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Type 59G Tank in Tanzania

Type 59G Tank in Tanzania

The Type 59G Tank is an upgrade package offered by The China North Industries Corporation (Norinco) for the Chinese Type 59 medium tank.

The vehicle features improved armored protection, increased lethality and accuracy as well as increased mobility. It’s currently in service with Bangladesh and Tanzania. There is limited information released by Norinco on the upgrade and this has generated a lot of miss information or speculation.

Type 59G Tank Description

Initially it was speculated due to the turrets frontal shape and the limited images of it, that the Type 59G had retained a modified Type 59 hull and had a new turret of the Chinese Type 96G Main Battle Tank.

Type 59G Tank Turret

Type 59G Tank Turret

This is incorrect. On closer inspection it is clear that the Type 59G has retained its original Type 59 oval turret and had a new modular armor package, just like Pakistan’s Type 59 Al-Zarrar Tank upgrade.

Type 59 Al-Zarrar Tank

Type 59 Al-Zarrar Tank

You can see the original Type 59 turret ventilation (1.) the original oval top (2.) which meets the added armor package  (3.) and the original Type 59 crew hatch (4. & 4a.)

We can see the hull has been modified to take a different engine as the old exhaust (5a.) is covered up and x2 new circular exhausts are on the right rear of the hull just like other Chinese tanks exported to Pakistan.

Type 59G Tank Firepower

The Type 59 uses a fully stabilized 125mm smoothbore main gun capable of firing all standard ammunition such as HEAT and Armour-piercing fin-stabilized discarding-sabot (APFSDS). It has a semi-automatic loading system, stabilized sights and modern Fire Control System. It lacks a Commanders independent Sight and is therefore a 2nd Generation Tank.

Type 59G Tank Protection

The new frontal turret modular armor is covered in Explosive Reactive Armor, which doubles up as spaced armor. It’s not known if any form of composite or laminate armor is fitted in the modules, but most unlikely.

The hull front has been modified and may have some form of laminate armor over the upper glacis plate. Explosive Reactive Armor is fitted across the hull front and along the side skirt panels.

Type 59G Tank Mobility

The modifications to the rear of the hull in relocating the exhaust imply a new diesel engine has been installed. This is most likely 700+hp and the suspension will most likely have been updated to take all the additional weight of the armor upgrades.

Type 59G Tank Operators

Bangladesh – 300 Type 59G have been supplied between 2010/15
Tanzania – 30 Type 59G delivered between 2011/13

Type 59G Tank Specifications

Firepower
Main Gun 100mm, calibre Length 55 Rifled L30 CHARM
Elevation -10 to +20
Secondary Weapons x1 coaxial 7.62mm MG, x1 7.62mm MG
Ammunition Storage x50 120mm, x4,000 7.62mm
Mobility
Engine Perkins Condor V-12 1200hp Diesel
Transmission David Brown TN54 epicyclical (6 forward/ 2 reverse gears)
Top Road Speed 56 km/h (Governed)
Road Range 450 km
Fuel Capacity 1592 Litres
Vertical Obstacle 0.9m
Water Capability 1.07m
Trench Crossing 2.34m
Gradient 60%
Side Slope 30%
Dimensions
Length Gun Forward 11.55m
Length Hull 8.327m
Width
3.52m
Height 2.49m (roof top)
Ground Clearance 0.5m
Weight 62,500kg aka 62.5 tonne combat
Protection
NBC Protected Yes
Armor Type Steel/Composite/modular/passive/ERA
Active Protection Systems No

See Also:

Type 59 Images Page

Reference:

http://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php

https://sinodefence.com/