Difference between revisions of "Type 62"

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{{Specs-Card|code=cn_type_62}}
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{{About
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| about = Chinese light tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
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| usage = the Soviet version
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| link = Type 62 (USSR)
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}}
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{{Specs-Card
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|code=cn_type_62
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|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
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}}
  
 
== Description ==
 
== Description ==
 
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
 
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
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<!-- [[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
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The '''Type 62 light tank (62式轻坦)''', developed and produced by China North Industries Corporation, is a Chinese light tank developed in the early 1960s that is based on the Chinese [[Type 59|Type 59 medium tank]] with a reduced main gun calibre, lighter armour, and a smaller suite of electronics and other equipment designed to reduce weight. The Chinese Type 62 tank was conceptualized in 1958, finalized in 1962, and put into production and service in 1963. It is primarily utilized by armoured divisions in China's southern region, where the environment is rocky and mountainous. The Type 63 light tank is mainly used for critical tasks such as reconnaissance, infantry support, and combat against enemy lightly armoured vehicles. The Type 62 light tank has a total combat weight of 21 tons and can withstand most machine guns and close-blast shell fragments. A total of around 1,500 tanks had been constructed by the time production ceased in 1989.
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{{break}} -->
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The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} Chinese light tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.91 "Night Vision"]].
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Introduced in [[Update 1.91 "Night Vision"]], the Type 62 light tank is the downsized version of the heavier Type 59 medium tank. The Type 62 light tank, armed with the 85 mm Type 63 tank gun and an extensive inventory of ammunition, can easily engage any enemy vehicle from any distance. The Type 62 light tank is low-profile and nimble, making it ideal for maps with dense vegetation and rugged terrain. This allows the player to get into areas that are not normally expected by the opposing side and prepare a dedicated ambush.
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
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''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.''
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{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}
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<!-- ''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' -->
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The Type 62's armour is very light for its rank and should not be relied upon against any serious anti-tank fire. Frontal protection is generally sufficient to resist heavy machine guns and possibly smaller autocannons that would have destroyed the previous [[Type 63-I|Type 63]], but this is not quite the case for the side, rear, and roof armour. Any actual tank cannon will pass right through and the armour is thick enough to trigger the fuses of APHE rounds. The Type 62's best defence is not being seen. That said, enemy aircraft armed with machine guns or cannons will have to put some work into destroying it from above, so compared to other light tanks it is quite decent.
 +
 
 +
The crew layout is essentially the same as the Type 59/T-54, but the tank is so cramped that any penetrating shot is very likely to knock out multiple crew members or potentially the entire tank.
 +
 
 +
'''Armour type:'''
 +
 
 +
* Rolled homogeneous armour (Hull, Turret roof)
 +
* Cast homogeneous armour (Turret)
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 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
|-
 +
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
 +
|-
 +
| Hull || 35 mm (57°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 25 mm (50°) ''Lower glacis'' || 25 mm || 15 mm (7-52°) || 20 mm ''Front'' <br> 15 mm ''Engine deck'' <br> 5 mm ''Engine grille''
 +
|-
 +
| Turret || 50 mm (9-59°) ''Turret front'' <br> 50 mm (2-66°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 35 mm (11-44°) || 32 mm (11-46°) || 20 mm
 +
|-
 +
| Cupola || 30 mm || 30 mm || 30 mm || 20 mmm
 +
|-
 +
|}
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'''Notes:'''
 +
 
 +
* Suspension wheels are 20 mm thick while tracks are 15 mm thick.
  
 
=== Mobility ===
 
=== Mobility ===
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''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forward and backwards.''
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{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}
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<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' -->
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{{tankMobility|abMinHp=666|rbMinHp=380}}
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The Type 62's mobility is fairly good. It has a good power-to-weight ratio, allowing it to accelerate quickly. The reverse speed of -8 km/h in Realistic Battles is worse than some other light tanks like the [[M41A1]] or especially the [[Ru 251]], but it is good by Soviet/Chinese standards. It lacks neutral steering and the hull traverse is not decent.
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 +
=== Modifications and economy ===
 +
{{Specs-Economy}}
  
