China conducts maneuvers with Type 15 "mountain" tanks in the vicinity of the disputed region of Ladakh

It is reported about military exercises deployed in the west of China, in which Tanks Type 15. These tanks, when put into service with the PLA, were positioned as light, mountain. The mass of such a tank with a full ammunition load is about 36 tons. It is equipped with an electronically controlled 1000-horsepower engine. Such an engine allows it to reach speeds of up to 70 km / h on the highway, and also provides operation with a reduced percentage of oxygen in mountainous areas.

The PLA's tank maneuvers attracted particular attention from India. The Indian media draws special attention to the fact that "China decided to hold the exercises in the region adjacent to Ladakh" - in the vicinity of this region.

Recall that Ladakh is a disputed region, where clashes between Indian and Chinese military personnel took place several months ago. In Ladakh, the Indian armed forces "for the winter period" deployed T-72 and T-90 tanks, refusing to place their own tanks there. The reason is that the T-72 and T-90 better "tolerate" operation in mountainous areas.

Type-15 tanks conducted maneuvers with regrouping and entering positions for firing at altitudes up to 2 thousand meters above sea level. However, in Ladakh itself, the mountains are much higher. That is why it is of particular interest to see how Chinese-made tanks would behave at the heights on which the mentioned Soviet / Russian tanks developed by the Indian armed forces are already located.

The Chinese press notes that the exercises using Type-15 tanks "are part of the winter training period." It is added that a feature of the exercises is the performance of maneuvering and firing at low temperatures.

During the firing, the tanks confirmed the characteristics of the 105-mm cannon in terms of range when firing guided missiles using the fire control system: targets were struck at a distance of 4,5-5 km.

Comments

[halpat]

so light :) 36 tons
just a mountain goat, not a tank :)

[Ovsigovets]

"It's ravioli ...... Mikhalych, but at first it's still dumplings" (C) ..... but first it's still TANK))))))

[Vitaly161]

depending on what it is lightweight) if we take NATO mastodons as a standard, then yes, it is a feather, but ours are not too heavy, does the same B3M weigh? tons 46?

[Vladimir_2U]

Quote: Vitaliy161

Does the same B3M weigh? tons 46

T-72B3m suppose? All the same, it is 10 tons heavier (30 percent approximately) and only 100 hp. the motor is more powerful (10 percent more powerful), the power per ton of the Chinese is noticeably higher.

[Alex777]

Our HP stronger than the Chinese will.

[Revolver]

Quote: Alex777

Our HP stronger than the Chinese will.

Tested against a reference horse 1 meter tall and weighing 1 kg?

[Alex777]

They can lie about their achievements.
The horses were measured at the car.
7-9 were added per hundred.

[Vladimir_2U]

Exactly, I forgot! They have a shorter tape measure, especially in wartime!

[Soko]

Of particular interest is how Chinese-made tanks would behave at heights

At the same time, we decided to test the performance under these conditions - the continuation of military tests.

[svp67]

So I look at this "Chinese" and it is clear that this is the "great-grandson" of the T-55, why don't we do something by modernizing the old T-55?

[Revolver]

Quote: svp67

do something by upgrading the old T-55

It seems that a good modification of the T-1980AM-55 was made in the 1s, but for some reason it did not work. And if you do it now, then it would not be bad to modernize the cannon at least in the part of the automatic loader. This will pull a completely new tower with it, which will not be easier, but rather the opposite. Weigh the case with additional protection too, and this is all extra weight. This means that a more powerful diesel engine is needed, and a transmission that can transmit this power without breaking, and in general it would not be bad to install an automatic machine, and this entails the processing of MTO. The suspension also needs to be strengthened for the new weight, and it’s good if it costs the installation of more rigid torsion bars, but rather an additional roller is required, the Chinese have 6 of them for a reason. This means that rollers of a smaller diameter plus support rollers. And that's just about hardware, optics and electronics are also needed completely new. In general, all that can be used from the tank graveyard is hulls, and you still have to tinker with those. Question: is it worth the candle?

[Vladimir_2U]

Quote: svp67

why don't we do something by upgrading the old T-55?

It's cheaper to create a new one, it seems to me, because the armor on the Type is much lighter than on the 55. We will not grind the armor down to the required thickness. )))

[pytar]

So I look at this "Chinese" and it is clear that this is the "great-grandson" of the T-55, why don't we do something by modernizing the old T-55?

Sergey, all the great-grandchildren of Renault RT 1 .... The only common thing is that these are tanks.

The reason for the development of a specific high-mountainous tank by the Chinese is the presence of a huge Tibetan massif and disputed territories from India there. There are other mountainous countries that would be interested in such a tank! Does Russia need it? Unlikely! The 2S25 "Sprut-SD" has similar parameters, besides it is airborne, although it noticeably retreats in terms of armor. But if you are frivolous, if you brave them for sure, the armor will not save either the "octopus" or the "15th Chinese".

[svp67]

Quote: pytar

armor can not save a "octopus"

That is why I don’t like the Octopus, I had to make the technique in the same way as the “Black Eagle”, where the crew sat in the hull, and the tower, especially its roof, was a complex pie that protected from blows from above ...

[pytar]

Octopus has its own application area! Differentiation of tasks and the creation of technology for them, has not been canceled! Even in our BG, in the 80s, a tank similar to the horns was designed! Nowadays, some countries produce light tanks, obviously there is business and a market for such!

https://topwar.ru/143744-bolgarskiy-sprut-legkiy-plavayuschiy-tank-kotoryy-ubila-demokratiya.html

[svp67]

Quote: pytar

Even in our BG, in the 80s, a tank similar to the horns was designed!

And all based on the "old lady" MTLB ...

[pytar]

No. It is based on the Gvozdika self-propelled guns. The chassis is very sturdy and carries more armor! Hefty stuff!

[svp67]

Quote: pytar

This is based on the self-propelled gun "Carnation"

And it is based on what, if not MTLB ...

Quote: pytar

Hefty stuff!

Well, hang, hang and will remain ...

[pytar]

As far as I know, MTLB has a thinner body than Carnation. That's why they chose Carnation.

[Boris Chernikov]

what's the point? to shove in something unpickable? where an ordinary tank can ride, an ordinary tank should ride, if you make a light one ... for what purposes? If for the mountains, then why not take the same T-62 and not put the engine on 1130 horses .. if in general there was a "shob", then it is easier to put Sprut-sdm on the BMP-3 chassis - there will be protection from 30 mm and RPG, but the gun is more powerful ..

[Evgeny Seleznev]

The century of light tanks ended in half of WWII. Now MBT is relevant. For the actions of the forces of the BR and the MP and the Airborne Forces, the BM of the light type is used. And the light tank is still in development and everything will be worse than the MBT.