Difference between revisions of "PTL02"

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(Added ammo descriptions and a video. Expanded Usage in Battles. Tweaked grammar and wording throughout.)
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The '''{{Specs|name}}''' (Simplified Chinese: PTL02 轮式突击炮; lit. wheeled assault gun) is a rank {{Specs|rank}} Chinese light tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "Ixwa Strike"]].
 
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' (Simplified Chinese: PTL02 轮式突击炮; lit. wheeled assault gun) is a rank {{Specs|rank}} Chinese light tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "Ixwa Strike"]].
  
Based on the WZ551 6x6 chassis developed in early 1990s (it shares the same chassis with ZSL-92), this vehicle is also the very first wheeled assault gun of the Chinese TT. Having subpar speed compare to the similar BR wheeled vehicles (at 85 km/h on road) and paper-like protection, it might not be the first vehicle with a role as sniper platform and flanks, but still a significantly faster vehicle than all PLAGF/ROCA vehicles has to offer for now. With its high velocity 100 mm smoothbore AT gun on-board, it can do some damage with the APFSDS at 220 mm RHA penetration at point-blank range. This vehicle has thermal sights with acceptable resolution, which can be precious at its BR since it can significantly speed up the seek and destroy process.
+
Based on the WZ551 6x6 chassis developed in early 1990s shared with the ZSL-92 armored personnel carrier, this vehicle is also the very first wheeled assault gun of the Chinese tech tree. Having subpar speed compared to contemporary wheeled vehicles (at 85 km/h on road) and paper-like protection, it might not be a first rate sniper platform or flanker. It is still significantly faster than all other PLAGF/ROCA vehicles for now. Armed with a high velocity 100 mm smoothbore anti-tank gun, its APFSDS can penetrate 220 mm of flat RHA at point-blank range. This vehicle has thermal sights with acceptable resolution, which can be precious at its BR since it can significantly speed up the seek and destroy process. The PTL02 is less forgiving than other wheeled light tanks, but despite its shortcomings in armor and firepower, it still offers valuable scouting and flanking abilities that complement other Chinese vehicles well.
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
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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.'' -->
 
<!-- ''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.'' -->
  
One of the major drawback of this vehicle is the inferior protect against any calibre bigger than 12.7 mm since only the turret has more than 20 mm of armour that can stop HMG rounds from some range, other than that it's 5 to 10 mm of armour all around. Avoid anything with a HMG or any autocannon vehicles (including aircraft) at all cost, because it is very likely you will not have the second chance to return fire and knock the enemy out.
+
One of the major drawbacks of this vehicle is the poor protectection against any calibre bigger than 12.7 mm since only the turret has more than 20 mm of armour to stop heavy machinegun rounds from some range. Other than that, it's 5 to 10 mm of armour all around. Avoid anything with a HMG or any autocannon vehicles (including aircraft) at all costs, because it is very likely you will not have a second chance to return fire and knock the enemy out.
  
 
'''Armour type:'''
 
'''Armour type:'''
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{{tankMobility|abMinHp=496|rbMinHp=283}}
 
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=496|rbMinHp=283}}
  
Powered by a licensed BF8L413F 325 hp diesel engine from Germany, it can push this vehicle at the speed of 85 km/h ( and -8 km/h in reverse) on road. This vehicle still lags behind all wheeled assault guns in the game, making it the slowest at present, as well as the common problem for wheeled vehicles performing worse on soft terrain, which in this specific case is even worse due to the inferior power-to-weight ratio. Another negative aspect of the PTL02's mobility is the absurdly slow reverse speed of only ~7km/h, meaning it lacks the agility wheeled vehicles should have and will not be able to quickly back out from danger.
+
Powered by a licensed BF8L413F 325 hp diesel engine from Germany, the PTL02 can reach up to 85 km/h ( and -8 km/h in reverse) on roads. This vehicle still lags behind almost all wheeled assault guns in the game (only the [[M1128]] has a worse power-to-weight ratio). This exacerbates the common problem of wheeled vehicles performing worse on soft terrain. Another negative aspect of the PTL02's mobility is the absurdly slow reverse speed of only ~7km/h, meaning it lacks the agility wheeled vehicles should have and will not be able to quickly back out from danger. The PTL02 will not be able to match the [[Centauro]] for example in terms of zipping in and out of cover and climbing to unusual vantage points.
  
To make the most out of the good top speed, it will need to navigate on hard terrain (roads, urban surfaces) for the best result. If the situation requires for you to use this gun as a last-ditch weapon on hilly and soft terrain maps, try your best not to get stuck since the lack of mobility will absolutely be the death sentence of this vehicle.
+
To make the most out of the good top speed, it will need to navigate on hard terrain (roads, urban surfaces) for best results. If the PTL02 must be used on hilly and soft terrain maps, try your best not to get stuck since the lack of mobility will absolutely be the death sentence of this vehicle.
  