 
== Armaments ==
 
== Armaments ==
 +
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
 
=== Main armament ===
 
=== Main armament ===
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''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibility of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Advise about how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.''
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{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}
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<!-- ''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibility of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.'' -->
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{{main|Type 63 (85 mm)}}
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The Type 62 uses the same cannon as the Type 63 with good optics (3.5-7.0x zoom), but the gun depression is still poor, only -5 degrees. The elephant in the room is the very poor turret rotation speed, which unfortunately has not been improved. Be sure to keep the turret pointed towards likely enemy locations and use the hull traverse when needed.
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
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|-
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! colspan="5" | [[Type 63 (85 mm)|85 mm Type 63]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
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|-
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! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
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! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
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! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
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|-
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! ''Arcade''
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| rowspan="2" | 47 || rowspan="2" | -5°/+22° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 9.52 || 13.18 || 16.00 || 17.69 || 18.82 || rowspan="2" | 9.62 || rowspan="2" | 8.51 || rowspan="2" | 7.84 || rowspan="2" | 7.40
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|-
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! ''Realistic''
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| 5.95 || 7.00 || 8.50 || 9.40 || 10.0
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|-
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|}
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 +
==== Ammunition ====
 +
The Type 62 has the same ammunition selection as the Type 63. Two APHE shells are available. The stock Type 56 APBC round has low penetration for its rank, but this is compensated by its excellent slope modifiers and high explosive mass. It penetrates other light tanks easily and is the best round to use when flanking. The Type 56 APCBC round has about 30 mm of extra penetration with less than half the TNT equivalent; while this is not a bad tradeoff, in practice it does not frontally penetrate many vehicles that the Type 56 APBC round cannot, and when flanking the lower post-penetration damage is a big drawback. Using one or the other is mostly up to personal taste, though it does not hurt to bring some of both.
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 +
The Type 56 HEAT-FS shell is the most powerful option available to the Type 62, and thankfully it can be unlocked as a Tier 2 modification. 300 mm of flat penetration at any distance with good velocity and angled performance is no joke, capable of nullifying the armour of many heavy tanks.  It boasts more TNT equivalent than the HE shell, making it dangerous to lightly armoured targets like the [[Ru 251]] or the [[T92]]. The main drawbacks are the mediocre post-penetration damage and the tendency to bounce against heavily sloped armour, so aim carefully for important crew members, modules, and ammo racks.
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 +
The Type 56 HVAP shell has high velocity and better flat penetration than the APHE rounds, but as with other shells of its class, the angled performance and post-penetration damage are awful. It does not have much utility on the Type 62 since both it and the HEATFS are Tier 2 modifications; since the HEATFS is superior for all practical purposes, it makes sense to grind that out first, at which point the APCR is obsolete.
 +
 
 +
The stock Type 56 HE shell is very weak and should be avoided. It is not even strong enough to damage light vehicles reliably and the HEATFS is better in all aspects.
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 +
{{:Type 63 (85 mm)/Ammunition|Type 56 APBC, Type 56 APCBC, Type 56 HVAP, Type 56 HEAT-FS, Type 56 HE}}
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 +
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
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[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]
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<!-- '''Last updated:''' -->
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
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|-
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! Full<br>ammo
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! 1st<br>rack empty
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! 2nd<br>rack empty
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! 3rd<br>rack empty
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! 4th<br>rack empty
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! 5th<br>rack empty
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! 6th<br>rack empty
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! Visual<br>discrepancy
 +
|-
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| '''47''' || 45&nbsp;''(+2)'' || 37&nbsp;''(+10)'' || 31&nbsp;''(+16)'' || 23&nbsp;''(+24)'' || 21&nbsp;''(+26)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+46)'' || No
 +
|-
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|}
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'''Note''':
 +
 
 +
* Turret empty: 37&nbsp;''(+10)'' shells
  
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=== Additional armament ===
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The Type 62 has poor enough survivability that taking a significant ammo load does not have many negative effects. Emptying out the turret by taking 37 rounds or fewer may increase survivability slightly against targets using APDS or solid shot rounds since it is less likely that a turret penetration will knock out more than 1-2 crew members.
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''Some tanks are armed with several guns in one or more turrets. Evaluate the additional weaponry and give advice on its use. Describe the ammunition available for additional weaponry. Give advice on about how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage. If there is no additional weaponry remove this subsection.''
 
  
 
=== Machine guns ===
 
=== Machine guns ===
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''Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.''
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{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}
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{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|3}}
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<!-- ''Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.'' -->
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{{main|Type 54 (12.7 mm)|Type 59 (7.62 mm)}}
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 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
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|-
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! colspan="5" | [[Type 54 (12.7 mm)|12.7 mm Type 54]]
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|-
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! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
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|-
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| Pintle || 500 (50) || 600 || -4°/+82° || ±180°
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|-
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|}
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
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|-
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! colspan="5" | [[Type 59 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm Type 59]]
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|-
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! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
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|-
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| Coaxial || 2,000 (250) || 600 || - || -
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|-
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|}
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The pintle-mounted Type 54 is a nifty tool for mowing down lightly armoured vehicles, destroying fences and bushes that get in the way of HEATFS rounds, and discouraging enemy fighters that may try to strafe the Type 62. Remember that it has a limited belt capacity of only 50 rounds and the depression is very poor. It is controlled by the loader as opposed to the commander, so it remains operational even if one crew member is lost.
  
