Tank Lovers Group
Hobbies & Interests
This group is for everyone who like tanks, sci-fi tanks, real tanks, funny tanks, you can put here tank mods, tank maps, simply everything with straps, armor and gun :D
The Type 96 replaced the Type 88 (copy of the Soviet T-62). It entered service in 1997. Production of the Type 96 ceased in 2005. It is estimated that 2000-2500 of these tanks were built.
The 125 mm gun and autoloader were copied from the Soviet T-72. A total of 42 rounds are carried. The tank is fitted with a new computerized fire control system. It incorporates an automatic target tracker (ATT) which enables the gun to automatically aim and track enemy targets. The gun can engage moving targets accurately, while on the move. It has a high first round hit probability against moving targets, while the tank is firing on the move. Fire control system of this tank is superior to those used by the Soviet T-72 series tanks.
The Type 96G upgrade was first revealed in 2006. It is fitted with new explosive reactive armor (similar to the Type 99) and thermal gun sights. It is believed that the upgraded Type 96G approaches the Type 99 in terms of protection, firepower and mobility. Weight of the upgraded MBT increased to 42.8 t. All standard Type 96 might be upgraded to this level.
Currently the PLA operates 961 standard Type 96 and 1,116 upgraded Type 96G tanks in service.