Difference between revisions of "Type 69"

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{{Specs-Card|code=cn_type_69}}
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{{About
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| about = Chinese medium tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
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| usage = other versions
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| link = Type 69 (Family)
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}}
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{{Specs-Card
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|code=cn_type_69
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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 '''{{Specs|name}}'''(Chinese: 69式中型坦克; industry code WZ121) was the first batch of 100 tanks manufactured as the domestic replacement of the previous Type 59 tanks with some parts of the domestic upgrades inspired from [[T-62 545 (China)|Soviet T-62]]. The plans to built a completely domestic tank rose after the worsen Sino-Soviet relationship, in fact the new tank was proposed in 1963 to replace the aforementioned [[Type 59]] and the development started in 1965; while the later Cultural Revolution hindered the development severely, Chinese engineers eventually acquired the No. 545 T-62 from Soviet Border Troops and many parts of the most advanced Soviet tank known to Chinese inspired the engineers to revise their designs. The WZ121 eventually passed for certification in 1974 with new diesel engine, FCS and the infamous 100 mm smoothbore cannon; due to the rather disappointing performance of the cannon and flaws found during trials, these 100 tanks were soon returned to Factory 617 with the only known surviving tank stored in China Tank Museum (now closed), where the new Type 69-II with rifled 100 mm cannon passed as the true Type 69 in service, as well as the bestseller of Chinese medium tanks during 1980s as the [[Type 69-IIa]].
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{{break}} -->
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The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} Chinese medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.91 "Night Vision"]].
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It was introduced in [[Update 1.91 "Night Vision"]] alongside with the Chinese tech-tree. At first glance, the Type 69 looks a lot like the previous Type 59. Closer inspection reveals some interesting features. It can be visually differentiated from similar vehicles by the placement of the IR spotlight directly above the gun mantlet (Soviet tanks place the spotlight off to the side), a laser rangefinder next to it, and a unique fume extractor located near the tip of the barrel. It can be thought of as a cross between the Soviet [[T-55A]] and [[T-62]]. Like the former, it boasts improved mobility and gun handling from the original Type 59, and like the latter, it has a smoothbore gun firing HEATFS and APFSDS rounds. Incorporating some of the PRC's first indigenous technologies, it also boasts night vision, two-plane stabilizer, and a laser rangefinder which both the T-62 and T-55A lack. Players coming from the [[Type 59]] will appreciate many of the Type 69's improvements, no longer having to deal with a glacial turret rotation speed, single plane stabilizer, and lack of night vision. The firepower is a sidegrade at best and a downgrade at worst. Both tanks can use HEATFS, but while the Type 59 could use APHE rounds for instant knockouts against lightly armoured tanks like the [[Leopard 1]], the Type 69 has a poor-quality APFSDS round instead. No miracles should be expected from its gun.
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 +
Succeeding the Type 69 is the [[ZTZ59D1]], which has much improved firepower and protection but reverts back to the Type 59's poor gun handling and weaker engine.
  
 
== 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 armour layout of the Type 69 is identical to the [[T-54 (1951)]], with a rounded turret made of cast homogeneous armour and a highly sloped front glacis. While the frontal protection is good in terms of raw values, the Type 69 will face many tanks with powerful sub-calibre and HEAT rounds that can penetrate its armour with ease. That said, it is resistant to the APHE rounds used by Soviet light/medium tanks and the US [[T32]]/[[T32E1]].
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 +
Post-penetration survivability is not optimal as the interior of the tank is cramped and plenty of loose ammunition is stored in the turret and fighting compartment. However, the Type 69 has a "wet" ammo rack next to the driver, which is more resistant to detonation by HEAT rounds.
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 +
'''Armour type:'''
 +
 
 +
* Rolled homogeneous armour (Hull, Turret roof)
 +
* Cast homogeneous armour (Turret, Gun mantlet)
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 +
{| class="wikitable"
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|-
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! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
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|-
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| Hull || 100 mm (60°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 100 mm (54°) ''Lower glacis'' || 80 mm || 45 mm (16°) ''Upper'' <br> 30 mm (72°) ''Lower'' ||  30 mm ''Front''<br> 20 mm ''Back''
 +
|-
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| Turret || 160 mm (14-39°) ''Turret front'' <br> 200 mm (4-78°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 115 mm (45-50°) ''Upper''<br> 155 mm (10-30°) ''Lower'' || 65 mm (0-35°) || 30 mm
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|-
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|}
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'''Notes:'''
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 +
* Suspensions wheels and tracks are 20 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=899|rbMinHp=513}}
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=== Modifications and economy ===
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{{Specs-Economy}}
  