 
== Usage in battles ==
 
== Usage in battles ==
−
''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).''
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<!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' -->
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With its excellent mobility, the Type 62 is great for getting from point to point and setting up ambushes. Avoid getting seen and stick close to concealment and cover. However it is important to note that the reload rate is around the same or even slower than most enemy tanks, so making your first shot count is always going to determine whether you survive the engagement or not. Aiming for the turret or ammo racks of the enemy are great options, as they usually ensure ammo rack detonations or that the enemy won't be able to fire back at you if not. Always have a backup plan in case your shot does not disable the enemy in one hit, which will typically mean moving to cover immediately and waiting for the target to be distracted. If you need to retreat, the Type 62 now has access to barrel-type smoke grenades seen on the [[ZTZ59A]] and several Soviet tanks, which should allow you to safely turn around and leave the area.
 +
 
 +
Also note that going on rough terrain and over piles of rubble is not recommended while at risk of being shot at by the enemy, as the gun takes a very long time to adjust in the vertical. With the the HEATFS shell, staying at range is also possible, as it is much easier for you to hide your tank from the enemy while not losing accuracy and penetration of the HEATFS shell. The good optics are helpful for this HEAT-slinging strategy, but be wary of sniper duels with other light tanks. The Type 62 does not have high-velocity APDS and a quick reload like the [[T92]] and the [[Ru 251]] boasts superior optics and a better muzzle velocity for its own HEATFS. These two targets are vulnerable to HEAT rounds and a single successful hit can put them out of commission. The M41 Walker Bulldog used by the [[M41A1|USA]], [[M41A1 (Japan)|Japan]], and [[LeKPz M41|Germany]] has excellent optics, APDS, and quick reloading, but suffers from a large profile and a bouncy suspension. Using the Type 56 APBC round against it usually results in an easy one-shot kill.
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 +
The hardest tanks to destroy in the Type 62 are large heavy tanks like the T29 and Tiger II (H), as APHEBC and APCBC shells cannot penetrate these tanks from the front. When facing against these tanks, your best option is to get their ammo racks or turret crew from the side while they're busy dealing with your teammates, or, if they see you, quietly relocating and catching them unaware. With the HEATFS shell, it is possible to even penetrate the King Tiger's upper front plate if they underestimate you and don't angle their hull. Remember that these tanks tend to have their crew members and modules spaced out and it is very important to aim carefully with the HEATFS. A tank that has only suffered minor damage with full knowledge of the Type 62's location is very dangerous.
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The Type 62 works best on large, fairly open maps where there are good sightlines. Enemies can be identified from a safe distance, there are often ridgelines or other gentle forms of cover that offer concealment and scouting opportunities, and it is less likely that an enemy will appear suddenly with little time to react. Small, cluttered maps can be painful since urban combat tends to involve enemies suddenly appearing on flanks or around corners, and the Type 62's bad gun handling makes surprise encounters difficult.
 +
 
 +
The Type 62 has a notable learning curve and it may take a while to adjust to both using the gun and figuring out the best combat tactics. It requires good map knowledge and situational awareness to spot enemies ahead of time and find good hiding and ambush spots. Good shot placement is required with the HEATFS rounds and it will take some practice to grow accustomed to the higher zoom and learn the location of ammo racks and other critical modules for enemy tanks. Once mastered, the Type 62 can offer valuable scouting information to teammates and take out targets opportunistically, either up close or from across the map.
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
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''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".''
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<!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' -->
  
 
'''Pros:'''
 
'''Pros:'''
−
*
+
 
 +
* Good acceleration, can reach fast travel speed quickly
 +
* Small profile, easier to hide compared to the Type 63.
 +
* Commonly mistaken for more heavily armoured tanks such as the T-54 or the Type 59
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* Better frontal protection than the Type 63, cannot be machine-gunned to death from the front
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* Access to Type 56 HEAT-FS round capable of penetrating 300 mm of armour, lethal against even heavy tanks
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* APHEBC shells are great for side shots, can one-shot most tanks at their rank
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* Pintle-mounted 12.7 mm MG can be used for fending off aircraft or light vehicles
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* Decent ammo reserve for its size, 47 shells
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* Good optics, up to 7.0x zoom
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* Earliest PRC tank with smoke grenades
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
−
*
+
 
 +
* Poor gun handling, turret rotation and elevation speeds are sluggish
 +
* Thin armour, low crew survivability
 +
* Somewhat slow reload
 +
* Bad gun depression
 +
* Reverse speed could be better
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
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''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).''
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<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' -->
 +
===Development===
 +
After World War II, China stayed in a state of conflict as part of the Chinese Civil War, pitting the Chinese Nationalists against the Communists. The Communist Party were victorious and they established the People's Republic of China (PRC) on 01 October 1949. On 14 February 1950, the Chinese signed an alliance treaty with the Soviet Union, which allowed the Soviet Union to support China economically and militarily, leading to many money loans and arms trade. One of the weapons given in the arms trade was the Soviet's new main battle tank, the T-54. The tank became the basis of the Soviet's aid in building up China's tank manufacturing facility in 1956, starting with Soviet-made parts before transitioning to Chinese parts. The T-54 tank design was then accepted into the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) in 1959 as the [[Type 59]].
 +
 
