| Type 15 tank | |
|---|---|
 Type 15 tank at Beijing exhibition hall | |
| Type | Light tank |
| Place of origin | China |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2018–present[1] |
| Used by | SeeOperators |
| Production history | |
| Designer | 201st Research Institute |
| Manufacturer | Jianglu Electromachinery [zh] Baotou Tank Plant |
| Produced | c. 2015–present[1] |
| No. built | 500[2] |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 33 tonnes (standard), 36 tonnes (with armor package)[1] |
| Length | Gun forward: 9.2 metres (30.18 ft)[1] Hull: About 7.5 metres (24.61 ft)[3] |
| Width | 3.3 metres (10.83 ft)[1] |
| Height | 2.5 metres (8.20 ft)[1] |
| Crew | 3 (commander, gunner and driver)[1] |
| Armor | Standard steel armor protection with additional advanced composite armor and/orexplosive reactive armor package.[1] |
Main armament | 105×617mmR rifled gun (38 rounds) withautoloader[1] |
Secondary armament | Remotely operated weapon station armed with coaxial 12.7mm machine gun andQLZ-04 automatic grenade launcher |
| Engine | Electronically controlled diesel engine 8V132 with fully-automatic transmission 1000 hp (746 kW)[1] |
| Power/weight | 30.30 hp/tonne 27.8 hp/tonne (Enhanced armor package installed) |
| Suspension | Hydropneumatic suspension[1] |
Operational range | 469 kilometres (291 mi)(without external fuel drums)[1] |
| Maximum speed | 70 kilometres per hour (43 mph) |
TheType 15 (Chinese:15式轻型坦克;pinyin:yīwǔ shì qīngxíng tǎnkè, also designatedZTQ-15), codenamed theBlack Panther[4] (Chinese:黑豹;pinyin:hēi bào), is a Chinesethird generationlight tank family operated by thePeople's Liberation Army Ground Force,People's Liberation Army Navy Marine Corps, andPeople's Liberation Army Air Force Airborne Corps. The tank has also been exported to theBangladesh Army. It is the effective successor to theType 62 light tank that was retired from the Chinese army in 2013.[3] The export version of the tank is known asVT-5.
During development, the Type 15 was repeatedly sighted by Chinese citizens, with sightings as early as 2011.[5] The Type 15 entered mass production in 2016. In December 2018, the tank was officially acknowledged to be in active service.[6][7][1] It was showcased in the70th National Day parade on October 1, 2019.
The Type 15 is designed to fulfill the requirement for a lighter, more mobile modern tank that can effectively operate inhighland/plateau,woodland and water-rich regions where the heavierType 99 andType 96main battle tanks might have difficulties traversing.[3][1]
In high altitude regions likeTibet, the air becomes thin and engines start to lose power. Heavily armored vehicles such asT-72 andT-90 main battle tanks will have difficulty to traverse in the hypoxic environment, but the Type-15 light tank can operate at high altitudes with its powerful engine and oxygen generators. Type-15 is also much more mobile than heavier main battle tanks due to its light weight and highpower-to-weight ratio.[3]
The Type 15 light tank features a fully stabilized105 mmrifledgun, which is reportedly superior to the oldZPL-94 105 mm rifled gun fitted onType 88 andType 59 tanks. It is reported that the main gun has an effective firing range of 3 km and is compatible with all standardNATO 105 mm tank ammunition.[8][9] The sustained fire rate is supported by abustle-mountedautoloader system, which reduces the crew to 3. The Type 15 tank can hold 38 rounds of various 105 mmshells.[3]
The ammunition selections includeAPFSDS,HEAT and HE (High explosive) rounds and gun-launchedATGM. APFSDS and HEAT rounds are used against enemy armor while HE round is used against enemy infantry positions, light/non-armored vehicles, buildings, and field fortifications. The APFSDSprojectiles are capable of penetrating 500 mm (20 in) of armored steel at 2,000 metres (1.2 mi).[3][10]
The penetration capabilities of 105 mm APFSDS are not considered as sufficient to penetrate the front armor of modernmain battle tanks such asT-90 orVT-4.[3] To defeat well-protected opponents, the tank would use the 105 mm gun-launchedATGM with tandem high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warheads, offering much higher penetration. The missile reportedly has a range of 5 km and is capable of engaging low-flying helicopters.[3][9]
Other armament includes a QJT-88 5.8 mm coaxial machine gun,[11] a remotely controlled weapon station mounted on the turret roof, which is fitted withQLZ-0435 mmautomatic grenade launcher andQJC-88 12.7 mmheavy machine gun.[12]
