Type 63 (tank)

Type 63
Type 63
	Chinese Type 63-I tank at the China People's Revolution Military Museum.
Type	Amphibious light tank
Place of origin	China
Service history
In service	1963–present
Used by	See Operators
Wars	See Combat History
Production history
Designer	Military Engineering Institute (MEI) and the No. 60 Research Institute of Fifth Ministry of Machine Building
Designed	1960 - 1963
Manufacturer	Norinco ; Factory 615 Shaanxi Weiyang Diesel Engine Plant (陕西渭阳柴油机厂) ; and Factory 256 Southwest Vehicles Factory (西南车辆制造厂)
Produced	1963 - ? (ended)
No. built	More than 1,550
Variants	See Variants
Specifications (Type 63-I)
Mass	19.83 tonnes
Length	8.44 m ; 7.15 m (hull only)
Width	3.2 m
Height	3.122 m (with the AA HMG) ; 2.522 m (without the AA HMG)
Crew	4 (commander, gunner, loader, driver)
Armor	Welded rolled steel ; 11 mm hull front ; 14 mm hull upper side ; 10 mm hull rear ; 10 mm hull bottom ; 10 mm hull top
Main; armament	85 mm Type 62-85TC rifled gun (47 rounds)
Secondary; armament	7.62 mm Type 59T coaxial medium machine gun (2,000 rounds) ; 12.7 mm Type 54 anti-aircraft heavy machine gun (500 rounds) ; 7.62 mm Type 59T anti-aircraft medium machine gun (optional)
Engine	12150L-2 12-cylinder liquid-cooled diesel; 402 hp (300 kW) at 2,000 rpm
Power/weight	20.3 hp/tonne (15.1 kW/tonne)
Transmission	Manual, planetary
Suspension	torsion bar
Ground clearance	400 mm
Fuel capacity	545 litres
Operational; range	370 km (road) ; 340 km (cross country) ; 120 km (water)
Maximum speed	64+ km/h (road) ; 30+ km/h (cross country) ; 12 km/h (water)

The Norinco Type 63 (Chinese: 63式; pinyin: Liùsān shì) is a Chinese amphibious light tank. First fielded in 1963, it is in many ways similar to the earlier Soviet PT-76. However, contrary to the popular belief, it does have some essential differences from the PT-76 in the vehicle's waterjet propulsion system, etc. It is also known under its industrial designation, the WZ-211. Type 63 is being replaced by Type 63A.

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ "Gary's Combat Vehicle Reference Guide"
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Czołgi Świata" (World's Tanks or Tanks Of The World) magazine issue 17
^ Cite error: The named reference Global Security was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Cite error: The named reference Sino Defense was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[Gary's_Combat_Vehicle_Reference_Guide-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ "Gary's Combat Vehicle Reference Guide"

[Czołgi_Świata_(World's_Tanks_or_Tanks_Of_The_World)_magazine_issue_17-2] "Czołgi Świata" (World's Tanks or Tanks Of The World) magazine issue 17

[Global_Security-3] Cite error: The named reference Global Security was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[Sino_Defense-4] Cite error: The named reference Sino Defense was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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