Basic Information

Name

ZTZ-96 (Type 96) Chinese Main Battle Tank (MBT)

Designation

ZTZ-96

Alternate Designation

ZTZ-96; Type 96; Type 88C

Equipment Type

Main Battle Tank (MBT)

Manufacturer

First Inner Mongolia Machinery Factory

Date of Introduction

1997

Description

The ZTZ-96 (Type 96) Chinese Main Battle Tank (MBT) is the principle MBT of the PLA and represents China’s effort to bring the majority of its tanks up to a third-generation standard. It employs a 125 mm gun and autoloader as found on the T-72. The Type 96 Main Battle Tank (MBT) was developed from the Type 85-III, which was mainly aimed at the export market. The Type 96 has some minor modifications. Sometimes it is referred to as the Type 88C or ZTZ96. It entered service with the Chinese army in 1997. It replaced in production the previous Type 88 MBT. Production of the original Type 96 ceased in 2005. It is estimated that over 1 500 of these main battle tanks were built. Other sources claim, that 2 000-2 500 of these tanks were produced. Currently, it is a mainstay of China's MBT fleet. These tanks are being gradually upgraded. The only export customer of this tank is Sudan. The Type 96 MBT is armed with a fully stabilized 125 mm smoothbore gun, fitted with an autoloader. Both the gun and autoloader were copied from the Soviet T-72. This main battle tank might be compatible with the Russian AT-11 Sniper gun-launched anti-tank guided missiles, or its Chinese copy. The maximum rate of fire is 6-8 rounds per minute. A total of 42 rounds are carried.

Ground Specifications

Crew 3

Engine Diesel (1000 hp)

NBC Protection Yes

Variants

Type 96 (ZTZ-96) The Type 96 Main Battle Tank (MBT) was developed from the Type 85-III, which was mainly aimed at the export market. The Type 96 has some minor modifications. Sometimes it is referred to as the the Type 88C or ZTZ96. It entered service with the Chinese army in 1997. It replaced in production the previous Type 88 MBT.

Type 96A (ZTZ-96A) The Type 96A was an upgrade of the Type 96 that entered service in 2006, it reflects the developments made in Chinese tank design such as the arrow-shaped add-on turret armor also found on the Type 99. The vehicle described below is offered for export in the format described below with the designation of VT2.

Type 96B (ZTZ-96B) The Type 96B is the latest iteration of the Type 96 family. It is a second-generation MBT with improved suspension and mission systems over the earlier Type 96A. The Type 96B is intended to replace the Type 96 and some Type 96As in PLA service via an upgrade program.

VT-2 The VT2 is the export variant of the Type 96A, it is a medium-weight MBT designed to optimize life-cycle costs and provide customers with an affordable tank to replace aging systems.

VT2B At the 2017 armor and anti-armor day held by Norinco for export customers, a platform named VT2B was displayed. No details of the platform were made available at the time, but it may carry the improved weaponry and power pack of more recent Chinese tank developments.

GCZ-112 The GCZ-112 is a combat engineering vehicle based on the Type 96. It is equipped with the necessary tools to construct earthworks and clear obstacles for advancing armored formations. It shares the Type 96’s running gear and basic hull to facilitate maintenance and maneuvers.

System

Alternative Designation ZTZ-96; Type 96; Type 88C

Type Main Battle Tank (MBT)

Manufacturer First Inner Mongolia Machinery Factory

Family Type 96 Main Battle Tank

Crew 3 ea

Dimensions

Length (Hull ) 6.33 m

Length (Gun Forward) 10.65 m

Width 3.45 m

Height 2.30 m

Weight, Combat 41.5 tons

Ground Pressure 0.77 kg/m

Automotive

Engine Name INA

Engine Type Water cooled, diesel

Engine Power 1,000 hp

Fuel Capacity 400 Liters

Suspension Torsion Bar

Cruising Range 400 km

Speed, Maximum Road 65 km/h

Speed, Maximum Off Road 45 km/h

Speed Maximum Swim Not Amphibious

Gradient 60%

Side Slope 40%

Vertical Step 0.8 m

Trench 2.7 m

Fording (Without Preparation) 1.4 m

Fording (With Preparation) 5.0 m

0 to 60 Time 16 seconds

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 L50 ZPT-98 125 mm Smoothbore Gun

Type Smoothbore Gun

Caliber 125 mm

Max Rate of Fire (Automatic Loading) 8 rds/min

Max Rate of Fire (Manual Loading) 1-4 rds/min

Length (Barrel) 6,000 mm

Barrel Type 1 with a sliding gun barrel and a smoke evacuator in the middle

Loader Type Autoloader

Thermal Sleeve Yes, Light Alloy

Bore Evacuator Yes

Barrel Life 800 rounds

Loader Type Carousel auto-loader and Manual Loading capable

Launch Mode Single Shot

After Wedge Cross

Recoil Hydraulic and pneumatic

Note The L50 ZPT-98 can replace the barrel without removing the turret

Ammunition (Option 1)

Name 3VOF22

Type High Explosives (HE)

Caliber 125 mm

Purpose High explosive fragmentation fin stabilised. General purpose rounds, for use against infantry, bunkers and light vehicles and other "soft" targets.

