WZ-704 Experimental Tank （WZ-122 TM Tank Enhanced Variant）

[一弹定天下]

[Would you like to see this in-game?]

• Yes
• No

Introduction

The WZ-704 experimental tank is a deep improvement variant of China’s WZ-122 mechanically controlled tank and represents the nation’s first attempt at a Western-style bustle autoloader test vehicle.

Historical Background

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• April 1967: China’s Central Military Commission formally issued the development task codenamed “122 Medium Tank” to narrow the technological gap with advanced nations, targeting superiority over the Soviet T-64 tank, German Leopard 1 tank, US M60 tank, and French AMX-30 tank.September 25, 1970: Factory 617 completed a “Hydraulically Controlled” tank prototype (WZ-122-1). Development stalled due to technical failures in "hydraulic transmission, hydropneumatic suspension, and hydraulic-assisted control functions.Recognizing unrealistic technical targets, China halted the “hydraulic” variant and pivoted to the mature “mechanical control” design (mechanical transmission, torsion-bar suspension, mechanical control )

• January 17, 1971**: Two “Mechanically Controlled” tank prototypes (WZ-122-2) were assembled. To ensure producibility, compromises were made in all technical parameters, resulting in an overly mediocre design that was ultimately abandoned.

• After the Zhenbao Island (Damansky) conflict, Chinese authorities feared a Soviet invasion from the north. Production facilities of Factory 617 were replicated and relocated to Luoyang, a remote industrial city in the south. The new factory opened in April 1970 and was named Factory 704.

• Factory 704 participated in the WZ-122 project’s development. Improvements were made based on the WZ-122-2, and a mechanical autoloader was installed on the new tank. Compared to the mechanically controlled WZ-122-2, the new design altered the turret rear shape to accommodate the autoloader—effectively a semi-assisted loading mechanism. It was reliable but ineffective due to slow operation. This upgraded tank was designated Project 704 (WZ-704).

  • Project 704 is often considered a parallel “branch” of Project 122, but in practice, it constituted Project 122’s third modification.Production was halted at Factory 704 in 1972 due to prioritization of the Type 59 tank. No mass production occurred. The test tank prototype is preserved at the China YTO Hongtu Agricultural Museum (Luoyang, Henan Province) under non-public internal exhibition.

• The WZ-704 can be regarded as a deep improvement variant of the WZ-122 mechanically controlled medium tank, featuring an engine replacement, an added turret bustle housing a semi-autoloader, and installation of a 20mm autocannon (could appear as a 9.0 BR premium or golden eagle vehicle in-game)

Overall Layout

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Crew (4 personnel):

• Driver: Hull left side
• Turret: Commander and Gunner (left side), Loader (right side)

Armament:

• Primary Weapon: 120mm L/48 smoothbore tank gun (identical to WZ-122TM), fitted with a 6-side-port impact-reaction muzzle brake.
  • Autoloader: Bustle-mounted semi-autoloader (4 ready rounds on chain feed + manual ramming).
• Secondary Weapons:
  • 4× HJ-4 anti-tank missiles (early 302-type)
  • Type 71 20mm AA autocannon + coaxial 7.62mm machine gun.

Systems:

• Laser rangefinder + Dual-axis stabilizer + Low-light night vision device + Semi-autoloader
• Simplified automatic ballistic fire control system
• Commander’s independent panoramic sight (lacks override firing and hunter-killer functionality)

Engine:

• Weichai 8V160 turbocharged diesel engine

Ammunition Distribution:

• Bustle autoloader: 4 rounds
• Fighting compartment: 13-round ammunition rack (front-right base) + 5-round ammunition rack(rear-right) = 22 rounds total
• Hull: 18 rounds stored in ammunition rack fuel tanks (driver’s right side)
• Total ammunition: 40 rounds

