Difference between revisions of "Type 63"

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(Main armament: Fixed typo)
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[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
 
[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
 
{{break}}
 
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The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} Chinese light tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.91 "Night Vision"]]. While very similar to the [[PT-76 (China)|PT-76]] , the Type 63-I is updated with the same turret seen on the [[Type 62]] and with an upgraded engine.
+
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} Chinese light tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.91 "Night Vision"]].  
 +
 
 +
The Type 63 can be considered a domestic Chinese counterpart to the Soviet-produced [[PT-76 (China)|PT-76]] amphibious light tank, its predecessor in the tech tree. However, it is not a copy. It features a similar cast turret to the [[Type 62]] equipped with an 85 mm gun, and the hull has larger dimensions and a different position for the driver. This 63-I variant has a more powerful engine as well. While the protection and gun handling are poor, the good firepower and speed make it much more formidable than the PT-76. It offers a taste of what's to come in the succeeding Type 62, which has similar offensive capabilities while improving in practically every aspect.
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
Line 11: Line 13:
 
<!--''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.''-->
  
The Type 63-I's armour is very light for its rank and should not be relied upon against any serious anti-tank fire. Even heavy-machinegun fire and autocannons pose a serious threat to this vehicle. Your best chance of survival is to play hide n' seek with your enemies, only to poke out when shooting.  
+
The Type 63-I's armour is no better than the PT-76 and should not be relied upon against any incoming fire. Even heavy machine guns and autocannons pose a serious threat to this vehicle; the turret has only 11 mm of cast steel for example and can be penetrated by the M2 Browning commonly mounted on US tanks. SPAAs and aircraft will rip the tank to shreds. In general, avoid being spotted and stay close to cover. Placing bushes on the front and top of the tank to delay recognition of the tank, even for a second or two, can help considerably.
 +
 
 +
The Type 63-I is vulnerable to hull-break. Chemical shells (HEAT, HEAT-FS, HE) of at least decent size will trigger it consistently. Sizeable solid rounds that hit important parts like the engine, transmission, or gun breech can also cause it, but such rounds might also pass through the tank with little damage due to the thin armor.
 +
 
 +
The crew of 4 is better than the 3 in the PT-76, but the additional crew member is still clustered tightly in the turret and the benefits to survivability are marginal.
  
 
=== Mobility ===
 
=== Mobility ===
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{{tankMobility|abMinHp= 620|rbMinHp= 354}}
 
{{tankMobility|abMinHp= 620|rbMinHp= 354}}
  
The {{PAGENAME}} sees a decent improvement in mobility compared to the preceding [[PT-76 (China)|PT-76]], thus making this tank more attractive for flanking, or early game rushing. The {{PAGENAME}} is also good for hillclimbing and can reach some nifty positions on some maps.
+
The {{PAGENAME}} sees a decent improvement in mobility compared to the preceding [[PT-76 (China)|PT-76]], thus making this tank more attractive for flanking, or early game rushing. The {{PAGENAME}} is also good for hillclimbing and can reach some nifty positions on some maps. The mobility lags slightly behind some contemporary tanks like the [[M41A1|M41 Walker Bulldog]] and wheeled Italian vehicles are much faster on roads. It will still handily outrun medium and heavy tanks.
  
 
== Armaments ==
 
== 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.''-->
 
<!--''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.''-->
{{main|Type 62-85TS (85 mm)}}
+
{{main|Type 62-85TC (85 mm)}}
 +
 
 +
The Type 62-85TC cannon is also used by the Type 62, but it reloads more slowly here on the Type 63-I by about 2 seconds.
 +
 
 +
Two APHE shells are available. The stock BR-365A APHEBC round has rather low penetration for its rank, but this is compensated by its excellent slope modifiers and high explosive mass. It penetrates other light tanks easily and is the best round to use when flanking. The BR-367 APCBC round has about 30 mm of extra penetration with less than half the TNT equivalent; while this is not a bad tradeoff, in practice it does not frontally penetrate many vehicles that the BR-365A round cannot, and when flanking the lower post-penetration damage is a big drawback.
 +
 