Variants 3VOF22/3OF19, 3VOF36/3OF26, 3VOF128/3OF82

Muzzle Velocity 850 m/s

Maximum Effective Range 4,000 m

Minimum Effective Range INA m

Max Dispersion 0.23 mrad

Tungsten Rods 450 ea

Charge A-IX-2 (73% RDX, 23% aluminium powder, phlegmatized with 4% wax) 3.0 kg

Round Weight 33 kg

Projectile Weight 23 kg

Fragments 2,500 ea

Armor Penetration Yes

Basic Load 42 total rounds of any 125mm Projectiles

Ammunition (Option 2)

Name 3VBK27/3BK31 "Start"

Type High-Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT)

Caliber 125 mm

Variants 3VBK7/3BK12, 3VBK10/3BK14, 3BK12M, 3BK14M, 3VBK16/3BK18, 3BK18M, 3VBK17/3BK21, 3BK21B, 3VBK21/3BK25, 3VBK25/3BK29 "Breyk", 3VBK25M/3BK29M

Muzzle Velocity 915 m/s

Max Dispersion INA

Maximum Effective Range 3,000 m

Charge INA

Charge Weight 1.62 kg

Projectile Weight 18.4 kg

Fragments INA

Armor Penetration Estimated at 800 mm triple charge HEAT

Basic Load 42 total rounds of any 125mm Projectiles

Ammunition (Option 3)

Name 3VBM?/3BM69 "Vacuum-1"

Type Armour-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot (APFSDS) Rounds.

Caliber 125 mm

Variants 3VBM3/3BM9/10; 3VBM6/3BM12/13; 3VBM7/3BM15/16; 3VBM8/3BM17/18; 3VBM9/3BM22/23; 3VBM10/3BM29/30; 3VBM11/3BM26/27; 3VBM13/3BM32/33; 3VBM17/3BM42 (3BM44 "Mango"); 3VBM19/3BM42M (3BM44M "Lekalo"); 3VBM20/3BM46 (3BM48 "Svinets"); 3VBM22/3BM59 (3BM59 "Svinets-1"); 3VBM23/3BM60 (3BM60 "Svinets-2"); 3VBM?/3BM69 "Vacuum-1"; 3VBM?/3BM70 "Vacuum-2"

Muzzle Velocity 2,050 m/s

Maximum Effective Range 3,000 m

Projectile Dimension 900 mm

Round Weight INA

Projectile Weight (Estimated) 11 kg

Armor Penetration 1,000 mm

Note Entered service in 2005[5] Utilising a new sabot. Reported to be uranium alloy. For 2A82/2A82-1M cannon on T-80UM-2/T-14s.

Basic Load 42 total rounds of any 125mm Projectiles

Coaxial Weapon System

System

Name 1 x 7.62mm General-Purpose Machine Gun

Auxiliary Weapon System

System

Name 1 x QJG-89 Heavy Machine Gun

Type Heavy Machine Gun

Caliber 12.7 mm

Manufacturer INA

Max Rate of Fire 400-600 rds/min

Length (Total) 2,119 mm

Length (Barrel) 1,003 mm

Weight (Gun Only) 18.5 kg

Weight (Tripod) 17.5 kg

Action Gas Operated

Feed System Belt

Sights Iron/Optical

Ammunition

Type Rifle

Caliber 12.7x108 mm

Muzzle Velocity 825 m/s

Effective Range (vs. Air) 1,500 m

Effective Range (vs. Ground) 2,000 m

Feed System Belt fed, 50 rounds

Basic Load 500 ea

Fire Control

Name ISFCS-212

Computerized FCS Yes

Thermal Sight Tank Commander Yes

Thermal Sight Gunner Yes

Night Sight Maximum Distance 1,200 m

Main Gun Stabilization Dual axis gun stabilisation

Periscopes 3 ea

Rangefinder Laser

Sights, Maximum Distance (Day) 5,000 m

Sights, Maximum Distance (Night) 1,200 m

Ballistic Computer Yes

Step Motor Driver Yes

Crosswind Velocity Sensor Yes

Note The Type 96 MBT is unable to perform hunter-killer engagements

Protection

Hull Armor steel + composite + explosive reactive armor

Turret Armor steel + spaced composite + explosive reactive armor

Applique Armor Available, Track Skirts

Explosive Reactive Armor Yes, 2nd generation ERA

Active Protection System INA

Mine Clearing Roller-plow available

Self-Entrenching Blade INA

NBC Protection Yes

Smoke Equipment Grenlaunch 12x; VESS

IR Signature INA

Grenades 6 x 76mm grenades are equipped on each side of the turret

Automatic Fire Suppression System Yes

Image Sources

Notes https://www.grossdavid.com/post/the-plan-to-build-up-the-light-tank-brigade-in-the-idf; https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/most-dangerous-battle-tanks-in-pakistani-service-from-al-khalid-to-t-80; https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:%D0%A4%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%BB%D1%8C%D0%BD%D1%8B%D0%B9_%D1%8D%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BF_%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%B3%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%BA%D0%B8_%D0%BA_%D0%BC%D0%B5%D0%B6%D0%B4%D1%83%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%BC%D1%83_%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%BA%D1%83%D1%80%D1%81%D1%83_%C2%AB%D0%A0%D0%B5%D0%BC%D0%B1%D0%B0%D1%82-2017%C2%BB_(%D0%B3._%D0%9E%D0%BC%D1%81%D0%BA)_(7).jpg;