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Welcome to the suggestion for the ZTZ59D! This is a Chinese main battle tank designed to upgrade the People’s Liberation Army’s large fleet of older Type 59s and Type 59-IIs. Compared to the version in-game, the only real change would be the longer barrel, resulting in better muzzle velocity and penetration. In real life, the ZTZ59D saw much more PLA service than the ZTZ59D1, and while it wouldn’t be the most pressing addition, could fit nicely in a folder under the ZTZ59D1. To make it slightly more unique, it could receive DTW2-105 and be moved up slightly in battle rating, or just be a long barreled counterpart to the ZTZ59D1.
History
An older Type 59-II, or ZTZ59B with the newer vehicle naming system. Older models like this were fairly obsolete by the 1990s, even with the 105 mm gun.
Through much of the Cold War, China relied heavily on the Type 59, a license-built T-54A, as its mainstay tank. Even up into the 1980s it relied on the then-20 year old tank for the bulk of its military, despite better vehicles being developed and exported, notably the Type 80, 85, and 88 series of tanks. China would eventually upgrade the Type 59 with a laser rangefinder, as well as replacing its old 100 mm gun with a 105 mm one on the Type 59-II, with the follow-on Type 59-IIA adding side skirts, smoke grenade launchers, new fire control system, and a thermal sleeve.
With the emergence of new technology and new wars in the 1990s, the PLA sought to fundamentally change up its tactics. As part of its modernization, it made a decision in July 1990 to upgrade its existing fleet of ZTZ59 tanks that dated back to the 1960s. After a feasibility analysis and studying over the next year, research and development began on an upgrade. Two prototypes would come of this, codenamed WZ120C, with a further two produced in July and August 1993, the latter of which concluded that the upgraded vehicle met requirements.
The new vehicle improved the vehicle over previous models by adding 28 pieces of FY-1 ERA on the turret front, 13 pieces of FY-2 ERA to the front hull, smoke grenade launchers, a CWT-167 radio set, CYY-168 crew intercom system, and a storage basket on the rear of the turret. Perhaps the most notable addition was the Type 37A Fire Control System found on other Chinese tanks of the time, such as the ZTZ80 and ZTZ88. This FCS integrated a laser rangefinder, gunner’s sight, and ballistic computer all in one.
A ZTZ59D from the 77th Group Army moving towards a skill demonstration, March 2018.
In September, the WZ120C passed its appraisal by military officials, and from October of that year to June of 1994, its fairly new Type 37A light-spot FCS was tested. During testing of its FCS, 367 rounds were fired in a variety of scenarios, resulting in relatively satisfactory results. The August 1994 to January 1995 period was spent testing three of the prototypes, firing them, driving them, further FCS testing, fire extinguishing and explosion suppression tests, testing the smoke screen, and its cold weather adaptability. The vehicle was finally approved in April as the ZTZ59D1 medium tank.
Even while the ZTZ59D1 was accepted into service, a further upgrade was being eyed. Available at the time was the longer 105 mm L/62 ZPL94 gun, a simple upgrade which would slightly increase the muzzle velocity of the ZTZ59D1’s DTW1-105 APFSDS round by almost 50 m/s, to 1,500 m/s. Approval was gained for this upgrade in November 1995, with the new vehicle dubbed the ZTZ59D, codename WZ120D. The following year, ZTZ59D1s would begin to be converted to ZTZ59D standard, entering service alongside the more advanced ZTZ96.
In 2007, the Chinese state company Poly Technologies exhibited its Type 59P at IDEX in Abu Dhabi. This was essentially a further developed Type 59D, notably increasing the number of FY-1 ERA blocks on the turret to 34, and FY-2 blocks on the hull to 18. It was offered to have either the ISFCS-212, an export version of the Type 37A, or an improved version, as well as the ability to fire GP-105 gun-launched anti-tank guided missiles. Better engines were offered than the 520 hp one on the ZTZ59D, including the 580 hp 12150L-7, 730 hp 12150ZL, or 800 hp 12150L-7BV diesel engines. The exhaust pipe was moved to the right side as well. Sudan took an interest in the Type 59P and would locally produced it under the name Al-Zubair 2. Back in China, the PLA has largely seen the ZTZ59D replaced by more modern tanks like the ZTZ96 and its upgrades, however the old warrior continues to soldier on in some units as of early 2026.
A ZTZ59D from the 39th Combined-Arms Brigade, 77th GA in January 2026.
Specifications
Crew: 4
Weight: 36.4 tons
Length: 9.2 m
Width: 3.3 m
Height: 2.4 m
Main armament: 105 mm ZPL94 (38 rounds)
Secondary armament: 7.62 mm Type 59 & 12.7 mm Type 54
Engine: 520 hp 12150L diesel engine
Maximum speed: 50 km/h
Maximum range: 640 km