 +
The BR-367P APCR shell has high velocity and better flat penetration than the APHE rounds, but as with other shells of its class the angled performance and post-penetration damage are awful. It is best used as an interim shell before the HEAT-FS is unlocked; in emergency situations it can penetrate the turret face of the [[Tiger II (H)]] at close range.
 +
 
 +
The Type 1956 HEAT-FS shell is the most powerful option available to the Type 63-I and is very strong for its rank. 300 mm of flat penetration at any distance with good velocity and angled performance is no joke, capable of nullifying the armour of many heavy tanks. The only rival at the battle rating of 6.3 is the [[ST-A1]]'s 90 mm HEAT-FS with 305 mm of flat penetration. It boasts more TNT equivalent than the HE shell, making it dangerous to hull-breakable targets like the common [[M18 GMC|M18 Hellcat]]. The main drawbacks are the mediocre post-penetration damage and the tendency to bounce against heavily sloped armor, so aim carefully.
  
=== Additional armament ===
+
The stock O-365K HE shell is very weak and should be avoided. It is not large enough to reliably trigger hull-breaks on anything more armored than a SPAA truck and the HEAT-FS is better in all aspects.
''Some tanks are armed with several guns in one or more turrets. Evaluate the additional weaponry and give advice on its use. Describe the ammunition available for additional weaponry. Give advice on about how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage. If there is no additional weaponry remove this subsection.''
 
  
 
=== Machine guns ===
 
=== Machine guns ===
''Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.''
+
<!--''Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.''-->
 +
 
 +
The Type 63-I has a coaxial 7.62 SGMT machine gun. It is useful for spotting targets on the map but little else. The lack of a pintle mounted heavy machine gun makes it difficult to ward off aircraft or gun down light vehicles like armored cars.
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="7" | [[SGMT (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm SGMT]]
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="7" | ''Coaxial mount''
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="4" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity (Belt capacity)
 +
! rowspan="1" | Fire rate <br> (shots/minute)
 +
! rowspan="1" | Vertical <br> guidance
 +
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal <br> guidance
 +
|-
 +
| colspan="4" | 3,200 (250) || 600 || N/A || N/A
 +
|-
 +
|}
  
 
== 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).''-->
  
The Type 63-I is best used in a way that avoids direct exposure to enemy fire and gives you time to set up shots and ambushes. Flanking is definitely a recommended method as this gives you the time you desperately need due to slow turret rotation and reload. Flanking also gives you chances to shoot at enemy side-armour, which is the only way to penetrate heavier enemies if you use the conventional shells.  
+
The Type 63-I is best used in a way that avoids direct exposure to enemy fire and gives you time to set up shots and ambushes. Running straight into battle or rushing cap points may not end well. Flanking is definitely a recommended method as this gives you the time you desperately need due to slow turret rotation and reload. It also gives you chances to shoot at enemy side armour, which is the only way to penetrate heavier enemies if you use the conventional shells. When flanking, avoid driving in the open if possible and keep an eye out for other light vehicles. Some of them, like armoured cars and Hellcats, can be hull broken with the HEAT-FS round, while others like the M41 Walker Bulldog cannot and are most easily dispatched with the APHE rounds.
 +
 
 +
The long reload makes selecting the right ammunition type for the situation very important. Otherwise, switching to the correct round could take up to 11 seconds, enough for an enemy to retreat or return fire. It is better to keep HEAT-FS loaded when entering an engagement if enemy types are unknown; any target that the HEAT-FS cannot hull-break can still be disabled with a careful shot to the gunner/driver/gun breech, and APHE can be used to finish cripped targets off. On the other hand, the first speedy enemies to appear at the start of a match are probably soft enough to destroy with APHE. Try to reload while in cover.
  
