Wikipedia

Type 15 tank

For the South Korean MBT also called Black Panther, see K2 Black Panther.

The Type 15 (Chinese: 15式轻型坦克; pinyin: yīwǔ shì qīngxíng tǎnkè, also designated ZTQ-15), codenamed the Black Panther[4] (Chinese: 黑豹; pinyin: hēi bào), is a Chinese third generation light tank family operated by the People's Liberation Army Ground Force, People's Liberation Army Navy Marine Corps, and People's Liberation Army Air Force Airborne Corps. The tank has also been exported to the Bangladesh Army. It is the effective successor to the Type 62 light tank that was retired from the Chinese army in 2013.[3] The export version of the tank is known as VT-5.

Type 15 tank
Type 15 tank at Beijing exhibition hall
TypeLight tank
Place of originChina
Service history
In service2018–present[1]
Used bySee Operators
Production history
ManufacturerNorinco
Producedc. 2015–present[1]
No. built500 [2]
Specifications
Mass33 tonnes (standard), 36 tonnes (with armor package)[1]
LengthGun forward: 9.2 metres (30.18 ft)[1]
Hull: About 7.5 metres (24.61 ft)[3]
Width3.3 metres (10.83 ft)[1]
Height2.5 metres (8.20 ft)[1]
Crew3 (commander, gunner and driver)[1]
ArmorStandard steel armor protection with additional advanced composite armor and/or explosive reactive armor package.[1]
Main
armament
105mm rifled gun (38 rounds) with autoloader[1]
Secondary
armament
Remotely operated weapon station armed with coaxial 12.7mm machine gun and QLZ-04 automatic grenade launcher
EngineElectronically controlled diesel engine 8V132 with fully-automatic transmission
1000 hp (746 kW)[1]
Power/weight30.30 hp/tonne
27.8 hp/tonne (Enhanced armor package installed)
SuspensionHydropneumatic suspension[1]
Operational
range
469 kilometres (291 mi)(without external fuel drums)[1]
Maximum speed 70 kilometres per hour (43 mph)

Development

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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 the 70th National Day parade on October 1, 2019.

Design

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Overview

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The Type 15 is designed to fulfill the requirement for a lighter, more mobile modern tank that can effectively operate in highland/plateau, woodland and water-rich regions where the heavier Type 99 and Type 96 main battle tanks might have difficulties traversing.[3][1]

In high altitude regions like Tibet, the air becomes thin and engines start to lose power. Heavily armored vehicles such as T-72 and T-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 high power-to-weight ratio.[3]

Armament

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The Type 15 light tank features a fully-stabilized 105 mm rifled gun, which is reportedly superior to the old ZPL-94 105 mm rifled gun fitted on Type 88 and Type 59 tanks. It is reported that the main gun has an effective firing range of 3 km and is compatible with all standard NATO 105 mm tank ammunition.[8][9] The sustained fire rate is supported by a bustle-mounted autoloader system, which reduces the crew to 3. The Type 15 tank can hold 38 rounds of various 105 mm shells.[3]

The ammunition selections include APFSDS, HEAT and HE (High explosive) rounds and gun-launched ATGM. 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 APFSDS projectiles 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 modern main battle tanks such as T-90 or VT-4.[3] To defeat well-protected opponents, the tank would use the 105 mm gun-launched ATGM 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 with QLZ-04 35 mm automatic grenade launcher and QJC-88 12.7 mm heavy machine gun.[12]

Electronics

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Type 15 features modern sensory and fire control systems, including laser rangefinder, advanced ballistic computer, meteorological sensors, gunner thermal imaging sight, millimeter-wave radar,[13] and commander's panoramic sight. The fire control system supports automatic target tracking, hunter-killer capabilities, and commander takeover.[3]

Other equipment includes air conditioning system, oxygen-production equipment for the crew,[14] command and control equipment, battlefield management system, and navigation suite fitted with both inertial navigation system (INS) and satellite navigation system.[8][3][9]

Protection

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Unlike previous Chinese tanks with carousel-style autoloader, the ammunition in Type 15 is retrieved from a tail autoloader[15] with blowout panels. The ammunition is stored in the turret bustle 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 lightweight explosive reactive armor blocks protecting the front hull. The enhanced package features thicker explosive 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] and slat 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 include chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) protection, and fire suppression system. The vehicle also features oxygen generators to aid in high-altitude operations.[21]

Mobility

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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 easily airlifted. Xi'an Y-20 transport planes can only carry one Type 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]

Operational history

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During the China-India border dispute along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in June 2020, Type 15 tanks were reportedly deployed in the Tibetan Plateau.[23]

Variants

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A footage of export variant VT-5 tank taken in 2018.
Type 15 / ZTQ-15

Designation for military version.