 +
While accepted as the main tank of the PLA, the Type 59 was deemed too heavy for some of the terrain and infrastructure in China. A light tank design was requested in the late 1950s, leading to the formal development process in 1958. The first prototype was produced in 1960 as the Type 59-16, which was essentially a down-scaled Type 59 with an 85 mm armament, thinner armour, and smaller profile. Trials commenced in December 1962, when it was accepted as the Type 62, production name WZ 131. It was then put into production in 1963 with roughly 1,393 tank units produced until 1989.
 +
 
 +
===Combat Usage===
 +
The Type 62 light tank was primarily stationed with military units in Southern China where the infrastructure is not as sophisticated. However, the Type 62 would not see its first usage in Chinese hands. A number of them were supplied to the North Vietnamese Army during the Vietnam War, which they used against America and South Vietnam until the end of the war in 1975. The Type 62 then saw use again in 1979 in Vietnam, but mostly in Chinese hands in the Sino-Vietnamese War. However, the Type 62 suffered due to anti-tank weapons such as the ubiquitous rocket launchers penetrating right through the thin armour. The overall consensus of their experiences in Vietnam was that the Type 62 not suitable to act around as a normal tank due to its light armour and armament, and was relegated to recon and fire support.
 +
 
 +
An upgrade program commenced on the Type 62 led to the Type 62-I variant. The program was based on experiences in Vietnam, leading to many upgrades such as a laser range finder, a shield for the exterior-mounted 12.7 mm machine gun, and protection against HEAT rounds. The second modernization program began in 2000 to upgrade the Type 62-I into Type 62G which improved the armour layout and turret design of the tank, as well as adding smoke dischargers and a new 105 mm main armament with a modern stabilizer and fire-control system. The Type 62 stayed in the Chinese service up until early 2013.
 +
 
 +
The Type 62 also saw exportation to many countries, ranging from Albania, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Congo, Mali, Sudan, Tanzania, Thailand, North Korea, and Zaire. In some cases, such as in North Korea, this led to confusion about the Soviet's T-62 main battle tank due to the labelling of the Type 62 as simply "T-62". Information on the Type 62 in these countries is rather limited or unknown, though most of them seem to still have them in reserves today.
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
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''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''
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<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
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;Skins
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* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=cn_type_62 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]
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;Videos
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{{Youtube-gallery|x9j_vkktERY|'''The {{PAGENAME}} Is Hard - First Impression''' - ''RedFang''}}
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
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''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
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<!-- ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
 
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
 
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
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* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''
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* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' -->
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;Vehicles equipped with the same chassis
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* [[Type 62 (USSR)]]
  
 
== External links ==
 
== External links ==
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''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
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<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
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* ''encyclopedia page on the tank;''
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* ''other literature.'' -->
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* ''other literature.''
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 +
* [[wikipedia:Type_62|[Wikipedia] Type 62]]
  
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{{TankManufacturer Norinco}}
 
{{China light tanks}}
 
{{China light tanks}}

Latest revision as of 01:09, 3 June 2024

Rank VI USA | Premium | Golden Eagles
A-10A Thunderbolt (Early)
This page is about the Chinese light tank Type 62. For the Soviet version, see Type 62 (USSR).
Type 62
cn_type_62.png
GarageImage Type 62.jpg
Type 62
China flag.png China
IV Rank
Battle rating:
AB RB SB
6.7 6.7 6.7
Class:
Research:35 000 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:210 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png
Show in game

Description

The Type 62 light tank (62式轻坦), developed and produced by China North Industries Corporation, is a Chinese light tank developed in the early 1960s that is based on the Chinese Type 59 medium tank with a reduced main gun calibre, lighter armour, and a smaller suite of electronics and other equipment designed to reduce weight. The Chinese Type 62 tank was conceptualized in 1958, finalized in 1962, and put into production and service in 1963. It is primarily utilized by armoured divisions in China's southern region, where the environment is rocky and mountainous. The Type 63 light tank is mainly used for critical tasks such as reconnaissance, infantry support, and combat against enemy lightly armoured vehicles. The Type 62 light tank has a total combat weight of 21 tons and can withstand most machine guns and close-blast shell fragments. A total of around 1,500 tanks had been constructed by the time production ceased in 1989.

Introduced in Update 1.91 "Night Vision", the Type 62 light tank is the downsized version of the heavier Type 59 medium tank. The Type 62 light tank, armed with the 85 mm Type 63 tank gun and an extensive inventory of ammunition, can easily engage any enemy vehicle from any distance. The Type 62 light tank is low-profile and nimble, making it ideal for maps with dense vegetation and rugged terrain. This allows the player to get into areas that are not normally expected by the opposing side and prepare a dedicated ambush.

