Difference between revisions of "Phòng không T-34 (USSR)"

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{{Specs-Card|code=ussr_type_65_aa}}
 
 
{{About
 
{{About
| about = Russian SPAA '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
+
| about = SPAA '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
 
| other
 
| other
| usage-1 = vehicle in the Chinese tree
+
| usage-1 = the Chinese version
| link-1 =  Type 65
+
| link-1 =  Phòng không T-34
 
| usage-2 = vehicles using the T-34 chassis
 
| usage-2 = vehicles using the T-34 chassis
 
| link-2 =  T-34 (Family)
 
| link-2 =  T-34 (Family)
 +
}}
 +
{{Specs-Card
 +
|code=ussr_type_65_aa
 +
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
 
}}
 
}}
  
 
== 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.'' -->
<!-- [[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
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The '''{{Specs|name}}''' (English: 37 mm anti air tank), or '''▂Phòng không T-34''' (English: Anti air T-34) for short, is a premium gift rank {{Specs|rank}} Soviet SPAA {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced during [[Update 1.69 "Regia Aeronautica"]] as reward for the [[wt:en/news/4868-marathon-operation-s-u-m-m-e-r-awards-together-en|2017 Operation S.U.M.M.E.R]] event.
{{break}} -->
 
Type 65 is a Chinese and North Vietnamese SPAAG created during the mid 60's used in the Vietnam war. Based on a T-34-85 hull from the Soviet Union, With a open top box turret that is mounting dual 37mm Type 65 guns from the Chinese. 
 
 
 
 It's likely that the NVA improvised this build during the Vietnam war, Since North Vietnam invested heavily in Anti-Air weaponary to combat the US air support.
 
  
It was introduced for the Operation S.U.M.M.E.R in July 28 2017 as a upcoming Russian event vehicle with a BR of 5.3 filling the gap between 4.7-7.7 BR of the Russian SPAA line
+
The vehicle is a North Vietnamese SPAAG created during the mid-'60s for the Vietnam war. It uses the hull of a Soviet [[T-34-85]] but features an original open-top box turret fitted with dual 37 mm [[Type 65 (37 mm)|Type 65]] cannons from the Chinese.
  
In game it's easily recognized because of the box shaped and open turret on a T-34-85 hull and lacking of a single 85mm main armarment, it also have a higher profile than a regular T-34-85.
+
It's likely that the NVA improvised this build during the Vietnam War, since North Vietnam invested heavily in anti-air weaponry to combat the US air support. However no NVA documentation on the vehicle is known and all known information comes from one unit captured by US-forces during the war. The name {{Specs|name}} was created for the game as the vehicle's real name is unknown. The name is based on the descriptive names of other NVA vehicles of the time.
  
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a gift rank {{Specs|rank}} Russian SPAA {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced during [[Update 1.69 "Regia Aeronautica"]] as a reward for the 2017 [[Operation S.U.M.M.E.R.]] event.
+
In-game it's easily recognized because of the box-shaped and open turret on a T-34-85 hull and lacking the single 85 mm main armament, it also has a higher profile than a regular T-34-85.
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
The armor of Type 65 turret is a easy target to penetrate with it consisting of only 15mm all-around armor it makes it easy to disable with most type of shells that it might face and machine guns are a danger for it too with the 12.7mm caliber able to penetrate that thin armor even smaller machine guns can disable the turret. Mainly because the front of the turret got gaps for the gunner and commander where the bullets can easily find it’s way in and damage the crew. With is being a open top SPAA makes it as many other open SPAA making it a tasty snack for aircraft machineguns and cannons. One of the drawbacks with the Type 65 is that 80% of it’s crew sits in the turret, 2 of them looking up from the turret making them extremly vulnerable to machinegun fire.
+
{{Specs-Tank-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.'' -->
The hull is more well armored like a T-34-85 and it's strongest armor is the front hull armor, It's missing the hull mounted machine gun that there is on the T-34-85 making it have a exposed hole on the front left hull when facing it, it’s a trap shot location so it would be best to try angle the tank to remove the open machinegun port for easy access for enemy Shells.
 
  
=== Mobility ===
+
'''Armour type:'''
Mobility of the Type 65 is good at its battle rank, easy to manouver at off-road and on road. It got similar mobility charastic as the normal Russian T-34-85 with a engine that creates 500hp at 1800RPM giving it a top speed of 55km/h (34mph).
+
* Rolled homogeneous armour
  
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
+
{| class="wikitable"
|-
 
! colspan="3" | Mobility characteristic
 
|-
 
! Weight (tons)
 
! Add-on armour<br>weight (tons)
 
! Max speed (km/h)
 
|-
 
| rowspan="2" | 25.0 || rowspan="2" | N/A
 
|60(AB
 
|-
 
|55(RB/SB)
 
|-
 
! colspan="3" | Engine power (horsepower)
 
|-
 
! Mode !! Stock !! Upgraded
 
|-
 
| ''Arcade'' || ??? || ???
 
|-
 
| ''Realistic/Simulator'' || ??? || ???
 
|-
 
! colspan="3" | Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
 
 
|-
 
|-
! Mode !! Stock !! Upgraded
+
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
 
|-
 
|-
| ''Arcade'' || ??.?? || ??.??
+
| Hull || 45 mm (60°) ''Upper glacis'' <br> 75 mm (21-61°) ''Driver's hatch'' <br> 45 mm (55°) ''Lower glacis'' || 45 mm (41°) ''Upper'' <br> 45 mm ''Lower'' || 45 mm (46°) ''Upper'' <br> 10 mm (48°) ''Lower'' || 20 mm
 
