Type 96 Main Battle Tank ZTZ-96 | |
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![]() Type 96B MBT at Tank Biathlon 2017. | |
Type | Main battle tank |
Place of origin | China |
Service history | |
In service | 1997–present |
Used by | See Operators |
Production history | |
Manufacturer | First Inner Mongolia Machinery Factory |
No. built | 2,500+[1] |
Specifications | |
Mass | Type 96: 41 tonnes Type 96A: 42.8 tonnes Type 96B: 43 tonnes |
Length | 6.33 m |
Width | 3.45 m |
Height | 2.30 m |
Crew | 3 |
Armor | Type 96: Composite armor (Steel & Ceramic Aluminum Titanate with Fibreglass Cloth) Type 96A: Modular applique armor on the turret and FY-4 ERA plates on hull front |
Main armament | Type 88C/ZPT-98 125 mm smoothbore gun, capable of firing ATGMs and depleted uranium rounds |
Secondary armament | Type 86 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun QJC-88 12.7 mm air-defence machine gun |
Engine | Diesel Type 96: 12V150ZLC - 730 hp (582 kW) Type 96A: 12V150ZLD - 865hp (636 kW) Type 96B: 8V150HB - 1000hp (735kW) |
Power/weight | Type 96: (17.8 hp/tonne) Type 96A: (18.7 hp/tonne) Type 96B: (23 hp/tonne) |
Suspension | Torsion bar |
Operational range | 400 km |
Maximum speed | 65 km/h 74 km/h (Type 96B) |
The Type 96 (Chinese: 96式; pinyin: Jiǔliù shì) or ZTZ96 is a Chinese second generation main battle tank (MBT). The final evolution of the Type 88 design, the Type 96 entered service with the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in 1997. The later variants of the Type 96 are currently in PLA service together with China's third generation MBT, the Type 99.