General info

Survivability and armour

Smoke grenades
Creation of a smoke screen in front of the vehicle
Armourfront / side / back
Hull35 / 25 / 15
Turret50 / 35 / 32
Crew4 people
Visibility83 %

The Type 62's armour is very light for its rank and should not be relied upon against any serious anti-tank fire. Frontal protection is generally sufficient to resist heavy machine guns and possibly smaller autocannons that would have destroyed the previous Type 63, but this is not quite the case for the side, rear, and roof armour. Any actual tank cannon will pass right through and the armour is thick enough to trigger the fuses of APHE rounds. The Type 62's best defence is not being seen. That said, enemy aircraft armed with machine guns or cannons will have to put some work into destroying it from above, so compared to other light tanks it is quite decent.

The crew layout is essentially the same as the Type 59/T-54, but the tank is so cramped that any penetrating shot is very likely to knock out multiple crew members or potentially the entire tank.

Armour type:

  • Rolled homogeneous armour (Hull, Turret roof)
  • Cast homogeneous armour (Turret)
Armour Front (Slope angle) Sides Rear Roof
Hull 35 mm (57°) Front glacis
25 mm (50°) Lower glacis 		25 mm 15 mm (7-52°) 20 mm Front
15 mm Engine deck
5 mm Engine grille
Turret 50 mm (9-59°) Turret front
50 mm (2-66°) Gun mantlet 		35 mm (11-44°) 32 mm (11-46°) 20 mm
Cupola 30 mm 30 mm 30 mm 20 mmm

Notes:

  • Suspension wheels are 20 mm thick while tracks are 15 mm thick.

Mobility

Speedforward / back
AB67 / 10 km/h
RB and SB60 / 9 km/h
Number of gears5 forward
1 back
Weight21.0 t
Engine power
AB820 hp
RB and SB430 hp
Power-to-weight ratio
AB39.0 hp/t
RB and SB20.5 hp/t
Game Mode Max Speed (km/h) Weight (tons) Engine power (horsepower) Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
Forward Reverse Stock Upgraded Stock Upgraded
Arcade 67 10 21 666 820 31.71 39.05
Realistic 60 9 380 430 18.1 20.48

The Type 62's mobility is fairly good. It has a good power-to-weight ratio, allowing it to accelerate quickly. The reverse speed of -8 km/h in Realistic Battles is worse than some other light tanks like the M41A1 or especially the Ru 251, but it is good by Soviet/Chinese standards. It lacks neutral steering and the hull traverse is not decent.

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference
AB2 669 → 3 835 Sl icon.png
RB3 260 → 4 684 Sl icon.png
SB4 368 → 6 276 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications61 700 Rp icon.png
102 800 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost1 800 Ge icon.png
Crew training61 000 Sl icon.png
Experts210 000 Sl icon.png
Aces890 Ge icon.png
Research Aces570 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
110 / 150 / 200 % Sl icon.png
178 / 178 / 178 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Mobility Protection Firepower
Mods new tank traks.png
Tracks
Research:
3 100 Rp icon.png
Cost:
5 200 Sl icon.png
190 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank suspension.png
Suspension
Research:
2 300 Rp icon.png
Cost:
3 800 Sl icon.png
140 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank break.png
Brake System
Research:
2 300 Rp icon.png
Cost:
3 800 Sl icon.png
140 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank filter.png
Filters
Research:
3 100 Rp icon.png
Cost:
5 200 Sl icon.png
190 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank transmission.png
Transmission
Research:
5 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
8 300 Sl icon.png
310 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank engine.png
Engine
Research:
5 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
8 300 Sl icon.png
310 Ge icon.png
Mods tank tool kit.png
Improved Parts
Research:
3 100 Rp icon.png
Cost:
5 200 Sl icon.png
190 Ge icon.png
Mods extinguisher.png
Improved FPE
Research:
2 300 Rp icon.png
Cost:
3 800 Sl icon.png
140 Ge icon.png
Mods tank reinforcement cn.png
Crew Replenishment
Research:
3 100 Rp icon.png
Cost:
5 200 Sl icon.png
190 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank horizontal aiming.png
Horizontal Drive
Research:
3 100 Rp icon.png
Cost:
5 200 Sl icon.png
190 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
85mm_APCBC_ammo_pack
Research:
3 100 Rp icon.png
Cost:
5 200 Sl icon.png
190 Ge icon.png
Mods tank cannon.png
Adjustment of Fire
Research:
2 300 Rp icon.png
Cost:
3 800 Sl icon.png
140 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
85mm_HVAP_ammo_pack
Research:
2 300 Rp icon.png
Cost:
3 800 Sl icon.png
140 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
85mm_HEAT_FS_ammo_pack
Research:
2 300 Rp icon.png
Cost:
3 800 Sl icon.png
140 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank vertical aiming.png
Elevation Mechanism
Research:
3 100 Rp icon.png
Cost:
5 200 Sl icon.png
190 Ge icon.png
Mods airstrike.png
Airstrike
Research:
3 100 Rp icon.png
Cost:
5 200 Sl icon.png
190 Ge icon.png
Mods smoke screen.png
Smoke grenade
Research:
3 100 Rp icon.png
Cost:
5 200 Sl icon.png
190 Ge icon.png
Mods art support.png
Artillery Support
Research:
5 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
8 300 Sl icon.png
310 Ge icon.png
Mods scouting.png
Improved optics
Research:
5 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
8 300 Sl icon.png
310 Ge icon.png

