- Yes
- No
TL;DR: Type 62 experimentally fitted with an upgraded main gun with a single-plane stabiliser
History
The Type 62 (ZTQ62) was developed in the late 1950s and early 1960s, as a light tank designed to operate in terrain the heavier Type 59 MBTs couldn’t, particularly around southern China. Work on a light tank began in 1956, and two separate competitor designs were made. A 16-tonne design was called 59-16, and a 24-tonne design was called 131. The 131 was further developed into the 132 (132 (1959) and 132 (1960) / 132A). Both the 132 (1959) and 132 (1960) were armed with a 76mm cannon. This cannon was deemed inadequate, and it was replaced with an 85mm cannon on the 132B. After further testing and minor changes, the 132B entered production and service as the Type 62 in 1963. Production ended in 1982, with a total of 1,560 vehicles produced.
Production model Type 62
Quickly, a number of shortcomings of the Type 62 were identified. In 1964–65, work began on designing an improved Type 62 and an improved 85mm cannon. In 1965, the improved cannon began to be constructed, and was completed in 1966. That same year, the Type 62 improvement was designated 131-1. It is important to note that the 131-1 is not designated WZ-131-1 as it is often referred to as online. ‘WZ’ only started to be used in the 1980s, after the development of this vehicle was cancelled, and ‘WZ’ was not retroactively applied to old prototypes. The industrial designation of the standard Type 62 is WZ-131, only because production continued until 1982.
The 131-1 design was finalised in 1967, and the vehicle entered construction and testing. By 1969, testing was complete. The 131-1 featured the improved 85mm cannon, notably featuring a muzzle brake similar to that of the American 90mm M41, and able to fire APFSDS and HESH rounds. It also featured a single-plane stabiliser, an electric elevation drive, greater ammunition storage, and infrared night vision sights for the gunner and commander. The suspension was also improved.
In 1966, the Cultural Revolution began, which had an adverse effect on a number of tank and AFV projects. At the same time, work had begun on the 132 light tank in 1967. This delayed work on the 131-1, and eventually it was discarded entirely in favour of the 132. By 1975, the 132 program had also been cancelled. Focus was instead placed on carrying out a more simple upgrade of the Type 62. This included fairly impromptu laser rangefinders in the late 1970s, and a more comprehensive upgrade package in the 1980s (LRF, slat armour, sideskirts).
The 132 (1972), in some ways the successor of the 131-1.
Characteristics
The 131-1 was fitted with a vertically-stabilised 85mm cannon. It was lengthened and had a muzzle brake attached to it. It could fire a range of rounds, including AP rounds like Type 56 AP, Type 56 APBC, and Type 56 APCBC, as well as Type 56 HEAT-FS, and an APSFDS round. Type 56 APCBC penetrates 164mm @ 0° @ 10m, and Type 56 HEAT-FS penetrates 300mm @ 0° @ 10m. The cannon fired rounds at a greater velocity, with the AP rounds going from 800m/s (792m/s) to 860m/s, so all rounds (except HESH and HEAT-FS) would have increased penetration from what’s stated here based on the Type 63 cannon. The APFSDS round penetrated 250mm @ 30° (unknown distance), which is better than DJW85 in-game, although I couldn’t find any more details. This round could still be DJW85, considering the velocity improvement, and if DJW85 is underestimated in-game.
The 131-1 could also be fitted with a 12.7mm Type 54, and a coaxial 7.62mm Type 59. Ammunition carrying capacity was improved for all weaponry: 62 main cannon rounds are carried instead of the 47 of the Type 62, 3000 7.62mm rounds (from 2000), and 825 12.7mm rounds (from 500). An IR lamp was fitted to the right of the main cannon along with night vision for both the commander and gunner. The main gun also had an electrical elevation drive, probably increasing elevation speeds.
The armour of the 131-1 was the same as the regular Type 62. The base hull armour was 35mm across the UFP, 25mm along the sides, and 15mm along the rear. The turret was slightly thicker than the hull, at 50mm frontally, 35mm along the sides, and 32mm at the rear.
The mobility of the 131-1 stayed the same as the regular Type 62. It had a 430hp engine, allowing it to reach a top speed of 60km/h. The Type 62 weighs 21t — due to the improved gun and ammunition storage, it is likely the 131-1 was around 0.5t heavier (estimate), giving it a power-to-weight ratio of 20hp/t.
Conclusion
The 131-1 would be an excellent light tank addition to the Chinese tech tree, improving on the Type 62 in a few fairly substantial ways, but not quite as much as other prototypes like the 132. It would likely go at a BR of 7.3, and although could work in the research tree, would be a good event or even squadron vehicle due to its one-off status.
Specifications
Armament
- 85mm
- Vertical stabiliser
- 62 rounds
- Type 56 APCBC
- >164mm at 0° at 10m
- DJW85 (?) APFSDS
- >250mm at 30°
- Type 56 HEAT-FS
- 300mm at 0° at 10m
- Type 56 HE
- >19mm at 0° at 10m
- 1x 12.7mm Type 54
- 825 rounds
- 1x 7.62mm Type 59
- 3000 rounds
Armour
- Turret
- 50 / 35 / 32mm
- Hull
- 35 / 25 / 15mm
Mobility
- Speed
- 60km/h
- Weight
- ~21.5t (estimated)
- Engine power
- 430hp, 20hp/t
Other
- Crew
- 4
Images
- No other images appear to exist.
Sources