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{{short description|Chinese Main Battle Tank}}
{{Citation style|date=October 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox weapon
| name               = Type 59
| image              = Type 59 tank in Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution 20180219.jpg
| caption            = A Type 59 tank in [[Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution]]
| type               = [[Main battle tank]]
| is_vehicle         = yes
| service            = 1959–present
| wars               = {{unbulleted list|[[Vietnam War]]|[[Cambodian Civil War]]|[[Laotian Civil War]]|[[Sino-Indian War]]|[[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]]|[[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]]|[[Sino-Vietnamese War]]|[[Iran–Iraq War]]|[[Second Sudanese Civil War]]|[[Sri Lankan Civil War]]|[[Tiananmen Square Protests]]|[[Gulf War]]||[[First Congo War]]|[[Kosovo War]]|[[Albania–Yugoslav border incident (April 1999)]]|[[Sudanese civil war (2023–present)]]}}
| number             = 9,500
| length             = {{convert|6.04|m}} (hull)<ref name=TGelbart />
| width              = {{convert|3.27|m}}<ref name=TGelbart />
| height             = {{convert|2.59|m}}<ref name=TGelbart />
| image_size         = 300
| origin             = China
| manufacturer       = [[Inner-Mongolia First Machine Group Company Limited|First Inner Mongolia Machinery Factory]], [[Norinco]]
| production_date    = 1958–1985
| crew               = 4<ref name=TGelbart />
| weight             = {{convert|36|t}}<ref name=TGelbart />
| armour             = 20–203&nbsp;mm<ref name=janes />
| primary_armament   = 100&nbsp;mm rifled gun
| secondary_armament = 2 x Type&nbsp;59T 7.62&nbsp;mm coaxial machine gun,<ref name="Gary's Combat Vehicle Reference Guide"/> Type&nbsp;54 12.7&nbsp;mm air-defence machine gun
| engine             = Model 12150L V-12 liquid-cooled diesel
| engine_power       = 520&nbsp;hp (390 kW)
| suspension         = [[torsion bar]]
| speed              = {{convert|50|km/h}}<ref name=TGelbart />
| pw_ratio           = 14.44&nbsp;hp/tonne<ref name=TGelbart />
| vehicle_range      = 450&nbsp;km,<ref name=TGelbart /> 600&nbsp;km with external tanks
}}
{{T-54/55 navigation}}

The '''Type 59''' ({{zh|c=59式|p=Wǔ jiǔ shì }}; industrial designation: '''WZ-120''') [[main battle tank]] is a Chinese-produced version of the [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] [[T-54/T-55 operators and variants#T-54|T-54A]] tank, an early 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. Over 9,500 of the tanks were produced by the time production ended in 1985 with approximately 5,500 serving with the Chinese armed forces. The tank formed the backbone of the Chinese [[People's Liberation Army]] armoured units until the early 2000s, with an estimated 5,000 of the later Type 59-I and Type 59-II variants in service in 2002.

The Type 59 was modified several times during its service. It was also the basis of several later Chinese tank designs including the [[Type 69 tank|Type 69]] and Type 79 tanks.

==Description==
The Type 59 is almost identical to the early production Soviet T-54As, but there are some key differences. The Type 59 was not originally fitted with the infrared searchlight or main [[Gun stabilizer|gun stabilization]] of the T-54.{{Citation needed|date=September 2018}}

The Type 59 has a conventional post-war layout with an engine compartment at the rear and a cast dome-shaped gun turret in the centre of the hull. The hull is welded steel varying in thickness between 99&nbsp;mm on the front lower glacis to 20&nbsp;mm on the hull floor. The turret varies in thickness from 39–100&nbsp;mm.

The driver sits in the front left of the hull, and is provided with a hatch immediately above his seat, which opens to the left. The driver has two pop-up [[Periscope|vision blocks]] which give coverage ahead and slightly to the right when buttoned up. The commander sits in the turret along with the gunner and loader. The commander's hatch is on the turret left, with the gunner sitting forward and below him. The loader sits on the right of the turret and has a hatch above him. The turret has a non-rotating floor, which complicated the crew's operations as they would not rotate with the turret.

The turret mounts a rifled 100&nbsp;mm Type 59 cannon, for which 34 rounds are typically carried. A Type 59T 7.62&nbsp;mm machine gun is mounted coaxially with the main gun. A Type 54 12.7&nbsp;mm anti-aircraft machine gun (the Chinese copy of the Russian 12.7&nbsp;mm [[DShK|M1938/46 DShKM]]<ref name="Gary's Combat Vehicle Reference Guide"/> heavy machine gun) is provided above the gunner's hatch for which 200 rounds are carried. 3,500 rounds of 7.62&nbsp;mm ammunition are normally carried.

[[File:Type 59 in parde.jpg|thumb|right|Type 59 tanks participating in the PRC's 10th National Day parade in 1959]]

The turret has a powered traverse mechanism that is probably comparable to the T-54 traverse mechanism which can rotate the turret through 360 degrees in 21 seconds. Very early models of the Type 59 gun had manual elevation gear, later replaced with a powered system which allowed the gun to be aimed at between +17 and −4 degrees (the average depression for Western tanks is -10, which allows for better usage of [[hull-down]] tactics). Later models added vertical stabilization to make firing on the move practical. An infrared searchlight-based night vision system was retrofitted to the tank with an infrared periscope for the commander gunner and driver.

