Type 69 tank

Type 69
Iraqi Type 69-II captured during the Gulf War
Type	Main battle tank
Place of origin	China
Service history
In service	1974–present (Type 69) 1982–present (Type 69-II) 1984–present (Type 79)
Used by	See Operators
Wars	Iran–Iraq War Gulf War Battle for Border Post 9631 Iraq War
Production history
Designer	No. 60 Research Institute
Designed	1963–1974
Manufacturer	First Inner Mongolia Machinery Factory (Inner Mongolia First Machinery Group Corporation)
Specifications
Mass	36.7 tonnes[1]
Length	6.24 m (Hull)[1]
Width	3.3 m[1]
Height	2.80 m
Crew	4
Armor	203 mm
Main armament	100mm smoothbore/105 mm rifled tank gun
Secondary armament	7.62 mm coaxial and bow machine guns, 12.7 mm antiaircraft machine gun
Engine	12150L-7 V-12 diesel engine 580 hp[1] (430 kW)
Power/weight	15.8 hp/tonne[1]
Suspension	torsion-bar
Operational range	440 km[1]
Maximum speed	50 km/h[1]

The Type 69 (Chinese: 69式; pinyin: Liùjiǔ shì) and Type 79 (Chinese: 79式; pinyin: Qījiǔ shì) are Chinese first generation main battle tanks. Both were developments of the Type 59 medium tank (a locally produced Soviet T-54A) with technologies derived from the T-62. They were the first indigenously developed main battle tanks by China, although also classified as medium tanks while in development and service.^[2][3] Their lineage from the T-54A can be seen through the distinct gap between the first and second road wheels. Other improvements included a new engine, ballistic computers, and laser rangefinders. The more advanced Type 79 variant was equipped with a 105 mm rifled gun which was also found on the Type 80 tank.^[1]