New Type98/99 MBT thread
- Thread starter Dongfeng
- Start date
Hendrik_2000
Lieutenant General
Which one this
I don;t see any problem mind you this is hand welding They do have automated welding
Anyway appearance doesn't tell all you do ultra sonic test or Xray test will tell if welding ok or not If not do rework by gauging it and reweld
Me either, but some of the welds on the tank used in the expo and marketing photos looked kinda rushed from the interior, could be their schedule.
This is manual TIG welding, I don't see a problem with it either, the weaving and consistency of the beads look's good. A certified pressure vessel welder mate of mine once made the comment that the quality of weld from some of our equipment source from China is as good as any and coming from him, one of the best welder I know is a very high compelement.
There's nothing too outlandish about it but it seems more like what military enthusiasts envision the PLA bringing to a tank beauty contest as opposed to what the PLA will actually send to battle.
The sides armour and RPG cage are good for urban warfare where threats can come from any direction, but the PLA has zero intentions of conducting MOUT with MBTs, so they're not very fond of side armour. It's a massive headache to conduct maintenance or battlefield repairs on the drivetrain if it's covered up by side armour and the PLA, being an army that focuses on mobility-heavy deep penetrations, will not tolerate delays in repairs.
Then there's the RWS which, again, is good for MOUT where there could be snipers on tall buildings but it's completely redundant for the mobile warfare that the PLA is training for. Redundant and expensive. Also, where did the laser-based APS go? And why is there a separate machine gun for the gunner? He has the coaxial to play with. The Type 99A doesn't have a fourth crew member to make use of that machine gun so it's just taking up space and blocking the CITV's FOV.
I'm also confused why there are three devices at the trunnion when all Type 99As only have two; a DMRS at the bottom, and an IFF array at the top. Maybe the third one is a ballistic radar? But why would you need a ballistic radar for LOS engagements? The PLZ-05 SPG has a ballistic radar but that thing fires out to 70km so it bloody well needs it. The end of the barrel is also meant to have a little thing containing a mirror for the DMRS that's missing from the CGI.
Finally, the star on the hull is a parade-only decoration; the PLA is definitely not going to send a tank with a bright red "hit me" sign slapped onto the front into battle.
Hendrik_2000
Lieutenant General
Chinese Army - Reporter experience riding the king of land war 99A tanks
drunkmunky
Junior Member
does the 99 use some sort of stabilization technology like a gimble for the gun?
drunkmunky
Junior Member
does the 99 use some variant, or native variant of a GL5 type protection system?
Hendrik_2000
Lieutenant General
Yup type 55 use gun stabilization system so it can shoot while on the run. As I understand it they will equipped the new type 99 tank with domestic variant of GL5