The tank is powered by a Model 12150L V-12 liquid-cooled [[diesel engine]], which develops {{convert|520|hp|kW|disp=flip|lk=out}} at 2,000 rpm. The engine feeds a manual gearbox with five forward and one reverse gear. A total of 815 litres of diesel can be carried internally in the tank, with a further 400 litres carried externally giving a maximum road range of 600 kilometers, or approximately 430&nbsp;km using only internal fuel. The tank has five road wheels on each side with a prominent gap between the first and second road wheel. The track is driven by a drive sprocket at the rear, with an idler at the front. It is notable that there are no return rollers. The [[Vehicle suspension#Armoured fighting vehicle suspension|suspension]] is a [[torsion bar]] system. Engine exhaust is on the left fender.

Ammunition is stored inside the turret, which increases the odds of a catastrophic secondary explosion should the tank's interior be penetrated by enemy fire. Crew survivability is hence low.<ref name="TGelbart">{{cite book |last=Gelbart |first=Marsh |title=Tanks main battle and light tanks |url=https://archive.org/details/tanksmainbattlet00gelb |url-access=limited |year=1996 |publisher=Brassey’s UK Ltd |pages=[https://archive.org/details/tanksmainbattlet00gelb/page/n16 16]–17 |isbn=1-85753-168-X}}</ref>

==History==
After the signing of the [[Sino-Soviet Treaty of Friendship]], Alliance, and Mutual Assistance, the Soviets agreed to assist China in building a tank manufacturing facility to manufacture the [[T-54]]A MBT in 1956. Initially, the tanks were assembled with Soviet-supplied parts, which were gradually replaced by Chinese-made components. The tank was accepted into service by the PLA in 1959,<ref name="TGelbart"/> and given the designation Type 59.
[[File:ChineseType59IIATank.jpg|right|thumb|Type 59-IIA tank]]
Over the years, the Type 59 design was enhanced with various domestically developed and western technologies; when the PLA captured a Soviet [[T-62]] during the [[Sino-Soviet border conflict]] in 1969, improvements based on the T-62 were incorporated into the Type 59 design to become the [[Type 69]] MBT. The Type 69 was further upgraded with Western technology and became the Type 79 MBT. The Type 59 was, therefore, the first in China's first generation of main battle tanks, the Type 79 being the last. The Type 79 was superseded by the [[Type 80/88 main battle tank|Type 80]] second-generation MBT.

The Type 59 MBT is also known as WZ-120 by its manufacturer. Over 10,000 were produced between 1959 and the mid-1980s.<ref name=TGelbart /> The Type 59 and its successor, the Type 69, were widely exported, with thousands sold overseas. Today an estimated 5,000 Type 59 MBTs remain in PLA inventory, but it's being supplanted by the more capable [[Type 96 tank|Type 96]] and [[Type 99 tank|Type 99]] MBTs.

==Combat service==
[[File:Puckapunyal-Type-59-MBT-1.jpg|right|thumb|A former [[North Vietnam]]ese Type 59 tank, captured by [[South Vietnam]]ese ARVN troops on 4 July in 1972 during the [[Vietnam War]], now on display at the [[Royal Australian Armoured Corps Memorial and Army Tank Museum|Royal Australian Armoured Corps Tank Museum]].]]

The first war involving the Type 59 was in Vietnam, where North Vietnam fielded at least several hundreds supplied directly from their Chinese ally against American tanks used by their South Vietnamese enemy, such as the [[M41 Walker Bulldog]] light tank and the [[M48 Patton]] main battle tank. Against the US tanks it faced in Vietnam, the Type 59, along with the similar T-54 tank of Soviet origin (also widely operated in the war by North Vietnam), achieved some success against enemy armour. Most of the losses of armour suffered by the US and South Vietnamese forces were to North Vietnamese infantry-based anti-tank weapons, such as the RPG-7, rather than to North Vietnam's own tanks and other armour.

[[File:Type-59 Tanks, 1971 Indo-Pakistani War.jpg|thumb|Pakistani Type 59 tanks during [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]].]]

The Type 59 was also fielded during the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]], in the [[Battle of Longewala]] and [[Battle of Chamb]], where Pakistani Type 59 tanks faced Indian T-54 and T-55 tanks.<ref name="Kippur21">{{cite book|title=Centurion vs T-55: Yom Kippur War 1973|url=https://archive.org/details/centurionvstyomk00duns|url-access=limited|series=Duel 21|first=Simon|last= Dunstan |date=10 November 2009|isbn= 9781846033698|page=[https://archive.org/details/centurionvstyomk00duns/page/n33 33]|publisher=Osprey}}</ref>

Following the Vietnam War, the [[Sino-Vietnamese War]] of 1979 was the next largest use of Type 59 tanks to date in modern Chinese military history. China committed nearly 300 Type 59, [[Type 62]], and [[Type 63 (tank)|Type 63]] tanks and armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs) into the conflict against their former ally, with 48 of the total listed above lost to Vietnamese anti-tank action. The tanks of 42nd Corps, as the vanguard force responsible for cutting off the northern Vietnamese city of [[Cao Bằng]], bore the brunt of the losses in armour and managed to advance only 30&nbsp;km within 3 days. The poor performance of tanks and AFVs in this battle was attributed to the mountainous and hilly terrain in much of northern Vietnam that was inherently unsuitable for mechanized warfare, just like in [[Korean War|Korea]]. The light armour on the Type 62 tank (a lighter version of the Type 59 which predominantly served as a combat-reconnaissance vehicle) also proved inadequate in protection against small and light anti-tank weapons, such as [[anti-tank grenade]]s.