|-
 
|-
| ''Realistic/Simulator'' || ??.?? || ??.??
+
| Turret || 15 mm (11-29°) || 15 mm (8-26°) || 15 mm (8-27°) || N/A
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
 +
 +
'''Notes:'''
 +
* Suspension wheels are 20 mm thick
 +
* Tracks are 20 mm thick
 +
 +
The armour of Phòng không T-34 turret is an easy target to penetrate with it consisting of only 15 mm all-around armour it makes it easy to disable with most type of shells that it might face and machine guns are a danger for it too with the 12.7 mm calibre able to penetrate that thin armour even smaller machine guns can disable the turret. Mainly because the front of the turret got gaps for the gunner and commander where the bullets can easily find its way in and damage the crew. With is being an open-top SPAA makes it as many other open SPAA making it a tasty snack for aircraft machineguns and cannons. One of the drawbacks with the Phòng không T-34 is that 80% of its crew sits in the turret, 2 of them looking up from the turret making them extremely vulnerable to machinegun fire.
 +
 +
The hull is better armoured like a T-34-85 and its strongest armour is the front hull armour, It's missing the hull-mounted machine gun that there is on the T-34-85 making it have an exposed hole on the front left hull when facing it, it's a trap shot location so it would be best to try angle the tank to remove the open machinegun port for easy access for enemy Shells.
 +
 +
=== Mobility ===
 +
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}
 +
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' -->
 +
 +
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=710|rbMinHp=442}}
 +
 +
The mobility of the ▂Phòng không T-34 is good at its battle rating, easy to manoeuvre on- and off-road. It has similar mobility characteristics as the T-34-85 with an engine that produces 500 hp at 1800 RPM giving it a top speed of 55 km/h (34mph).
 +
 +
=== Modifications and economy ===
 +
{{Specs-Economy}}
  
 
== Armaments ==
 
== Armaments ==
 +
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
 
=== Main armament ===
 
=== Main armament ===
<!-- ''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.'' -->
+
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}
 +
<!-- ''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.'' -->
 
{{main|Type 65 (37 mm)}}
 
{{main|Type 65 (37 mm)}}
  
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
+
The {{PAGENAME}} has a pair of decent 37 mm autocannons. The full AP belt is great at both anti-tank and anti-air roles. For AT duty, it is capable of penetrating almost all light tanks and SPAAs frontally, such as the [[M24 (Family)|M24]] Chaffee, [[M41A1]], etc, most medium tanks from the side like the [[M4A1]]/[[M4A2|2]], [[Panther A]]/[[Panther D|D]], [[Comet I]], and some TDs from the side like the [[Panzer IV/70(V)]]. Upon penetration, the shells create quite a bit of shrapnel which makes wiping out crew very easy. It also works great against planes, especially when shooting those attacking you from head-on. The AP shell can easily go through the engine or armour plates and knock out the pilot. One shell is also enough to instantly snap off the wing spar, destroying the plane. Of course, the full HE belt is recommended for dedicated AA duty. Its large calibre plus the 34 g TNT makes the {{PAGENAME}} a lethal threat to almost all planes. Even if the shell hits an unimportant part (eg. wingtip), it can still blow off parts of the plane while the AP will over-penetrate without doing much damage.
|-
+
 
! colspan="6" | [[Type 65 (37 mm)|37 mm Type 65]]
+
The HVAP belt can become handy when you are facing targets whose armour thickness is right between 70-87 mm, for example the Comet's hull, and the sides of the [[Tiger H1]] and [[M4A3E2]]. However, there is only 1 HVAP in a 3-shell clip thus careful aiming must be applied.
|-
+
 
! colspan="3" | Capacity
+
Note, when shooting distant targets (tanks 300 m away, or planes around 750 m away) you want to slow down the fire, as the {{PAGENAME}} shakes violently in a continuous spray, therefore greatly reducing its accuracy. However the accuracy is very good when firing single shells and waiting for the guns to stabilise before the next shot.
! Vertical<br>guidance
+
 
! Horizontal<br>guidance
+
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! Stabilizer
 
|-
 
| colspan="3" | 390 || -5°/+85° || ±180° || N/A
 
|-
 
! colspan="6" | Turret rotation speed (°/s)
 
|-
 
! Mode
 
! Stock
 
! Upgraded
 
! Prior +<br>Full crew
 
! Prior +<br>Expert qualif.
 
! Prior +<br>Ace qualif.
 
 
|-
 
|-
| ''Arcade'' || 52.8 || ??.?? || ??.?? || ??.?? || ??.??
+
! colspan="6" | [[Type 65 (37 mm)|37 mm Type 65]] (x2) || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
 
|-
 
|-
| ''Realistic'' || 35.7 || ??.?? || ??.?? || ??.?? || ??.??
+
! Mode !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
 +
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
 +
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
 
|-
 
|-
! colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
+
! ''Arcade''
 +
| rowspan="2" | 390 (5) || rowspan="2" | 160 || rowspan="2" | -5°/+85° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 52.8 || 73.1 || 88.8 || 98.2 || 104.5 || rowspan="2" | 1.30 || rowspan="2" | 1.15 || rowspan="2" | 1.06 || rowspan="2" | 1.00
 
|-
 
|-
! Stock
+
! ''Realistic''
! Prior +<br>Full crew
+
| 35.7 || 42.0 || 51.0 || 56.4 || 60.0
! Prior +<br>Expert qualif.
 
! Prior +<br>Ace qualif.
 
|-
 
| 1.3 || ??.?? || ??.?? || ??.??
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
  
 
==== Ammunition ====
 
==== Ammunition ====
{| class="wikitable sortable" width="100%" style="text-align:center"
+
* '''Default:''' {{Annotation|AP-T|Armour-piercing tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEFI-T*|High-explosive fragmentation incendiary tracer (self-destroying)}}
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
+
* '''UO-167:''' {{Annotation|HEFI-T*|High-explosive fragmentation incendiary tracer (self-destroying)}}
|-
+
* '''BR-167:''' {{Annotation|AP-T|Armour-piercing tracer}}
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
+
* '''BR-167P:''' {{Annotation|HVAP-T|High-velocity armour-piercing tracer}}
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead
+
 
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration @ 90° (mm)'''
+
{{:Type 65 (37 mm)/Ammunition|HEFI-T*, AP-T, HVAP-T}}
|-
 
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m
 
|-
 
| BR-167 || AP-T || 71 || 68 || 57 || 46 || 37 || 30
 
|-
 
| BR-167P || HVAP-T || 102 || 95 || 80 || 59 || 35 || 28
 
|-
 
| UO-167 || HEFI-T || 3 || 3 || 3 || 3 || 3 || 3
 
|-
 
|}
 
{| class="wikitable sortable" width="100%" style="text-align:center"
 
! colspan="11" | Shell details
 
|-
 
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
 
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead
 
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)
 
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)
 
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)
 
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)
 
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)
 