 
== Armaments ==
 
== Armaments ==
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{{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 69 (100 mm)}}
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The Type 69 is armed with a 100 mm Type 69 smoothbore cannon equipped with a two-plane stabilizer, capable of firing APFSDS, HEATFS, and HE rounds. It reloads 0.1 seconds quicker than the Type 59's rifled gun but this is a negligible improvement. The turret traverse is on par with the T-55A and is 50% better than the Type 59. The ability to automatically range the gun using the laser rangefinder helps offset the lower velocity of the HEATFS round, and makes sniping extremely easy. As a whole, the Type 69 significantly rectifies the Type 59's gun handling problems, but it still lags behind most Western MBTs. It also retains the T-54/Type 59's poor gun depression of 4 degrees, which is 1 degree worse than the T-55A.
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
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|-
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! colspan="5" | [[Type 69 (100 mm)|100 mm Type 69]] || 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" | 44 || rowspan="2" | -5°/+18° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | Two-plane || 14.3 || 19.8 || 24.0 || 26.5 || 28.2 || rowspan="2" | 9.75 || rowspan="2" | 8.63 || rowspan="2" | 7.95 || rowspan="2" | 7.50
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|-
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! ''Realistic''
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| 8.9 || 10.5 || 12.8 || 14.1 || 15.0
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|-
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|}
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==== Ammunition ====
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The Type 69's stock rounds are the Type 71 APDS-FS and the Type 71 HE. The Type 71 APDS-FS with only 219 mm of flat penetration at 10 m is worse than many AP/APHE rounds at its BR. The [[AUBL/74 HVG]]'s 60 mm APFSDS penetrates more despite having a much lower calibre! It also suffers noticeable drop-off at long distances. However the angled penetration is decent, topping out at 125 mm @ 60 degrees. For comparison, the T-55A's 3BM25 APFSDS round has far superior flat penetration (up to 335 mm) but only has slightly higher angled penetration (up to 128 mm @ 60 degrees) than the Type 71 APDS-FS. Penetration aside, it has a high muzzle velocity of 1,505 m/s. The post-penetration damage is nothing to write home about, generally comparable to the Type 1959 APDS used by the Type 59. Be sure to aim for crew members and ammo racks.
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The Type 71 HE shell is weak and should be ignored. It has a low explosive content and might be able to cause overpressure damage to light targets, but not consistently. Any vehicle with more than paper-thin armour will be immune to it.
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The unlockable Type 1973 HEATFS is a Tier I modification. Familiar to Type 59 users, it has the same penetration performance as the T-55A's 3BK17M HEATFS with a lower TNT equivalent and a slightly lower muzzle velocity. 390 mm of flat penetration at any distance is impressive and will slice through almost all tanks lacking special armour types (spaced, reactive, composite). While it lacks the high velocity of the APFSDS and can be detonated by bushes or fences, the HEATFS is still good for dealing with heavy targets that the APFSDS can't penetrate. Post-penetration damage is somewhat inconsistent, so again, aim for crew members and ammo racks. It is capable of knocking out very lightly-armoured vehicles with overpressure damage, but this is not guaranteed. Still, it is much more practical than the HE shell and is the best accompaniment to the APFSDS.
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 +
{{:Type 69 (100 mm)/Ammunition|1-72-85 APDS-FS, 1-71-74 HE, Type 1973 HEAT-FS}}
  
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The Type 69 is armed with a 100mm Type 69 smoothbore cannon equipped with a two-plane stabilizer, capable of firing APFSDS and HEAT-FS rounds.
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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: 2.1.0.94''' -->
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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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|-
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| '''44''' || 43&nbsp;''(+1)'' || 38&nbsp;''(+6)'' || 34&nbsp;''(+10)'' || 22&nbsp;''(+22)'' || 20&nbsp;''(+24)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+43)'' || No
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|-
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|}
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'''Notes''':
  
 +
* Shells are modeled individually and disappear after having been shot or loaded.
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* The 6th rack serves as first-stage ammo stowage (19 shells total).
  