 
=== Modifications and economy ===
 
=== Modifications and economy ===
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{{main|PTP86 (100 mm)}}
 
{{main|PTP86 (100 mm)}}
  
The 100 mm PTP-86 smoothbore gun found on this vehicle was a improvement on the earlier Soviet based PTP-73 (Type 73) AT gun with the same calibre. The PTP-86 has similar performance as the [[Type 69]]'s gun and players can get used to it fairly quickly. Bear in mind the slow reload and poor gun depression.
+
The 100 mm PTP-86 smoothbore gun found on this vehicle was a improvement on the earlier Soviet based PTP-73 (Type 73) AT gun with the same calibre. The PTP-86 has similar performance as the [[Type 69]]'s gun and players can get used to it fairly quickly. Bear in mind the slow reload and poor gun depression. It has a significantly faster turret rotation than the Type 69, which is a plus.
  
 
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|-
 
|-
 
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|}
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The PTL02 has the same ammunition selection as the [[Type 69]]. The stock 1-72-85 APFSDS was at one point the worst round of its type in War Thunder; 220 mm of flat penetration at 10 meters is worse than many AP/APHE rounds. It also suffers noticeable dropoff at long distances. 1-72-85 does have a few good qualities: it has a good muzzle velocity of 1505 m/s and the angled penetration is decent considering the flat penetration, topping out at 127 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 129 mm @ 60 degrees). 1-72-85 penetrates sloped armor more effectively than flat armor, rather like long rod APFSDS rounds. The post-penetration damage is nothing to write home about but still workable. Spalling is poor, but the round tends to stay intact after penetration and is quite good at detonating ammo racks and knocking out crew members if they are in the line of fire. Memorize the module layouts of enemy tanks to efficiently cripple and destroy them as the PTL02 cannot withstand return fire.
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 +
The 1-71-74 HE shell is weak and should be ignored. It has a low explosive content and might be able to cause hull-breaks on 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 HEAT-FS is a Tier III modification. Familiar to [[Type 59]] or [[Type 69]] users, it has the same penetration performance as the T-55A's 3BK17M HEAT-FS 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 extra high velocity of the APFSDS and can be detonated by bushes or fences, the HEAT-FS is still good for dealing with heavy targets that the APFSDS can't penetrate. It has slightly less explosive mass than the HE shell but is more consistent at hull-breaking due to its ability to damage internal modules. Post-penetration damage is somewhat inconsistent, so again, aim for crew members and ammo racks.
  
 
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
 
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
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{{main|QJC88A (12.7 mm)|Type 86 (7.62 mm)}}
 
{{main|QJC88A (12.7 mm)|Type 86 (7.62 mm)}}
  
The turret-mounted 12.7 mm QJC88A HMG has already become the standardized HMG for most PLAGF vehicles after the 1990s. The main usage of the HMG is to deal with lightly protected vehicles and low-flying aircraft including helicopters. It can also effectively damage gun barrels, tracks, optics, MG, and ERA to assist teammates in destroying enemies, though this may require more belts.
+
The turret-mounted 12.7 mm QJC88A HMG has already become the standardized HMG for most PLAGF vehicles after the 1990s. The main usage of the HMG is to deal with lightly protected vehicles and low-flying aircraft including helicopters. It can also effectively damage gun barrels, tracks, optics, MG, and ERA to assist teammates in destroying enemies, though this may require a lot of fire. Players who dealt with the paltry 50 round belt capacity of the 12.7 mm DShK machine guns of previous PLA vehicles will be happy to know that the QJC88A has a much more generous 150 round belt capacity.
  
 
The 7.62 mm MG, on the other hand, is only useful in clearing obstacles such as fences, marking out enemy positions on the minimap, or knocking out exposed crew on certain vehicles (eg. M113 TOW). It lacks the penetration to pierce through even lightly armoured vehicles.
 
The 7.62 mm MG, on the other hand, is only useful in clearing obstacles such as fences, marking out enemy positions on the minimap, or knocking out exposed crew on certain vehicles (eg. M113 TOW). It lacks the penetration to pierce through even lightly armoured vehicles.
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== 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).'' -->
 
<!-- ''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).'' -->
Being a wheeled vehicle and the very first wheeled assault gun of the Chinese tech tree, mobility and its gun sight is where it shines.
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Being a wheeled vehicle and the very first wheeled assault gun of the Chinese tech tree, the PTL02's main advantages lie in its mobility and gun sight.
  