! rowspan="2" | Normalisation at 30°<br>from horizontal
 
! colspan="3" | Ricochet
 
|-
 
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%
 
|-
 
| BR-167 || AP-T || 880 || 0.76 || N/A || N/A || N/A || -1.0° || 47° || 60° || 65°
 
|-
 
| BR-167P || HVAP-T || 960 || 0.62 || N/A || N/A || N/A || +1.5° || 66° || 70° || 72°
 
|-
 
| UO-167 || HEFI-T || 866 || 0.735 || 0.2 || 0.1 || 34 || +0.0° || 79° || 80° || 81°
 
|-
 
|}
 
  
 
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
 
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
<!-- [[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]] -->
+
[[File:Ammoracks_Phòng_không_T-34.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the ▂Phòng không T-34]]
 +
<!-- '''Last updated: 1.101.1.16''' -->
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
|-
 
|-
Line 151: Line 105:
 
! 2nd<br>rack empty
 
! 2nd<br>rack empty
 
! 3rd<br>rack empty
 
! 3rd<br>rack empty
! 4th<br>rack empty
 
! 5th<br>rack empty
 
! 6th<br>rack empty
 
 
! Visual<br>discrepancy
 
! Visual<br>discrepancy
 
|-
 
|-
| '''390''' || ?? ''(+??)'' || ?? ''(+??)'' || ?? ''(+??)'' || ?? ''(+??)'' || ?? ''(+??)'' || ?? ''(+??)'' || ??
+
| '''78''' || 66&nbsp;''(+12)'' || 54&nbsp;''(+24)'' || 2&nbsp;''(+76)'' || No
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
  
==== [[Optics]] ====
+
<!-- ==== [[Optics]] ====
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
! colspan="3" | {{PAGENAME}} Optics
 
! colspan="3" | {{PAGENAME}} Optics
Line 174: Line 125:
 
| colspan="2" | ???
 
| colspan="2" | ???
 
|-
 
|-
|}
+
|} -->
 +
== 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).'' -->
 +
The ▂Phòng không T-34 is an excellent self-propelled anti-air vehicle, but its slow dual 37 mm guns make it hard to hit fast low flying targets if you are not a good shot with SPAA. Its mobility and speed combined with the fast turret rotation make it a deadly opponent for the enemy if ambushed or flanked.
 +
 
 +
The ▂Phòng không T-34 is an excellent self-propelled anti-air vehicle, but also a great vehicle for ambushes on the enemy side and rear armour. Be aware that all the tanks and aircraft it will oppose are deadly opponents to it, the exposed crew makes it an easy target from both air and ground.
 +
 
 +
One way to tactically use the ▂Phòng không T-34 is to stay behind the main force and cover them from possible air threats or light flanking tanks. Its dual 37 mm will make quick work of the air and lighter tanks that you will face. Another way is when enemy players are distracted by your teams player you can use your speed and manoeuvrability to flank around and hit them from the side or rear with AP-T or HVAP-T rounds.They will deal with most side armour. Flanking might not work as well in Arcade Battle as in Realistic or Simulator Battle.
  
== Usage in battles ==
+
Some players might find this tank hard to hit aerial targets, since the ▂Phòng không T-34's guns have rather slow fire rate and velocity. A good tactic is to find a place that is not too far away from the frontline (planes usually go for the crowded frontline) but also not too close to it (easier to get shot by tanks), so you can fully concentrate on planes and not worry about tanks. The place should have a hard cover that is wide and tall enough to hide from strafing aircraft. Then just wait til the enemy begins to spawn in planes. You want to hold fire and let them close in to around 1 km from you. If their target appears to be a teammate near you, then utilise your head-on techniques as this is a slanted head-on. Even if you did not hit you will still get their attention. Most ground pounders in ground RB will do loops/high yoyos a lot (dive at a target, pull up vertically, dive again). If you see a plane pulling up, climbing to its peak, aim carefully but hold fire. When it reaches the peak and begins to slowly fall down, spray shells at it, because that is when the plane has the slowest speed, making it an easier target. If you lured a plane into diving on you, aim slightly above it (usually aim near the cockpit) and fire continuously, there is a good chance of hitting and crippling it. Head-on is the most effective yet most risky way to get kills. Overall, for the ▂Phòng không T-34, do not fire until the target is around 1 km or closer.
Type 65 is an excellent Self-propelled Anti-Air tank, But also a great tank for ambushes on enemy side and rear armor. Be aware that all the tanks and aircrafts it will oppose are deadly opponents to it, with an exposed crew like it have makes it a easy target from both air and ground.
 
  
Type 65 is an excellent Self-propelled Anti-Air tank, It’s slow dual 37mm guns make it hard to hit fast low flying targets if you are not a good shot with a SPAA that will be removed. It’s mobility and speed combined with the fast turret rotation makes it a deadly opponent for the enemy if ambushed or flanked.
+
'''Enemies worth noting:'''
  
One way to tactically use the Type 65 is stay behind the main force and cover them from possible air threats or light flanking tanks. Its dual 37mm will make quick work of the air and lighter tanks that you will face. Another way is when enemy players are distracted by your teams player you can use your speed and manouverbility to flank around and hit them from the side or rear with AP-T or HVAP-T rounds.They will deal with most side armor.
+
* [[Wirbelwind]]: This SPAA is equipped with four fast-firing 20 mm autocannons, allowing it to fire a dense barrage of shells in a matter of seconds. This means that the Wirbelwind can quickly knock out all 4 crew in the {{PAGENAME}}'s turret, making it defenseless. Plus the Wirbelwind has a more stable chassis that wobbles less in a brake, meaning that in a sudden encounter the Wirbelwind is more likely to stabilise its guns and fire first. Therefore, if you know a Wirbelwind is somewhere near, be very alert and try to spot it before it spots you. Aim at the turret to disable its gunner first. Note: your firing speed depends on the distance, as the {{PAGENAME}} shakes violently when firing. So if you are face to face with the enemy, fire continuously. If it is more than 200 m away, only fire in short bursts or even single shots to avoid missing due to the shake. Wait for the guns to stabilise before firing the next salvo.
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
''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 certain definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".''
+
<!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' -->
  
 
'''Pros:'''
 
'''Pros:'''
  
* Good shells
+
* Destructive damage upon hitting an aircraft
* Fast turret rotation
+
* Fast turret rotation of more than 40°/sec allows it to deal with agile targets easily
* Powerful engine for the weight ratio
+
* Powerful engine/weight ratio gives it good manoeuvrability
* Cheap to repair
+
* Has a crew of 6, can replace unconscious ones multiple times which increases survivability.
 