Type 15 Armored Recovery Vehicle

Armored recovery vehicle based on Type 15 chassis.[24]

VT-5

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]

VT-5U

Unmanned version of the VT-5.[1]

VT-5BD
 
Bangladesh Army VT-5 on display

Customized variant of VT-5 made for Bangladesh Army. The main armament 105 mm rifled gun is improved with thermal sleeve and fume extractor system. The tanks are equipped with GL-5 APS,[26] but the remote-controlled 12.7 mm machine gun is replaced with a manual one.[27]

Operators

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  China
  Bangladesh

See also

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Type 15 tank.

Contemporary competitors

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Tanks with similar firepower

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "Type 15 VT5 ZTQ-15 light weight main battle tank".
  2. ^ The Military Balance 2023 p.239
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "ZTQ-15". Military-Today. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  4. ^ a b "China's Type 15 Light Tank Gains Versatility". defenseworld. 21 June 2021.
  5. ^ "The new Chinese mountain-warfare light tank". china-defense.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
  6. ^ "Introducing China's New Type 15 Tank. Here's What You Need To Know". January 2019.
  7. ^ "China's new light tank for mountainous areas goes into service". 28 December 2018.
  8. ^ a b "ZTQ-15 / Type 15 30-ton-class light tank".
  9. ^ a b c d "我军15式轻型坦克炮小威力大 最大射程可达5000米|坦克_新浪军事_新浪网".
  10. ^ http://tv.cctv.com/2020/04/07/VIDEGF5bLefg5DPpbvjVRMBm200407.shtml |《军事科技》20200407 战场上的“小块头”
  11. ^ "中国15式坦克技术水准世界一流！四大方面全面超越美俄同级型号". iFeng.
  12. ^ "ZTQ-15 Type 15". US TRADOC.
  13. ^ "中国15式坦克新对手？印度紧急向俄采购"章鱼坦克"，性能如何". Tencent News. 19 October 2022.
  14. ^ Larson, Caleb (7 March 2021). "China's Type 15 Tank: Ready to Fight India In a War?". National Interest.
  15. ^ a b "Type 15 tank uses new autoloader and 105mm APFSDS". China Arms. 16 July 2020.
  16. ^ "终于来了！"土豪版"15式正式列装，坦克部队如何突破水际滩头". Sohu News (in Chinese). 16 October 2020.
  17. ^ Larson, Caleb (4 February 2021). "China's Type 15 Light Tank: Built To Fight India In A War?". 19fortyfive.
  18. ^ "中国新一代坦克雏形初显，全电设计，电磁装甲设计石破天惊". cn1n (in Chinese). 23 December 2019.
  19. ^ "15式坦克，轻装上阵的新一代"陆地猛虎"". China News (in Chinese). 1 May 2020.
  20. ^ Gady, Franz-Stefan (7 August 2019). "China's VT5 Lightweight Tank to Be Fitted With Active Protection System". The Diplomat.
  21. ^ Osborn, Kris (3 February 2021). "China's Type 15 Light Tank Matters for Asia's Future Wars". National Interest.
  22. ^ "Y-20 war wagon can transport two Type 15 tanks". 8 April 2020.
  23. ^ "China flexing military muscle in border dispute with India". South China Morning Post. 2020-06-04. Retrieved 2020-06-19.
  24. ^ Arthur, Gordon (1 June 2022). "PLA fields new armoured recovery vehicle based on ZTQ-15 tank". Shephard media.
  25. ^ "VT5". Military-Today. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  26. ^ "Bangladesh Ground Forces became the first export customer of Chinese VT5 light tanks". armstrade.org. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  27. ^ "Bangladesh army receives NORINCO VT5 light tanks from China". armyrecognition. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  28. ^ For Strategic Studies (Iiss), The International Institute (15 February 2023). "6 Asia". The Military Balance 2023. London: Routledge. doi:10.4324/9781003400226. ISBN 9781003400226. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  29. ^ International Institute for Strategic Studies: The Military Balance 2022, p.256
  30. ^ "Growing Big – Know About Chinese Airborne Forces". Air Power Aisa.
  31. ^ "China delivers 44 VT5 light tanks to Bangladesh in 2021 | Defense News March 2022 Global Security army industry | Defense Security global news industry army year 2022 | Archive News year".

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