With its 85 km/h speed, flanking is the key to avoid any direct fire from pretty much any vehicles with 12.7 mm as its weapon and above, because of the negligible protection found on this vehicle, take all precautions and avoid rushing into direct fire at all cost, you will not have the luxury of having the second chance to return fire. Being currently the slowest wheeled assault gun in the game, taking advantage points might not be possible with the inferior top speed and only getting worse in off-road situations, complicated terrains are problematic for this vehicle that will excels better in urban combats. Any aircraft is a lethal threat, with either guns or rockets, so keep away from their sight.
+
With its 85 km/h speed, flanking is the key to avoid any direct fire from pretty much any vehicle armed with at least a heavy machine gun. Because of the negligible protection found on this vehicle, take all precautions and avoid rushing into direct fire at all costs, you will not have the luxury of having the second chance to return fire. Being one of the slowest wheeled assault guns in the game, taking vantage points might not be possible considering the inferior top speed that only gets worse in off-road situations. The thin armour and poor reverse speed punish poor positioning, so think carefully about what spots allow the PTL02 to spot and engage enemies without being overly exposed to incoming fire. Complicated terrains are problematic for this vehicle and it tends to do better in urban combat. Any aircraft is a lethal threat, with either guns or rockets, so keep away from their sight. Use smoke grenades to mask your position if there are no buildings or other forms of large cover to hide behind. Helicopters in particular will have an easy time spotting and destroying the PTL02, so do not attract their attention and make use of the heavy machine gun if they get very close.
  
While the gun does sufficient damage to vehicles at lower tier or lightly protected tanks, it will have trouble with Cold-War heavy tanks such as [[M103]] or tanks with rounded hull such as [[M48 Patton (Family)|M48 Patton]]. Bringing some HEATFS help deal with such vehicles. Due to the late introduction of this vehicle in-game wise (2002), this vehicle has thermal sights, with sufficient resolution to help players find targets. Utilize your mobility and the high velocity 100 mm smoothbore gun to clean up any potential flankers.
+
While the gun does sufficient damage to vehicles at lower tier or lightly protected tanks like the [[Leopard I]], it will have trouble with Cold-War heavy tanks such as [[M103]] or tanks with rounded hulls such as [[M48 Patton (Family)|M48 Patton]]. Bring some HEAT-FS to help deal with such vehicles. Otherwise, memorize the weak spots of enemy tanks and try to flank; contemporary MBTs tend to have poor side armor and even a half decent angle of attack may be enough for the APFSDS to penetrate where typical APDS rounds could not. As discussed previously, aim for ammo racks and important crew members. If an injured enemy is still capable of returning fire, be very cautious and consider leaving them for teammates to clean up. Since the PTL02 is a relatively modern vehicle by War Thunder standards, dating from 2002, it has second generation thermal sights for the gunner with sufficient resolution to help players find targets at a good distance. Oddly enough it is not currently modeled with a laser rangefinder, so the [[Type 69]] is a better choice for sniping at very long distances. Utilize your mobility and the high velocity 100 mm smoothbore gun to clean up any potential flankers while also spotting targets for your team.
  
 
;Enemies worth noting:
 
;Enemies worth noting:
  
* [[Rooikat Mk.1D|Rooikat]], [[Centauro (Family)|Centauro]], [[M1128]]: these wheeled vehicles perform a similar flanking role on the battlefield. Therefore you might usually encounter them while flanking or on your way to flank. These vehicles are generally faster, both forwards and backwards, have better gun depression or better optics/ammo, so they may already be at a cap point before you. If this is the case, ambush around their location and passively hunt them down, as the PTL's rather slow acceleration and bad reverse prevents it from being offensive in terms of mobility. These vehicles, however, can usually be hull-broken by chemical warheads, which makes your HEATFS rounds very useful.  
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* [[Rooikat Mk.1D|Rooikat]], [[Centauro (Family)|Centauro]], [[M1128]]: these wheeled vehicles perform a similar flanking role on the battlefield. Therefore you will often encounter them while flanking or on your way to flank. These vehicles are generally faster, both forwards and backwards, have better gun depression or better optics/ammo, so they may already be at a cap point before you. If this is the case, ambush around their location and passively hunt them down, as the PTL02's rather slow acceleration and bad reverse prevents it from being offensive in terms of mobility. These vehicles, however, can usually be hull-broken by chemical warheads, which makes your HEAT-FS rounds very useful. The Rooikat lacks thermal sights, making it easier to spot and destroy preemptively. The Centauro has the same battle rating as the PTL02 but is superior in almost every aspect, so be cautious if the enemy team has Italian vehicles. The M1128 can only be encountered in a full uptier and has an unmanned turret, good thermal sights for all crew members, and slat armor that occasionally interferes with HEAT-FS rounds.
 +
 