+
* Good gun elevation of 85°, crucial for an SPAA
 +
* Multiple belt types allows flexible gameplay: full HE belt for anti-air. Full AP belt can penetrate common tanks' side, eg. [[M4]], [[Panther A]]/[[Panther D|D]], [[Chi-Ri II|Chi-Ri]]. HVAP belt (mixed with HE) for side of heavy targets up close, like [[Tiger H1]]/[[Tiger E|E]], [[Ho-Ri Production|Ho-Ri]], [[Ferdinand]].
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
  
* Majority of crew exposed to Sharpnel, Machinegun and Artillery fire
+
* Open turret exposes 4 crew directly to enemy fire. Very vulnerable to top attacks.
* High profile
+
* High profile makes it easier to be seen & hit
* Exposed gun breech
+
* Below-average gun depression of -5° combined with the high mount makes it useless in hilly terrains
* Open Turret
+
* Guns are super unstable during continuous fire. Can only fire short bursts to maintain accuracy. The [[Wirbelwind]] and [[Ostwind II]] (also twin 37 mm), in comparison, are way more stable.
 
+
* Thin turret armour of 15 mm is prone to be penetrated by heavy MG/shrapnel. SPAA like [[Wirbelwind]] and [[M16 MGMC|M16]] can easily disable all turret crew
 +
* Awkward to place bushes on upper front hull due to the obstruction of MG port and driver's optics
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
The Type 65 Self Propelled Anti Aircraft Gun is a bit of an enigma, as no official documentation exists concerning its design or construction. Even today, almost half a century after the type first became known, little is known about it - so perhaps it is best to first focus on what little is known about this unique T-34-based SPAAG.
+
<!-- ''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).'' -->
 +
=== Historical problems ===
 +
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a bit of an enigma as no official known North Vietnamese documentation exists concerning its design or construction. Even today, almost half a century after the type first became known, little is known about it. What is known comes from a single unit captured by US-forces during the Vietnam war, which have miraculously survived the test of time. Thus it is important to first focus on what little is known about this unique T-34-based SPAAG, before going into theories.
  
 +
=== US capture and evaluation ===
 
During the 1972 Spring-Summer Offensive of the Vietnam War, a single example of a SPAAG was captured by the 4th Infantry Regiment of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam on August 13th 1972. This vehicle was subsequently transferred to the United States military, who eventually shipped it to the Aberdeen Proving Ground for technical evaluation. After testing was concluded, the vehicle was put on display at the Aberdeen Proving Ground, where it stood until the early 2010s when it was transferred along with the rest of the collection to the Air Defence Artillery Museum in Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
 
During the 1972 Spring-Summer Offensive of the Vietnam War, a single example of a SPAAG was captured by the 4th Infantry Regiment of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam on August 13th 1972. This vehicle was subsequently transferred to the United States military, who eventually shipped it to the Aberdeen Proving Ground for technical evaluation. After testing was concluded, the vehicle was put on display at the Aberdeen Proving Ground, where it stood until the early 2010s when it was transferred along with the rest of the collection to the Air Defence Artillery Museum in Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
  
 +
==== Construction ====
 
Evaluation of this single example showed that it consisted of a T-34-85 chassis which was made at UTZ 183 (Uralsky Tankovij Zavod) in the USSR sometime between 1944 and 1947, featuring a number of modifications. The most important one concerned the removal of the turret, with a solid reinforced steel slab being bolted onto the turret aperture on top of which a twin AA gun was mounted. Other modifications included the removal of the hull-mounted 7.62 mm machine gun, and the removal of part of the engine top deck to allow the gun turret to freely rotate.
 
Evaluation of this single example showed that it consisted of a T-34-85 chassis which was made at UTZ 183 (Uralsky Tankovij Zavod) in the USSR sometime between 1944 and 1947, featuring a number of modifications. The most important one concerned the removal of the turret, with a solid reinforced steel slab being bolted onto the turret aperture on top of which a twin AA gun was mounted. Other modifications included the removal of the hull-mounted 7.62 mm machine gun, and the removal of part of the engine top deck to allow the gun turret to freely rotate.
  
The most common designations applied to this vehicle refer to the gun used: a Chinese-built copy of the Soviet M1939 (61-K). NORINCO of China copied this design, originally building it as the Type 55 (most likely after the year it was first constructed); later on a twin mount was designed around the same gun, which was put into production as the Type 65. As mounted on the tank, the Type 65 gun mount was surrounded by a box-like open-topped structure composed of 16-mm thick armor plates, large enough to house both the gun and a crew of five. Similar in concept to the US-built M42 Duster, the vehicle lacked any advanced aiming system or power-assisted gun traverse or elevation, making it less efficient in use against low-flying high-speed jets, but still deadly to slower attackers and helicopters.
+
The main weaponry of the vehicles consisted of a Chinese [[Type 65 (37 mm)|37 mm Type 65]] twin gun system, a Chinese-built variant of the Soviet [[61-K (37 mm)|37 mm M1939 (61-K)]]. NORINCO of China copied the original Soviet single design and produced it under the Chinese designation 37 mm Type 55 (most likely after the year it was first constructed). The Chinese would later update the design by developing a twin mount around the same gun, designated 37 mm Type 65. Such guns were supplied to the NVA by China to help them counter the US air supremacy during the war.
 +
 
 +
As mounted on the tank, the Type 65 gun mount was surrounded by a box-like open-topped structure composed of 16-mm thick armour plates, large enough to house both the gun and a crew of five. Similar in concept to the US-built [[M42|M42 Duster]], the vehicle lacked any advanced aiming system or power-assisted gun traverse or elevation, making it less efficient in use against low-flying high-speed jets, but still deadly to slower attackers and helicopters.
  
