Tank Type 63, which found the war with the United States, still serves in the Vietnamese army

The younger brother of the famous Soviet floating tank PT-76 - Chinese Type 63 - is still in service with the Vietnam People's Army (VNA), reports Rossiyskaya Gazeta.

Deliveries were made in 1970 year as an aid to the "brotherly people fighting against American imperialism." In total, the Vietnamese received more than 200 machines from China.

“These tanks are based on the PT-76. They are distinguished by their increased weight to 18 and another tower with an 85-mm gun. Engine power is 500 HP The maximum speed is 64 km / h over land and 12 km / h afloat. Power reserve - 500 km. Armor thickness - from 10 to 14 mm. Crew - 3 person. Machines were actively used in battles with both the forces of the invaders and the puppet army of South Vietnam, ”the publication says.

Type 63, along with medium tanks T-54 and Type 59, took part in the final operation of a multi-year war - the storming of Saigon.

The exact number of "sixty-third", continuing today to serve in the Vietnamese army, is unknown. They talk about 200 units, but military experts believe this number is clearly overstated.

However, "given Vietnamese realities, the 63 Type is not likely to be sent to stock in the coming years," concludes the publication.

Comments

[Mountain shooter]

And what, a normal "boat" ... Even travels by land. And the gun is 85 mm.

[Shurik70]

Quote: Mountain Shooter

And what, a normal "boat" ... Even travels by land. And the gun is 85 mm.

At the expense of the "tank" - the Chinese got excited.
Rather, self-propelled guns that can independently overcome water barriers. 12km / h for the boat is not enough. And as such, the car is excellent! Why would the Vietnamese refuse. They also have a modern BIUS plugged in, and you get a modern gun.

[svp67]

Quote: Shurik70

At the expense of the "tank" - the Chinese got excited.

The tank is ours, but on the account got excited, it's you. This is a tank, specific, but a tank.

Quote: Shurik70

12km / h for the boat is not enough

And will every boat survive the four points of the storm?

[Piramidon]

Quote: Shurik70

At the expense of the "tank" - the Chinese got excited.
Rather, self-propelled guns,

If he has the abbreviation PT - floating tank, then none of your "sooner" canceled this. I can imagine what kind of objections you’ll have, like - but according to the modern classification ... "But this machine was created in 1951 precisely as a light floating TANK.

[wer2]

Quote: Piramidon

But this car was created in 1951 precisely as a light floating TANK.

In the USSR in general, many things were strangely called. This was called "for ideological reasons."

[Piramidon]

Quote: wer2

This was called "for ideological reasons."

Yes, nothing to do with ideology. Just then and now the classification of armored vehicles was somewhat different. The American M2, now in delirium no one would call a tank, but then it was a light TANK.

[wer2]

Quote: Piramidon

Just then and now the classification of armored vehicles was somewhat different.

I agree.
There were different requirements for tanks at different times. In armament, defense, etc. And in the early 40s, the PT-76 could not be called a tank. In fact, it was some other BTT, but not a tank.

[svp67]

Quote: wer2

In the USSR in general, many things were strangely called. This was called "for ideological reasons."

Yes? And in the USA? Here is their M551 Sheridan, in the same Vietnam

What about the UK? Here's their FV101 Scorpion at the Falklands ...

What about France? With their AMX-13 ...

What "ideological considerations" did they have?

[wer2]

Quote: svp67

What "ideological considerations" did they have?

Who cares? It was not about them.

[svp67]

Quote: wer2

Who cares? It was not about them.

But after all, they were called TANKS, such as "double standards" in you. It is possible for the Westerners, but not for the Soviet. Why/

[wer2]

Quote: svp67

It is possible for the Westerners, but not for the Soviet. Why/

What is possible? Do you even understand what was going on?

[svp67]

Quote: wer2

Do you even understand what was going on?

Strange, but how else to understand your words differently

And in the early 40s, the PT-76 could not be called a tank. In fact, it was some other BTT, but not a tank.

You refuse this military vehicle in the proud TANK name, absolutely not noticing that other armies were equipped with similar TANKs

[hohol95]

Mikhail Baryatinsky FLOATING TANK PT-76 From Neva to Ganges and Suez Canal
Read it! There is online.

[adma]

Quote: Mountain Shooter

And the gun is 85 mm.

And the armor can be straightened with a sledgehammer.