Iran received 300 Type 59 tanks from North Korea and China during the [[Iran–Iraq War]].<ref name="Razoux">{{cite book|title=The Iran- Iraq war|first=Pierre |last=Razoux|translator-first=Nicholas|translator-last=Elliott|publisher=[[Harvard University Press]]|location=Cambridge, Massachusetts and London, England|date=2015|isbn=978-0-674-08863-4|page=536}}</ref> They were fielded by both the regular [[Islamic Republic of Iran Army|Artesh]] and the [[Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps]].{{sfn|Razoux|2015|pages=270, 555}} The T-72 proved highly superior to the Chinese tank.{{sfn|Razoux|2015|pp=245, 394}} On the other hand, Iraq received 1,000 Type 59s from China.{{sfn|Razoux|2015|p=530}} The Iraqi Type 59 tanks were later used during the 1991 [[Gulf War]].<ref name="B&B41">{{cite magazine|language=fr|title=Guerre du Golfe, 1990-1991: La bataille des cents heures|magazine=Batailles & Blindés|issue=41|date=February 2011|publisher=Caraktère|issn=1765-0828|first=Christophe |last=Dutrône|pages=60–75&84}}</ref>

The Sudan also used Type 59 tanks during the [[Second Sudanese Civil War]]. Five were lost to the [[South Sudan People's Defence Forces|Sudan People's Liberation Army]] near [[Yei, South Sudan|Yei]] in March 1997.<ref>{{cite book|chapter=Armed forces and armaments|title=Global trade, local impact: Arms Transfers to all Sides in the Civil War in Sudan|chapter-url=https://www.hrw.org/legacy/reports98/sudan/Sudarm988-04.htm|url=https://www.hrw.org/legacy/reports98/sudan/index.htm|date=August 1998 |series=Volume 10 number 4|first=Dan |last=Connell|publisher=[[Human Rights Watch]]}}</ref>

Type 59 tanks were involved in the Chinese government's violent crackdown on the [[1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre|1989 Tiananmen Square protests]], a column of which were obstructed in the [[Tank Man]] incident.<ref>{{cite news |last=Makinen |first=Julie |date=4 June 2014 |title=Tiananmen Square mystery: Who was 'Tank Man'? |url=https://www.latimes.com/world/asia/la-fg-china-tiananmen-square-tank-man-20140603-story.html |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |access-date=16 April 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jun/04/china-tiananmen-square-beijing?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other|title=The west is complicit in the 30-year cover-up of Tiananmen|last=Ai|first=Weiwei|date=4 June 2019|work=The Guardian – Australia edition}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Srinivasan |first1=Ranjani |title=Daily Quiz - On protest movements |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/daily-quiz-on-protest-movements/article65418904.ece |website=The Hindu |access-date=2 November 2022 |language=en-IN |date=16 May 2022|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

The Type 59s of the [[Zaire|Zairian]] [[Special Presidential Division]] saw limited action in 1998 against the rebels of the [[Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo]].<ref name="Ilunga Kampete">{{cite web|title=Portrait : Qui est Ilunga Kampete, le nouveau commandant de la Garde républicaine ?|url=http://desc-wondo.org/fr/portrait-qui-est-ilunga-kampete-le-nouveau-commandant-de-la-garde-republicaine/|author=Jean-Jacques Wondo Omanyundu|website=desc-wondo.org|language=fr|date=19 November 2014|access-date=8 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181006220350/http://desc-wondo.org/fr/portrait-qui-est-ilunga-kampete-le-nouveau-commandant-de-la-garde-republicaine/|archive-date=6 October 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Variants ==
{{cleanup section|reason=Prominent formatting confusion between definition lists and headings. Someone needs to check the MOS and someone else needs to get on a machine with a keyboard to fix it.|date=October 2021}}
===Domestic models===
[[File:Chinese MBTs 070324-F-0193C-040.JPEG|right|thumb|A line-up of Chinese armoured vehicles at Shenyang training base, in the foreground are two Type 59-II tanks. Note the [[bore evacuator]] in the middle of the barrel.]]
[[File:Type 59D tank 20180219.jpg|thumb|right|Type 59D tank]]
;Type 59: The basic variant, a T-54A clone without an IR searchlight. Entered production in 1957. This vehicle is also known as the ZTZ59.

;Type 59-I: Improved variant fitted with a Type 69-II 100&nbsp;mm [[Rifling|rifled]] gun, as well as a [[laser rangefinder]], [[Hydraulics|hydraulic]] servo-system, primitive [[fire-control system]], [[automatic fire suppression]] system, and rubber track skirts. The Type 59-I includes several versions with different [[vehicle armour|armour]] and fire control configurations. This vehicle is also known as the ZTZ59-I.

;Type 59A: Intermediate variant between the Type 59-I and Type 59-II lacking a two-plane stabilizer and IR searchlight. The vehicle first entered production in 1984 and was designed to fill the gap while the Type 59-II was still in development. This vehicle is also known as the ZTZ59A.