The lack of any official documentation, combined with the use of a Chinese-built AA gun, soon led to speculation in the US Military that this vehicle was a Chinese-built dedicated SPAAG. As such, the vehicle commonly became known as the Type 63 SPAAG, this name first appearing in the 1987 publication A Compendium of Armaments and Military Hardware by Christopher Chant, after the assumption that the Type 63 was a variant of the Type 65 specifically built for use on this SPAAG. However, more recently the vehicle has become known as the Type 65 - or Type 63/65 - after the NORINCO-built gun.
+
=== Name and creation ===
 +
The vehicle is commonly called the Type 63 or the Type 65, however the vehicle's real name is unknown. The origin of the names comes from the lack of any official documentation on the vehicle, which has lead to a lot of speculation regarding its creation and history.
  
With the lifting of the US embargo on North Vietnam in 1994, new information about the Vietnam War from (formerly North) Vietnamese sources finally became available, and visitors to the Vietnam People's Air Force Museum in Hanoi noticed a photograph on display which gives an entirely different turn to the Type 65's story. This singular photograph, three SPAAG's moving to the front, shows three tank-mounted anti aircraft guns, one mounted on a T-34-85, the two others on the chassis of an SU-76. The nature of their construction seems to indicate that they - and the captured Type 65 - were in fact locally-built improvised vehicles, combining the hulls of discarded or damaged tanks with AA guns to increase the number of available anti-aircraft guns for use against US forces, the Hanoi-displayed picture showing a T-34-85 hull with a 57mm S-60 AA gun rather than the Type 65 used on the captured vehicle.
+
==== Outdated theories ====
 +
Since the vehicle was fitted with a Chinese-built AA gun, the US Military speculated that this vehicle was a Chinese-built dedicated SPAAG. As such, the vehicle commonly became known as the ''Type 63 SPAAG'', this name first appearing in the 1987 publication ''A Compendium of Armaments and Military Hardware'' by Christopher Chant, after the assumption that the ''Type 63'' was a variant of the ''Type 65'' specifically built for use on this SPAAG. However, more recently the vehicle has become known as the Type 65 - or Type 63/65 - after the NORINCO-built gun. However there exists no real indication that the Chinese had anything to do directly with the creation of this vehicle.
  
As such, it can be concluded that the Type 65 was in fact an improvised locally-built SPAAG, possibly an attempt at creating a cheap alternative to the more advanced Soviet ZSU-57-2, using the hulls of T-34-85s that had been delivered to North Vietnam in 1965.
+
==== Current theories ====
 +
With the lifting of the US embargo on North Vietnam in 1994, new information about the Vietnam War from (formerly North) Vietnamese sources finally became available, and visitors to the Vietnam People's Air Force Museum in Hanoi noticed a photograph on display which gives an entirely different turn to the "Type 65's" story. This singular photograph, with the texts ''three SPAAG's moving to the front'' in English, and "improvised 14,5 mm, 37 mm, 57 mm self propelled anti air gun tanks on their way to the front" in Vietnamese, shows three tank-mounted anti-aircraft guns, one mounted on a T-34-85, the two others on the chassis of an SU-76. The nature of their construction seems to indicate that they - and the captured "Type 65" - were in fact locally-built improvised vehicles, combining the hulls of discarded or damaged tanks with AA guns to increase the number of available anti-aircraft guns for use against US forces, the Hanoi-displayed picture showing a T-34-85 hull with a ''[[S-68 (57 mm)|57 mm S-60]] AA gun'' rather than the ''37 mm Type 65 AA gun'' used on the captured vehicle.
 +
 
 +
As such, it can be concluded that the captured vehicle was in fact an improvised locally-built SPAAG, possibly an attempt at creating a cheap alternative to the more advanced [[ZSU-57-2|Soviet ZSU-57-2]], using the hulls of T-34-85s that had been delivered to North Vietnam in 1965.
 +
 
 +
=== In-game name ===
 +
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' was originally implemented into War Thunder with the name Type 65, due to the lack of historical NVA sources. This was later changed to the current names {{Specs|name}} (English: 37 mm anti air tank) and ▂Phòng không T-34 (English: Anti-air T-34), a shortened name for the research tree. This Change was done as it seems the NVA lacked a proper indigenous designation system during the war and instead gave vehicles descriptive names, for example "anti-air gun truck", etc. Such descriptive names can be found on a lot of name signs in Vietnamese war museums featuring vehicles and weaponry. However in some cases it seems the NVA also used the original designations of the equipment they received, such as the [[ZSU-23-4]] (although spelled 3CY-23 from the Cyrillic name "ЗСУ-23"). However since the vehicle in question most likely is an original creation by the NVA, this cannot be applied here. Thus the vehicle received its current name.
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''
+
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
 +
 
 +
;Skins
 +
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=ussr_type_65_aa Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]
 +
 
 +
;Videos
 +
{{Youtube-gallery|X0kPUDnqR8E|'''Type 65 - A Rusher's Dream - First Impressions''' - ''Napalmratte''|flEa6571_v8|'''The Type 65'''  - ''TheEuropeanCanadian''}}
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
+
<!-- ''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.'' -->
  
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
+
;Other vehicles of similar configuration and role
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''
+
* [[Ostwind II]]
  
 
== External links ==
 
== External links ==
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
+
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 +
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 +
* ''other literature.'' -->
  
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
+
* [[wt:en/news/4861-marathon-type-65-spaa-en|[Marathon] Type 65 SPAA]]
* ''encyclopedia page on the tank;''
 
* ''other literature.''
 
  
 
{{USSR anti-aircraft vehicles}}
 
{{USSR anti-aircraft vehicles}}
 
{{USSR premium ground vehicles}}
 
{{USSR premium ground vehicles}}

Latest revision as of 18:35, 28 January 2023

Rank VI USSR | Premium | Golden Eagles
Su-25K Pack
This page is about the SPAA Phòng không T-34 (USSR). For the Chinese version, see Phòng không T-34. For vehicles using the T-34 chassis, see T-34 (Family).
▂Phòng không T-34
ussr_type_65_aa.png
GarageImage Phòng không T-34 (USSR).jpg
▂Phòng không T-34
AB RB SB
5.7 5.0 5.0
Class:
Show in game

Description

The ▂Xe tăng phòng không 37 mm (English: 37 mm anti air tank), or ▂Phòng không T-34 (English: Anti air T-34) for short, is a premium gift rank III Soviet SPAA with a battle rating of 5.7 (AB) and 5.0 (RB/SB). It was introduced during Update 1.69 "Regia Aeronautica" as reward for the 2017 Operation S.U.M.M.E.R event.