 
=== 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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 +
The Type 54 is useful against enemy helicopters if they get too close. It can also penetrate lightly-armoured targets like certain SPAAs or light tanks.
  
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A 7.62mm SGMT machine gun is mounted coaxially with the main gun and a 12.7 DShK heavy machine gun is mounted on the loader's cupola.
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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 || 3,500 (250) || 600 || - || -
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|-
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|}
  
 
== Usage in battles ==
 
== Usage in battles ==
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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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<!-- ''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).'' -->
 +
 
 +
The Type 69 is somewhat paradoxical. Its laser rangefinder and smoothbore cannon may suggest that it is a good sniper, but the poor penetration of its Type 71 APDS-FS makes it difficult to pick off well-protected targets from afar. Meanwhile its two-plane stabilizer, improved engine, and faster turret rotation speed are more suitable for an offensive role, though it lacks the APHE enjoyed by the comparable [[T-55A]] for instant knockouts. New tankers can try using it as a second-line midfielder to support pushes and quickly react to targets from a comfortable distance. It can brawl quite well against tanks that lack stabilizers. Take advantage of the laser rangefinder to shoot accurately at long distances, as the ability to automatically range the gun helps a lot.
 +
 
 +
Terrible APFSDS is still APFSDS, and it does the job against against lightly armoured opponents like the [[Leopard I]] and [[AMX-30]]. US medium tanks tend to have better frontal protection and may be able to shrug off the APFSDS in certain zones; the [[M48A1]] has a tough gun mantlet, the [[M60]]'s lower glacis is immune, and the [[T95E1]] is mostly immune on the turret and upper portions of the glacis. When fighting more resilient targets like the [[M103]], [[T32E1]], and [[M60A1 (AOS)]], the Type 1973 HEATFS is a much better choice and will penetrate any target with conventional armour. The Type 69 may encounter some tanks that boast ERA and good base armour. Look out for the [[Centurion Mk.5 AVRE]], [[M60A1 RISE (P)]], and [[Sho't Kal Dalet (Great Britain)|Sho't Kal Dalet]], which will need repeated hits with HEATFS and are more easily dealt with by flanking.
 +
 
 +
The APFSDS and HEATFS are not very likely to destroy targets in one shot, especially those with large volumes and well-spaced crew members, so stay close to cover and have a backup plan if a target survives. This is especially important since the Type 69's reload is rather sluggish and a damaged target could retreat or retaliate before a follow up shot is ready.
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Mobility wise, the Type 69 is about the same as the [[T-55A]]. While not agonizing, it most likely won't be the first tank to arrive on the battlefield. Note that the reverse speed of -7 km/h is rather poor and it lacks neutral steering, so be careful about overextending. It is easier to get into a bad position than out of it.
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 +
Overall, the Type 69 is versatile, having tools for most situations at hand and no major weaknesses, though conversely it is not exceptional in any regard. It is best used as a flexible combatant, capable of flanking, pushing aggressively, or sniping as the situation demands. Stay close to teammates and avoid engaging multiple opponents at the same time. Caution should be paid to its substandard mobility, slow reload, and finicky ammunition.
  
 
=== 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:'''
 +
 
* One of the earliest tanks in the game with APFSDS rounds
 
* One of the earliest tanks in the game with APFSDS rounds
 +
* APFSDS comes stock
 
* Has a two-plane stabilizer
 
* Has a two-plane stabilizer
 
* Access to night vision and a laser rangefinder
 
* Access to night vision and a laser rangefinder
 +
* Laser rangefinder can automatically range the gun to fire at long distances
 
* Improved engine, turret rotation speed, and ammunition capacity compared to the Type 59
 
* Improved engine, turret rotation speed, and ammunition capacity compared to the Type 59
 +
* Top mounted heavy machine gun is useful against aircraft
 +
* Wet ammo storage
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
−
* APFSDS has poor penetration (lowest in the game), inferior in flat pen to the preceding 100mm APDS
+
 
 +
* APFSDS has abysmal flat penetration for its calibre and all-around penetration values drop severely at longer ranges
 +
* APFSDS struggles to destroy heavy tanks such as [[M103]]
 
* Does not have access to APHE
 
* Does not have access to APHE
−
* Armor is identical to the Type 59
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* Armour is identical to the Type 59, does not hold up very well at its rank
−
 
