D
Land ForcesChina

ZTZ-59D (Type 59D)

Main battle tankFielded 1995Pending verification
Land ForcesCHN
ZTZ-59D (Type 59D)
Photo: Tyg728 · CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Fact cardConfidence · Source
System
TypeMain battle tank
Date of introduction1995
ProliferationAt least 5 countries
ManufacturerFirst Inner Mongolia Machinery Factory, NorincoMed[1]
Crew4Med[1]
Dimensions and weight
Height2.6 m9 ftMed[1]
Width3.3 m11 ftMed[1]
Combat weight38 tMed[1]
Automotive performance
Engine12150LMed[1]
Engine power520 hpMed[1]
Cruising range450 km280 mi · 243 nmiMed[1]
Max road speed55 km/h34 mph · 30 ktMed[1]
Cross-country speed25 km/h16 mph · 13 ktMed[1]
Fording depth1.4 m unprep; 5.5 m snorkelMed[1]
Fording1.3 mMed[1]
Protection
Applique ArmorYes, Track ShirtsMed[1]
Explosive reactive armorYes, The Type 59D carries the FY series ERA. At its lowest level the FY armour can protect from a single HEAT attack. At its highest the manufacturer claims it can protect against multiple kinetic and chemical energy attacks.Med[1]
Active Protection SystemYesMed[1]
NBC ProtectionYesMed[1]
Smoke EquipmentYes, Grenlaunch 8x; VESS; 8 x 81-mm smoke grenade launchers. Vehicle engine exhaust smoke system.Med[1]
Armor, Front Upper97 mmMed[1]
Armor, Front Lower99 mmMed[1]
Armor, Sides Upper79 mmMed[1]
Armor, Sides Lower20 mmMed[1]
Armor, Hull Rear46 mmMed[1]
Armor, Hull Floor20 mmMed[1]
Armor, Top33 mmMed[1]
Armor, Turret Front203 mmMed[1]
Armor, Turret Sides203 mmMed[1]
Armor, Turret Rear64 mmMed[1]
Armor, Turret Top39 mmMed[1]
Armament
Rate of fire (max)4 rounds per minuteMed[1]
Elevation range-5 to +65 degMed[1]
Main armament1 x Type 83A, 105 mmMed[1]
Secondary armament1 × coaxial-mounted 7.62 mm Type 59T machine gun; 1 × roof-mounted 12.7 mm Type 54 machine gun (DShKM)Med[1]
Maximum firing range0 km0 mi · 0 nmiWith the addition of a suitable gunner’s sight, the GP2 tank-fired missile can also be used by the Type 59 with a maximum range of 5,000 m. Automated check: outside the expected range for this type; verify against the source.Low[1]
Fire control
Fire control systemType 37A light spot fire-control systemMed[1]
Computerized FCSYesMed[1]
Thermal Sight Tank CommanderAvailableMed[1]
Thermal Sight GunnerAvailableMed[1]
Main Gun StabilizationYes, 2-planeMed[1]
Range, Thermal Sight (With Magnification)1,000 mMed[1]
Laser RangfinderYesMed[1]
Variants
Type 59The basic variant, a T-54A clone without IR searchlight. Entered production in 1957.[1]
Type 59-IImproved variant fitted with a Type 69-II 100 mm rifled gun, as well as a laser rangefinder, hydraulic servo-system, primitive fire-control system, automatic fire suppression system, and rubber track skirt. The Type 59-I[1]
Type 59-IIThis version was fitted with a two-axis, stabilized, a rifled 105-mm gun with a fume extractor and thermal sleeve. The Chinese-made gun is very similar to the British L7/U.S. M68 105-mm tank gun. The Type 59 II also has [1]
Type 59D1The Type 59D1 (also known as WZ-120C) is an upgrade with explosive reactive armor, computerized stabilized fire-control system, the 105 mm. gun of the Type 59-II, and a night vision system[1]
Type 59GAn upgrade of the Type 59, featuring a redesigned turret and armor. It uses a turret similar to that of the Type 96A, a 125 mm gun, modern fire control systems, arrow-shaped armor, spaced armor, and possibly third-genera[1]
JaguarThe Jaguar was a prototype vehicle based on the Type 59 chassis that was jointly developed by the United States and China during the 1980s, made possible by the US-Chinese détente of the 1970s. Planned to replace China's[1]
Weapons and payload options · 1Confidence · Source
Rifle105 mm ammunition
Med[1]
Quantity
34 Rounds
Muzzle velocity
1,530 m/s
Projectile weight
43.56 kg
Armor penetration
50 mm of homogeneous armour set to a 71⁰ angle from a range of 2,000 m
Summary

The ZTZ-59D (Type 59D) Chinese Main Battle Tank (MBT) was the first computerized version of the Type 59 series as well as the first version to feature ERA. It most closely resembles a modernized Russian T-55 although is lacking in firepower and mobility when compared with a T-72.

Draft entry. Values come from the cited public sources and are awaiting editor verification.
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Operators
ChinaNorth KoreaSudanVietnamZimbabwe
Sources
  1. ZTZ-59D (Type 59D) Chinese Main Battle Tank (MBT), U.S. Army TRADOC G-2 Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN)
    Published/updated 2026-03-20 · Tier 1 · checked 2026-10-10
Change log
  • 2026-10-10 Entry created from the Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN), bulk import
  • 2026-10-10 Added photo (CC BY-SA 4.0)