The vehicle is a North Vietnamese SPAAG created during the mid-'60s for the Vietnam war. It uses the hull of a Soviet T-34-85 but features an original open-top box turret fitted with dual 37 mm Type 65 cannons from the Chinese.

It's likely that the NVA improvised this build during the Vietnam War, since North Vietnam invested heavily in anti-air weaponry to combat the US air support. However no NVA documentation on the vehicle is known and all known information comes from one unit captured by US-forces during the war. The name ▂Xe tăng phòng không 37 mm was created for the game as the vehicle's real name is unknown. The name is based on the descriptive names of other NVA vehicles of the time.

In-game it's easily recognized because of the box-shaped and open turret on a T-34-85 hull and lacking the single 85 mm main armament, it also has a higher profile than a regular T-34-85.

General info

Survivability and armour

Armourfront / side / back
Hull45 / 45 / 10
Turret15 / 15 / 15
Crew5 people
Visibility120 %

Armour type:

  • Rolled homogeneous armour
Armour Front (Slope angle) Sides Rear Roof
Hull 45 mm (60°) Upper glacis
75 mm (21-61°) Driver's hatch
45 mm (55°) Lower glacis
45 mm (41°) Upper
45 mm Lower
45 mm (46°) Upper
10 mm (48°) Lower
20 mm
Turret 15 mm (11-29°) 15 mm (8-26°) 15 mm (8-27°) N/A

Notes:

  • Suspension wheels are 20 mm thick
  • Tracks are 20 mm thick

The armour of Phòng không T-34 turret is an easy target to penetrate with it consisting of only 15 mm all-around armour it makes it easy to disable with most type of shells that it might face and machine guns are a danger for it too with the 12.7 mm calibre able to penetrate that thin armour even smaller machine guns can disable the turret. Mainly because the front of the turret got gaps for the gunner and commander where the bullets can easily find its way in and damage the crew. With is being an open-top SPAA makes it as many other open SPAA making it a tasty snack for aircraft machineguns and cannons. One of the drawbacks with the Phòng không T-34 is that 80% of its crew sits in the turret, 2 of them looking up from the turret making them extremely vulnerable to machinegun fire.

The hull is better armoured like a T-34-85 and its strongest armour is the front hull armour, It's missing the hull-mounted machine gun that there is on the T-34-85 making it have an exposed hole on the front left hull when facing it, it's a trap shot location so it would be best to try angle the tank to remove the open machinegun port for easy access for enemy Shells.

Mobility

Speedforward / back
AB60 / 10 km/h
RB and SB55 / 9 km/h
Number of gears5 forward
1 back
Weight24.9 t
Engine power
AB954 hp
RB and SB500 hp
Power-to-weight ratio
AB38.3 hp/t
RB and SB20.1 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 60 10 24.9 710 954 28.51 38.31
Realistic 55 9 442 500 17.75 20.08

The mobility of the ▂Phòng không T-34 is good at its battle rating, easy to manoeuvre on- and off-road. It has similar mobility characteristics as the T-34-85 with an engine that produces 500 hp at 1800 RPM giving it a top speed of 55 km/h (34mph).

Modifications and economy

Repair cost
AB2 187 Sl icon.png
RB1 658 Sl icon.png
SB2 642 Sl icon.png
Crew training10 000 Sl icon.png
Experts290 000 Sl icon.png
Aces710 Ge icon.png
Research Aces960 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
Talisman.png 2 × 120 / 150 / 220 % Sl icon.png
Talisman.png 2 × 166 / 166 / 166 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Mobility Protection Firepower
Mods new tank traks.png
Tracks
Mods new tank suspension.png
Suspension
Mods new tank break.png
Brake System
Mods new tank filter.png
Filters
Mods new tank transmission.png
Transmission
Mods new tank engine.png
Engine
Mods tank tool kit.png
Improved Parts
Mods extinguisher.png
Improved FPE
Mods tank reinforcement ussr.png
Crew Replenishment
Mods tank ammo.png
37mm_ussr_61K_HE_ammo_pack
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods new tank horizontal aiming.png
Horizontal Drive
Mods tank ammo.png
37mm_ussr_61K_AP_ammo_pack
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods tank cannon.png
Adjustment of Fire
Mods tank ammo.png
37mm_ussr_61K_APCR_ammo_pack
Mods new tank vertical aiming.png
Elevation Mechanism
Mods art support.png
Artillery Support

Armaments

Main armament

Ammunition390 rounds
Belt capacity5 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
1.3 → 1.0 s
Fire rate160 shots/min
Vertical guidance-5° / 85°
Main article: Type 65 (37 mm)

The Phòng không T-34 (USSR) has a pair of decent 37 mm autocannons. The full AP belt is great at both anti-tank and anti-air roles. For AT duty, it is capable of penetrating almost all light tanks and SPAAs frontally, such as the M24 Chaffee, M41A1, etc, most medium tanks from the side like the M4A1/2, Panther A/D, Comet I, and some TDs from the side like the Panzer IV/70(V). Upon penetration, the shells create quite a bit of shrapnel which makes wiping out crew very easy. It also works great against planes, especially when shooting those attacking you from head-on. The AP shell can easily go through the engine or armour plates and knock out the pilot. One shell is also enough to instantly snap off the wing spar, destroying the plane. Of course, the full HE belt is recommended for dedicated AA duty. Its large calibre plus the 34 g TNT makes the Phòng không T-34 (USSR) a lethal threat to almost all planes. Even if the shell hits an unimportant part (eg. wingtip), it can still blow off parts of the plane while the AP will over-penetrate without doing much damage.

The HVAP belt can become handy when you are facing targets whose armour thickness is right between 70-87 mm, for example the Comet's hull, and the sides of the Tiger H1 and M4A3E2. However, there is only 1 HVAP in a 3-shell clip thus careful aiming must be applied.

Note, when shooting distant targets (tanks 300 m away, or planes around 750 m away) you want to slow down the fire, as the Phòng không T-34 (USSR) shakes violently in a continuous spray, therefore greatly reducing its accuracy. However the accuracy is very good when firing single shells and waiting for the guns to stabilise before the next shot.