[hohol95]

A few days later, on February 6, in the predawn darkness, 16 PT-76s, supported by two infantry battalions, attacked the fortified Long Way point, a US Army special forces camp near the Lao border. During the battle, it turned out that the American M72 LAW anti-tank grenade launchers were completely useless against the seemingly weakly protected PT-76. The large displacement hull created an effect close to the effect of spaced armor. The fortified point was destroyed, and at the end of the attack, one of the PT-76 drove onto the roof of a large dugout and crushed it. In fairness, it must be said that the Vietnamese lost six tanks in this battle.

Or armor or buoyancy.

[svp67]

Nevertheless, “given the Vietnamese realities, Type 63, most likely, will not be exactly sent to the reserve in the coming years,” the publication concludes.

PT-76 is a very tenacious machine, and in those swamps and rivers it is very non-replaceable ...



I wonder how would Vietnamese comrades rate our Octopus and BMP-ZM?

[self-propelled]

Quote: svp67

I wonder how would Vietnamese comrades rate our Octopus and BMP-ZM?

I think they wouldn’t refuse .
I read more than once that the PT-76 possessed (possesses) very good "seaworthiness." I wonder how things are with the "Octopus" (the fact that he can swim across water obstacles - it’s clear how good it is when compared with the PT-76)?

[adma]

Quote: svp67

PT-76 is a very tenacious machine

Where is it tenacious? It is sewn right through the grain. Dimension - you will not miss, Engine - half of the tank. Armament is about nothing. Of all the advantages: floats and places inside - you can play football. You can also fry potatoes on the heater.

[svp67]

Quote: adma

Where is it tenacious?

It is difficult to break, it is being repaired, including afloat, without the crew entering the hull ... So that it has high survivability.

Quote: adma

Sewing through the grain

In the same Vietnam, there were more than once cases when this tank made its way through an RPG grenade, and not just one, but the crew remained alive and carried out the task.

[adma]

Quote: svp67

It's hard to break

I had a chance to start this miracle in the winter. A lot of impressions and all obscene. It’s really hard to break. It breaks perfectly.

Quote: svp67

were more than once

And how many burned and lewd?

[svp67]

Quote: adma

I had a chance to start this miracle in the winter. A lot of impressions and all obscene. It’s really hard to break. It breaks perfectly.

And from an isolated case to draw SUCH conclusions ???????? Yeah. Well, in the winter in Primorye I had to prepare a couple of “boats” for dismantling, dismantled. Collected from everything that came to hand. Collected, started, tested and 30 km march they survived without problems. So, it’s not worth faulting the tank.

Quote: adma

And how many burned and lewd?

And a little more "thick-skinned" of their brothers there burned and holed?

[adma]

Quote: svp67

And from an isolated case to draw SUCH conclusions ????????

And I said somewhere that this is an isolated case of personal experience in operating a boat with a gun ????????????

Quote: svp67

tested and 30-km march they withstood without problems.

And I had a chance to see how they were caught in the ocean. And since when has 30 km of run become a test for the combat effectiveness of a vehicle? Things are slightly different to go and carry out a combat mission. We repaired a 62-ku with a burnt GF by hammering a chisel into the bell slot, and it could then reach the repair site. But to go into battle on such a machine is suicide.

Quote: svp67

And a little more "thick-skinned" of their brothers there burned and holed?

I have no idea. But the T-34 cannot be pierced from the groats. Which I, in fact, had in mind. Erzats tank is not a tank. And the same BMP-1 is in no way inferior to the swimmer, and in some matters will be much more powerful.

[hohol95]

And where were you ... when was this machine designed?

[bazzbazz]

The old horse will not spoil the furrow. An example of a careful and economical attitude to technology!

[wer2]

Quote: bazzbazz

The old horse will not spoil the furrow. An example of a careful and economical attitude to technology!

Yes, I also think that carts with maxims were written off early.
It’s not necessary to "arm the army" with different trash. Because in this case it’s more correct to say “litter”.

[vredlo]

I remember during urgency I saw a cart (the cart itself without a machine gun) in the warehouse of one ensign, he was proud of her there were generally a lot of non-listed rarities from oil lamps to arisaki without cartridges

[bazzbazz]

Not a comparison at all. Still about the guns of 1812 wrote)

[Zubr]

Well, fishless fish and cancer. Especially in the jungle and swamps there, with its patency a very suitable option.

[RUSS]

Strange vicissitudes of history in 1970, China helps Vietnam by supplying light tanks, and in February 1979, the Sino-Vietnamese war begins, and by the way, partly thanks to the same previously delivered tanks, Vietnam repelled Chinese aggression and is considered the winner in that conflict.