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* Not particularly mobile
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* Somewhat long reload
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* No thermal sights
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* No sources of smoke available
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
−
<!--''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).'' -->
  
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After the Sino-Soviet split, the People's Republic of China was no longer able to receive military technical help from the Soviet Union. The [[Type 59]], a licensed copy of the T-54A, was the the most advanced medium tank available to the PLA, but after a few years it became apparent that upgrades were necessary to keep up with the rapidly advancing technology of the time. The PLA ordered the development of a new "Type 69" tank in 1963 and the first prototype was manufactured in 1966; however, the beginning of the Cultural Revolution in 1966 and the ensuing purges impeded further development of the tank. The early "Type 69" featured a smoothbore cannon, IR searchlight, laser rangefinder, and a new engine.
+
After the Sino-Soviet split, the People's Republic of China was no longer able to receive military technical help from the Soviet Union. The [[Type 59]], a licensed copy of the T-54A, was the most advanced medium tank available to the PLA, but after a few years it became apparent that upgrades were necessary to keep up with the rapidly advancing technology of the time. The PLA ordered the development of a new "Type 69" tank in 1963 and the first prototype was manufactured in 1966; however, the beginning of the Cultural Revolution in 1966 and the ensuing purges impeded further development of the tank. The early Type 69 featured a smoothbore cannon, IR searchlight, laser rangefinder, and a new engine.
  
−
After the capture of [[Т-62_545_(China)| a Soviet T-62]], the latest Soviet technology was examined, copied, and implemented into the Type 69, creating the Type 69-I variant. Further development continued through the 1980s, culminating in the Type 79 series, which incorporated a new gun and numerous Western technologies.
+
After the capture of [[Т-62 545 (China)| a Soviet T-62]], the latest Soviet technology was examined, copied, and implemented into the Type 69, creating the Type 69-I variant. During this time the smoothbore gun was found to be rather unsatisfactory, and Type 69 tanks in Chinese service were often refitted with the same 100 mm rifled gun as the Type 59. Further development continued through the 1980s, culminating in the Type 79 series, which incorporated a new 105 mm gun and numerous Western technologies.
  
−
The Type 69 series saw relatively limited service with the PLA but were more popular on the export market, purchased by countries such as Thailand, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. Modified Type 69 tanks were still in the inventory of the Iraqi Army during the 2003 invasion of Iraq, though by this point they were no match for modern MBTs.
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The Type 69 series saw relatively limited service with the PLA but were more popular on the export market, purchased by countries such as Thailand, [[T-69 II G|Bangladesh]], and Myanmar. Modified Type 69 tanks were still in the inventory of the Iraqi Army during the 2003 invasion of Iraq, though by this point they were no match for modern MBTs. That being said, the Iraqi division equipped with the {{PAGENAME}} tanks, though outgunned, fought more valiantly than the elite Republican Guard who had access to more modern equipment.
  
 
== 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_69 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]
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;Videos
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{{Youtube-gallery|cZBlT1J2cVU|'''A Complicated Copy - Type 69''' - ''JustinPlaysYT''|B6ZsuPjSuNo|'''T-54/T-55 family''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 6:24 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|ro6fFFWqdJ8|'''Aggressive {{PAGENAME}}''' - ''TheEuropeanCanadian''}}
  
 
== 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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 +
* [[T-69 II G]] - Upgraded export variant for Bangladesh
  
 
== 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_69_tank|[Wikipedia] Type 69 tank]]
  
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{{TankManufacturer Norinco}}
 
{{China medium tanks}}
 
{{China medium tanks}}

Latest revision as of 23:55, 25 June 2024

Rank VI USA | Premium | Golden Eagles
A-10A Thunderbolt (Early)
This page is about the Chinese medium tank Type 69. For other versions, see Type 69 (Family).
Type 69
cn_type_69.png
GarageImage Type 69.jpg
Type 69
China flag.png China
V Rank
Battle rating:
AB RB SB
8.0 8.0 8.0
Class:
Research:61 000 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:340 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png
Show in game