Another method requires the HEAT-FS shells, and that method involves hiding far away from the enemies and engaging in long-range sniper operations. The HEAT-FS does not lose accuracy nor penetration at the range, giving you the full 300 mm penetration on each hit. A tactic involving shooting and relocating is advisable due to the fact that if an enemy manages to be within range of you, they will only need one shot to take you out.  
+
Like many domestic PRC tanks, the Type 63-I's gun handling is quite awful, so predict where enemies are likely to appear and always be on the lookout for potential ambushes or flankers. If your aim needs to be shifted rapidly, turn the hull as well as the turret. Avoid trying to take down or harass aircraft unless they are bold enough to fly directly at you and escaping to cover is impossible.
  
If facing head-on with an enemy tank, a good option is to first knock out the gunner or to disable the main weapon of the enemy. This allows for time to either retreat, flank or to carefully select your next shot. Note that if you use the HEAT-FS you will be able to penetrate even the front plate of most heavy tanks if they are not angled.  
+
Ground targets to watch out for include the infamous [[R3 T20 FA-HS]], whose extreme mobility and fully stabilized autocannon are the bane of the Type 63-I's bad gun handling and armour, and the [[Ru 251]], which also has incredible speed and can hull-break the Type 63-I easily with its chemical rounds. Thankfully, these two targets can be hull-broken in return. Try to spot them first and stay out of sight until they are not looking in your direction. Then, introduce them to the HEAT-FS. Be sure not to miss, you may not get a second chance.
  
This tank is also well used as a support/scout tank.
+
Besides flanking, another tactic is to use the HEAT-FS shells for long range sniping. The HEAT-FS does not lose accuracy nor penetration at range, giving you the full 300 mm penetration on each hit. Keep in mind that the tank's optics are not great, having 4x zoom like the PT-76. Shooting and relocating is advisable due to the fact that if an enemy manages to be within range of you, they will only need one shot to take you out. Keep an eye on the sky and switch positions after a few kills, as it is very likely that planes and artillery will be on their way to seek revenge. Virtually any aircraft can dispatch the Type 63-I, even those lacking bombs or rockets.
 +
 
 +
Remember to constantly mark enemies with scouting. Besides helping your team and gaining assists for yourself, it allows teammates to mop up targets that you have crippled but are unwilling or unable to finish off. The reduction in aircraft spawn cost is also valuable due to the Type 63-I's fragility. If a good early-game run with the tank is terminated, it should be easy to pull out a good CAS aircraft like the [[Tu-2S-44 (China)|Tu-2]] or counter-CAS aircraft like the [[La-9 (China)|La-9]] to exact revenge while leaving points in reserve for later spawns.
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
Line 47: Line 81:
 
'''Pros:'''
 
'''Pros:'''
  
* Same 85 mm gun as the [[Type 62]], more powerful and less frustrating to use than that of the preceding [[PT-76 (China)|PT-76]]
+
* Same 85 mm gun as the [[Type 62]], more powerful and much less frustrating to use than that of the preceding [[PT-76 (China)|PT-76]]
 
* Has access to 300 mm penetration HEAT-FS, excellent for the battle rating
 
* Has access to 300 mm penetration HEAT-FS, excellent for the battle rating
 
* 4 crew members
 
* 4 crew members
Line 56: Line 90:
  
 
* No stabilizer, firing on the move or on the water is difficult
 
* No stabilizer, firing on the move or on the water is difficult
* Very thin armour, turret armour is even worse than the PT-76
+
* Very thin armour
 
* Slow turret traverse and elevation/depression speeds
 
* Slow turret traverse and elevation/depression speeds
 
* Slow reload
 
* Slow reload
 
* No night vision devices
 
* No night vision devices
* May be confused for the PT-76 at a glance
+
* Larger profile than the PT-76
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
 
