Friends who follow me regularly know that I don't produce any textual content. All information is mostly quoted or carried as a whole. I usually go south and north to record some photos, but there are too few to post a few times. Therefore, it is necessary to quote the content of the foreign language author as a whole. I have too little experience and shallow knowledge to support the long-term updates. In the last issue, I talked about the 85 model, and we have a lot of doubts about the content that does not match. This can't be helped, because the sources are different, so the answer is also strange. I've seen some of the pavilions, and I hope to visit the Tank Museum this year or next. I have to go back to the story of the past, for a long time, the army equipment was five pairs of load wheels, and this load wheel was a chasm that was difficult to surpass. It wasn't until the advent of Type 80 that the restriction of five pairs of load-bearing wheels was broken.
Type 80/88 Main Battle Tank "Next Generation Main Battle Tank"
The Type 69/79 tank was simply an upgrade of the Type 59 (based on the T-54A) using the T-62 technology acquired in the 1969 Frontier. However, the Type 69 failed to meet the main requirements of the military, and most of the tanks of both series were exported in large quantities. There was still a need for a domestic design that could keep up with the technological advances of the West and the USSR. The military demanded that Plant 617 design and manufacture a real second-generation main battle tank. The Type 80 differed significantly from the Type 79 and was mass-produced in about 3000 units, followed by improved versions of the Type 85 and Type 88, which, despite the smaller quantities produced, contributed to the development of the characteristics of the third generation. Although these three models were no longer in service after 2005 (retained in the army reserve), they represent a significant technological advancement in the Army's main battle tank design during the Cold War, paving the way for today's standard main battle tanks such as the Type 90, Type 96, Type 98, and Type 99.
The Type 80 largely inherited the characteristics of this export version, but introduced a completely new chassis and power plant.
Type 80 (1981)
Even today, it is not easy to distinguish between Type 80 and Type 88. At least the Type 85 was equipped with a new welded turret, but other models used cast turrets used in Type 59, Type 69 and Type 79. Their chassis is also very similar, with six pairs of rubber wheels, a diesel engine manufactured under license from Germany and a NATO 105-mm rifled gun (a copy of the Austrian version).
Body
This chassis was lengthened with a body length of 6.37 meters instead of 6.24 meters, and the rear was lengthened to make room for a diesel engine licensed from Germany. The hull is still assembled from welded cold-rolled steel plates, with the same typical front armor sloping plates as the Type 59/Type 69. The interior is simple, the front part is the cockpit (located on the left side), equipped with three periscopes (the periscope in the center can be replaced with a night vision device) and a small hatch with a rearward orientation. There is a small escape hatch behind the driver's seat. A wave shield was welded on the front armor ramp plate for directing the flow of water away from the driver's view and hatch cover when crossing the river.
Each side is equipped with a set of day and dark lights with armor covers. Another important feature is that the exhaust port is moved to the other side. Due to the different layout of the original diesel engines in Germany, the vents and grilles of the engine deck have also been modified. The degree of protection is classified, but the thickness appears to be similar to that of Type 69/Type 79. However, the side protection was enhanced by the installation of six thick rubber side skirts to withstand RPGs and other hand-held weapons. With no side exhaust outlets and longer pedals, it is possible to carry up to five storage compartments, most of which are round.
Type 80 tanks
maneuverability
The biggest difference between the Type 80 and its predecessors is undoubtedly the new travel system. Engineers seem to have delved into European travel systems and suspension systems, which made the tank ride smoother, while the Russian-made tank used a more primitive design of five large load-bearing wheels, which was designed for simplification and mass production during World War II, but was bumpy to ride. The Type 80 opted for a new design with smaller load-bearing wheels with a central pin of the track running through between the wheels. The wheels (apparently made of cast steel) were covered in rubber and arranged evenly, and each was equipped with a new torsion bar suspension system and front and rear shock absorbers. The drive wheels are still in the rear and look the same as the previous model, but the front idler wheels appear to be the new model.
The track is also an improved model. Another benefit of the new running system was that the body profile was reduced due to the smaller diameter of the load wheels and the lower ground clearance, similar to that of contemporaneous Soviet tanks such as the T-64 and T-72. The power plant is a modern 12150L-7BV diesel engine with 730 hp (544 kW), which is a significant improvement over the old 580 hp Soviet-made diesel engine. This increased power helped the tank to perform better with a heavier hull (38 tons vs. 36.7 tons). The power-to-weight ratio is 19 hp/ton, compared to 15.8 hp/ton for the Type 69/79 and previous models. The engine is coupled with a mechanical planetary gearbox. With a top speed of 55 km/h on the road, it is 5 km/h faster than the Type 69/79, and the range is extended from 430 km to 600 km with the help of an external barrel fuel tank at the rear. The field performance is as follows: climbing 60% of the slope or 0.8 m vertical obstacle, crossing a 2.70 m trench, wading to a depth of 1.40 m, no preparation. When fully prepared, it is believed that it is possible to cross water up to a depth of three meters. A snorkel is usually installed in the storage basket at the rear of the turret.