 +
* [[AMX-10RC]]: a contemporary French 6x6 wheeled light tank armed with a 105 mm gun, APFSDS rounds, and thermal sights for the gunner. The AMX-10RC has a rather low profile compared to other wheeled tanks and can be a dangerous sniper. Unlike the other wheeled vehicles mentioned previously, the AMX-10RC does not have any sort of gun stabilizer. Try to attack it when it is on the move and cannot shoot accurately.
 +
 
 +
* [[M60A1 RISE (P)]], [[Sho't Kal Dalet (Great Britain)|Sho't Kal Dalet]], [[Centurion Mk.5 AVRE]]: these three medium tanks have good frontal armor and are equipped with ERA, so the APFSDS and HEAT-FS will have some difficulty in direct engagements. All three have hull side armor of at most 50 mm, so the best option is usually to get a slight flank and overmatch their side armor using the APFSDS. In a last resort frontal engagement, all of them can be targeted in the turret ring area, though that is a difficult shot. The Sho't Kal can be ammo-racked through the lower glacis and the AVRE has some ERA gaps around the gun mantlet. Shooting the AVRE in the lower glacis is possible but somewhat annoying due to the obscuring plow attachment, and it is also hard to hit the ammo racks below the turret basket.
 +
 
 +
* [[Gepard]], [[Type 87]], [[M3 Bradley]], [[BMP-2]], etc.: these vehicles are fast and armed with fully-stabilized autocannons that will very easily rip through the PTL02. Keep a safe distance and try to ambush them, a well-placed HEAT-FS round should cause a hull break.
 +
 
 +
Overall, the PTL02 can be put to good use by players who are satisfied with the [[Type 69]]'s armament and are willing to trade any semblance of armor for increased scouting abilities and better mobility. It is not as adept as the [[WZ305]] in cleaning up a good flank and lacks the [[ZBD86]]'s incredibly powerful ATGM for sending well-armored tanks back to hangar, but the combination of thermals, a stabilized gun, and HEAT-FS + APFSDS can prove useful in many situations.
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
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* High speed and agility on hard and even terrain
 
* High speed and agility on hard and even terrain
* Hard-hitting 100 mm cannon firing powerful HEATFS shells
+
* Hard-hitting 100 mm cannon firing powerful HEAT-FS shells
* Gunner thermal optics significantly boost its fighting capacity, especially at night
+
* Gunner thermal optics significantly boost its fighting capability, especially at night
 
* Thin armour may cause overpenetration, leading to minimal shrapnel damage
 
* Thin armour may cause overpenetration, leading to minimal shrapnel damage
 
* Fast turret traverse
 
* Fast turret traverse
 
* Two-plane stabiliser allows better targeting
 
* Two-plane stabiliser allows better targeting
 
* Roof-mounted 12.7 mm HMG is lethal against helicopters and light vehicles
 
* Roof-mounted 12.7 mm HMG is lethal against helicopters and light vehicles
 +
* APFSDS is stock and can be fired freely without costing SL
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
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File:PTL02 WTWallpaper 06.jpg|
 
File:PTL02 WTWallpaper 06.jpg|
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
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 +
;Videos
 +
{{Youtube-gallery|MMCxWP5N75Q|'''A Simple Video On A Respectable Chinese Tank Destroyer''' - ''PhlyDaily''}}
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==

Revision as of 07:34, 31 March 2021

Rank VI USA | Premium | Golden Eagles
A-10A Thunderbolt (Early)
PTL02
cn_ptl_02.png
GarageImage PTL02.jpg
PTL02
AB RB SB
8.7 9.0 9.0
Class:
Research:190 000 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:520 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png
Show in game

Description

The HuoPao TuJi LunShi 02 (Simplified Chinese: PTL02 轮式突击炮; lit. wheeled assault gun) is a rank VI Chinese light tank with a battle rating of 8.7 (AB) and 9.0 (RB/SB). It was introduced in Update "Ixwa Strike".

Based on the WZ551 6x6 chassis developed in early 1990s shared with the ZSL-92 armored personnel carrier, this vehicle is also the very first wheeled assault gun of the Chinese tech tree. Having subpar speed compared to contemporary wheeled vehicles (at 85 km/h on road) and paper-like protection, it might not be a first rate sniper platform or flanker. It is still significantly faster than all other PLAGF/ROCA vehicles for now. Armed with a high velocity 100 mm smoothbore anti-tank gun, its APFSDS can penetrate 220 mm of flat RHA at point-blank range. This vehicle has thermal sights with acceptable resolution, which can be precious at its BR since it can significantly speed up the seek and destroy process. The PTL02 is less forgiving than other wheeled light tanks, but despite its shortcomings in armor and firepower, it still offers valuable scouting and flanking abilities that complement other Chinese vehicles well.

