Type 96

Type 96 (also known as the Type 88C ) is a Chinese battle tanks. It is the end product of the Type -80 family.

Genesis

The Type 96 is essentially a development of the Soviet T -72. The tub was almost unchanged. Here, only the chassis and engine were replaced. At the tower, the mold was completely revised, but the 125 -mm smoothbore gun was maintained with the associated automatic charger as well as the 12.7 -mm anti-aircraft machine gun on the turret roof and the 7.62 - mm coaxial machine gun. The fire control and radio equipment were replaced with a Chinese model. Basically you can say that the type 96 is identical to the T- 72M1 to almost 70%. This also meant that Chinese military after the Second Gulf War were of the opinion that the main battle tank used by them were outdated compared to Western models. Point, the parallel development of types 96 and 98 began Think of the type 96, the width solution for the Chinese mass army, since it is cheaper because of lower technological claim. The development of the tank began in 1991 until 2003. Should, according to Ministry of Defence of People's Republic of 1,500 pieces in the service of the troops are. In 2007, the People's Liberation Army has about 2,500 Type 96

Equipment

The tank follows largely influenced by the Soviets, the Chinese design principles. The 125 -mm smoothbore gun is operated by an automatic loading mechanism, whereby the load contactors disappears and the tower can be reduced. In addition to other conventional armament in the form of two MG the tank is protected by a Kompositpanzerung. Note, however, is the 730 PS diesel engine rather weak and the resulting steady speed. In addition, the type has about 96 laser rangefinder and a fire control system. The extensive facilities of the type 98 is not achieved.