<!--Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).-->
 
<!--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).-->
  
The Soviet Union delivered [[PT-76 (China) |PT-76]] tanks to the People's Republic of China in the 1950s. Their lightweight and amphibious capability were appreciated by the PLA, and in 1958 an order was placed for the development of an indigenous vehicle in the same vein. While resembling the PT-76, the Type 63 tanks featured notable differences, such as a new engine, a relocated driver's station, and a new turret with an 85 mm gun. Overall dimensions were slightly enlarged for extra flotation.
+
The Soviet Union delivered [[PT-76 (China) |PT-76]] tanks to the People's Republic of China in the 1950s. Their lightweight and amphibious capability were appreciated by the PLA, and in 1958 an order was placed for the development of an indigenous vehicle in the same vein. Initially a copy of the PT-76 called the Type 60 was made, but unsatisfactory performance and reliability issues prompted a redesign. The new design was finalized in 1963 and entered service as the Type 63 light tank, not to be confused with the Type 63 armored personnel carrier that served as a basis for the [[ZSD63]]. While resembling the PT-76, the Type 63 tanks featured notable differences, such as a new engine, a relocated driver's station, and a new turret with an 85 mm gun. Overall dimensions were slightly enlarged for extra flotation. The Type 63 was intended for use in the wet and muddy terrain of southern China and also for seaborne assaults - many were stationed in the southern coast, across the strait from Taiwan.
 +
 
 +
The improved '''Type 63-I''' variant replaced the original 240 hp V6 engine derived from the PT-76 with a more powerful V12 12150-L2 engine developing about 400 hp. Additional upgrades were developed over the years. The 63-II variant from the 1970s added laser rangefinder and night vision equipment. The 63HG variant from the 1990s had a boat-like hull with a rounded nose and a modified turret with a 105 mm gun. In the late 1990s, the ultimate Type 63A variant entered service. It featured a new welded turret with improved protection, a 105 mm gun, modern fire control systems, and a further redesigned hull.
  
The improved Type 63-I variant boasted a more powerful engine. Additional upgrades were developed over the years, and in the late 1990s, the ultimate Type 63A variant entered service, featuring a new turret, a 105 mm gun, and modern fire control systems.
+
The Type 63 was exported to several countries, including Myanmar, Albania, and Vietnam. It remains in use with several of them today. The Type 63A still serves with the PLA, however it is being gradually replaced by the larger and more advanced ZTD-05 amphibious assault vehicle.
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==

Revision as of 09:28, 14 July 2020

Rank IV USSR | Premium | Golden Eagles
Tu-1 Pack
cn_type_63_i.png
Type 63
AB RB SB
6.3 6.3 6.3
Class:
Research:63 000 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:200 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png
Show in game

Description

GarageImage Type 63.jpg


The Type 63 is a rank IV Chinese light tank with a battle rating of 6.3 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.91 "Night Vision".

The Type 63 can be considered a domestic Chinese counterpart to the Soviet-produced PT-76 amphibious light tank, its predecessor in the tech tree. However, it is not a copy. It features a similar cast turret to the Type 62 equipped with an 85 mm gun, and the hull has larger dimensions and a different position for the driver. This 63-I variant has a more powerful engine as well. While the protection and gun handling are poor, the good firepower and speed make it much more formidable than the PT-76. It offers a taste of what's to come in the succeeding Type 62, which has similar offensive capabilities while improving in practically every aspect.

General info

Survivability and armour

The Type 63-I's armour is no better than the PT-76 and should not be relied upon against any incoming fire. Even heavy machine guns and autocannons pose a serious threat to this vehicle; the turret has only 11 mm of cast steel for example and can be penetrated by the M2 Browning commonly mounted on US tanks. SPAAs and aircraft will rip the tank to shreds. In general, avoid being spotted and stay close to cover. Placing bushes on the front and top of the tank to delay recognition of the tank, even for a second or two, can help considerably.

The Type 63-I is vulnerable to hull-break. Chemical shells (HEAT, HEAT-FS, HE) of at least decent size will trigger it consistently. Sizeable solid rounds that hit important parts like the engine, transmission, or gun breech can also cause it, but such rounds might also pass through the tank with little damage due to the thin armor.

The crew of 4 is better than the 3 in the PT-76, but the additional crew member is still clustered tightly in the turret and the benefits to survivability are marginal.

