Type 63-II Amphibious Light Tank: Up To Standards

[Zombificus 792]

The Type 63-II was a 1970s modernisation of the Type 63-I amphibious light tank, introducing night vision devices and the same over-the-barrel laser rangefinder as used on the Type 59-I and ZTZ-59A MBTs. Like the earlier Type 63-I (although not currently modelled in-game), it could also mount a 12.7mm Type 54 heavy machine gun on the loader's hatch, providing a small measure of protection against aircraft. Given the moderate improvements over the Type 63-I, which is viable but not hugely competitive in War Thunder, I could see the Type 63-II as a potential researchable upgrade for our existing Type 63-I, although of course it could exist as a separate vehicle instead. 

 

 

History:

 

The Type 63 had its origins in the prototype Type 60 amphibious light tank, which was intended as an improved vehicle inspired by the Soviet PT-76 but proved to have unacceptable reliability and overheating problems. The improved Type 63 which emerged after two years of design iteration and refinements differed in many ways from the PT-76, and the common misconception that it is merely a PT-76 variant is entirely incorrect. The Type 63 was a larger vehicle in all dimensions, accordingly armed with a larger-calibre and higher-velocity 85mm gun, and differed in crew complement, positions, and the use of both tracks and waterjets simultaneously for water propulsion. Although it had passed gruelling trials that the Type 60 had failed and was superior in most ways to the PT-76, the original Type 63 was still a flawed design, mainly due to its extremely underpowered 241 hp engine, which it inherited from the Type 60. For the second production run, the new Type 63-I variant was introduced with a significantly more powerful 402 hp engine capable of propelling the tank to much greater speeds, finally surpassing the PT-76 in every aspect. The Type 63-I was the definitive variant of the Type 63 and remained in production for the majority of its run, but by the 1970s its age was showing, particularly the lack of modern optical and fire control equipment. Although certain issues like the lack of stabliser, which made firing while in the water infeasible, were not solved, the new Type 63-II addressed the most glaring flaws in the vehicle: the complete absence of night vision devices, and the difficulty of engaging targets at long range due to the basic FCS and optics. On the Type 63-II, the most obvious visual difference is the presence of a Norinco Type 73 laser rangefinder unit mounted over the gun barrel, which was also fitted to the Type 59-I and Type 59A main battle tanks. With this moderate improvement, the Type 63-II remained the most modern Type 63 variant  into the 1990s, when the PLA finally launched a program to replace it, resulting in the competing Type 63 Hai Gai and Type 63A, of which the Type 63A won and finally entered production in 1997. The 85mm Type 62-85TC gun, which the Type 63-II shared with the earlier Type 62 light tank, reportedly had an APFSDS-T round developed for it, which may have been issued to Type 63-IIs late in their service life, although when and to what this round was issued is not readily available online. Although small numbers of Type 63-IIs are still in service, which by this point likely do use the APFSDS-T round, the 105mm-armed Type 63A and its derivatives have largely replaced it even in second-line duties and its total retirement is likely sooner rather than later. 

 

Specifications:

 

Length: 7.15m (8.44m with gun forwards)

Width: 3.2m

Height: 2.522m (3.122m with AA HMG)

Weight: 19.83 tonnes

Crew: 4 (Driver, Gunner, Commander, Loader)

Primary Armament: 85mm Type 62-85TC rifled gun (47 rounds, -4 to +20 elevation)

Secondary Armament: 1x 7.62mm Type 59T coaxial machine gun (2000 rounds) & 1x 12.7mm Type 54 AA HMG on the loader's hatch (500 rounds)

Hull Thickness: 11-14mm front, 13mm upper sides, 10mm lower sides, rear, belly & roof

Turret Thickness: 15mm mantlet, 11mm front and sides, 10mm rear, roof, and cupola

Powerplant: 1x 402hp (300 kW) at 2000 rpm 12150L-2 12-cylinder liquid-cooled diesel engine

Max Speed: 40 mph (64 kph) on road, 18.75 mph (30 kph) offroad, 7.5 mph (12 kph) in water

Power-to-Weight Ratio: 20.3 hp/tonne

 

Its Place In The Game:

 

The Type 63-II has only moderate improvements over the Type 63-I we already have, which would suit it well to simply being a researchable modification to the Type 63-I. Although very much a viable tank at 6.3, the Type 63-I has notable flaws: huge size, extremely thin armour, poor depression and turret traverse speeds, and a below-average gun. It does have its strengths, notably good mobility, good post-pen APHE and relatively high-penetrating HEAT, but it is hardly the most competitive tank in its BR range. Notably, the American T92 and the multiple M41 variants overshadow it in terms of gameplay flexibility, AA defence, size and arguably armament.

 

All of this is to say that the addition of NVDs, a laser rangefinder and a 12.7mm AA HMG would be unlikely to make the Type 63-II overpowered for 6.3. They would, however, put it at less of a disadvantage in night combat and AA defence than Type 63-I, and would give it something more of a niche compared to the following Type 62. With a laser rangefinder, the Type 63-II would be able to much more effectively snipe, but the nature of its ammunition should prevent this from being too much of an advantage at 6.3: the APHE has penetration far below average for the BR, and while the HEAT has respectable penetration, it is neither the highest performance in this BR range, nor the most damaging. Anecdotally, I have also found this round oddly unreliable, but this may simply be bad luck on my part. Some other things that would reduce the abusability of this laser rangefinder are the Type 63's relatively long reload, which even with maxed crew lags almost an entire second behind the competing M41A1's worst reload, and the inherent issues with taking covered or hull-down positions that come from the Type 63's size and poor gun depression. I do not believe that allowing Type 63-I to become a Type 63-II by researching NVDs and a LRF would make it unbalanced at its current BR, and I personally think that this would be a good way to make it more competitive. However, I can understand that people might not agree with this, which is why I also acknowledge the potential for Type 63-II as a separate vehicle.