;Type 59-II: The Type 59-II (also known as WZ-120B) is an upgrade mounting a [[Royal_Ordnance_L7#Chinese_models|ZPL-81]]<ref name="L7china">{{cite web|url= http://roll.sohu.com/20151020/n423662164.shtml |title= 铸剑 英伦名炮书传奇：L7型105mm坦克炮的东方后代(组图)|website=Sohu News |date=20 October 2015 |language=Chinese}}</ref> 105&nbsp;mm rifled gun, a [[licence-built]] Royal Ordnance L7, and adding an image intensification/infrared night sight. Mass increased to 36.5 tonnes.<ref name="tradoc_2011-1">{{cite book |title=Ground Systems |url=http://cgsc.contentdm.oclc.org/utils/getdownloaditem/collection/p4013coll11/id/2089/filename/2090.pdf/mapsto/pdf/type/singleitem |series=Worldwide Equipment Guide |volume=1 |edition=2011 |publisher=[[United States Army Training and Doctrine Command|US Army TRADOC Intelligence Support Activity]] |pages=5-39, 5-41, 5-42|access-date=16 July 2015}}</ref> This vehicle is also known as the ZTZ59-II.

;Type 59-IIA: Although the Type 59-II was a very successful design, the tank still relied on the West to supply parts. As a result, the Type 59-IIA was developed. By the end of 1984, the China First Tractor Factory and other production facilities began to develop a further upgrade to the Type 59-II. A prototype was completed by October 1985, featuring an improved [[Royal_Ordnance_L7#Chinese_models|ZPL-81A]]<ref name="L7china"/> with a thermal sleeve, new domestic light spot [[Fire-control system|fire control system]] with a 2-axis stabiliser, and composite armour. The automatic fire suppression system and automatic fire extinguishing devices were improved so that they could be used while generating smoke or firing the onboard smoke grenade launchers.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/china/type-59-variants.htm |title=Type 59 variants |access-date=22 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190921135703/https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/china/type-59-variants.htm |archive-date=21 September 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> This vehicle is also known as the ZTZ59-IIA.

;Type 59D1: The Type 59D1 (also known as WZ-120C) is an upgrade with [[Reactive armour|explosive reactive armour]], computerized stabilized [[fire-control system]], the [[Royal_Ordnance_L7#Chinese_models|ZPL-83A]]<ref name="L7china" /> 105&nbsp;mm gun improved from the older Type 59-II, and a night vision system.<ref name="tradoc_2011-1 2">{{cite book |title=Ground Systems |url=http://cgsc.contentdm.oclc.org/utils/getdownloaditem/collection/p4013coll11/id/2089/filename/2090.pdf/mapsto/pdf/type/singleitem |series=Worldwide Equipment Guide |volume=1 |edition=2011 |publisher=[[United States Army Training and Doctrine Command|US Army TRADOC Intelligence Support Activity]] |pages=5-41 - 5-42|access-date=16 July 2015}}</ref> This vehicle is also known as the ZTZ59D1.

;Type 59D: Type 59D (also known as WZ-120D) is an upgrade of the Type 59D1. The Type 59D has a longer 105&nbsp;mm gun at 62 caliber, known as the [[Royal_Ordnance_L7#Chinese_models|ZPL-94]]<ref name="L7china"/> or Type 94. The gun has a range of 2000&nbsp;m, and may fire [[Anti-tank missile|ATGM]]s out to 5500 m. A thermal sight is also available.<ref name="tradoc_2011-1 2"/> This vehicle is also known as the ZTZ59D.

;Type 59G: An upgrade of the Type 59, featuring a redesigned turret and armour. It uses a turret similar to that of the [[Type 96 tank#Type 96A|Type 96A]], a 125&nbsp;mm gun, modern fire control systems, arrow-shaped armour, spaced armour, and possibly third-generation subsystems.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.armyrecognition.com/december_2011_army_military_defence_news_uk/army_of_tanzania_is_now_equipped_with_a_new_chinese_main_battle_tank_type_59g_271211.html |title=Army of Tanzania is now equipped with a new chinese main battle tank Type 59G 271211 &#124; December 2011 army military defence news UK &#124; Military army defense industry news year 2011 |access-date=16 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170417140443/http://www.armyrecognition.com/december_2011_army_military_defence_news_uk/army_of_tanzania_is_now_equipped_with_a_new_chinese_main_battle_tank_type_59g_271211.html |archive-date=17 April 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.armyrecognition.com/china_chinese_heavy_armoured_vehicle_tank_uk/type_59_wz120_main_battle_tank_mbt_technical_data_sheet_specifications_description_pictures.html |title=Type 59 MBT WZ120 Main Battle Tank technical data pictures &#124; China Chinese heavy armoured vehicle tank UK &#124; Chinese China army military equipment armoured UK |access-date=16 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160924070940/http://www.armyrecognition.com/china_chinese_heavy_armoured_vehicle_tank_uk/type_59_wz120_main_battle_tank_mbt_technical_data_sheet_specifications_description_pictures.html |archive-date=24 September 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="SIPRI_armstrans">{{cite web |url=https://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php |title=Arms Transfers Database |website=[[Stockholm International Peace Research Institute]] }}</ref> This vehicle is also known as the ZTZ59G.