General info

Survivability and armour

Smoke grenades
Creation of a smoke screen in front of the vehicle
Armourfront / side / back
Hull10 / 8 / 6
Turret30 / 20 / 15
Crew5 people
Visibility136 %

One of the major drawbacks of this vehicle is the poor protectection against any calibre bigger than 12.7 mm since only the turret has more than 20 mm of armour to stop heavy machinegun rounds from some range. Other than that, it's 5 to 10 mm of armour all around. Avoid anything with a HMG or any autocannon vehicles (including aircraft) at all costs, because it is very likely you will not have a second chance to return fire and knock the enemy out.

Armour type:

  • Rolled homogeneous armour
Armour Front (Slope angle) Sides Rear Roof
Hull 10 mm (33°) Driver viewport glacis
10 mm (78°) Upper Glacis
10 mm (40°) Lower Glacis
8 mm (25°) Top
10 mm (6°) Bottom
8mm (27°)Wheelwells
6 mm (4°) Upper plate
6 mm (48°) Lower glacis
10 mm (12°) Front glacis
6 mm Driver hatch
6 mm Centre
Turret 30 mm (31°) Turret front
20 mm (29°) Turret Cheeks
30 mm (0°) Gun mantlet
20 mm (23°) Frontal
20 mm (9°) Rear
5 mm (14°) 10 mm (12°)
10 mm (13°) Centre
Cupola 10 mm (cylindrical) 10 mm

Mobility

Speedforward / back
AB94 / 8 km/h
RB and SB84 / 8 km/h
Number of gears8 forward
1 back
Weight19.0 t
Engine power
AB611 hp
RB and SB320 hp
Power-to-weight ratio
AB32.2 hp/t
RB and SB16.8 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 94 8 19 496 611 26.11 32.16
Realistic 84 8 283 320 14.89 16.84

Powered by a licensed BF8L413F 325 hp diesel engine from Germany, the PTL02 can reach up to 85 km/h ( and -8 km/h in reverse) on roads. This vehicle still lags behind almost all wheeled assault guns in the game (only the M1128 has a worse power-to-weight ratio). This exacerbates the common problem of wheeled vehicles performing worse on soft terrain. Another negative aspect of the PTL02's mobility is the absurdly slow reverse speed of only ~7km/h, meaning it lacks the agility wheeled vehicles should have and will not be able to quickly back out from danger. The PTL02 will not be able to match the Centauro for example in terms of zipping in and out of cover and climbing to unusual vantage points.

To make the most out of the good top speed, it will need to navigate on hard terrain (roads, urban surfaces) for best results. If the PTL02 must be used on hilly and soft terrain maps, try your best not to get stuck since the lack of mobility will absolutely be the death sentence of this vehicle.