Mobility

Game Mode Max Speed (km/h) Weight (tons) Engine power (horsepower) Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
Forward Reverse Stock Upgraded Stock Upgraded
Arcade 72 9 18.4 620 763 33.7 41.47
Realistic 65 9 354 400 19.24 21.74

The Type 63 sees a decent improvement in mobility compared to the preceding PT-76, thus making this tank more attractive for flanking, or early game rushing. The Type 63 is also good for hillclimbing and can reach some nifty positions on some maps. The mobility lags slightly behind some contemporary tanks like the M41 Walker Bulldog and wheeled Italian vehicles are much faster on roads. It will still handily outrun medium and heavy tanks.

Armaments

Main armament

Main article: Type 62-85TC (85 mm)

The Type 62-85TC cannon is also used by the Type 62, but it reloads more slowly here on the Type 63-I by about 2 seconds.

Two APHE shells are available. The stock BR-365A APHEBC round has rather low penetration for its rank, but this is compensated by its excellent slope modifiers and high explosive mass. It penetrates other light tanks easily and is the best round to use when flanking. The BR-367 APCBC round has about 30 mm of extra penetration with less than half the TNT equivalent; while this is not a bad tradeoff, in practice it does not frontally penetrate many vehicles that the BR-365A round cannot, and when flanking the lower post-penetration damage is a big drawback.

The BR-367P APCR shell has high velocity and better flat penetration than the APHE rounds, but as with other shells of its class the angled performance and post-penetration damage are awful. It is best used as an interim shell before the HEAT-FS is unlocked; in emergency situations it can penetrate the turret face of the Tiger II (H) at close range.

The Type 1956 HEAT-FS shell is the most powerful option available to the Type 63-I and is very strong for its rank. 300 mm of flat penetration at any distance with good velocity and angled performance is no joke, capable of nullifying the armour of many heavy tanks. The only rival at the battle rating of 6.3 is the ST-A1's 90 mm HEAT-FS with 305 mm of flat penetration. It boasts more TNT equivalent than the HE shell, making it dangerous to hull-breakable targets like the common M18 Hellcat. The main drawbacks are the mediocre post-penetration damage and the tendency to bounce against heavily sloped armor, so aim carefully.

The stock O-365K HE shell is very weak and should be avoided. It is not large enough to reliably trigger hull-breaks on anything more armored than a SPAA truck and the HEAT-FS is better in all aspects.

Machine guns

The Type 63-I has a coaxial 7.62 SGMT machine gun. It is useful for spotting targets on the map but little else. The lack of a pintle mounted heavy machine gun makes it difficult to ward off aircraft or gun down light vehicles like armored cars.

7.62 mm SGMT
Coaxial mount
Capacity (Belt capacity) Fire rate
(shots/minute)
Vertical
guidance
Horizontal
guidance
3,200 (250) 600 N/A N/A

Usage in battles

The Type 63-I is best used in a way that avoids direct exposure to enemy fire and gives you time to set up shots and ambushes. Running straight into battle or rushing cap points may not end well. Flanking is definitely a recommended method as this gives you the time you desperately need due to slow turret rotation and reload. It also gives you chances to shoot at enemy side armour, which is the only way to penetrate heavier enemies if you use the conventional shells. When flanking, avoid driving in the open if possible and keep an eye out for other light vehicles. Some of them, like armoured cars and Hellcats, can be hull broken with the HEAT-FS round, while others like the M41 Walker Bulldog cannot and are most easily dispatched with the APHE rounds.

The long reload makes selecting the right ammunition type for the situation very important. Otherwise, switching to the correct round could take up to 11 seconds, enough for an enemy to retreat or return fire. It is better to keep HEAT-FS loaded when entering an engagement if enemy types are unknown; any target that the HEAT-FS cannot hull-break can still be disabled with a careful shot to the gunner/driver/gun breech, and APHE can be used to finish cripped targets off. On the other hand, the first speedy enemies to appear at the start of a match are probably soft enough to destroy with APHE. Try to reload while in cover.

Like many domestic PRC tanks, the Type 63-I's gun handling is quite awful, so predict where enemies are likely to appear and always be on the lookout for potential ambushes or flankers. If your aim needs to be shifted rapidly, turn the hull as well as the turret. Avoid trying to take down or harass aircraft unless they are bold enough to fly directly at you and escaping to cover is impossible.