Description

The Type 69(Chinese: 69式中型坦克; industry code WZ121) was the first batch of 100 tanks manufactured as the domestic replacement of the previous Type 59 tanks with some parts of the domestic upgrades inspired from Soviet T-62. The plans to built a completely domestic tank rose after the worsen Sino-Soviet relationship, in fact the new tank was proposed in 1963 to replace the aforementioned Type 59 and the development started in 1965; while the later Cultural Revolution hindered the development severely, Chinese engineers eventually acquired the No. 545 T-62 from Soviet Border Troops and many parts of the most advanced Soviet tank known to Chinese inspired the engineers to revise their designs. The WZ121 eventually passed for certification in 1974 with new diesel engine, FCS and the infamous 100 mm smoothbore cannon; due to the rather disappointing performance of the cannon and flaws found during trials, these 100 tanks were soon returned to Factory 617 with the only known surviving tank stored in China Tank Museum (now closed), where the new Type 69-II with rifled 100 mm cannon passed as the true Type 69 in service, as well as the bestseller of Chinese medium tanks during 1980s as the Type 69-IIa.

It was introduced in Update 1.91 "Night Vision" alongside with the Chinese tech-tree. At first glance, the Type 69 looks a lot like the previous Type 59. Closer inspection reveals some interesting features. It can be visually differentiated from similar vehicles by the placement of the IR spotlight directly above the gun mantlet (Soviet tanks place the spotlight off to the side), a laser rangefinder next to it, and a unique fume extractor located near the tip of the barrel. It can be thought of as a cross between the Soviet T-55A and T-62. Like the former, it boasts improved mobility and gun handling from the original Type 59, and like the latter, it has a smoothbore gun firing HEATFS and APFSDS rounds. Incorporating some of the PRC's first indigenous technologies, it also boasts night vision, two-plane stabilizer, and a laser rangefinder which both the T-62 and T-55A lack. Players coming from the Type 59 will appreciate many of the Type 69's improvements, no longer having to deal with a glacial turret rotation speed, single plane stabilizer, and lack of night vision. The firepower is a sidegrade at best and a downgrade at worst. Both tanks can use HEATFS, but while the Type 59 could use APHE rounds for instant knockouts against lightly armoured tanks like the Leopard 1, the Type 69 has a poor-quality APFSDS round instead. No miracles should be expected from its gun.

Succeeding the Type 69 is the ZTZ59D1, which has much improved firepower and protection but reverts back to the Type 59's poor gun handling and weaker engine.

General info

Survivability and armour

Armourfront / side / back
Hull100 / 80 / 45
Turret200 / 155 / 65
Crew4 people
Visibility75 %

The armour layout of the Type 69 is identical to the T-54 (1951), with a rounded turret made of cast homogeneous armour and a highly sloped front glacis. While the frontal protection is good in terms of raw values, the Type 69 will face many tanks with powerful sub-calibre and HEAT rounds that can penetrate its armour with ease. That said, it is resistant to the APHE rounds used by Soviet light/medium tanks and the US T32/T32E1.

Post-penetration survivability is not optimal as the interior of the tank is cramped and plenty of loose ammunition is stored in the turret and fighting compartment. However, the Type 69 has a "wet" ammo rack next to the driver, which is more resistant to detonation by HEAT rounds.

Armour type:

  • Rolled homogeneous armour (Hull, Turret roof)
  • Cast homogeneous armour (Turret, Gun mantlet)
Armour Front (Slope angle) Sides Rear Roof
Hull 100 mm (60°) Front glacis
100 mm (54°) Lower glacis 		80 mm 45 mm (16°) Upper
30 mm (72°) Lower 		30 mm Front
20 mm Back
Turret 160 mm (14-39°) Turret front
200 mm (4-78°) Gun mantlet 		115 mm (45-50°) Upper
155 mm (10-30°) Lower 		65 mm (0-35°) 30 mm

Notes:

  • Suspensions wheels and tracks are 20 mm thick

Mobility

Speedforward / back
AB56 / 9 km/h
RB and SB51 / 8 km/h
Number of gears5 forward
1 back
Weight36.5 t
Engine power
AB1 107 hp
RB and SB580 hp
Power-to-weight ratio
AB30.3 hp/t
RB and SB15.9 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 56 9 36.5 899 1,107 24.63 30.33
Realistic 51 8 513 580 14.05 15.89