;Jaguar: The Jaguar was a prototype vehicle based on the Type 59 chassis that was jointly developed by the United States and China during 1980s, made possible by the US-Chinese détente of the 1970s. Planned to replace China's existing tank fleet, as well as for the export market, the tank featured improvements to the standard Type 59's engine, armament, armour, turret, optics, electronics, fire control and suspension. Following the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, American-Chinese relations soured and the Chinese withdrew from the project. The Americans continued alone and successfully completed the design, however the end of the Cold War saw a glut in the international tank market and thus no orders were ever placed for the vehicle.<ref>Military Today, {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20180526060426/http://www.military-today.com/tanks/jaguar.htm "Jaguar"]}}</ref><ref>Forecast International, [https://www.forecastinternational.com/archive/disp_old_pdf.cfm?ARC_ID=1141 "Jaguar - Archived 4/98"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180518195939/https://www.forecastinternational.com/archive/disp_old_pdf.cfm?ARC_ID=1141 |date=18 May 2018 }}, Archived Reports, April 1997</ref>

;Type 62 Light Tank:
{{main|Type 62}}
In the late 1950s, the PLA submitted requirements for a light tank more suitable for operations in China's southern region. Development on the new Type 62 tank began in 1958, which was a scaled-down Type 59 MBT with simplified equipment. The Type 62 light tank entered batch production in 1963, and approx. 800 were produced by 1978. The Type 62 light tank weights only 21 tons, and is equipped with a Type 62-85TC 85&nbsp;mm rifled gun, and 3 machine guns. An improved Type 62-I version was produced with better FCS with laser rangefinder, and turret storage racks for added protection. Other versions based on the Type 62 include the Type 79 recovery vehicle (prototype only) and Type 82 earth-mover.

The PLA deployed the Type 62 light tank to Vietnam during the [[Sino-Vietnamese War|1979 Sino-Vietnam conflict]]. They found that the thin armour of the Type 62 tank could be penetrated easily by hand-held anti-tank weapons, such as the 40&nbsp;mm RPG. The Type 62 tank suffered severe losses during the conflict, which convinced the PLA to develop new second-generation MBTs. The Type 62 tank received a major upgrade in 2000, with new welded turret, vertically stabilised 105&nbsp;mm rifled gun, fire-control system, night vision device, smoke grenade launchers, and explosive reactive armor (ERA) package.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sinodefence.com/army/tank/type62.asp |title=Type 62 Light Tank |publisher=SinoDefence.com |date=20 February 2009 |access-date=21 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100312211221/http://www.sinodefence.com/army/tank/type62.asp |archive-date=12 March 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> This vehicle is also known as the ZTQ62.

;Type 69 / 79:
{{main|Type 69 tank}}
Improved Type 59 MBT built by 617 Factory (Inner Mongolia First Machine Group Co. Ltd). Only saw limited service in the PLA, but was an export success in the 1980s with more than 2,000 sold worldwide.

;Type 73:
This armoured recovery vehicle is a Type 59 with its turret removed. The vehicle is armed with a single 12.7&nbsp;mm machine gun. This armoured recovery vehicle is not believed to have a winch and is limited to towing operations.<ref name="Gary's Combat Vehicle Reference Guide"/>

;Type 59 Heavy Infantry Fighting Vehicle
The modernized HIFV model of Type 59 weighs around 40 tons (or around 35 tons, sources differ here) and can carry up to seven passengers. Modifications include moving the engine to the front of the vehicle chassis, increasing tank armour including explosive reactive armour on all sides, and installing a rear door for dismounting infantry. the VN11 uses a turret similar to the [[Type 86 (infantry fighting vehicle)|Type 86]] turret.<ref name="popsci">{{cite web |url=https://www.popsci.com/china-has-fleet-new-armor-vehicles#page-3 |title=For sale: China's lineup of brand new, souped-up tanks |website=Popular Science |date=22 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920171823/http://www.popsci.com/china-has-fleet-new-armor-vehicles#page-3 |archive-date=20 September 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=11 March 2023 |title=VN11 Heavy Armored Personnel Carrier {{!}} Military-Today.com |url=https://www.military-today.com/apc/vn11.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230311183428/https://www.military-today.com/apc/vn11.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-date=11 March 2023 |access-date=15 April 2023 }}</ref>