[DimerVladimer]

Quote: RUSS

Strange vicissitudes of history in 1970, China helps Vietnam by supplying light tanks, and in February 1979, the Sino-Vietnamese war begins, and by the way, partly thanks to the same previously delivered tanks, Vietnam repelled Chinese aggression and is considered the winner in that conflict.

Why so weird?
A very significant part of the population of Vietnam (especially North), were Chinese.
Flared up anti-Chinese sentiments - without going into historical reasons, Vietnam put forward a demand for Chinese citizens living in the former South Vietnam (huaqiao) to renounce their Chinese citizenship, forced the Chinese population to flee to China. From the male part of the refugees, advanced groups of "volunteers" were formed in the PRC, which the PLA insured from the rear.
The Vietnamese population treated them like we have to the Sims, i.e. anti-Chinese sentiment became a kind of detonator of China’s invasion of Vietnam (+ decay of the gulf and islands, and Vietnam sent troops to Cambodia to overthrow the pro-Chinese government of the Khmer Rouge, etc. that is, there would be enmity, but there would be a reason for war).

Vietnam is the winner?
It’s hard to say - both sides ascribe victory to themselves.
Thanks to the selfless actions of the Vietnamese militia and part of the army in the border battles: the culmination of the invasion came on March 4, when after fierce battles Langshon was captured, from where the Chinese troops opened the road to Hanoi. The degree of concern of the Vietnamese about the fall of Langshon is evidenced by the fact that on March 5 a general mobilization was declared in Vietnam.
But on the same day, China officially announced the cessation of the offensive and the beginning of the withdrawal of troops. Despite this, the fighting continued until the completion of the withdrawal of Chinese troops from Vietnam, which occurred, according to Chinese data, on March 16.
At the same time, during the Sino-Vietnamese war, parts of the Soviet Army in the Far East and Mongolia were put on full alert, military exercises were conducted, troops were redeployed, but the USSR limited itself to condemning Chinese aggression and military supplies to Vietnam.
The PLA was also deployed along the northern border with the USSR and Mongolia.
Let's just say that the Chinese leadership, capturing, at the cost of rather large losses, 3 provincial cities, got the opportunity to "get out of the conflict" without losing face.

[igor67]

Deliveries were made in 1970 as an aid to the "fraternal people fighting American imperialism." I wonder why in 79 the brotherly people themselves attacked Vietnam,

[An60]

And why is the question on a Russian site? Ask the Chinese.

[wer2]

Quote: An60

And why is the question on a Russian site?

Russian.

[An60]

Sorry, Russian, according to Yeltsin.

[igor67]

Quote: An60

And why is the question on a Russian site? Ask the Chinese.

And where can I get them at VO?

[An60]

What, aren't yours in China?

[san4es]

Type 63, along with medium tanks T-54 and Type 59, took part in the final operation of the long war

Cambodian technique

[DimerVladimer]

I have a picture in camouflage :)

[san4es]

Quote: DimerVladimer

I have a picture in camouflage ...

... Southeast ornament? .. They’ll do it anyway

[DimerVladimer]

Quote: san4es

Quote: DimerVladimer

I have a picture in camouflage ...

... Southeast ornament? .. They’ll do it anyway

I think this is some kind of local color - the fantasy of the designers of this private military-patriotic park (I shot it in Tianjin, where I visited KIEV TAVKR) - I have not seen it in this color before.

This already meets the requirements - also a military-patriotic park, but in Shanghai - inside the “aircraft carrier” (by the way, this is a mock-up of the tank - from tin). A gun with a heat shield, looks like a type 96, but the tower in front has no protection elements ...

[vredlo]

but is it really he who is looking at the turret’s cannon and the number of rollers (of which there should be 6) I am tormented by vague doubts

[Aqela]

And what doubts are there? We have in front of us the T-54, which illustrates for some reason an article about the PT.

[vredlo]

Well, I didn’t ruin a person’s dreams (they say he found a rare photo) so rudely) and left room for retreat) they say a secret modification

[swnvaleria]

a tank for the lavender, and seaworthiness is good and the range on the water there and back just in case.

[RUSS]

Quote: swnvaleria

a tank for a lavender,

So to the English Channel still had to somehow get ....

[Aqela]

To get to the English Channel, it was planned to use T-80, T-72, armad T-55 ... PT-76 was supposed to serve as a marines to capture bridgeheads.