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference
AB3 177 → 5 375 Sl icon.png
RB3 316 → 5 610 Sl icon.png
SB3 841 → 6 498 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications157 700 Rp icon.png
260 400 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost2 600 Ge icon.png
Crew training150 000 Sl icon.png
Experts520 000 Sl icon.png
Aces2 100 Ge icon.png
Research Aces950 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
130 / 160 / 210 % Sl icon.png
220 / 220 / 220 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Mobility Protection Firepower
Mods new wheels.png
Tires
Research:
8 400 Rp icon.png
Cost:
13 000 Sl icon.png
390 Ge icon.png
Mods new car suspension.png
Suspension
Research:
6 300 Rp icon.png
Cost:
9 900 Sl icon.png
290 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank break.png
Brake System
Research:
6 300 Rp icon.png
Cost:
9 900 Sl icon.png
290 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank filter.png
Filters
Research:
8 400 Rp icon.png
Cost:
13 000 Sl icon.png
390 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank transmission.png
Transmission
Research:
9 100 Rp icon.png
Cost:
14 000 Sl icon.png
420 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank engine.png
Engine
Research:
9 100 Rp icon.png
Cost:
14 000 Sl icon.png
420 Ge icon.png
Mods tank tool kit.png
Improved Parts
Research:
2 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
13 000 Sl icon.png
390 Ge icon.png
Mods extinguisher.png
Improved FPE
Research:
1 900 Rp icon.png
Cost:
9 900 Sl icon.png
290 Ge icon.png
Mods tank reinforcement cn.png
Crew Replenishment
Research:
8 400 Rp icon.png
Cost:
13 000 Sl icon.png
390 Ge icon.png
Mods smoke screen.png
Smoke grenade
Research:
9 100 Rp icon.png
Cost:
14 000 Sl icon.png
420 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank horizontal aiming.png
Horizontal Drive
Research:
8 400 Rp icon.png
Cost:
13 000 Sl icon.png
390 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
100mm_cn_HEAT_ammo_pack
Research:
8 400 Rp icon.png
Cost:
13 000 Sl icon.png
390 Ge icon.png
Mods tank cannon.png
Adjustment of Fire
Research:
6 300 Rp icon.png
Cost:
9 900 Sl icon.png
290 Ge icon.png
Mods airstrike.png
Airstrike
Research:
6 300 Rp icon.png
Cost:
9 900 Sl icon.png
290 Ge icon.png
Mods scouting.png
Improved optics
Research:
6 300 Rp icon.png
Cost:
9 900 Sl icon.png
290 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank vertical aiming.png
Elevation Mechanism
Research:
8 400 Rp icon.png
Cost:
13 000 Sl icon.png
390 Ge icon.png
Mods thermal sight.png
NVD
Research:
8 400 Rp icon.png
Cost:
13 000 Sl icon.png
390 Ge icon.png
Mods scout streak.png
Scout UAV
Research:
8 400 Rp icon.png
Cost:
13 000 Sl icon.png
390 Ge icon.png
Mods art support.png
Artillery Support
Research:
9 100 Rp icon.png
Cost:
14 000 Sl icon.png
420 Ge icon.png
Mods tank laser rangefinder.png
Laser rangefinder
Research:
9 100 Rp icon.png
Cost:
14 000 Sl icon.png
420 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
100mm_cn_APFSDS_ammo_pack
Research:
9 100 Rp icon.png
Cost:
14 000 Sl icon.png
420 Ge icon.png

Armaments

Laser rangefinder
Reduces the error and increases the maximum measurable distance of the rangefinder
Night vision device
Improves visibility by enhancing natural light or active illumination.
Thermal imager
Allows to see thermal radiation in the infrared range day and night

Main armament

Two-plane stabilizer
Reduces the swing of the gun in two planes while moving
Ammunition30 rounds
First-order9 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
8.7 → 6.7 s
Vertical guidance-4° / 18°
Main article: PTP86 (100 mm)

The 100 mm PTP-86 smoothbore gun found on this vehicle was a improvement on the earlier Soviet based PTP-73 (Type 73) AT gun with the same calibre. The PTP-86 has similar performance as the Type 69's gun and players can get used to it fairly quickly. Bear in mind the slow reload and poor gun depression. It has a significantly faster turret rotation than the Type 69, which is a plus.

100 mm PTP86 Turret rotation speed (°/s) Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode Capacity Vertical Horizontal Stabilizer Stock Upgraded Full Expert Aced Stock Full Expert Aced
Arcade 30 -4°/+18° ±180° Two-plane __._ __._ __._ __._ __._ _.__ _.__ _.__ _.__
Realistic __._ __._ __._ __._ __._

Ammunition

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
1-72-85 APDS-FS APFSDS 220 213 193 173 156 140
1-71-74 HE HE 17 17 17 17 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) (g)
Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
1-72-85 APDS-FS APFSDS 1,505 4.7 N/A N/A N/A 76° 77° 80°
1-71-74 HE HE 900 15 0 0.1 1,300 79° 80° 81°
Type 1973 HEAT-FS HEATFS 1,000 10.05 0.05 0.1 1,180 65° 72° 77°

The PTL02 has the same ammunition selection as the Type 69. The stock 1-72-85 APFSDS was at one point the worst round of its type in War Thunder; 220 mm of flat penetration at 10 meters is worse than many AP/APHE rounds. It also suffers noticeable dropoff at long distances. 1-72-85 does have a few good qualities: it has a good muzzle velocity of 1505 m/s and the angled penetration is decent considering the flat penetration, topping out at 127 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 129 mm @ 60 degrees). 1-72-85 penetrates sloped armor more effectively than flat armor, rather like long rod APFSDS rounds. The post-penetration damage is nothing to write home about but still workable. Spalling is poor, but the round tends to stay intact after penetration and is quite good at detonating ammo racks and knocking out crew members if they are in the line of fire. Memorize the module layouts of enemy tanks to efficiently cripple and destroy them as the PTL02 cannot withstand return fire.

The 1-71-74 HE shell is weak and should be ignored. It has a low explosive content and might be able to cause hull-breaks on light targets, but not consistently. Any vehicle with more than paper-thin armour will be immune to it.