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference
AB4 399 → 5 762 Sl icon.png
RB4 864 → 6 371 Sl icon.png
SB6 676 → 8 745 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications98 100 Rp icon.png
163 200 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost2 200 Ge icon.png
Crew training98 000 Sl icon.png
Experts340 000 Sl icon.png
Aces1 300 Ge icon.png
Research Aces780 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
130 / 200 / 240 % Sl icon.png
202 / 202 / 202 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Mobility Protection Firepower
Mods new tank traks.png
Tracks
Research:
5 100 Rp icon.png
Cost:
8 200 Sl icon.png
180 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank suspension.png
Suspension
Research:
5 700 Rp icon.png
Cost:
9 100 Sl icon.png
200 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank break.png
Brake System
Research:
5 700 Rp icon.png
Cost:
9 100 Sl icon.png
200 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank filter.png
Filters
Research:
8 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
14 000 Sl icon.png
300 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank transmission.png
Transmission
Research:
8 300 Rp icon.png
Cost:
13 000 Sl icon.png
290 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank engine.png
Engine
Research:
8 300 Rp icon.png
Cost:
13 000 Sl icon.png
290 Ge icon.png
Mods tank tool kit.png
Improved Parts
Research:
3 300 Rp icon.png
Cost:
8 200 Sl icon.png
180 Ge icon.png
Mods extinguisher.png
Improved FPE
Research:
3 700 Rp icon.png
Cost:
9 100 Sl icon.png
200 Ge icon.png
Mods tank reinforcement cn.png
Crew Replenishment
Research:
8 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
14 000 Sl icon.png
300 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank horizontal aiming.png
Horizontal Drive
Research:
5 100 Rp icon.png
Cost:
8 200 Sl icon.png
180 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
100mm_cn_HEAT_ammo_pack
Research:
5 100 Rp icon.png
Cost:
8 200 Sl icon.png
180 Ge icon.png
Mods tank cannon.png
Adjustment of Fire
Research:
5 700 Rp icon.png
Cost:
9 100 Sl icon.png
200 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank vertical aiming.png
Elevation Mechanism
Research:
8 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
14 000 Sl icon.png
300 Ge icon.png
Mods art support.png
Artillery Support
Research:
8 300 Rp icon.png
Cost:
13 000 Sl icon.png
290 Ge icon.png
Mods tank laser rangefinder.png
Laser rangefinder
Research:
8 300 Rp icon.png
Cost:
13 000 Sl icon.png
290 Ge icon.png

Armaments

Laser rangefinder
Reduces the error and increases the maximum measurable distance of the rangefinder

Main armament

100 mm Type 69 cannon
Two-plane stabilizer
Reduces the swing of the gun in two planes while moving
Ammunition44 rounds
First-order19 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
9.7 → 7.5 s
Vertical guidance-5° / 18°
Main article: Type 69 (100 mm)

The Type 69 is armed with a 100 mm Type 69 smoothbore cannon equipped with a two-plane stabilizer, capable of firing APFSDS, HEATFS, and HE rounds. It reloads 0.1 seconds quicker than the Type 59's rifled gun but this is a negligible improvement. The turret traverse is on par with the T-55A and is 50% better than the Type 59. The ability to automatically range the gun using the laser rangefinder helps offset the lower velocity of the HEATFS round, and makes sniping extremely easy. As a whole, the Type 69 significantly rectifies the Type 59's gun handling problems, but it still lags behind most Western MBTs. It also retains the T-54/Type 59's poor gun depression of 4 degrees, which is 1 degree worse than the T-55A.

100 mm Type 69 Turret rotation speed (°/s) Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode Capacity Vertical Horizontal Stabilizer Stock Upgraded Full Expert Aced Stock Full Expert Aced
Arcade 44 -5°/+18° ±180° Two-plane 14.3 19.8 24.0 26.5 28.2 9.75 8.63 7.95 7.50
Realistic 8.9 10.5 12.8 14.1 15.0

Ammunition

The Type 69's stock rounds are the Type 71 APDS-FS and the Type 71 HE. The Type 71 APDS-FS with only 219 mm of flat penetration at 10 m is worse than many AP/APHE rounds at its BR. The AUBL/74 HVG's 60 mm APFSDS penetrates more despite having a much lower calibre! It also suffers noticeable drop-off at long distances. However the angled penetration is decent, topping out at 125 mm @ 60 degrees. For comparison, the T-55A's 3BM25 APFSDS round has far superior flat penetration (up to 335 mm) but only has slightly higher angled penetration (up to 128 mm @ 60 degrees) than the Type 71 APDS-FS. Penetration aside, it has a high muzzle velocity of 1,505 m/s. The post-penetration damage is nothing to write home about, generally comparable to the Type 1959 APDS used by the Type 59. Be sure to aim for crew members and ammo racks.

