- Yes
- No
Introduction
The Royal Ordnance 105 mm Type 59 upgrade programme began in the early 1980s, from Royal Ordnance’s assessment that large numbers of Soviet T-54, T-55, and Chinese Type 59 tanks in Cold War service were becoming obsolete but still represented a potentially lucrative export upgrade market. To demonstrate this concept, Royal Ordnance acquired a former Pakistani Army Type 59 and used it as the basis for an extensive modernisation package. The initial demonstrator focused on improving firepower and night-fighting capability through the installation of the British 105 mm L7A3 gun, a laser rangefinder, improved fire-control and gun-control systems, commander’s thermal sight, driver night-vision devices, and upgraded fire-suppression equipment, while retaining the original propulsion system and basic hull and turret.
The engineering effort required significant redesign work, particularly to adapt the L7A3 to a Soviet-derived turret originally designed for the 100 mm D-10TS. The gun was rotated through 180 degrees to accommodate Soviet loaders positions, and Royal Ordnance developed a revised recoil system. Additional changes included new ammunition stowage integrated into hull fuel tanks, modified firing circuits, and revised sights matched to the new ammunition. A further refinement was that the barrel could now be withdrawn through the breech rather than requiring turret removal. By 1984, in response to the lack of customer interest in Rev. 1, Royal Ordnance improved the demonstrator with the additions of ROMOR-A reactive armour on the hull sides (claimed 300 mm HEAT protection) and ROMOR-B passive applique armour on the upper front plate and turret front (claimed 400 mm HEAT protection), along with smoke grenade launchers, while presenting the vehicle publicly as a modern export tank.
The upgraded vehicle underwent trials and demonstrations, but despite these efforts, no nation adopted the full package. Egypt, however, showed interest in the gun conversion alone and in June 1985 ordered the 105 mm L7A3 upgrade for its T-54/T-55 fleet, omitting the remainder of the upgrades. Ultimately, the sole Royal Ordnance Rev. 2 demonstrator was stripped of its ROMOR armour and donated to the Bovington Tank Museum, where it survives in running condition.
With the suggestion for the later, Revision 2 model of the tank being passed to the devs, this suggestion is for the first revision of the demonstrator, with the firepower upgrade but lacking the add-on armour. The Royal Ordnance Type 59 Rev. 1 represents a unique vehicle that could be added to Britain in-game for some variety in early-mid Cold War line-ups, and I believe would be best suited as a premium/event/BP vehicle.
Specifications
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Generic Hull Specifications
Upgrade Specifications
Images
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Cheers to @ForeverAloneRage and @l2ulan for some of the below pics
Sources
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Royal Ordnance Type 59 Brochure
Royal Ordnance Project Guide
ROMOR A Brochure
Janes AFV Retrofit Systems 1988-99
Bovington Tank Museum Exhibit Information