Armored Fighting Vehicles of the Republic of China-Nanking

Armored Fighting Vehicles of the Republic of China-Nanking

Light Tank

Type 17 Light Tank

In 1960, the Republic of China-Nanking Army began looking for a light tank suitable for operations in China-Nanking southern region and also to  supplement  the Type 10 Medium Tank in service with the Republic of China-Nanking Army.

The Republic of China-Nanking decided to buy the license right to the Japanese Type 5 Light Tank which was also in service with the Republic of China-Nanking Army. Designated the Type 17 light tank it entered Republic of China-Nanking Army service in 1965, with around 900 examples having been built for the Republic of China-Nanking Army and the China-Nanking Special Naval Landing Force. The Type 17 Light Tank is also in service with the Imperial Vietnamese Army (150), Royal  Cambodian  Army (40) and the Royal Laos Army (15).

Type 17 light Tank

Type 17-I: Basic licenses variant of the Japanese Type 5 Light Tank with Japanese-supplied Mitsubishi Type 100 air-cooled diesel V-12 engine installed.

Type 17-II: Type 63 fitted with a China-Nanking-made air-cooled diesel V-12 engine instead of the Japanese-supplied Mitsubishi Type 100.

Type 17-III: Type 17 fitted with a laser rangefinder which is the same laser rangefinder as the one fitted on Type 10-III Medium Tank. This update was made in the 1970s.

Medium Tanks

Type 10 Medium Tank

The Type 10 is a Republic of China-Nanking licenses produced version of the Japanese Type 4 Medium Tank which is itself a version based on the  <span style="box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:1.5;">Panzerkampfwagen V Puma. The first Type 10s were produced in 1958 and accepted into service in 1959. The Type 10 <span class="IL_AD" style="box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:1.5;">Medium Tank <span style="box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:1.5;"> represents China-Nanking first major tank  <span class="IL_AD" style="box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:1.5;">development <span style="box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:1.5;">. Over the years, it has been upgraded with various domestic and Japanese technologies and has been produced in great numbers from 1959 to current 1982, with more than 2,000 having been produced. The Type 10 is widely exported to members of the Greater East Asia Alliance.

<span style="box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:1.5;">Type 10-I - A  <span style="box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:13px;line-height:1.5;font-family:sans-serif;">basic variant  <span style="box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:1.5;">assembled with Japanese-supplied parts left over from their own production of the Type 4 <span style="box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:13px;line-height:1.5;font-family:sans-serif;">. Entered production in 1958.

<span style="box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:1.5;">Type 10-II - Version build with China-Nanking-made components. <span style="box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:13px;line-height:1.5;font-family:sans-serif;">Entered production in 1963.

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">Type 10-III -  <span style="box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:1.5;">Improved variant of the Type 10-II and was fitted out with a laser rangefinder, hydraulic servo-system, primitive fire control and rubber track skirt. The Type 10-III includes several versions with different  <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">armor <span style="box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:1.5;"> and fire control configurations.

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">Type 10-IV - L <span class="IL_AD" style="box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">atest version <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;"> being produced and is fitted with an improved radio and a  <span style="box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:1.5;">automatic fire suppression system.

Type 20 Main Battle Tank

<span class="postbody" style="box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">In 1963 the Republic of China-Nanking began to develop a successor to the Type 10 Medium Tank, but the progress in the program was slow due to technical difficulties. In March 1969, during an armed clash between the Republic of China-Nanking and the Empire of Japan against the Soviet Union along the Ussuri River on Damansky Island, China-Nanking and Japanese troops captured a Soviet T-62 tank. The tank was carefully examined by China-Nanking and Japanese engineers and its <span class="IL_AD" style="box-sizing:border-box;">night vision  and other components were copied and integrated into the Type 20 design, which was finally certified for design finalization in 1974.

<span class="postbody" style="box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">Type 20-I  <span style="box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:13px;line-height:1.5;font-family:sans-serif;">- Prototype based on the Type 10 hull build in  <span class="postbody" style="box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:1.5;">1977.

<span style="box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:1.5;">Type 20-IIA  <span style="box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:13px;line-height:1.5;font-family:sans-serif;">- P rototype incorporating some technologies from a captured Soviet T-62 main  battle  tank, such as the Luna IR searchlight system, and improved NBC protection.

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">Type 20-III <span style="box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;font-family:sans-serif;"> - First production version released in 1980 and with the  <span style="box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:1.5;">number of  <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">currently <span style="box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:1.5;"> standing at 150 with production still going ongoing as of 1982.