The Type 71 HE shell is weak and should be ignored. It has a low explosive content and might be able to cause overpressure damage to light targets, but not consistently. Any vehicle with more than paper-thin armour will be immune to it.

The unlockable Type 1973 HEATFS is a Tier I modification. Familiar to Type 59 users, it has the same penetration performance as the T-55A's 3BK17M HEATFS with a lower TNT equivalent and a slightly lower muzzle velocity. 390 mm of flat penetration at any distance is impressive and will slice through almost all tanks lacking special armour types (spaced, reactive, composite). While it lacks the high velocity of the APFSDS and can be detonated by bushes or fences, the HEATFS is still good for dealing with heavy targets that the APFSDS can't penetrate. Post-penetration damage is somewhat inconsistent, so again, aim for crew members and ammo racks. It is capable of knocking out very lightly-armoured vehicles with overpressure damage, but this is not guaranteed. Still, it is much more practical than the HE shell and is the best accompaniment to the APFSDS.

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 71 APDS-FS APFSDS 219 213 194 170 147 126
Type 71 HE HE 26 26 23 19 17 17
Type 1973 HEAT-FS HEATFS 390 390 390 390 390 390
Shell details
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Velocity
(m/s) 		Projectile
mass (kg) 		Fuse delay
(m) 		Fuse sensitivity
(mm) 		Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (kg) 		Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
Type 71 APDS-FS APFSDS 1,505 3.05 - - - 72° 76° 78°
Type 71 HE HE 900 15 0.2 0.1 1.3 79° 80° 81°
Type 1973 HEAT-FS HEATFS 1,000 10.05 0.05 0.1 1.18 65° 72° 77°

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the Type 69
Full
ammo 		1st
rack empty 		2nd
rack empty 		3rd
rack empty 		4th
rack empty 		5th
rack empty 		6th
rack empty* 		Visual
discrepancy
44 43 (+1) 38 (+6) 34 (+10) 22 (+22) 20 (+24) 1 (+43) No

Notes:

  • Shells are modeled individually and disappear after having been shot or loaded.
  • The 6th rack serves as first-stage ammo stowage (19 shells total).

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)
Ammunition3 500 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)

The Type 54 is useful against enemy helicopters if they get too close. It can also penetrate lightly-armoured targets like certain SPAAs or light tanks.

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 3,500 (250) 600 - -

Usage in battles

The Type 69 is somewhat paradoxical. Its laser rangefinder and smoothbore cannon may suggest that it is a good sniper, but the poor penetration of its Type 71 APDS-FS makes it difficult to pick off well-protected targets from afar. Meanwhile its two-plane stabilizer, improved engine, and faster turret rotation speed are more suitable for an offensive role, though it lacks the APHE enjoyed by the comparable T-55A for instant knockouts. New tankers can try using it as a second-line midfielder to support pushes and quickly react to targets from a comfortable distance. It can brawl quite well against tanks that lack stabilizers. Take advantage of the laser rangefinder to shoot accurately at long distances, as the ability to automatically range the gun helps a lot.

Terrible APFSDS is still APFSDS, and it does the job against against lightly armoured opponents like the Leopard I and AMX-30. US medium tanks tend to have better frontal protection and may be able to shrug off the APFSDS in certain zones; the M48A1 has a tough gun mantlet, the M60's lower glacis is immune, and the T95E1 is mostly immune on the turret and upper portions of the glacis. When fighting more resilient targets like the M103, T32E1, and M60A1 (AOS), the Type 1973 HEATFS is a much better choice and will penetrate any target with conventional armour. The Type 69 may encounter some tanks that boast ERA and good base armour. Look out for the Centurion Mk.5 AVRE, M60A1 RISE (P), and Sho't Kal Dalet, which will need repeated hits with HEATFS and are more easily dealt with by flanking.