37 mm Type 65 (x2) Turret rotation speed (°/s) Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal Stabilizer Stock Upgraded Full Expert Aced Stock Full Expert Aced
Arcade 390 (5) 160 -5°/+85° ±180° N/A 52.8 73.1 88.8 98.2 104.5 1.30 1.15 1.06 1.00
Realistic 35.7 42.0 51.0 56.4 60.0

Ammunition

  • Default: AP-T · HEFI-T*
  • UO-167: HEFI-T*
  • BR-167: AP-T
  • BR-167P: HVAP-T

Penetration statistics
Ammunition Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
10 m 100 m 500 m 1,000 m 1,500 m 2,000 m
HEFI-T* 8 8 7 5 4 3
AP-T 70 68 56 45 36 29
HVAP-T 87 82 65 49 37 28
Shell details
Ammunition Velocity
(m/s)
Projectile
mass (kg)
Fuse delay
(m)
Fuse sensitivity
(mm)
Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (g)
Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
HEFI-T* 866 0.73 0.1 0.1 56.98 79° 80° 81°
AP-T 868 0.77 - - - 47° 60° 65°
HVAP-T 960 0.62 - - - 66° 70° 72°

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the ▂Phòng không T-34
Full
ammo
1st
rack empty
2nd
rack empty
3rd
rack empty
Visual
discrepancy
78 66 (+12) 54 (+24) (+76) No

Usage in battles

The ▂Phòng không T-34 is an excellent self-propelled anti-air vehicle, but its slow dual 37 mm guns make it hard to hit fast low flying targets if you are not a good shot with SPAA. Its mobility and speed combined with the fast turret rotation make it a deadly opponent for the enemy if ambushed or flanked.

The ▂Phòng không T-34 is an excellent self-propelled anti-air vehicle, but also a great vehicle for ambushes on the enemy side and rear armour. Be aware that all the tanks and aircraft it will oppose are deadly opponents to it, the exposed crew makes it an easy target from both air and ground.

One way to tactically use the ▂Phòng không T-34 is to stay behind the main force and cover them from possible air threats or light flanking tanks. Its dual 37 mm will make quick work of the air and lighter tanks that you will face. Another way is when enemy players are distracted by your teams player you can use your speed and manoeuvrability to flank around and hit them from the side or rear with AP-T or HVAP-T rounds.They will deal with most side armour. Flanking might not work as well in Arcade Battle as in Realistic or Simulator Battle.

Some players might find this tank hard to hit aerial targets, since the ▂Phòng không T-34's guns have rather slow fire rate and velocity. A good tactic is to find a place that is not too far away from the frontline (planes usually go for the crowded frontline) but also not too close to it (easier to get shot by tanks), so you can fully concentrate on planes and not worry about tanks. The place should have a hard cover that is wide and tall enough to hide from strafing aircraft. Then just wait til the enemy begins to spawn in planes. You want to hold fire and let them close in to around 1 km from you. If their target appears to be a teammate near you, then utilise your head-on techniques as this is a slanted head-on. Even if you did not hit you will still get their attention. Most ground pounders in ground RB will do loops/high yoyos a lot (dive at a target, pull up vertically, dive again). If you see a plane pulling up, climbing to its peak, aim carefully but hold fire. When it reaches the peak and begins to slowly fall down, spray shells at it, because that is when the plane has the slowest speed, making it an easier target. If you lured a plane into diving on you, aim slightly above it (usually aim near the cockpit) and fire continuously, there is a good chance of hitting and crippling it. Head-on is the most effective yet most risky way to get kills. Overall, for the ▂Phòng không T-34, do not fire until the target is around 1 km or closer.

Enemies worth noting:

  • Wirbelwind: This SPAA is equipped with four fast-firing 20 mm autocannons, allowing it to fire a dense barrage of shells in a matter of seconds. This means that the Wirbelwind can quickly knock out all 4 crew in the Phòng không T-34 (USSR)'s turret, making it defenseless. Plus the Wirbelwind has a more stable chassis that wobbles less in a brake, meaning that in a sudden encounter the Wirbelwind is more likely to stabilise its guns and fire first. Therefore, if you know a Wirbelwind is somewhere near, be very alert and try to spot it before it spots you. Aim at the turret to disable its gunner first. Note: your firing speed depends on the distance, as the Phòng không T-34 (USSR) shakes violently when firing. So if you are face to face with the enemy, fire continuously. If it is more than 200 m away, only fire in short bursts or even single shots to avoid missing due to the shake. Wait for the guns to stabilise before firing the next salvo.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Destructive damage upon hitting an aircraft
  • Fast turret rotation of more than 40°/sec allows it to deal with agile targets easily
  • Powerful engine/weight ratio gives it good manoeuvrability
  • Has a crew of 6, can replace unconscious ones multiple times which increases survivability.
  • Good gun elevation of 85°, crucial for an SPAA
  • Multiple belt types allows flexible gameplay: full HE belt for anti-air. Full AP belt can penetrate common tanks' side, eg. M4, Panther A/D, Chi-Ri. HVAP belt (mixed with HE) for side of heavy targets up close, like Tiger H1/E, Ho-Ri, Ferdinand.

Cons:

  • Open turret exposes 4 crew directly to enemy fire. Very vulnerable to top attacks.
  • High profile makes it easier to be seen & hit
  • Below-average gun depression of -5° combined with the high mount makes it useless in hilly terrains
  • Guns are super unstable during continuous fire. Can only fire short bursts to maintain accuracy. The Wirbelwind and Ostwind II (also twin 37 mm), in comparison, are way more stable.
  • Thin turret armour of 15 mm is prone to be penetrated by heavy MG/shrapnel. SPAA like Wirbelwind and M16 can easily disable all turret crew
  • Awkward to place bushes on upper front hull due to the obstruction of MG port and driver's optics

History

Historical problems

The ▂Xe tăng phòng không 37 mm is a bit of an enigma as no official known North Vietnamese documentation exists concerning its design or construction. Even today, almost half a century after the type first became known, little is known about it. What is known comes from a single unit captured by US-forces during the Vietnam war, which have miraculously survived the test of time. Thus it is important to first focus on what little is known about this unique T-34-based SPAAG, before going into theories.

