Type 15 tank

The Type 15 light tank (Chinese: 15式轻型坦克; pinyin: shíwǔ shì qīngxíng tǎnkè), also known as ZTQ-15, is a Chinese third generation light tank operated by the People's Liberation Army Ground Force. The vehicle is a replacement for the antiquated Type 62 light tank introduced in 1963. The Type 15 tank is designed to fulfill the requirement from the Chinese Army for a lighter, mobile modern tank that can effectively operate in highland/plateau, forest-rich and water-heavy regions where the heavier Type 99 tanks have difficulties traversing.[1]

Type 15 light tank
Typelight tank
Place of originChina
Service history
In service2018-present[1]
Used bySee Operators
Production history
DesignerNorinco
ManufacturerNorinco
Producedc. 2015-present[1]
No. builtClassified.
Specifications
Mass33 tonnes (standard), 36 tonnes (With armor package)[1]
Length9.2 metres (30 ft)[1]
Width3.3 metres (11 ft)[1]
Height2.5 metres (8.2 ft)[1]
Crew3[1]
ArmorStandard steel armor protection with additional advanced composite armor and/or explosive reactive armor package.[1]
Main
armament
105mm rifled gun (38 rounds) with autoloader[1]
Secondary
armament
Remotely operated weapon station armed with coaxial 12.7mm machine gun and QLZ-04 automatic grenade launcher
EngineElectronically controlled diesel engine with fully-automatic transmission
1,000 hp (746 kW)[1]
Power/weight30.30 hp/tonne
SuspensionHydropneumatic suspension[1]
Operational
range
450 kilometres (280 mi)–800 kilometres (500 mi)[1]
Maximum speed 70 kilometres per hour (43 mph)

Development

Sightings of Type 15 were reported by Chinese citizens, but its existence was formally confirmed by the Chinese Ministry of Defense in December 2018. The tank was confirmed to be in service by 2018[2][3][1] and was showcased in the 70th National Day parade on October 1, 2019. During the China-India border dispute along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in June 2020, Type 15 tanks were reportedly deployed in the Tibetan Plateau.[4]

Design

Armament

Type 15 uses a new 105mm rifled gun, which is superior to the Type 94 105mm guns fitted on Type 88 and Type 59 tanks. The Type 15 can hold 38 rounds of 105mm shells and is capable of effectively penetrating the armor of most main battle tanks in use by various South and Southwestern Asian countries when launching armor-piercing shells.[5][6] It can also fire new advanced tungsten alloy armor-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabots (APFSDS) capable of penetrating 500 mm (20 in) of armored steel at 2,000 metres (1.2 mi).[7]

Features

The Type 15 tank is equipped with chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) protection, an autoloader mechanism with ammunition stored in the turret bustle, air conditioning system, command and control equipment, commander's panoramic sight, gunner's thermal imaging sight, laser rangefinder, advanced ballistic computer, a tactical command system and a navigation system that includes inertial navigation system (INS) and satellite communications. [8][9]

Mobility

Due to its light weight, the new Type 15 tank can be airlifted as well as paradropped by military cargo aircraft.[9]

Variants
Type 15 / ZTQ-15
Designation for military version.
VT-5
Different design similar to the ZTQ-15 that is made for export. There are noticeable design differences. The driver's hatch on the VT-5 is positioned at the center front hull whereas the ZTQ-15 driver's hatch is located on the left. The upper front hull of the VT-5 is noticeably curved whereas the ZTQ-15 is straight. The modular add-on armor kits are also noticeably different.

Operators

See also

References
  1. "Type 15 VT5 ZTQ-15 light weight main battle tank".
  2. "Introducing China's New Type 15 Tank. Here's What You Need To Know".
  3. "China's new light tank for mountainous areas goes into service".
  4. "China flexing military muscle in border dispute with India". South China Morning Post. 2020-06-04. Retrieved 2020-06-19.
  5. "ZTQ-15 / Type 15 30-ton-class light tank".
  6. https://mil.news.sina.com.cn/jssd/2019-10-04/doc-iicezzrr0034416.shtml
  7. http://tv.cctv.com/2020/04/07/VIDEGF5bLefg5DPpbvjVRMBm200407.shtml |《军事科技》20200407 战场上的“小块头”
  8. https://mil.news.sina.com.cn/jssd/2019-10-04/doc-iicezzrr0034416.shtml
  9. "New Chinese Light Tank".
  10. "Trade-Register-1971-2019.rft". Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Retrieved 2020-03-11.
  11. "Bangladesh's VT5 tank exceeds India's T-90 and Pakistan also wants it". China Military. 6 December 2019. Retrieved 31 January 2020.

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