New Type98/99 MBT thread

[plawolf]

You have to also remember that those figures would just be the physical thickness.

Since pretty much all modern tanks use composit layered armour rather than just RHSA, so their armour value is going to be considerable higher if translated into RHSA values (which will, of course be highly classified) if you want to compare them to the armour penetration values of modern tank guns, whic is typically thickness of RHSA that can be penetrated.

In addition, the Type99 uses ERAs, which by themselves can stop the best currently fielded sabots.

I have seen legacy Chinese tanks that have been retrofitted with ERA take a hit from a Type 96/99 that only left a dimple on its armour.

 

[FORBIN]

4th Armored Brigade, 16th Group Army, Shenyang MR completely equiped now with Type-99, 4 bat of 31 : 3 x 10 + 1 HQ replace Type-59.
Possible ZSD-83 in the two mech bat replaced by ZBD-04 ?

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[FORBIN]

4th Armored Brigade, 16th Group Army, Shanyang MR. completely equiped now with Type-99, 4 bat of 31 : 3 x 10 + 1 HQ replave Type-59.
Possible ZSD-83 in the two mech bat replaced by ZBD-04 ?
View attachment 15385 View attachment 15386

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[Insignius]

So, with another brigade of 124 Type 99s in service, how many do we have in total now?

Last estimates were around 600 of all variants (including the 99A).

Now, about 700+?

That's quite a good number already.

I wish there will be at least 1000 Type 99s.

 

[FORBIN]

Good question and difficult to be exact i have in 2013 about 700 possible now 900/1000 yes.

Seems Type-96 production for a year 124.

Others opinions are very welcome

 

[Totoro]

i rmember from some years ago it was speculated type 96 is being produced at a steady pace of 3-4 battallions worth per year. i guess that could be those 124 per year. type 99, however, was produced at just 1-2 battalions worth per year. so in these 15 or so years, we might expect some 450-900 type99 made. Probably closer to the latter figure.

But having some 2200 type 96 and 700 type 99 made - would not these almost 3000 tanks be enough for the entire active PLA tank force? At least as far as brigade/division count is concerned, there should be no more than 100 tank battallions in all the brigades and divisions.

edit: just went through the cdf forum orbat and it would seem PLA has more tank batallions per unit. as far as i can tell - armored brigade has 4 tank batallions, armored divison has somehow less (?!?) and has just 3 tank battallions, mech infantry division has 4 tank battallions and mech infantry brigade has 2 tank battalions. i don't know about motorized infantry brigades, but it seems they too have a tank battallion or even two. its all very confusing.

so judging by the number of brigades/divisions i could find on cdf orbat there might be some 140 tank battalions in armored and mechanized units and perhaps as many as 30-60 further tank battallions in motorized units. All in all that might amount to over 5500 tanks in active duty, perhaps even 6500.

Please, if someone more knowledgeable can post and give more precise figures about number of division/brigade units as well as number of tank battallions within them - it'd be appreciated.

 

[FORBIN]

i rmember from some years ago it was speculated type 96 is being produced at a steady pace of 3-4 battallions worth per year

Yep Franco Russe a reputable member one of the largest specialists for the Chinese Army mainly for Orbats and numbers.

According last numbers i have see, seems 1000 or + Type-99 and 2200 up to 2500+ Type-96 now.

About 50% of the tanks.

 

[FORBIN]

For total tanks number 7/8000 mainly depends number of Type 63 up to 800/1000.

i don't know about motorized infantry brigades, but it seems they too have a tank battallion or even two

All get a bat in general Type 59.

 

[SinoSoldier]

According to a new rumor from Henri K., an interview with the designer of the Type 99A revealed that the 4th generation Chinese MBT will make use of only two crewmembers and focus on situational awareness, mobility, defense, and the versatility of multi-role weaponry.

The first prototype is rumored to have been completed by 2014.

 

[delft]

According to a new rumor from Henri K., an interview with the designer of the Type 99A revealed that the 4th generation Chinese MBT will make use of only two crewmembers and focus on situational awareness, mobility, defense, and the versatility of multi-role weaponry.

The first prototype is rumored to have been completed by 2014.

So the Chinese work on two manned MBT's, so do the Russians. Does anyone else?