;[[:ru:QN-506|QN-506]]
It is a modernised variant of the Type 59 using the tank's chassis similar to its Russian counterpart the [[BMPT Terminator]]. The vehicle was first appeared at the Zhuhai Air Show in China in November 2018, and is armed with four QN-502C anti-tank missiles, twenty QN-201 multi-purpose mini missiles, four S-570 loitering munitions, an unmanned 30&nbsp;mm cannon, a 7.62&nbsp;mm machine gun, six grenade launchers, and a quadcopter surveillance drone.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/weapons/a24793656/chinasterminator-tank-support-vehicle-is-bristling-with-weaponry/ |title=China's 'Terminator' Tank Support Vehicle is Bristling with Weaponry |date=7 November 2018 |access-date=17 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181117105359/https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/weapons/a24793656/chinasterminator-tank-support-vehicle-is-bristling-with-weaponry/ |archive-date=17 November 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.armyrecognition.com/airshow_china_2018_zhuhai_news_show_daily_coverage/airshow_china_208_new_qn-506_multi-weapon_tracked_armored_vehicle_based_on_type_59_mbt.html |title=AirShow China 2018: New QN-506 multi-weapon tracked armored vehicle based on Type 59 MBT &#124; AirShow China 2018 Zhuhai News Show Daily Coverage &#124; Defence security military exhibition 2018 daily news category |access-date=17 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181117105229/https://www.armyrecognition.com/airshow_china_2018_zhuhai_news_show_daily_coverage/airshow_china_208_new_qn-506_multi-weapon_tracked_armored_vehicle_based_on_type_59_mbt.html |archive-date=17 November 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Foreign variants===
====Bangladesh====
[[File:Bangladesh Army upgraded T-59G 'Durjoy' MBT. (33659625935).jpg|thumb|right|Bangladesh Army upgraded Durjoy MBT at Military Hardware Display 2017]]
{{main|Type 59 Durjoy}}
The [[Type 59 Durjoy]] is a highly modernized version of the [[Bangladesh Army]]. The Bangladesh Army's old Type 59 tanks were upgraded similar to Type 59G standard at ''902 Central Workshop'' of the [[Bangladesh Machine Tools Factory]] with Chinese assistance. Bangladesh Army renamed the tank as '''Durjoy''' ({{langx|bn|দুর্জয়}}). Improvements includes:
*[[2A46 125 mm gun|125mm main gun]] with new turret (similar to that of the [[Type 96 tank|Type 96A]] turret) 28 rounds, [[W85 heavy machine gun|Type-85]] [[12.7×108mm]] Commander's machine gun (3,000 rounds), Co-axial 7.62mm gun (600 rounds), 81mm [[Smoke grenade]]s.{{Citation needed|date=May 2019}}
*The Durjoy's [[APFSDS]] round can penetrate over 500mm of RHA at 2&nbsp;km<ref name="Syed Amar Khan">{{cite news|url=https://southasianmonitor.com/bangladesh/bangladesh-army-tests-indigenously-upgraded-durjoy-tanks/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191013211040/https://southasianmonitor.com/bangladesh/bangladesh-army-tests-indigenously-upgraded-durjoy-tanks/|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 October 2019|author=Syed Amar Khan|title=Bangladesh Army tests indigenously upgraded Durjoy tanks|place=Bangladesh |date=30 August 2019|access-date=2 September 2019}}</ref>
* Chinese 3rd generation [[Explosive reactive armour|ERA]] on front, turret and side skirts. Modular [[Composite armour]] on turret front. [[Cage armour]] on back of turret to protect from [[Rocket-propelled grenade|RPG]] hits.
*To enhance crew comfort the Durjoy is fitted with air-conditioning and complete [[NBC protection]] system 
*Collective [[Fire suppression system]].
*[[Laser warning receiver]], [[Laser designator]], [[Fire control system]], [[Tactical data link|Combat data link]], [[Thermography|Thermal imaging system]].
*730 H.P. [[Diesel engine]]
*[[Gun barrel|Barrel]] launched [[ATGM]] firing capability.
*[[Continuous track|Rubber padded tracks.]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.sinodefenceforum.com/chinese-military-exports-to-other-countries.t4484/page-57 |title=Chinese military exports to other countries |date=29 May 2009 |access-date=19 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170819102638/https://www.sinodefenceforum.com/chinese-military-exports-to-other-countries.t4484/page-57 |archive-date=19 August 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* XDZ-1 SATCOM and VRC-2000L radio contact system.<ref name="Syed Amar Khan"/>
'''France'''

France acquired a Type 59 to modify it to sell a new upgrade package made by Giat industry, to other countries, notably in the development of a new tank for Egypt which seeks a new tank based on the T-62 with western weaponry. the tank was called T59 and included a French 105mm gun, a new ballistic computer, new fire-control, French thermal, new sight, and a new fire-extinguisher system. The vehicle was presented in Satory 1987 but saw no success.

====Pakistan====
[[File:Alzarrar.jpg|right|thumbnail|An Al-Zarrar MBT on display at a defense exhibition, Karachi, Pakistan (2006)]]
Pakistan operates '''[[Al-Zarrar tank|Al-Zarrar]]''' – [[Heavy Industries Taxila]] of Pakistan has introduced the Al-Zarrar Main Battle Tank. The Al-Zarrar series was designed to improve and rebuild the Pakistani army's Type 59 tanks by way of more modern armament, fire control, defensive equipment, etc. Improvements include:
** 125&nbsp;mm [[smoothbore]] gun, firing [[APFSDS]], [[HEAT|HEAT-FS]] and [[High explosive|HE-FS]]. Semi-automatic loading and image Stabilized [[Fire-control system|fire control]].
** 730&nbsp;hp Engine for improved mobility.
** Improved suspension.
** Improved defense with [[explosive reactive armour]] and anti-mine cover underneath.

====Iran====
Iran operates '''[[Type 72Z|Type T-72Z]]''' - a modernized version.

====North Korea====
North Korea operates '''[[Koksan (artillery)|Kok'san]]''' – 170&nbsp;mm artillery piece, based on the Type 59 chassis.

