{
  "id": "wz-120",
  "name": "WZ-120 (Type 59)",
  "aliases": [],
  "domain": "land",
  "country": "CHN",
  "category": "Main battle tank",
  "status": null,
  "fielded": 1959,
  "operators": [
    "BGD",
    "CHN",
    "COG",
    "IRN",
    "IRQ",
    "KHM",
    "PAK",
    "PRK",
    "SDN",
    "VNM",
    "ZMB",
    "ZWE"
  ],
  "prolif_count": 12,
  "summary": "The WZ-120 (Type 59) Chinese Main Battle Tank (MBT) is a Chinese-produced version of the Soviet T-54A tank, the earliest model of the ubiquitous T-54/55 series. The first vehicles were produced in 1958 and it was accepted into service in 1959, with serial production beginning in 1963.",
  "specs": [
    {
      "k": "crew",
      "v": 4,
      "src": [
        "weg-wz-120"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "length_m",
      "v": 6.04,
      "src": [
        "weg-wz-120"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "width_m",
      "v": 3.27,
      "src": [
        "weg-wz-120"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "height_m",
      "v": 2.59,
      "src": [
        "weg-wz-120"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "combat_weight_t",
      "v": 36,
      "src": [
        "weg-wz-120"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "engine_name",
      "v": "Model 12150L",
      "src": [
        "weg-wz-120"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "engine_hp",
      "v": 520,
      "src": [
        "weg-wz-120"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "road_range_km",
      "v": 450,
      "src": [
        "weg-wz-120"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "speed_road_kmh",
      "v": 50,
      "src": [
        "weg-wz-120"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Fording depth",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "1.4 Unprepared, 5.5 with snorkel",
      "src": [
        "weg-wz-120"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Computerized FCS",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "UI light spot Fire Control System",
      "src": [
        "weg-wz-120"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Thermal Sight Gunner",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Type DC 1024/00 II sights, x7",
      "src": [
        "weg-wz-120"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Main Gun Stabilization",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "2-plane",
      "src": [
        "weg-wz-120"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Rangefinder",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "LRF",
      "src": [
        "weg-wz-120"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Hull Armor",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "20–203 mm",
      "src": [
        "weg-wz-120"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Turret Armor",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "20–203 mm",
      "src": [
        "weg-wz-120"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Applique Armor",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "Available, Track skirts are fitted to some tanks.",
      "src": [
        "weg-wz-120"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Explosive reactive armor",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "Available",
      "src": [
        "weg-wz-120"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "NBC Protection",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "Yes",
      "src": [
        "weg-wz-120"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Smoke Equipment",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "8 x 81-mm smoke grenade launchers Vehicle engine exhaust smoke system.",
      "src": [
        "weg-wz-120"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "armament",
      "label": "Secondary armament",
      "v": "The Type 59 has been seen with the following secondary weapons: 2 x Type 59T 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun or 1 x Type 54 ; 1 x DShk 12.7mm Heavy Machine Gun",
      "src": [
        "weg-wz-120"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    }
  ],
  "payloads": [
    {
      "name": "HEAT",
      "role": "105 mm ammunition",
      "src": [
        "weg-wz-120"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "caps": {
        "Armor penetration": "432, NATO Single Heavy Target"
      },
      "qty": "INA"
    }
  ],
  "variants": [
    {
      "name": "Domestic models",
      "text": "Type 59 The basic variant, a T-54A clone without IR searchlight. Entered production in 1957. Type 59-I Improved variant fitted with a Type 69-II 100 mm rifled gun, as well as a laser rangefinder, hydraulic servo-system, ",
      "src": [
        "weg-wz-120"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Foreign variants",
      "text": "United Kingdom designed a variant with a 105-mm L7 gun as an upgrade package for owners of the Type 59. No Type 59s served with British forces. Marconi offered their Marksman anti-aircraft system as a conversion to opera",
      "src": [
        "weg-wz-120"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "art": "tank",
  "image": null,
  "verified": null,
  "changelog": [
    {
      "date": "2026-10-10",
      "change": "Entry created from the Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN), bulk import"
    }
  ],
  "url": "https://www.defensepedia.com/systems/wz-120.html",
  "sources": {
    "weg-wz-120": {
      "title": "WZ-120 (Type 59) Chinese Main Battle Tank (MBT)",
      "publisher": "U.S. Army TRADOC G-2 Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN)",
      "url": "https://odin.t2com.army.mil/WEG/Asset/WZ-120_Type_59_Chinese_Main_Battle_Tank",
      "published": "2026-03-20",
      "tier": 1,
      "checked": "2026-10-10"
    }
  }
}