Ground targets to watch out for include the infamous R3 T20 FA-HS, whose extreme mobility and fully stabilized autocannon are the bane of the Type 63-I's bad gun handling and armour, and the Ru 251, which also has incredible speed and can hull-break the Type 63-I easily with its chemical rounds. Thankfully, these two targets can be hull-broken in return. Try to spot them first and stay out of sight until they are not looking in your direction. Then, introduce them to the HEAT-FS. Be sure not to miss, you may not get a second chance.

Besides flanking, another tactic is to use the HEAT-FS shells for long range sniping. The HEAT-FS does not lose accuracy nor penetration at range, giving you the full 300 mm penetration on each hit. Keep in mind that the tank's optics are not great, having 4x zoom like the PT-76. Shooting and relocating is advisable due to the fact that if an enemy manages to be within range of you, they will only need one shot to take you out. Keep an eye on the sky and switch positions after a few kills, as it is very likely that planes and artillery will be on their way to seek revenge. Virtually any aircraft can dispatch the Type 63-I, even those lacking bombs or rockets.

Remember to constantly mark enemies with scouting. Besides helping your team and gaining assists for yourself, it allows teammates to mop up targets that you have crippled but are unwilling or unable to finish off. The reduction in aircraft spawn cost is also valuable due to the Type 63-I's fragility. If a good early-game run with the tank is terminated, it should be easy to pull out a good CAS aircraft like the Tu-2 or counter-CAS aircraft like the La-9 to exact revenge while leaving points in reserve for later spawns.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Same 85 mm gun as the Type 62, more powerful and much less frustrating to use than that of the preceding PT-76
  • Has access to 300 mm penetration HEAT-FS, excellent for the battle rating
  • 4 crew members
  • Improved mobility from the PT-76
  • Can scout and assist with repairs

Cons:

  • No stabilizer, firing on the move or on the water is difficult
  • Very thin armour
  • Slow turret traverse and elevation/depression speeds
  • Slow reload
  • No night vision devices
  • Larger profile than the PT-76

History

The Soviet Union delivered PT-76 tanks to the People's Republic of China in the 1950s. Their lightweight and amphibious capability were appreciated by the PLA, and in 1958 an order was placed for the development of an indigenous vehicle in the same vein. Initially a copy of the PT-76 called the Type 60 was made, but unsatisfactory performance and reliability issues prompted a redesign. The new design was finalized in 1963 and entered service as the Type 63 light tank, not to be confused with the Type 63 armored personnel carrier that served as a basis for the ZSD63. While resembling the PT-76, the Type 63 tanks featured notable differences, such as a new engine, a relocated driver's station, and a new turret with an 85 mm gun. Overall dimensions were slightly enlarged for extra flotation. The Type 63 was intended for use in the wet and muddy terrain of southern China and also for seaborne assaults - many were stationed in the southern coast, across the strait from Taiwan.

The improved Type 63-I variant replaced the original 240 hp V6 engine derived from the PT-76 with a more powerful V12 12150-L2 engine developing about 400 hp. Additional upgrades were developed over the years. The 63-II variant from the 1970s added laser rangefinder and night vision equipment. The 63HG variant from the 1990s had a boat-like hull with a rounded nose and a modified turret with a 105 mm gun. In the late 1990s, the ultimate Type 63A variant entered service. It featured a new welded turret with improved protection, a 105 mm gun, modern fire control systems, and a further redesigned hull.

The Type 63 was exported to several countries, including Myanmar, Albania, and Vietnam. It remains in use with several of them today. The Type 63A still serves with the PLA, however it is being gradually replaced by the larger and more advanced ZTD-05 amphibious assault vehicle.

Media

Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.

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

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

  • topic on the official game forum;
  • encyclopedia page on the tank;
  • other literature.


China light tanks
Type 63  Object 211 · Type 63 · ZTS63
Type 62  Type 62
WZ551  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