Speaking of the "Gongchen" tank, many friends who are familiar with military history know that it is the Japanese Type 97 medium tank captured by our army. This tank is the first tank in the history of the armored corps of the Chinese People's Liberation Army captured by our army from the Tank Repair Factory of the Japanese Kwantung Army in Shenyang, equipped with 1 type 47 mm gun, 2 Type 97 7.7 mm machine guns, 4 crews, armor thickness of 15 to 25 mm, and the total combat weight of about 15 tons.
▲ The "Hero" tank exhibited at the Military Museum of the Chinese Revolution
On December 1, 1945, the first tank unit of the People's Army, the Northeast Tank Brigade, was announced, and this tank joined the sequence of the People's Army under the number "102". The tank successively participated in the three battles of Jiangnan, attacking Jinzhou, and liberating Tianjin.
In the 1948 attack on Jinzhou, Dong Laifu and others drove the tank alone to rush to the enemy position, eliminating many enemy fire points and clearing the way for the infantry to advance. Because of its outstanding military achievements, after the war, this tank was named "Meritorious Hero", and all the crew members recorded the collective third-class merit, and the driver Dong Laifu and the machine gunner Wu Peilong were awarded the first class merit.
At the founding ceremony of the People's Republic of China on October 1, 1949, Dong Laifu piloted the "Gongchen" tank as the first vehicle of the tank phalanx, taking the lead in passing through Tiananmen Square and accepting the review of the party and state leaders. In September 1950, Dong Laifu was awarded the title of "Iron hero" by the Central Military Commission and received by Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai and other central leaders.
▲ The "Hero" tank participating in the founding ceremony
In the 21st century, the new "Gongchen" tank also came out - a 99A main battle tank equipped by a composite brigade of the 81st Army. Coincidentally, the two generations of "Heroes" are all "9" type, one 97 and one 99.
▲ The 99A main battle tank equipped by a composite brigade of the 81st Army, the new generation of "Gongchen"
In addition to reality, the decal with the word "Hero" also appeared in the online game "War Thunder", and if you can't drive a tank in reality, you can also enjoy it in the game.
▲ Type 99 main battle tank in the online game "War Thunder", pay attention to the "Hero" decal on the turret
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