Specifications

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Parameter	Value
Weight	37.5 tons
Dimensions	9.52m (L) × 3.28m (W) × 2.25m (H)
Armor Composition	Composite glacis plate (60° slope / 100mm RHA equivalent) + Cast turret (200mm)
Hull Armor	100mm (front) / 80mm (sides) / 45mm (rear)
Turret Armor	200mm (front) / 165mm (sides) / 65mm (rear)
Main Gun:120mm L/48 smoothbore tank gun

• Barrel length: 5,750 mm
• Main Gun Ammunition:APFSDS (muzzle velocity 1,615 m/s) / HEATFS / HE
• Elevation:-6°/+18°
• Rate of Fire:8-10 rounds/minute (normal);3-4 rounds/minute (manual after damage)

Missile (HJ-4)

• Caliber: 120mm
• Weight: 15kg
• Length: 1,156mm
• Range: 3,000m
• Flight speed: 200–250 m/s
• Dynamic penetration: 150–180mm @65°
• Static penetration: 800mm

AA Gun (Type 71)

• Caliber: 20mm
• Elevation: -5°/+85°
• Muzzle velocity: 1,010 m/s
• Practical rate of fire: 150 rpm
• Effective range: 2,000m
• Ammo feed: 40-round drum

Coaxial: 7.62mm MG (3,000 rounds)|

Mobility:Weichai 8V160 turbocharged diesel engine (537 kW / 730 hp @ 2,200 rpm)
Hydraulic planetary transmission →Max speed: 60 km/h (road), 30 km/h (off-road)
(3 forward gears / 1 reverse gear)

Photo

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Source

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WZ-122-3 中型坦克
URLs Previously Submitted on the Legacy Forum
122工程之历史背景

[Константинович7]

Seems to be a interesting addition for Chinese 9.0 battle rating in my opinion.

[UMBRAL_STALKER-psn]

1+ for more Soviet/Chinese stuff

[simsimkek]

There is so much cool Chinese stuff that can be added to tier 6 but for a long time now Gaijin has sadly only ever added things to top tier, rarely anything else

[PlayedStatue626-live]

+1

[一弹定天下]

Ironically, this product from the NO704 factory has never had an official name, and is often referred to simply as “Tank 704”, and is often confused with Object 704. In fact, this is the third version of Project 122. To this day, it remains unknown due to its high level of confidentiality. So there are multiple options in the game: “Tank 704”, “Object 704”, “WZ-122-3”, “WZ-704” or “Project 704”

[JamesPond1200-psn]

Fascinating! Would be a nice tech tree vehicle to compliment the existing 122. +1

[19171315459]

Generally, tech trees feature mass-produced vehicles, but these three are experimental prototypes. I believe the three variants of the WZ-122 should appear in the game as follows:
WZ-122-1: The project using hydraulic drive, transmission, suspension, and steering. (Event Vehicle)
WZ-122-2:The project with a manual transmission and simplified suspension. (Already in the game as a Squadron Vehicle)
WZ-122-3: The project with a manual transmission, simplified suspension, and an autoloader. (Premium Bundle)

[PlayedStatue626-live]

Sounds like a good folder for the first and third tank.

I’m hoping we do get more prototype vehicles in the tree as gajin has done so already plenty of times (ostwind 2, Chi Ri, Mirage 4000, several “object” tanks in the USSR tree etc)

[19171315459]

The WZ122-1 and WZ122-3 are slightly stronger in performance than the WZ122-2. Both should have a battle rating of 9.0. The Chinese tech tree already has several strong performers at 9.0, and it doesn’t lack mass-produced vehicles that could be added. However, there are still significant gaps for non-tech-tree vehicles. Of course, I hope they’re all released as premium packs—that way I can buy them directly, hehe.

[PlayedStatue626-live]

@19171315459

that way I can buy them directly, hehe.

Fair enough, hopefully they will be permanently in the shop for ge if they are and not whatever nonsense they do occasionally with removing and returning premiums on a whim.

[JamesPond1200-psn]

There are dozens of tech tree prototypes. That is not a valid rule for isolating vehicles from the TT.