 

As a separate tank, Type 63-II has two possibilities for implementation. Without the APFSDS-T round for its 85mm, it would be only slightly better than the Type 63-I and would most likely wind up as a premium vehicle. With APFSDS-T and a laser rangefinder, the Type 63-II would be worthy of a higher BR, possessing both improved penetration and the equipment to be accurate with it. In this configuration, it would be different enough from the existing Type 63-I to work as a tech tree vehicle, most likely tabbed with the Type 63-I, and its enhanced capabilities would make it more attractive if the devs decided to make it a premium, event or squadron vehicle. Without the APFSDS-T, I consider the Type 63-II best added by turning our existing Type 63-I into it, but with that new round I can definitely see it being viable at 6.7 as a separate vehicle. 

 

I hope you like this tank, and I look forward to reading your comments!

 

More Pictures:

 

Spoiler

A Type 63-II; the over-barrel rangefinder pod is easily spotted. 

 

A Type 63-II leaving the water.

 

Type 63-IIs swimming. 

 

Type 63 crew can operate a MANPADS SAM from the turret hatches; for obvious reasons this is unlikely to be implemented in-game. 

 

A Type 63-I and Type 63-II apparently undergoing maintenance. 

 

A Type 63-II on display.

 

A 1990s-era camouflaged Type 63-II.

 

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_63_(tank)#Variants

https://www.tanks-encyclopedia.com/coldwar/China/type-63-light-amphibious-tank.php

http://www.army-guide.com/eng/product915.html

https://www.militaryfactory.com/armor/detail.php?armor_id=173

https://www.inetres.com/gp/military/cv/tank/Type63.html

 

Edited July 14, 2022 by Zombificus

[ItssLuBu 1,793]

Approved and open for discussion. 

[Milocat 4,842]

+1, would love to see another version of this tank.  The type 63 we have already is lots of fun!

[Zev_Winters 313]

I'd appreciate a separate version with NVD, 12.7mm, laser rangefinder and APFSDS at around 7.7.

[NAYEONnaise 1,936]

+1 for 6.7 as a separate vehicle 

[HungryHedgehog 54]

+1 I think this would be a good contender for a Chinese event/bp tank.

[Renamed27206 40]

+1 We need more PLA tanks!

[DMYEugen 688]

Well, here it is:

Spoiler

https://warthunder.com/en/news/8092-development-zts63-1980-nimble-sniper-en

With a very strange name.

[不是很能抗压 1,265]

On 14/02/2023 at 23:28, DMYEugen said:

Well, here it is:

Hide contents

https://warthunder.com/en/news/8092-development-zts63-1980-nimble-sniper-en

With a very strange name.

That is the name it should have, 63-i and 63-ii is fake. 

Edited February 17 by Zero_Seeker

[Yontzee 1,669]

Congrats on your suggestion mate! 

 

Hopefully we can get its older brother, the ZTS63A in the near future. 

Edit: Since it has an 85mm APFSDS-T round, NVD, and Laser Rangefinder, maybe around battle rating 8.0 (realistic).

Edited February 16 by Yontzee

[不是很能抗压 1,265]

18 hours ago, Yontzee said:

Congrats on your suggestion mate! 

 

Hopefully we can get its older brother, the ZTS63A in the near future. 

Edit: Since it has an 85mm APFSDS-T round, NVD, and Laser Rangefinder, maybe around battle rating 8.0 (realistic).

It has no stabilizer, 7.3 i guess.

[Yontzee 1,669]

4 hours ago, Zero_Seeker said:

It has no stabilizer, 7.3 i guess.

That’s…unfortunate. 

[warner7 81]

On 18/07/2022 at 08:50, Zev_Winters said:

I'd appreciate a separate version with NVD, 12.7mm, laser rangefinder and APFSDS at around 7.7.

Mate 7.7 will be an other useless M41d type vehicle. 

 

+1 at 6.7

[warner7 81]

On 23/02/2023 at 18:49, warner7 said:

Mate 7.7 will be an other useless M41d type vehicle. 

Dev server just released. It is at 7.3 br, (sigh) its gonna be like M41D 's usefullness... 

[NAYEONnaise 1,936]

On 26/02/2023 at 18:01, warner7 said:

Dev server just released. It is at 7.3 br, (sigh) its gonna be like M41D 's usefullness... 

hopefully its gonna feel like an Ikv 91...the M41D was the worst addition. my gosh did they just reinstate the former consultant who butchered the chinese tree?

[OddPhenomena 1,015]

6 hours ago, NAYEONnaise said:

hopefully its gonna feel like an Ikv 91...the M41D was the worst addition. my gosh did they just reinstate the former consultant who butchered the chinese tree?

If it makes you feel any better, the APFSDS is slightly better than the Type 69's at an angle...though that's not exactly a high bar.

[leroyonly 4,310]

As the Type 63-II has been implemented as per Update 2.25 Sky Guardians,

 

Moved to Implemented Suggestions.