US capture and evaluation

During the 1972 Spring-Summer Offensive of the Vietnam War, a single example of a SPAAG was captured by the 4th Infantry Regiment of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam on August 13th 1972. This vehicle was subsequently transferred to the United States military, who eventually shipped it to the Aberdeen Proving Ground for technical evaluation. After testing was concluded, the vehicle was put on display at the Aberdeen Proving Ground, where it stood until the early 2010s when it was transferred along with the rest of the collection to the Air Defence Artillery Museum in Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

Construction

Evaluation of this single example showed that it consisted of a T-34-85 chassis which was made at UTZ 183 (Uralsky Tankovij Zavod) in the USSR sometime between 1944 and 1947, featuring a number of modifications. The most important one concerned the removal of the turret, with a solid reinforced steel slab being bolted onto the turret aperture on top of which a twin AA gun was mounted. Other modifications included the removal of the hull-mounted 7.62 mm machine gun, and the removal of part of the engine top deck to allow the gun turret to freely rotate.

The main weaponry of the vehicles consisted of a Chinese 37 mm Type 65 twin gun system, a Chinese-built variant of the Soviet 37 mm M1939 (61-K). NORINCO of China copied the original Soviet single design and produced it under the Chinese designation 37 mm Type 55 (most likely after the year it was first constructed). The Chinese would later update the design by developing a twin mount around the same gun, designated 37 mm Type 65. Such guns were supplied to the NVA by China to help them counter the US air supremacy during the war.

As mounted on the tank, the Type 65 gun mount was surrounded by a box-like open-topped structure composed of 16-mm thick armour plates, large enough to house both the gun and a crew of five. Similar in concept to the US-built M42 Duster, the vehicle lacked any advanced aiming system or power-assisted gun traverse or elevation, making it less efficient in use against low-flying high-speed jets, but still deadly to slower attackers and helicopters.

Name and creation

The vehicle is commonly called the Type 63 or the Type 65, however the vehicle's real name is unknown. The origin of the names comes from the lack of any official documentation on the vehicle, which has lead to a lot of speculation regarding its creation and history.

Outdated theories

Since the vehicle was fitted with a Chinese-built AA gun, the US Military speculated that this vehicle was a Chinese-built dedicated SPAAG. As such, the vehicle commonly became known as the Type 63 SPAAG, this name first appearing in the 1987 publication A Compendium of Armaments and Military Hardware by Christopher Chant, after the assumption that the Type 63 was a variant of the Type 65 specifically built for use on this SPAAG. However, more recently the vehicle has become known as the Type 65 - or Type 63/65 - after the NORINCO-built gun. However there exists no real indication that the Chinese had anything to do directly with the creation of this vehicle.

Current theories

With the lifting of the US embargo on North Vietnam in 1994, new information about the Vietnam War from (formerly North) Vietnamese sources finally became available, and visitors to the Vietnam People's Air Force Museum in Hanoi noticed a photograph on display which gives an entirely different turn to the "Type 65's" story. This singular photograph, with the texts three SPAAG's moving to the front in English, and "improvised 14,5 mm, 37 mm, 57 mm self propelled anti air gun tanks on their way to the front" in Vietnamese, shows three tank-mounted anti-aircraft guns, one mounted on a T-34-85, the two others on the chassis of an SU-76. The nature of their construction seems to indicate that they - and the captured "Type 65" - were in fact locally-built improvised vehicles, combining the hulls of discarded or damaged tanks with AA guns to increase the number of available anti-aircraft guns for use against US forces, the Hanoi-displayed picture showing a T-34-85 hull with a 57 mm S-60 AA gun rather than the 37 mm Type 65 AA gun used on the captured vehicle.

As such, it can be concluded that the captured vehicle was in fact an improvised locally-built SPAAG, possibly an attempt at creating a cheap alternative to the more advanced Soviet ZSU-57-2, using the hulls of T-34-85s that had been delivered to North Vietnam in 1965.

In-game name

The ▂Xe tăng phòng không 37 mm was originally implemented into War Thunder with the name Type 65, due to the lack of historical NVA sources. This was later changed to the current names ▂Xe tăng phòng không 37 mm (English: 37 mm anti air tank) and ▂Phòng không T-34 (English: Anti-air T-34), a shortened name for the research tree. This Change was done as it seems the NVA lacked a proper indigenous designation system during the war and instead gave vehicles descriptive names, for example "anti-air gun truck", etc. Such descriptive names can be found on a lot of name signs in Vietnamese war museums featuring vehicles and weaponry. However in some cases it seems the NVA also used the original designations of the equipment they received, such as the ZSU-23-4 (although spelled 3CY-23 from the Cyrillic name "ЗСУ-23"). However since the vehicle in question most likely is an original creation by the NVA, this cannot be applied here. Thus the vehicle received its current name.

Media

Skins
Videos

See also

Other vehicles of similar configuration and role

External links


USSR anti-aircraft vehicles
GAZ-AAA  GAZ-AAA (4M) · GAZ-AAA (DShK)
BTR-152  BTR-152A · BTR-152D
Wheeled/Half-tracked  GAZ-MM (72-K) · ZiS-12 (94-KM) · ZiS-43
Radar SPAAG  ZSU-23-4 · ZSU-23-4M4 · ZSU-37-2
SAM  Strela-10M2 · 2S6 · Pantsir-S1
Other  ZUT-37 · ZSU-37 · BTR-ZD · ZSU-57-2
Czechoslovakia  M53/59
North Vietnam  ▂Phòng không T-34

USSR premium ground vehicles
Light tanks  BA-11 · RBT-5 · BT-7A (F-32) · T-26 (1st Gv.T.Br.) · T-26E · T-126 · PT-76-57 · 2S38
Medium tanks  T-34 (Prototype) · T-34 (1st Gv.T.Br.) · T-34E · T-34-57 (1943) · T-34-85E · T-34-100 · T-44-122 · TO-55 · T-55AM-1 · T-72AV (TURMS-T) · T-80UD
  ▂M3 Medium · ▂M4A2 · ▂T-III · ▂T-V · ▂МК-IX "Valentine"
Heavy tanks  SMK · T-35 · ▂MK-II "Matilda" · KV-1E · KV-2 (1940) · KV-2 (ZiS-6) · KV-122 · KV-220 · IS-2 "Revenge" · Object 248 · IS-6 · T-10A
Tank destroyers  BM-8-24 · BM-13N · BM-31-12
  SU-57 · SU-76D · SU-76M (5th Gv.Kav.Corps) · SU-85A · SU-100Y · SU-122P · Object 120
SPAA  ▂Phòng không T-34 · ZUT-37