vehicle has increased to 22 tons and because of the two extra floating tanks (one in the front and one in the rear) and the long gun, the overall length of the vehicle has increased to 9.6 meters. Type 63A was designed because of continuing tension with Taiwan and as such it can face Taiwanese M48 and M60 Patton main battle tanks when it has the upper hand. While its thin armor is still a rather big issue the Type 63A has the ability to attack its targets before being directly engaged by using ATGMs. It entered service in 1997. The industrial designator is WZ213. It is also known as Type 63M, Type 99 and ZTS-63A.

Ground Specifications

Crew 4

Engine Diesel (581 hp)

Armor Welded Steel

Active Protection Yes

NBC Protection Yes

Amphibious Yes

Variants

Type 63A1 The Type 63AI is a slightly modified version of the Type 63A, which is designed to increase the protection of the vehicle against cumulative projectiles.

Type 63-II The Type 63-II is an improved version of the Type 63-I, which benefitted from the addition of a laser rangefinder above the main gun.

Type 89 The Type 89 is an SPH based on the hull of the Type 77 APC. It is designed to provide indirect – as well as direct – fire support.

GLM 122 The GLM122 is based on the Chinese Type 77 APC and is modified to carry and deploy a trackway in support of amphibious landings.

System

Alternative Designation ZTS-63A; Type 63A

Type Amphibious Tanks

In Service 1997-Present

Crew 4 (Driver, Loader, Commander, Gunner)

Status In service, but no further production.

Purpose Ddesigned to transport a force from ship-to-shore during a contested landing and provide direct, as well as indirect, fire support to those forces once deployed.

Maximum Effective Range (Land) 400 km

Maximum Effective Range (Sea) 120 km

Amphibious Yes

Propellers 2, at the rear of the tank

Note The Type 63A has weak protection compared to other tanks

Dimensions

Length, Overall 10.494 m

Length, Hull INA

Length, Main Armament Rear 9.947 m

Width 3.2 m

Height 3.2 m

Weight 22,000 kg

Ground Clearance INA

Automotive

Engine Name Model 12150-L

Engine Type Diesel

Engine Power 581 hp

Power to Weight Ratio 26.4 hp/tons

Maximum Range, Land 400 km

Maximum Range, Sea 90 km

Speed, Maximum Road 75 km/h

Speed, Average Cross 70 km/h

Speed Maximum Swim 14 km/h

Suspension Torsion Bar

Gradient 60 %

Side Slope 30 %

Vertical Step 0.8 m

Trench 2.9 m

Fording Depth Amphibious

Communications

TBR-121

VHF Transceiver Yes

VHF Range 1 to 50 km

Proliferated Widely

Digital Data Yes, Full

Control Self-Adaptive Control (Including Automatic Antenna Tuner)

Frequency Agile Yes

Wireless Network Capabilities Yes

Note: Very similar in capabilities to the US SINCGARS ASIP

Main Gun

System

Name 1 x ZTS63A (Type 83) 105mm Rifle Gun

Type Rifled Gun

Caliber 105 mm

Turret Name BK1970 Turret

Turret Type Three Man Turret

Max Rate of Fire INA

Sustain Rate of Fire INA

Maximum Engagement Range 2,800 m

Maximum Effective Range 2,000 m

Armor Penetration With APFSDS-T ammunition from a range of 2,000 m, the Type 83 can penetrate 150 mm of homogeneous armor set to a 71° angle

Range Finder Type Laser

Traverse Range 360 deg

Traverse Left 180 deg

Traverse Right 180 deg

Maximum Elevation +18 deg

Minimum Elevation -5 deg

Note The 63A fire APFSDS, HEAT and HEAT FRAG rounds, significantly increasing the tank's firepower

Ammunition (Option 1)

Type Armor-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS) i

Caliber 44 mm

Muzzle Velocity 1,530 m/s

Armor Penetration 150 mm

Cartridge Length 1,000 mm

Penetrator Tungsten alloy

Propellant NC-NG 5.8 kg

Accuracy/Dispersion (typical) 0.2X0.2 mil

Temperature limits (Firing) -40 to +52ºC

Temperature limits (Storage) -46 to +63ºC

Basic Load 38 rounds total any 105mm Combination

Ammunition (Option 2)

Type HE-MP-T: High-Explosive Multi-Purpose Tracer tank cartridge

Caliber 44 mm

Muzzle Velocity 800 m/s

Armor Penetration 180 mm

Cartridge Weight 23.5 kg

Cartridge Length 990 mm

Projectile Weight 13.6 kg

High Explosive CLX663 (IM) 1 kg

Fuze Electronic/programmable/ multifunctional

Propellant NC-NG 3 kg

Accuracy/Dispersion (typical) 0.3X0.3 mil

Temperature limits (Firing) 40 to +52ºC

Temperature limits (Storage) -40 to +63ºC

Basic Load 38 rounds total any 105mm Combination

Ammunition (Option 3)

Type HESH-T (HEP-T): High-Explosive Squash-Head Tracer tank cartridge

Caliber 44 mm

Muzzle Velocity 731 m/s

Armor Penetration Yes

Cartridge Weight 21.2 kg

Cartridge Length 939 mm

Projectile Weight INA

High Explosive Comp 2.2 kg

Propellant M6 2.8 kg

Accuracy/Dispersion (typical H+B) 171 cm

Temperature limits (Firing) -40 to +52ºC

Temperature limits: (Storage) -40 to +63ºC

Basic Load 38 rounds total any 105mm Combination

Coaxial Weapon System

System

Name 1 x 7.72mm General-Purpose Machine Gun

Auxiliary Weapon System

System

Name 1 x W-85 (QJC88) 12.7mm Heavy Machine Gun

Type Heavy Machine Gun

Caliber 12.7mm

Length INA

Weight 18.5 kg (40.79 lb) (gun only) 17.5 kg (38.58 lb) (tripod)

Action Gas

Rate of FIre 550-600 rounds/min

Muzzle Velocity 850 m/s

Feed System Belt

Sights Iron/Optical

Ammunition

Type Rifle

Caliber 12.7mm

Cartridge 12.7×108 mm

Basic Load 500 Rounds

Fire Control

Name INA

Computerized FCS Yes, believed to be the same FCS that is installed on Type 80 tanks

Thermal Sight Tank Commander Yes

Thermal Sight Gunner Yes

Main Gun Stabilization Yes, stabilized in both axes to improve accuracy

Direct Fire Support Yes

Indirect Fire Support Yes

Laser Rangefinder Yes

Protection

Armor Type All-welded steel

Hull Armor Steel armor, 25mm thick

Turret Armor Steel armor, 25mm thick

Applique Armor Available

Explosive Reactive Armor Yes

Active Protection System Yes

Mine Clearing Yes, Type 762 light mine clearance device

Self-Entrenching Blade No

NBC Protection Yes

Smoke Equipment Yes, Four smoke-grenade launchers are mounted on each side of the turret

IR Signature INA

Note #1 It is likely that the vehicle's mine or blast resistance is low and that the protection is sufficient only for large-calibre small arms fire such as 12.7 or 14.5 mm rounds at typical combat ranges.

Note #2 Storage racks provide additional protection against HEAT rounds

Image Sources

Notes https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_63_%28tank%29; https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Type_63_tank_-_front_right.jpg; https://www.defense-aerospace.com/chinese-marines-train-with-advanced-amphibious-assault-vehicles/;