Armaments

Main armament

85 mm Type 63 cannon
Ammunition47 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
9.6 → 7.4 s
Vertical guidance-5° / 22°
Main article: Type 63 (85 mm)

The Type 62 uses the same cannon as the Type 63 with good optics (3.5-7.0x zoom), but the gun depression is still poor, only -5 degrees. The elephant in the room is the very poor turret rotation speed, which unfortunately has not been improved. Be sure to keep the turret pointed towards likely enemy locations and use the hull traverse when needed.

85 mm Type 63 Turret rotation speed (°/s) Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode Capacity Vertical Horizontal Stabilizer Stock Upgraded Full Expert Aced Stock Full Expert Aced
Arcade 47 -5°/+22° ±180° N/A 9.52 13.18 16.00 17.69 18.82 9.62 8.51 7.84 7.40
Realistic 5.95 7.00 8.50 9.40 10.0

Ammunition

The Type 62 has the same ammunition selection as the Type 63. Two APHE shells are available. The stock Type 56 APBC round has low penetration for its rank, but this is compensated by its excellent slope modifiers and high explosive mass. It penetrates other light tanks easily and is the best round to use when flanking. The Type 56 APCBC round has about 30 mm of extra penetration with less than half the TNT equivalent; while this is not a bad tradeoff, in practice it does not frontally penetrate many vehicles that the Type 56 APBC round cannot, and when flanking the lower post-penetration damage is a big drawback. Using one or the other is mostly up to personal taste, though it does not hurt to bring some of both.

The Type 56 HEAT-FS shell is the most powerful option available to the Type 62, and thankfully it can be unlocked as a Tier 2 modification. 300 mm of flat penetration at any distance with good velocity and angled performance is no joke, capable of nullifying the armour of many heavy tanks. It boasts more TNT equivalent than the HE shell, making it dangerous to lightly armoured targets like the Ru 251 or the T92. The main drawbacks are the mediocre post-penetration damage and the tendency to bounce against heavily sloped armour, so aim carefully for important crew members, modules, and ammo racks.

The Type 56 HVAP shell has high velocity and better flat penetration than the APHE rounds, but as with other shells of its class, the angled performance and post-penetration damage are awful. It does not have much utility on the Type 62 since both it and the HEATFS are Tier 2 modifications; since the HEATFS is superior for all practical purposes, it makes sense to grind that out first, at which point the APCR is obsolete.

The stock Type 56 HE shell is very weak and should be avoided. It is not even strong enough to damage light vehicles reliably and the HEATFS is better in all aspects.

Penetration statistics
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
10 m 100 m 500 m 1,000 m 1,500 m 2,000 m
Type 56 APBC APHEBC 135 133 124 113 104 95
Type 56 APCBC APCBC 164 162 154 143 134 125
Type 56 HVAP APCR 208 201 176 148 125 106
Type 56 HEAT-FS HEATFS 300 300 300 300 300 300
Type 56 HE HE 19 18 17 16 15 14
Shell details
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Velocity
(m/s) 		Projectile
mass (kg) 		Fuse delay
(m) 		Fuse sensitivity
(mm) 		Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (g) 		Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
Type 56 APBC APHEBC 792 9.2 1.2 14 164 48° 63° 71°
Type 56 APCBC APCBC 792 9.2 1.2 14 77 48° 63° 71°
Type 56 HVAP APCR 1,020 5.3 - - - 66° 70° 72°
Type 56 HEAT-FS HEATFS 845 7 0.05 0.1 822.8 65° 72° 77°
Type 56 HE HE 785 9.54 0.2 0.1 741 79° 80° 81°

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the Type 62
Full
ammo 		1st
rack empty 		2nd
rack empty 		3rd
rack empty 		4th
rack empty 		5th
rack empty 		6th
rack empty 		Visual
discrepancy
47 45 (+2) 37 (+10) 31 (+16) 23 (+24) 21 (+26) 1 (+46) No

Note:

  • Turret empty: 37 (+10) shells

The Type 62 has poor enough survivability that taking a significant ammo load does not have many negative effects. Emptying out the turret by taking 37 rounds or fewer may increase survivability slightly against targets using APDS or solid shot rounds since it is less likely that a turret penetration will knock out more than 1-2 crew members.