Type 15 features modern sensory and fire control systems, includinglaser rangefinder, advanced ballistic computer, meteorological sensors, gunnerthermal imaging sight, millimeter-wave radar,[13] andcommander'spanoramicsight. The fire control system supports automatic target tracking, hunter-killer capabilities, and commander takeover.[3]
Other equipment includesair conditioning system, oxygen-production equipment for the crew,[14]command and control equipment, battlefield management system, and navigation suite fitted with bothinertial navigation system (INS) andsatellite navigation system.[8][3][9]
Unlike previous Chinese tanks with carousel-style autoloader, the ammunition in Type 15 is retrieved from a tailautoloader[15] with blowout panels. The ammunition is stored in theturretbustle for improved safety.[15][9]
The Type 15 tank features two sets of armor packages providing different tactical mobility.[1] Standard armor package features steel armor protection with additional layers of advanced composite armor panels covering the tank turret, hull, and two sides, with additional lightweightexplosive reactive armor blocks protecting the front hull. The enhanced package features thickerexplosive reactive armor (ERA) blocks, in addition to the composite armor panels underneath, covering the whole tank turret and hull.[16] ERA mounted armor-skirt[17] andslat armor can also be mounted on the side and rear side of the tank hull for additional protection.[18] Enhanced armor set is designed for open area battle under heavy defensive conditions.[4]
The Type 15 light tank is fitted with a laser warning sensor system to detect incoming rangefinding and anti-tank missiles, and the tank can automatically deploy smoke grenades in dischargers if the tank is being illuminated by enemy laser beam.[19] Chinese-designed active protection system can be mounted on export-oriented VT-5 variant as per customer request.[20] Other protective features includechemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) protection, and fire suppression system. The vehicle also features oxygen generators to aid in high-altitude operations.[21]
The Type 15 is powered by a 1,000 hp (746 kW) electronically controlled diesel engine, with hydro-mechanical full automatic transmission.[1] The tank is also capable of neutral steering and features hydropneumatic suspension.[1]
Due to its lighter weight, the Type 15 tank can be more easilyairlifted.Xi'an Y-20 transport planes can only carry oneType 99 tank but can carry up to two Type 15 tanks and achieve long-range deployment of 7,800 kilometers.[22] ZTQ-15 can also be paradropped by the transport aircraft.[3]
Duringthe China-India border dispute along theLine of Actual Control (LAC) in June 2020, Type 15 tanks were reportedly deployed in theTibetan Plateau.[23]
Designation for military version.
Armored recovery vehicle based on Type 15 chassis.[24]
Different design similar to the ZTQ-15 that is made for export. There are noticeable design differences. The driver's hatch on the VT-5 is positioned at the center front hull whereas the ZTQ-15 driver's hatch is located on the left. The upper front hull of the VT-5 is noticeably curved whereas the ZTQ-15 is straight. The modular add-on armor kits are also noticeably different.[25]
Unmanned version of the VT-5.[1]
Customized variant of VT-5 made forBangladesh Army. The main armament 105 mm rifled gun is improved with thermal sleeve and fume extractor system. The tanks are equipped withGL-5 APS,[26] but the remote-controlled 12.7 mm machine gun is replaced with a manual one.[27]
People's Liberation Army Ground Force: 500 units as of 2022.[28]
People's Liberation Army Navy Marine Corps: 20 units as of 2021.[29]
People's Liberation Army Air Force Airborne Corps[30]
Bangladesh Army: 44 VT-5BD units[31]
{{cite book}}:|work= ignored (help)| Main battle tank andLight tanks |
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| Amphibious tanks and fighting vehicles |
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| Infantry fighting vehicles andFire Support Vehicles |
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| Armoured personnel carriers |
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| Armored car andMRAPs | ||||||
| Self-propelled howitzers and mortars |
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| Tank destroyer/ATMC andAssault guns |
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| SPAAGs and Maneuver SHORADs |
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| MRLs |
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| Prototypes | ||||||
Note:x = retired from service or has ceased development | ||||||
| Main battle | |
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| Light /medium | |
| Prototypes, experimentals | |
Background:History of the tank,Tank classification | |
