The Type 59 Jaguar Tank is a former upgrade package developed for the Type 59 Tank in a joint project between China and American Company Cadillac Gage. Its targeted market was existing or future Type 59 export clients.

Type 59 Jaguar Tank Development

During the late 1980’s relations between China and the West was at its best it had been for many years, with foreign investment and the freedom of sharing technology.

Developed in the mid-1980’s, the Type 59 Jaguar represented the improved relations between China and the West, with investment and the freedom of sharing superior technology within the defence industry.

The first of the two prototypes was first publicly seen around 1988. Almost unrecognisable from the original Type 59, it featured a new appliqué armor package, 105mm rifled main gun and modern Fire Control System (new sights and wind sensor).

However, following the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 and the subsequent breakdown with Western relations, Cadillac Gage went on to build a second prototype and market the vehicle without China. The Type 59 Jaguar failed to attract any orders and remained at the prototype stage.

Type 59 Jaguar Tank Firepower

The Jaguar was fitted with the M68 rifled 105mm main gun (as used on the M60 Patton series, which was a built version of the British L7), a 7.62mm coaxial Machine Gun and a cupola mounted 12.7mm Machine Gun.

The main gun was fully stabilized and a modern Fire Control System was installed with thermal sighting equipment & sensors.

Type 59 Jaguar Tank Protection

The Jaguar featured a new armor package changing the external appearance of the tank from the standard Type 59.

It featured new flat angled surfaces and sloping front hull normally associated with either laminate or composite armor. Other crew safety devices may have included Fire Fighting equipment and NBC protection.

Type 59 Jaguar Tank Mobility

Overall mobility was improved with a new American Detroit Diesel 8V-92TA V8 engine generating 750hp.

Type 59 Jaguar Tank Specifications

Firepower
Main Gun	105mm Rifled M68 Elevation -4 to +17
Secondary Weapons	x1 coaxial 7.62mm MG, x1 12.7mm MG
Ammunition Storage	x34 105mm, x500 7.62mm?
Mobility
Engine	Detroit Diesel 8V-92TA V8 750hp
Transmission	Unknown
Top Road Speed	55 km/h
Road Range	540 km
Fuel Capacity	Unknown
Vertical Obstacle	0.8m
Water Capability	1.4m
Trench Crossing	2.7m
Gradient	60%
Side Slope	30%
Dimensions
Length Gun Forward	9.6m
Length Hull	6m+
Width	3.13m
Height	2.62m?
Ground Clearance	Unknown
Weight	41,700kg aka 41.7 tonne combat
Protection
NBC Protected	Yes?
Armor Type	Steel/Composite or Laminate/Sloped
Active Protection Systems	No

See Also:

Type 59 Images Page