| ZTS-63-I | ZTS-63-II |
The ZTS-63-II is a prototype Chinese amphibious/cavalry tank that appeared in Wargame: Red Dragon.
History[]
This model is actually known as ZTS-63A IRL. Albeit marked as Cavalry Tank in-game, this kind of concept does not exist in the Chinese military.
Although the basic model of ZTS-63 is an amphibious tank, it is mainly designed for crossing inland rivers and lakes. The ZTS-63-I cannot cruise at high speed and over long distances in harsh sea conditions, and its 85mm main gun cannot engage modern tanks, also lacks stabilizers to fire during the float.
Therefore, in response to possible large-scale amphibious invasions and experiences in the Sino-Vietnamese Border Conflict, China began to upgrade ZTS-63 in the late 1990s. The main changes are a new 105mm rifled cannon (an improved version of the L7; should be the same or a similar model as the one on ZTZ-88A) with a corresponding new turret and FCS. The cannon can penetrate 560mm RHA from a range of 2000m when firing APFSDS. It has the ability to fire ATGM, and has a maximum penetration of 700mm.
However, it is impossible for a 105mm cannon to fire 9K116-1 Bastion/AT-10 Stabber ATGM, as it is 100mm (used by T-55AMV). In addition, it is reported that it was only in 1999 that Russia transferred technology of Bastion to China.
Besides, the ZTS-63A uses 12.7mm Type 85 as AAMG instead of Type 54. The camouflage on the in-game model is very rare, and no corresponding reference has been found.
It is reported that there was one amphibious mechanized infantry division in each of the two army groups deployed in Nanjing and Guangzhou, each of the division has one regiment equipped with ZTS-63A (about 100 vehicles). The Marine Corps also had an armored regiment capable of operating 50-100 ZTS-63As. These orders of battle are from the Cold War, while ZTS-63A have been phased out in modern era.
Overview[]
A tank with a somewhat similar role to M8 AGS, it has a average AP and an ATGM although both have mediocre accuracy. Although the RoF of the main gun is significantly lower than that of the M8 AGS, the advantage of ZTS-63-II lies in the 2625m Range of the ATGM, which makes it very adept at harassing NATO advanced tanks. Due to weak Armor, this tank cannot participate in frontal combat.
Weapons[]
| Weapons | 
|
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Main Gun | ATGM | MMG |
| Name | PLA 105 | Bastion | T54 |
| Caliber | 105mm [KE] [AoE] | SALH [HEAT] [SA] | 12.7mm |
| Ammo | x 28 | x 4 | x 600 |
| Range | Ground = 2275 m Helicopters = N/A m  Airplanes = N/A m
|
Ground = 2625 m Helicopters = N/A m Airplanes = N/A m
|
Ground = 1050 m Helicopters = 875 m Airplanes = N/A m
|
| Accuracy | 50% | 40% | 15% |
| Stabilizer | 35% | 30% | 5% |
| AP Power | 17 | 17 | N/A |
| HE Power | 3 | N/A | 0.75 |
| Suppression | 121 | 150 | 90 |
| Rate of fire | 8 r/min | 8 s r/min | 652 r/min |
Gallery[]
See also[]
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