The unlockable Type 1973 HEAT-FS is a Tier III modification. Familiar to Type 59 or Type 69 users, it has the same penetration performance as the T-55A's 3BK17M HEAT-FS 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 extra high velocity of the APFSDS and can be detonated by bushes or fences, the HEAT-FS is still good for dealing with heavy targets that the APFSDS can't penetrate. It has slightly less explosive mass than the HE shell but is more consistent at hull-breaking due to its ability to damage internal modules. Post-penetration damage is somewhat inconsistent, so again, aim for crew members and ammo racks.

Ammo racks

Full
ammo
1st
rack empty
2nd
rack empty
3rd
rack empty
4th
rack empty
5th
rack empty
6th
rack empty
Visual
discrepancy
30 __ (+__) __ (+__) __ (+__) __ (+__) __ (+__) __ (+__) __

Machine guns

Ammunition600 rounds
Belt capacity150 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
6.5 → 5.0 s
Fire rate600 shots/min
Vertical guidance-6° / 85°
Ammunition1 000 rounds
Belt capacity250 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
10.4 → 8.0 s
Fire rate700 shots/min

The turret-mounted 12.7 mm QJC88A HMG has already become the standardized HMG for most PLAGF vehicles after the 1990s. The main usage of the HMG is to deal with lightly protected vehicles and low-flying aircraft including helicopters. It can also effectively damage gun barrels, tracks, optics, MG, and ERA to assist teammates in destroying enemies, though this may require a lot of fire. Players who dealt with the paltry 50 round belt capacity of the 12.7 mm DShK machine guns of previous PLA vehicles will be happy to know that the QJC88A has a much more generous 150 round belt capacity.

The 7.62 mm MG, on the other hand, is only useful in clearing obstacles such as fences, marking out enemy positions on the minimap, or knocking out exposed crew on certain vehicles (eg. M113 TOW). It lacks the penetration to pierce through even lightly armoured vehicles.

12.7 mm QJC88A
Mount Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal
Pintle 500 (150) 700 -5°/+60° ±180°
7.62 mm Type 86
Mount Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal
Coaxial 800 (250) 700 N/A N/A

Usage in battles

Being a wheeled vehicle and the very first wheeled assault gun of the Chinese tech tree, the PTL02's main advantages lie in its mobility and gun sight.

With its 85 km/h speed, flanking is the key to avoid any direct fire from pretty much any vehicle armed with at least a heavy machine gun. Because of the negligible protection found on this vehicle, take all precautions and avoid rushing into direct fire at all costs, you will not have the luxury of having the second chance to return fire. Being one of the slowest wheeled assault guns in the game, taking vantage points might not be possible considering the inferior top speed that only gets worse in off-road situations. The thin armour and poor reverse speed punish poor positioning, so think carefully about what spots allow the PTL02 to spot and engage enemies without being overly exposed to incoming fire. Complicated terrains are problematic for this vehicle and it tends to do better in urban combat. Any aircraft is a lethal threat, with either guns or rockets, so keep away from their sight. Use smoke grenades to mask your position if there are no buildings or other forms of large cover to hide behind. Helicopters in particular will have an easy time spotting and destroying the PTL02, so do not attract their attention and make use of the heavy machine gun if they get very close.

While the gun does sufficient damage to vehicles at lower tier or lightly protected tanks like the Leopard I, it will have trouble with Cold-War heavy tanks such as M103 or tanks with rounded hulls such as M48 Patton. Bring some HEAT-FS to help deal with such vehicles. Otherwise, memorize the weak spots of enemy tanks and try to flank; contemporary MBTs tend to have poor side armor and even a half decent angle of attack may be enough for the APFSDS to penetrate where typical APDS rounds could not. As discussed previously, aim for ammo racks and important crew members. If an injured enemy is still capable of returning fire, be very cautious and consider leaving them for teammates to clean up. Since the PTL02 is a relatively modern vehicle by War Thunder standards, dating from 2002, it has second generation thermal sights for the gunner with sufficient resolution to help players find targets at a good distance. Oddly enough it is not currently modeled with a laser rangefinder, so the Type 69 is a better choice for sniping at very long distances. Utilize your mobility and the high velocity 100 mm smoothbore gun to clean up any potential flankers while also spotting targets for your team.