====United Kingdom====
[[File:Bovington modified type 59 2014.JPG|thumb|Royal Ordnance-upgraded Type 59 at [[The Tank Museum]] in 2014]]
[[Royal Ordnance]] designed variants with 105 mm [[Royal Ordnance L7]] gun as an upgrade package for owners of the Type 59. The upgrades incorporated 105 mm L7A3 gun with thermal sleeve and ammunition stowage of 34 rounds, British smoke grenade dischargers on both sides of the turret, [[Graviner]] fire-suppression system, [[Vickers|Vickers Instruments]] L50 gunner's sight with laser-rangefinder, Avimo driver's sight night-vision device, [[Marconi Electronic Systems|Marconi]]'s Centaur weapon system with digital FCS, Mantis commander's sight and solid-state drives. Another upgrade package also installed ROMOR-A [[reactive armour]] on the side hulls and ROMOR-B passive appliqué armour on the front hull and turret, along with the aforementioned upgrades. The Type 59 tanks used in the project were acquired from Pakistan, and the upgraded tanks were exhibited in British Army Equipment Exhibition 1984.<ref>{{cite magazine| editor1-last=Gilson |editor1-first=Charles|title=BAEE 1984 — export hopes at their highest|magazine=[[Jane's International Defence Review|International Defense Review]]|volume=17|issue=9|publisher=Interavia S.A.|year=1984|location=Geneva, Switzerland|pages=1340}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine| last=Hewish |first=Mark|title=New armour and artillery dominate BAEE|magazine=[[Jane's International Defence Review|International Defense Review]]|volume=19|issue=9|publisher=Interavia S.A.|year=1986|location=Geneva, Switzerland|pages=1298}}</ref> No Type 59s served with British forces.<ref name="Gary's Combat Vehicle Reference Guide">{{Cite web |url=http://www.inetres.com/gp/military/cv/tank/Type59.html |title=Gary's Combat Vehicle Reference Guide |access-date=6 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080104165712/http://www.inetres.com/gp/military/cv/tank/Type59.html |archive-date=4 January 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Marconi offered their [[Marksman anti-aircraft system]] as a conversion to operators of the Type 59. The Marksman consisted of a twin 35&nbsp;mm autocannon system in a turret that could be fitted to almost any MBT.<ref name="Gary's Combat Vehicle Reference Guide"/>

==Operators==
[[File:Type 59 operators.png|thumb|300px|Map of Type 59 operators in blue with former operators in red]]
[[File:Albanian army deploys T-59 tanks near Kosovo border, May 1999 (Robert Wright).jpg|thumb|right|[[Albanian army|Albanian]] Type 59 tanks at the border during the [[Albania-Yugoslav border incident (1999)|Albanian-Yugoslav Border Incident]] of 1999.]]

===Current operators===

*{{BGD}} − 30 T-54 delivered by Egypt in 1975;<ref name="SIPRI_armstrans"/> later converted to use Type 59 parts with support from China.<ref name="janes">{{cite book |last1=Foss |first1=Christopher F. |title=Jane's Armour and Artillery 2005-2006 |date=2005 |publisher=Jane's Information Group |isbn=978-0-7106-2686-8 |pages=14–15 |language=en}}</ref> 36 Type 59s delivered by China in 1980–1981.<ref name="SIPRI_armstrans"/> 174 Type 59 and Type 59G Durjoy in service as of 2024{{sfn|The Military Balance 2024|page=249-250|}}
*{{CAM}} − 50 Type 59s in service as of 2024{{sfn|The Military Balance 2024|page=252-253|}}
*{{CHA}} − 14 ZTZ-59G in service as of 2024{{sfn|The Military Balance 2024|pages=481−482|}}
*{{CHN}} − 400 ZTZ-59/-59II/-59D in service as of 2024{{sfn|The Military Balance 2023|pages=255−256|}}
*{{COD}} − Between 12 and 17 Type 59s as of 2023, but may be unserviceable{{sfn|The Military Balance 2023|page=446}} 
*{{flag|Republic of the Congo}} − ~15 delivered by China in 1978.<ref name="SIPRI_armstrans"/> 15 in service as of 2024{{sfn|The Military Balance 2024|page=483-484|}}
*{{IRN}} − ~300 Type 59s delivered by China from 1982–1984.<ref name="SIPRI_armstrans"/> Unknown number of Type 59 tanks and Safir 74 conversions in service as of 2023{{sfn|The Military Balance 2023|page=324}} 
* {{MYA}} − More than 25 units of Type-59D in service as of 2024.{{sfn|The Military Balance 2024|page=296-297|}}
* {{PRK}} − ~175 Type 59s delivered by China from 1973–1975. ~250 [[ZSU-57-2]] turrets delivered by the Soviet Union in 1968–1977 and fitted to Type 59 hulls from China.<ref name="SIPRI_armstrans"/> 175 Type 59s in service as of 2005.<ref name="janes"/> Unknown number in service as of 2023{{sfn|The Military Balance 2023|page=263}} 
*{{PAK}} − ~200 Type 59s delivered by China from 1965–1966; ~550 Type 59s delivered from 1967–1970; ~100 Type 59s delivered as aid in 1972; ~825 delivered from 1978 to 1988.<ref name="SIPRI_armstrans"/> 1,200 in service in 2005,<ref name="janes"/> 600 ZTZ-59 in service as of 2024.{{sfn|The Military Balance 2024|pages=302−303|}} Some were upgraded with a 105mm gun<ref name="janes"/>
* {{SDN}} − 50 Type 59s delivered by China in 1972; according to SIPRI, rebuilt to the Type-59D standard between 2010 and 2015.<ref name="SIPRI_armstrans"/> 50 were in service prior to the current [[Sudanese civil war (2023–present)|civil war]] in the country{{sfn|The Military Balance 2023|pages=480−481}}
* {{TZA}} − ~30 Type 59s delivered by China from 1971–1973; according to SIPRI, these were rebuilt as Type 59Gs from 2011–2013.<ref name="SIPRI_armstrans"/> 15 Type-59Gs in service as of 2024{{sfn|The Military Balance 2024|page=523-524|}}
*{{VNM}} − 350 as of 2024{{sfn|The Military Balance 2024|pages=324-325|}}
*{{ZMB}} − 20 ZTZ-59 in service as of 2024{{sfn|The Military Balance 2024|pages=528-529|}}
* {{ZWE}} − ~22 delivered by China in 1985 and 1986.<ref name="SIPRI_armstrans"/> 30 in service in 2006;<ref name="janes"/> 30 in service as of 2023, but may be unserviceable.{{sfn|The Military Balance 2023|page=488}}