Machine guns

12.7 mm Type 54 machine gun
Ammunition500 rounds
Belt capacity50 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
10.4 → 8.0 s
Fire rate600 shots/min
Vertical guidance-4° / 82°
7.62 mm Type 59 machine gun (coaxial)
Ammunition2 000 rounds
Belt capacity250 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
10.4 → 8.0 s
Fire rate600 shots/min
Main articles: Type 54 (12.7 mm), Type 59 (7.62 mm)
12.7 mm Type 54
Mount Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal
Pintle 500 (50) 600 -4°/+82° ±180°
7.62 mm Type 59
Mount Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal
Coaxial 2,000 (250) 600 - -

The pintle-mounted Type 54 is a nifty tool for mowing down lightly armoured vehicles, destroying fences and bushes that get in the way of HEATFS rounds, and discouraging enemy fighters that may try to strafe the Type 62. Remember that it has a limited belt capacity of only 50 rounds and the depression is very poor. It is controlled by the loader as opposed to the commander, so it remains operational even if one crew member is lost.

Usage in battles

With its excellent mobility, the Type 62 is great for getting from point to point and setting up ambushes. Avoid getting seen and stick close to concealment and cover. However it is important to note that the reload rate is around the same or even slower than most enemy tanks, so making your first shot count is always going to determine whether you survive the engagement or not. Aiming for the turret or ammo racks of the enemy are great options, as they usually ensure ammo rack detonations or that the enemy won't be able to fire back at you if not. Always have a backup plan in case your shot does not disable the enemy in one hit, which will typically mean moving to cover immediately and waiting for the target to be distracted. If you need to retreat, the Type 62 now has access to barrel-type smoke grenades seen on the ZTZ59A and several Soviet tanks, which should allow you to safely turn around and leave the area.

Also note that going on rough terrain and over piles of rubble is not recommended while at risk of being shot at by the enemy, as the gun takes a very long time to adjust in the vertical. With the the HEATFS shell, staying at range is also possible, as it is much easier for you to hide your tank from the enemy while not losing accuracy and penetration of the HEATFS shell. The good optics are helpful for this HEAT-slinging strategy, but be wary of sniper duels with other light tanks. The Type 62 does not have high-velocity APDS and a quick reload like the T92 and the Ru 251 boasts superior optics and a better muzzle velocity for its own HEATFS. These two targets are vulnerable to HEAT rounds and a single successful hit can put them out of commission. The M41 Walker Bulldog used by the USA, Japan, and Germany has excellent optics, APDS, and quick reloading, but suffers from a large profile and a bouncy suspension. Using the Type 56 APBC round against it usually results in an easy one-shot kill.

The hardest tanks to destroy in the Type 62 are large heavy tanks like the T29 and Tiger II (H), as APHEBC and APCBC shells cannot penetrate these tanks from the front. When facing against these tanks, your best option is to get their ammo racks or turret crew from the side while they're busy dealing with your teammates, or, if they see you, quietly relocating and catching them unaware. With the HEATFS shell, it is possible to even penetrate the King Tiger's upper front plate if they underestimate you and don't angle their hull. Remember that these tanks tend to have their crew members and modules spaced out and it is very important to aim carefully with the HEATFS. A tank that has only suffered minor damage with full knowledge of the Type 62's location is very dangerous.

The Type 62 works best on large, fairly open maps where there are good sightlines. Enemies can be identified from a safe distance, there are often ridgelines or other gentle forms of cover that offer concealment and scouting opportunities, and it is less likely that an enemy will appear suddenly with little time to react. Small, cluttered maps can be painful since urban combat tends to involve enemies suddenly appearing on flanks or around corners, and the Type 62's bad gun handling makes surprise encounters difficult.

The Type 62 has a notable learning curve and it may take a while to adjust to both using the gun and figuring out the best combat tactics. It requires good map knowledge and situational awareness to spot enemies ahead of time and find good hiding and ambush spots. Good shot placement is required with the HEATFS rounds and it will take some practice to grow accustomed to the higher zoom and learn the location of ammo racks and other critical modules for enemy tanks. Once mastered, the Type 62 can offer valuable scouting information to teammates and take out targets opportunistically, either up close or from across the map.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Good acceleration, can reach fast travel speed quickly
  • Small profile, easier to hide compared to the Type 63.
  • Commonly mistaken for more heavily armoured tanks such as the T-54 or the Type 59
  • Better frontal protection than the Type 63, cannot be machine-gunned to death from the front
  • Access to Type 56 HEAT-FS round capable of penetrating 300 mm of armour, lethal against even heavy tanks
  • APHEBC shells are great for side shots, can one-shot most tanks at their rank
  • Pintle-mounted 12.7 mm MG can be used for fending off aircraft or light vehicles
  • Decent ammo reserve for its size, 47 shells
  • Good optics, up to 7.0x zoom
  • Earliest PRC tank with smoke grenades