weapons
The armament of the Type 80 tank was based on the Type 79 and included an Austria-derived L7 105 mm main gun, the Type 83 rifled gun. It was manually loaded, so there were still three crew members in the turret, with the commander sitting on the left side, the gunner in front of him, and the loader on his right. However, on the Type 88 main battle tank, the main gun was equipped with an automatic loader, and the turret crew was reduced to two (see below). Secondary armament consisted of a side-by-side Type 67 7.62 mm light machine gun (replacing the Type 59T, later Type 80) and a Type 77 12.7 mm anti-aircraft machine gun (replacing the Type 54), mounted on the top of the turret and operated from the hatch by the loader. The main gun ammunition reserve is 44 rounds, partly stored in the turret, including various types of instant ammunition, most of which are stored in the hull.
The standard caliber of the Type 83 means that all NATO-developed standard munitions can be used, including high-explosive (HE), high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT), armor fragmentation shells, armor-piercing shells (APFSDS), and conventional training rounds. The armor-piercing capacity at the range of 2000 meters is as follows: APFSDS shelling armor-piercing projectiles (depleted uranium) - 460 mm homogeneous armor ("short" 105 mm Type 83) - 480 mm homogeneous armor ("long" 105 mm Type 83A) - 510 mm homogeneous armor (Type 93 ammunition, "short" 105 mm Type 83 guns) - 540 mm homogeneous armor (Type 93 ammunition, "long" 105 mm Type 83A) - 580 mm homogeneous armor (Type 95 ammunition, "Long" 105 mm Type 83A).
The muzzle velocity and armor-piercing capabilities of other munitions are unknown, but may be close to the relevant data of conventional NATO Germany L7. The turret design is still similar to the previous series, with a cast structure with the same characteristics of different thicknesses, with a cross-section in the shape of a "horn", with the thickest bottom and thinning towards the top. From above, the hull was of a typical shape, similar to the pear shape of the previous model, with a main gun shield covered with tarpaulin, the gunner's sight was located on the left, the commander's day and night sight was located in front, and then a fully rotatable commander's conning tower, mounted on the roof and including six viewing windows. The loader's single-piece circular hatch opens backwards, and the commander's hatch opens forward. Depending on the version, various storage devices can be seen in the rear of the turret.
In later versions, large storage baskets were installed around the entire turret, extending almost to the front. Active protection is enhanced by two rows of four electric smoke grenade launchers (or two in four rows), firing smoke grenades. There is also a smoke screen generator that creates a smoke screen by injecting diesel fuel into the exhaust port. The firing accuracy of the Type 80 and its successors was greatly improved thanks to an improved gun stabilization system, the Type 37A Dual-Axis Stabilized Light Ignition Control System (FCS). This meant that both the gunner's sights and the main gun were fully stabilized, and for the first time, the ability to fire at moving targets in motion was realized, significantly increasing the starting hit rate.
Type 80-I
This little-known experimental model used a new optoelectronic fire control system, an external laser rangefinder and storage racks around the rear of the turret. Apparently, this model did not go into mass production and seems to have merged with the -II.
Type 80 tanks
Type 80-II
This model was developed at the same time as the Type 85 and was improved in a number of ways. First of all, it uses an external laser rangefinder authorized by the United Kingdom and is integrated with the main sight of the fire control system. The laser rangefinder mounted at the base of the barrel is external, so it is vulnerable to damage, and this feature will be improved in other models. Second, the built-in test (BIT) system enables the rapid identification of faults. Third, occupant protection is enhanced by a fully lined CBR and overpressure system, a collective CBR system that eliminates the need for crew members to wear personal NBD inside the tank. Fourthly, a lens protection system was added to the sights. Fifthly, there are now storage racks around the turret, which also serve as additional protection against high-explosive anti-tank shells. The front armor and part of the car performance were also improved. This model did not enter mass production.
Type 88 (1988)
An improved version of the Type 80 entered service in 1988 under the name "Type 88". Compared to the previous model, it incorporates a lot of Western technology. Its design is similar to the Type 80-II, the front storage shelf was removed to install a set of explosive reactive armor (ERA) modules. Production of the 88 series main battle tank ceased in 1995, but about 400 to 500 Type 88/A/B tanks are currently in service. Its main features are essentially the same as those of the Type 80, still using the same small load-bearing wheels, suspension system, rubber skirts and a liquid-cooled, turbocharged 730 hp 12150L-7BW diesel engine.