Enemies worth noting
  • Rooikat, Centauro, M1128: these wheeled vehicles perform a similar flanking role on the battlefield. Therefore you will often encounter them while flanking or on your way to flank. These vehicles are generally faster, both forwards and backwards, have better gun depression or better optics/ammo, so they may already be at a cap point before you. If this is the case, ambush around their location and passively hunt them down, as the PTL02's rather slow acceleration and bad reverse prevents it from being offensive in terms of mobility. These vehicles, however, can usually be hull-broken by chemical warheads, which makes your HEAT-FS rounds very useful. The Rooikat lacks thermal sights, making it easier to spot and destroy preemptively. The Centauro has the same battle rating as the PTL02 but is superior in almost every aspect, so be cautious if the enemy team has Italian vehicles. The M1128 can only be encountered in a full uptier and has an unmanned turret, good thermal sights for all crew members, and slat armor that occasionally interferes with HEAT-FS rounds.
  • AMX-10RC: a contemporary French 6x6 wheeled light tank armed with a 105 mm gun, APFSDS rounds, and thermal sights for the gunner. The AMX-10RC has a rather low profile compared to other wheeled tanks and can be a dangerous sniper. Unlike the other wheeled vehicles mentioned previously, the AMX-10RC does not have any sort of gun stabilizer. Try to attack it when it is on the move and cannot shoot accurately.
  • M60A1 RISE (P), Sho't Kal Dalet, Centurion Mk.5 AVRE: these three medium tanks have good frontal armor and are equipped with ERA, so the APFSDS and HEAT-FS will have some difficulty in direct engagements. All three have hull side armor of at most 50 mm, so the best option is usually to get a slight flank and overmatch their side armor using the APFSDS. In a last resort frontal engagement, all of them can be targeted in the turret ring area, though that is a difficult shot. The Sho't Kal can be ammo-racked through the lower glacis and the AVRE has some ERA gaps around the gun mantlet. Shooting the AVRE in the lower glacis is possible but somewhat annoying due to the obscuring plow attachment, and it is also hard to hit the ammo racks below the turret basket.
  • Gepard, Type 87, M3 Bradley, BMP-2, etc.: these vehicles are fast and armed with fully-stabilized autocannons that will very easily rip through the PTL02. Keep a safe distance and try to ambush them, a well-placed HEAT-FS round should cause a hull break.

Overall, the PTL02 can be put to good use by players who are satisfied with the Type 69's armament and are willing to trade any semblance of armor for increased scouting abilities and better mobility. It is not as adept as the WZ305 in cleaning up a good flank and lacks the ZBD86's incredibly powerful ATGM for sending well-armored tanks back to hangar, but the combination of thermals, a stabilized gun, and HEAT-FS + APFSDS can prove useful in many situations.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • High speed and agility on hard and even terrain
  • Hard-hitting 100 mm cannon firing powerful HEAT-FS shells
  • Gunner thermal optics significantly boost its fighting capability, especially at night
  • Thin armour may cause overpenetration, leading to minimal shrapnel damage
  • Fast turret traverse
  • Two-plane stabiliser allows better targeting
  • Roof-mounted 12.7 mm HMG is lethal against helicopters and light vehicles
  • APFSDS is stock and can be fired freely without costing SL

Cons:

  • Extremely slow reverse speed for a wheeled vehicle
  • Poor gun depression (-4 degrees) renders it useless in hilly battlefields
  • Very thin armour, can be mowed down by common .50 cals frontally as well as hull-broken by HEAT
  • Tall profile
  • Huge recoil, firing to the sides or on a slope will cause severe hull wobbling
  • As with other wheeled vehicles, poor mobility on soft or uneven terrain
  • No thermal sight for commander
  • Reloads quite slowly(~10 seconds)
  • Abysmal penetration figures for the 1-72-85 APDS-FS round against heavily armoured vehicles - expect the round to frequently non-pen or bounce off Russian T-62's, British Chieftains and American M60's

History

Devblog

In the late 1980's, the NORINCO corporation successfully tested the Type 87 armored vehicle. The prototype featured a 6x6 chassis of a prospective Type 90 armored personnel carrier with a 100mm anti-tank gun. The prototype vehicle successfully passed the tests, but was not put into service.

The army authorities returned to the project in the early 90's, when, in the course of modernization, the PLA began to form mobile motorized infantry formations. This was where the Type 87 researches came in handy: by 2003, on the same 6x6 chassis of the new Chinese armored vehicles ZSL92 and ZSL92A, a PTL02 infantry support vehicle appeared with a 100mm smooth-bore cannon in the turret. The 19-ton infantry fire support vehicle possessed significant mobility and a weapon capable of effectively destroying fortifications and armored vehicles, except for modern MBTs.

Mass production of the PTL02 has been going on since 2004, the SPG is widely used by the Chinese army and is produced for export in a version with a 105mm gun, unified for the use of Western-style ammunition.

Media

Images
Videos

See also

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;
  • links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links

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  • topic on the official game forum;
  • other literature.


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