Cons:

  • Poor gun handling, turret rotation and elevation speeds are sluggish
  • Thin armour, low crew survivability
  • Somewhat slow reload
  • Bad gun depression
  • Reverse speed could be better

History

Development

After World War II, China stayed in a state of conflict as part of the Chinese Civil War, pitting the Chinese Nationalists against the Communists. The Communist Party were victorious and they established the People's Republic of China (PRC) on 01 October 1949. On 14 February 1950, the Chinese signed an alliance treaty with the Soviet Union, which allowed the Soviet Union to support China economically and militarily, leading to many money loans and arms trade. One of the weapons given in the arms trade was the Soviet's new main battle tank, the T-54. The tank became the basis of the Soviet's aid in building up China's tank manufacturing facility in 1956, starting with Soviet-made parts before transitioning to Chinese parts. The T-54 tank design was then accepted into the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) in 1959 as the Type 59.

While accepted as the main tank of the PLA, the Type 59 was deemed too heavy for some of the terrain and infrastructure in China. A light tank design was requested in the late 1950s, leading to the formal development process in 1958. The first prototype was produced in 1960 as the Type 59-16, which was essentially a down-scaled Type 59 with an 85 mm armament, thinner armour, and smaller profile. Trials commenced in December 1962, when it was accepted as the Type 62, production name WZ 131. It was then put into production in 1963 with roughly 1,393 tank units produced until 1989.

Combat Usage

The Type 62 light tank was primarily stationed with military units in Southern China where the infrastructure is not as sophisticated. However, the Type 62 would not see its first usage in Chinese hands. A number of them were supplied to the North Vietnamese Army during the Vietnam War, which they used against America and South Vietnam until the end of the war in 1975. The Type 62 then saw use again in 1979 in Vietnam, but mostly in Chinese hands in the Sino-Vietnamese War. However, the Type 62 suffered due to anti-tank weapons such as the ubiquitous rocket launchers penetrating right through the thin armour. The overall consensus of their experiences in Vietnam was that the Type 62 not suitable to act around as a normal tank due to its light armour and armament, and was relegated to recon and fire support.

An upgrade program commenced on the Type 62 led to the Type 62-I variant. The program was based on experiences in Vietnam, leading to many upgrades such as a laser range finder, a shield for the exterior-mounted 12.7 mm machine gun, and protection against HEAT rounds. The second modernization program began in 2000 to upgrade the Type 62-I into Type 62G which improved the armour layout and turret design of the tank, as well as adding smoke dischargers and a new 105 mm main armament with a modern stabilizer and fire-control system. The Type 62 stayed in the Chinese service up until early 2013.

The Type 62 also saw exportation to many countries, ranging from Albania, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Congo, Mali, Sudan, Tanzania, Thailand, North Korea, and Zaire. In some cases, such as in North Korea, this led to confusion about the Soviet's T-62 main battle tank due to the labelling of the Type 62 as simply "T-62". Information on the Type 62 in these countries is rather limited or unknown, though most of them seem to still have them in reserves today.

Media

Skins
Videos
The Type 62 Is Hard - First Impression - RedFang

See also

Vehicles equipped with the same chassis

External links


Norinco (China North Industries Corporation)
Light AFV/IFV 
WZ501  ZBD86¹
WZ131  ▂Type 62 · Type 62
WZ211  Type 63 · ZTS63
WZ502  ZBD04A
MBT 
WZ120  Type 59¹ · ZTZ59A · ZTZ59D1
WZ121  Type 69
WZ122  ZTZ88B · ZTZ88A · ZTZ96 · ZTZ96A · ZTZ96A (P)
WZ123  ZTZ99-II · ZTZ99-III
WZ1001  WZ1001(E) LCT · ZTZ99A
Tank Destroyers  AFT09 · PTL02 · PTZ89 · ZLT11
SPH  PLZ83
SPAA  ZSD63/PG87² · PGZ09 · PGZ04A
Export 
WZ121  Type 69-IIa · T-69 II G
MBT2000  MBT-2000 · Al-Khalid-I
MBT3000  VT4A1
Other  WMA301 · WZ305
  ¹ License production / Reverse engineered · ² Field modifications

China light tanks
Type 63  Object 211 · Type 63 · ZTS63
Type 62  Type 62
WZ551  ZSL92 · PTL02 · WMA301
ZBL08  ZLT11
Type 86  ZBD86
WZ502  ZBD04A
ROC  M41D · M64
Type 59  QN506
USA  ␗M8 LAC · ␗M3A3 Stuart · ␗M3A3 (1st PTG) · ␗M5A1 · ␗M24 · ␗M18 GMC · ␗M41A3
USSR  ␗T-26 · T-26 No.531 · ␗PT-76

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