Type 88B
weapons
The 105-mm rifled gun had an elevation angle of 18 / -4.5 ° and was equipped with a laser rangefinder (now internal, integrated with the main sight and fire control system). The gun is capable of firing all NATO ammunition, and tests have shown a breakdown capacity of 200 mm against APFSDS shells and 300 mm against HEAT shells. Equipped with an automatic loader, which brought its maximum rate of fire to 7 rounds per minute and reduced the crew to three people. The ammunition carrying capacity is 48 rounds. Secondary armament continued to consist of a 7.62 mm side-by-side machine gun and a 12.7 mm Type 59 anti-aircraft machine gun, operated by the commander and loader. The Type 37A fire control system is also applied to the Type 80 and includes a dual-axis stabilized optical sight, an optical ignition fire control system, a ballistic computer and an internal laser rangefinder.
Protection
The walking system is protected by a rubber skirt against a hand-held RPG (the same as the previous model). The cast turret (the last model to adopt this characteristic of the 1950s) had storage racks around it, which provided not only additional space for spare parts and crew equipment, but also additional protection against high-explosive anti-tank shells, since the storage racks were shaped like BAR armor. Both the hull and turret are made of steel, without any composite materials. The front body sheet had very sharp angles, which provided some protection against shells of the 1980s, but not much after that (which is why it was later improved with an additional composite armor kit). In general, the level of protection of the vehicle is lower than that of the T-72. These storage shelves were replaced by reactive armor plates in later models. In terms of active protection, there are still two rows of four 81-mm electrically fired smoke grenade launchers on either side of the turret. The device that created an additional smoke screen by injecting diesel fuel into the engine exhaust port was also retained.
Type 88 tank.
Model
Type 88B
The improved model features a newly designed bolt reloading system to fire a new 105 mm ammunition with an increased rate of fire of 13 rounds per minute. The early optoelectronic fire control system was replaced by the image-stabilized JSFCS-212 integrated fire control system.
Type 88A
The improved Type 83-I 105-mm rifled gun (also known as the "long" version) had a longer barrel and better thermal sheath. Capable of firing APFSDS, HEAT and HEAT-FRAG ammunition. Protection is enhanced by the addition of the FY series of double-layer explosive reactive armor, capable of resisting APFSDS and HEAT-FRAG munitions.
Type 80 Specifications:
Dimensions: 6.32 (Overall length 9.33 m - 88 Type B 10.65 m) x 3.37 x 2.29 m (20.7 x 11 x 7.5 ft)
Full combat weight: 38 tons - 39.5 tons (Model 88B) (76-78,000 lbs)
Crew: 4 (Commander, Gunner, Loader, Driver)
Power: 12150L-7BV/BW diesel engine 730 hp (544 kW) power-to-weight ratio 19 hp/ton
Top speed: 55/57 km/h (35 mph)
Cruising range: 430 km, external refueling tank up to 700/900 km
Suspension system: torsion bar suspension
Maneuverability: 60% slope, 2.70 m trench, 0.8 m vertical obstacle, 1.40 m wading depth
Armament: 105 mm Type 83 or long-barreled Type 83-I (Type 88A) rifled gun Secondary armament: 12.7 mm Type 59 anti-aircraft machine gun, 7.92 mm side-by-side machine gun
装甲：RHA（均质钢装甲）分类，BAR（II），橡胶侧裙
Total production: about 3,500 units (estimated 3,000 + 500 units)
Comparison of the Type 79 main battle tank
An early Type 80 main battle tank without side skirts to demonstrate the drive system. You can see that there is a gap between the second load wheel and the next four load wheels.
Type 80 main battle tank at a military parade in the early 80s of the 20th century.
A Type 80 main battle tank in standard tricolor camouflage (dark sand, olive green, dark gray).
Type 80B main battle tank at the National Day parade.
Type 80 main battle tank in tricolor camouflage (two greens).
The prototype of the Type 80-II (apparently) on trials, note the unusual green livery and the lack of an external laser rangefinder.
Type 90-II main battle tank with an external laser rangefinder in the early 90s.
Type 88 main battle tank.
The Tatmadaw Army's Type 88B main battle tank.
Type 88A main battle tank in tricolor camouflage.
Conclusion: Of course, there is always a knot in the heart. When talking about 85, it was always thought that since it was already equipped with 105 NATO artillery, there were even 120 calibers. Needless to say, the main battle tank in the future must be 120, who would have thought that it would be 125. Because I was used to seeing the propaganda of 120 at that time, and there were examples of the Gulf War, I always felt that this 120 was the mainstream in the future. Of course, don't dwell on it now. After all, there is really no difference between heaven and earth between the two.