The APFSDS and HEATFS are not very likely to destroy targets in one shot, especially those with large volumes and well-spaced crew members, so stay close to cover and have a backup plan if a target survives. This is especially important since the Type 69's reload is rather sluggish and a damaged target could retreat or retaliate before a follow up shot is ready.

Mobility wise, the Type 69 is about the same as the T-55A. While not agonizing, it most likely won't be the first tank to arrive on the battlefield. Note that the reverse speed of -7 km/h is rather poor and it lacks neutral steering, so be careful about overextending. It is easier to get into a bad position than out of it.

Overall, the Type 69 is versatile, having tools for most situations at hand and no major weaknesses, though conversely it is not exceptional in any regard. It is best used as a flexible combatant, capable of flanking, pushing aggressively, or sniping as the situation demands. Stay close to teammates and avoid engaging multiple opponents at the same time. Caution should be paid to its substandard mobility, slow reload, and finicky ammunition.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • One of the earliest tanks in the game with APFSDS rounds
  • APFSDS comes stock
  • Has a two-plane stabilizer
  • Access to night vision and a laser rangefinder
  • Laser rangefinder can automatically range the gun to fire at long distances
  • Improved engine, turret rotation speed, and ammunition capacity compared to the Type 59
  • Top mounted heavy machine gun is useful against aircraft
  • Wet ammo storage

Cons:

  • APFSDS has abysmal flat penetration for its calibre and all-around penetration values drop severely at longer ranges
  • APFSDS struggles to destroy heavy tanks such as M103
  • Does not have access to APHE
  • Armour is identical to the Type 59, does not hold up very well at its rank
  • Not particularly mobile
  • Somewhat long reload
  • No thermal sights
  • No sources of smoke available

History

After the Sino-Soviet split, the People's Republic of China was no longer able to receive military technical help from the Soviet Union. The Type 59, a licensed copy of the T-54A, was the most advanced medium tank available to the PLA, but after a few years it became apparent that upgrades were necessary to keep up with the rapidly advancing technology of the time. The PLA ordered the development of a new "Type 69" tank in 1963 and the first prototype was manufactured in 1966; however, the beginning of the Cultural Revolution in 1966 and the ensuing purges impeded further development of the tank. The early Type 69 featured a smoothbore cannon, IR searchlight, laser rangefinder, and a new engine.

After the capture of a Soviet T-62, the latest Soviet technology was examined, copied, and implemented into the Type 69, creating the Type 69-I variant. During this time the smoothbore gun was found to be rather unsatisfactory, and Type 69 tanks in Chinese service were often refitted with the same 100 mm rifled gun as the Type 59. Further development continued through the 1980s, culminating in the Type 79 series, which incorporated a new 105 mm gun and numerous Western technologies.

The Type 69 series saw relatively limited service with the PLA but were more popular on the export market, purchased by countries such as Thailand, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. Modified Type 69 tanks were still in the inventory of the Iraqi Army during the 2003 invasion of Iraq, though by this point they were no match for modern MBTs. That being said, the Iraqi division equipped with the Type 69 tanks, though outgunned, fought more valiantly than the elite Republican Guard who had access to more modern equipment.

Media

Skins
Videos
A Complicated Copy - Type 69 - JustinPlaysYT
T-54/T-55 family discusses the Type 69 at 6:24 - War Thunder Official Channel
Aggressive Type 69 - TheEuropeanCanadian

See also

  • T-69 II G - Upgraded export variant for Bangladesh

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 medium tanks
ZTZ59  Type 59 · ZTZ59A · ZTZ59D1
ZTZ69  Type 69 · Type 69-IIa
ZTZ88/96  ZTZ88A · ZTZ88B
  ZTZ96 · ZTZ96A · ZTZ96A (P)
ZTZ99  ZTZ99-II · ZTZ99-III
ZTZ99A  ZTZ99A · WZ1001(E) LCT
Export series  MBT-2000 · VT4A1
ROC  CM11
Other  Т-34-85 Gai · Object 122MT "MC"
Bangladesh  T-69 II G
Japan  ␗Chi-Ha · ␗Chi-Ha Kai
Pakistan  Al-Khalid-I
USA  ␗M4A4 · ␗M4A4 (1st PTG) · ␗M4A1 (75) W · ␗M48A1 · ␗M60A3 TTS
USSR  ␗T-34 (1943) · ␗Т-34-85 (S-53) · T-34-85 No.215 · Т-62 №545

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