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">Type 21-I (also know as Type 20-IV) - <span style="box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:13px;line-height:1.5;font-family:sans-serif;"> A improved Type 20 incorporating Japanese technologies. Two prototypes build for the  <span style="box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:1.5;">Republic of China-Nanking Army  <span style="box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:13px;line-height:1.5;font-family:sans-serif;">In 1981, equipped with key components such as a laser rangefinder.

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">Type 20-IIB/C <span style="box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:13px;line-height:1.5;font-family:sans-serif;"> - Command version of the Type 20-III with additional communications equipment and auxiliary power pack. Features a long radio aerial and two storage boxes on the rear, containing cables and field phone.

<u style="box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;"> Armoured Recovery Vehicle

<span class="postbody" style="box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">Type 15 <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">  Armoured Recovery Vehicle

<span class="postbody" style="box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">Introduced in the late 1950s, the Type 15 is the first armored recovery vehicle fielded by the Republic of China-Nanking Army. The vehicle is built on the chassis of the Type 10 Medium Tank, by removing the turret and adding the vehicle with a winch, a spade, and a manual hoist boom. The development began in 1961 and the vehicle entered in Republic of China-Nanking Army in 1963 <span style="box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:1.5;">. The Type 15 is used for recovering vehicles that have been damaged in battle, trapped in soft terrain, or otherwise rendered immobile without being capable of self recovery. The vehicle can perform some basic battlefield repairs such as replacing the tank’s engine or turret. It can also tow the damaged tank out of the battlefield for more extensive repairs <span class="postbody" style="box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:1.5;">.The layout of the Type 15 is generally identical to the Type 10 Medium Tank <span class="IL_AD" style="box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:1.5;">and shares <span class="postbody" style="box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:1.5;"> its propulsions, protections, communications, fire suppressions, and smoke generation equipment.

Type 25 Armoured Recovery Vehicle

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">The Type 25 is a second-generation armored recovery vehicle (ARV) in service with the Republic of China-Nanking Army, and is slated to replace the Type 15 ARV introduced in the late 1980s. Developed and built by China North Industries Group (CNGC), the Type 25 is a full tracked armored vehicle used to perform battlefield rescue and recovery missions including hoisting, winching, and towing operations supporting recovery operations and evacuation of main battle tanks and other tracked armored vehicles.

<span class="postbody" style="box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;"><u style="box-sizing:border-box;">Armored Personnel Carrier

<span class="postbody" style="box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">Type 1 Armored Personnel Carrier

<span class="postbody" style="box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">The Type 1 is China-Nanking first indigenous tracked armored personnel carrier first fielded in 1964. Unlike most Chinese weapon systems introduced in the same age, the Type 1 is not based on an existing Japanese design. In fact, the vehicle is developed independently without Japanese assistance.T <span style="box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:1.5;">he design is simple and is comparable to other APCs of its time such as the American build M113 and the  <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">Japanese <span style="box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:1.5;"> Type 3 Tracked Armored Personnel Carrier

<span class="postbody" style="box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:1.5;">The development was completed in 1963 and the vehicle was first fielded in 1964. However, the initial batch of the Type 1 suffered from serious problems, and the improved formal production variant did not enter service until 1970. <span style="box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:1.5;">The overall design is basic, being little more than an armored steel box on tracks. There are only four road wheels each side, but the cross country  <span class="IL_AD" style="box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:1.5;">performance <span style="box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:1.5;"> is excellent and the overall design is robust and adaptable even if some refinements such as an NBC protection system are absent.

<span class="postbody" style="box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">Not only does the Type 1 serves with the Republic of China-Nanking Army and the China-Nanking Special Naval Landing Forces it also serves with the Imperial Vietnamese Army, Royal Cambodian Army, <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;"> Mengjiang National Army <span class="postbody" style="box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">, Royal Laos Army, Manchuria Imperial Army and even the Imperial Japanese Army.

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">Type 1 - Basic version with Type 56 7.62 mm machine gun, not mass-produced.

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">Type 1A - Production variant with 12.7 mm machine gun Type 54, uprated engine and different transmission.

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">Type 1B or Type 1-I - Improved version with stronger suspension, additional firing ports and two additional roof hatches. <span style="box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:13px;line-height:1.5;font-family:sans-serif;">Entered production in 1981.

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">Type 1C/D or Type 1-II - Command version of the Type 1B with higher troop compartment and fitted with up to five radios and a generator.

<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:19.5px;">Type 7 SPH - Self-propelled artillery version of the Type 1B mounting a 122 mm Type 54-I howitzer.

<span style="box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:1.5;">Type 7 MRL - Rocket artillery version of the Type 1B with 19-tube 130 mm multiple rocket launcher.