- Yes
- No
Hello! This is a suggestion for the Chinese Type 59G-125, a variant of the Type 59 offered by offered by Liaoning Poly Special Vehicle Ltd., notably featuring a redesigned turret, equipped with a 125mm smoothbore gun. As a note to clarify, this suggestion is specifically for the variant showcased above and at the Zhuhai Air Show in 2018, and DVEX-2019, and not the original Type 59G with a more arrowhead shaped turret, as seen in service with Chad and Tanzania seen here in an excellent post by panzerknoef.
Information is a little confused on this vehicle and the variant with the more arrowhead shaped turret, but for the sake of brevity, the vehicle here with a more flat turret will be the Type 59G-125, and the arrowhead one, the Type 59G. If you have any corrections on this, I would appreciate it.
History & Design
A model of the future Type 59G at IDEX-2007.
In the 21st century, the Type 59 from the 1950s is no longer a viable option for a modern army, due to its outdated gun, and comparatively primitive systems. To solve this issue and provide an alternative to buying new tanks completely, the Chinese company Liaoning Poly Special Vehicle Co., Ltd showcased a model of its Type 59 upgrade program at IDEX-2007, equipped with a redesigned turret and an upgrade in firepower to a 125mm gun. Liaoning Poly Special Vehicle Co., Ltd itself is a private enterprise, formed in 2006 consisting of just 80 employees, but traces its roots to Factory 6409, notable for conducting maintenance, repair, and modifications of tanks, including the famous T-62 No. 545.
Chadian Type 59Gs, upgraded tanks like these often stem from a need to upgrade fleets of older tanks.
The showcase of a Type 59 upgrade by a Chinese company ultimately culminated in sales to Tanzania, and later Chad, of the Type 59G, a vehicle equipped with a turret remarkably similar to the PLA service ZTZ96A. The upgrade allows users of the Type 59 to upgrade their tank fleet with more modern firepower, protection, and electronics, while still using the Type 59 chassis. However, unlike the ZTZ96A, it seems unlikely that the Type 59G has been fitted with an autoloader, due to the smaller chassis size.
A Type 59G-105 (left) next to the Type 59G-125 at the Zhuhai Air Show, 2018.
A further variation, labeled the Type 59G-125, was showcased at the 12th Zhuhai Air Show in 2018, featuring a more flat turret face. This same vehicle would be demonstrated for a crowd the following year at DVEX-2019 in Tianjin, and since then, does not seem to have had any known export orders.
The Type 59G-125 during a demonstration at DVEX-2019 in Tianjin, China.
Specifications
Crew: 4
Weight: 40.5 t
Main armament: 125mm ZPT-98 smoothbore gun
Secondary armament: 7.62mm machine gun & 12.7mm machine gun
Protection: 6× smoke grenade launchers on each side of the turret & FY-2 ERA on turret and hull front
Engine: 730 hp 12V150ZLC engine