===Former operators===
[[File:US Marines check out an Iraqi Type 69-II main battle tank that was captured during Operation Desert Storm (DM-SC-91-12082).jpg|thumb|right|Iraqi Type 59 captured during Operation Desert Storm, 1991]]
*{{ALB}} − ~721 Type 59 delivered by China in 1966–1975. 373 in service in 2005,<ref name="janes"/> 40 in service in 2008, 3 in 2010, none in 2015<ref>{{cite book |last1=International Institute for Strategic Studies |title=The Military Balance 2008 |date=4 February 2008 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-85743-461-3 |page=164 |language=en |author1-link=International Institute for Strategic Studies }}</ref>{{sfn|The Military Balance 2010|page=119}}{{sfn|The Military Balance 2015|page=72}}
*{{BIH}} − 71 in 2005,<ref name="janes"/> none in 2015{{sfn|The Military Balance 2015|page=179}}
*{{flag|Iraq|1991}} − 250-1,300 Type 59s delivered by China from 1982–1987, and ~1,500 Type 69-I and 69-IIs delivered from 1983–1987.<ref name="SIPRI_armstrans"/> ~3,000 T-54, T-55, Type 59 and Type 69s before the [[Gulf War]].{{sfn|Cordesman|2003|page=4}} 1,000 T-54, T-55, T-72, Type 59 and Type 69s in service in 2003.{{sfn|Cordesman|2003|page=63}} All destroyed or scrapped after the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]]
* {{LKA}} − ~25 Type 59 delivered by China in 1991.<ref name="SIPRI_armstrans"/> None in service by 2010{{sfn|The Military Balance 2010|page=370}}
*{{flag|South Vietnam}} − Captured from [[People's Army of Vietnam]]<ref>{{cite book |last1=Hiestand |first1=William E. |title=Tanks in the Easter Offensive 1972: The Vietnam War's great conventional clash |date=17 February 2022 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |isbn=978-1-4728-4900-7 |page=38 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jLYsEAAAQBAJ |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Tucker-Jones |first1=Anthony |title=Tank Battles of the Cold War, 1948–1991 |date=30 June 2021 |publisher=Pen and Sword Military |isbn=978-1-5267-7804-8 |page=63 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6UMrEAAAQBAJ |language=en}}</ref>

==See also==
*{{lwc|Type 69 tank|Type 69/79}}
*{{lwc|Type 80/88 main battle tank|Type 80/85/88}}
*{{lwc|Type 96 tank|Type 96}}
*{{lwc|Al-Khalid tank|Type 90/MBT-2000}}
*{{lwc|Type 99 tank|Type 99}}
*{{lwc|T-54/T-55|T-54}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{Refbegin}}
*{{Cite report |last1=Cordesman |first1=Anthony H. |date=7 February 2003 |title=Iraqi Armed Forces on the Edge of War |url=https://csis.org/files/media/csis/pubs/iraq_edgeofwar%5B1%5D.pdf |publisher=[[Center for Strategic and International Studies]] |page=26 |access-date=16 July 2015 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100209162502/https://www.csis.org/files/media/csis/pubs/iraq_edgeofwar[1].pdf|archive-date=9 February 2010}}
*{{cite book | first = Marsh | last = Gelbart | year = 1996 | title = Tanks: Main Battle and Light Tanks | publisher = Brassey's | location = London | isbn = 1-85753-168-X}}
*{{cite book |last1=International Institute for Strategic Studies |title=The Military Balance 2010 |date=2010 |publisher=Taylor & Francis Group |isbn=978-1-85743-557-3 |ref={{harvid|The Military Balance 2010}} |language=en |author1-link=International Institute for Strategic Studies }}
*{{cite book |last1=International Institute for Strategic Studies |title=The Military Balance 2015 |date=11 February 2015 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-85743-766-9 |ref={{harvid|The Military Balance 2015}} |language=en |author1-link=International Institute for Strategic Studies }}
*{{cite book |last1=International Institute for Strategic Studies |title=The Military Balance 2023 |date=15 February 2023 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-1-000-91070-4 |ref= {{harvid|The Military Balance 2023}} |language=en |author1-link=International Institute for Strategic Studies }}
*{{cite book |last1=International Institute for Strategic Studies |title=The Military Balance 2024 |date=13 February 2024 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=9781032780047 |ref= {{harvid|The Military Balance 2024}} |language=en |author1-link=International Institute for Strategic Studies }}
{{Refend}}

== External links ==
{{Commons|Type 59}}

*[http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/row/type-59.htm Type 59 Main Battle Tank] - FAS
*[http://www.cdi.org/terrorism/mbts-pr.cfm Type 59 Main Battle Tank] - CDI

{{PRCAFVs}}
{{Cold War tanks}}
{{T-54/T-55_navigation|style=wide}}

[[Category:Main battle tanks of the Cold War]]
[[Category:China–Soviet Union relations]]
[[Category:Main battle tanks of China]]
[[Category:Military vehicles introduced in the 1950s]]