What kind of tanks did the chinese use in tien amin square

Kind of an insignificant question but what kind of tanks did the chinese army use intien Amin Square ?

I've been pondering this for some time since the cover of my school history book has a chinese tank on an overpass in or around Tien Amin Square.

I think its either the T-55 , T-54 , or the Chinese Type 99.

 

This is a type 69 which looks promising. It's not a 99 as they are quite angular being more modern that these obvious T-5X/6X rip offs



FNG

 

What is wrong with this picture? The last tank in the row looks significantly larger than the first, particularly when considering the effect the perspecitve should have.

By the way, I believe the currently accepted spelling of the square's name is "Tiananmen".

 

Roel, I think the last tank in the line is ??"facing"?? the photographer more than the other tanks, which are focused on that poor chap in their way.

And you are correct, it is Tiananmen Square.

 

speakingf of which,what are the Chinese MBTs?

 

As of now, China's main battle tank is the Type 90.

The Type 90 incorporates significant improvements over the Type 85, including modular composite armor, a stabilized turret, slaved targeting sight and gun, passive thermal imaging, and an autoloading, smooth bore 125mm gun capable of firing APFSDS, HEAT, and HE-FRAG rounds. With the addition of reactive armor panels, an improved laser rangefinder, and increased mobility , the Type 90-II is the most advanced Chinese main battle tankt. Although not yet in service in large quantities, the PLA has ordered about 100 Type 90-II MBTs, without advanced fire-control systems, for the parade celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the People's Republic in October 1999.

Source: www.fas.org
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land ... 90_prc.htm

 

How would it fare against the Leopards and Abrams?

 

roel wrote:

It's a common effect associated with long focal length lenses i.e. telephoto lenses.

 

Agreed, these are the Type 69 which is a T-54/55 ripoff.

 

It seems odd that the tanks they sent in were that old. Those things would just be cannon fodder for a modern MBT like the leopard/abrams/challanger.

One wonders just how great the chinese army is when they are still using a lot of 40 year old armoured vehicles.

FNG

 

Seriously,if i were a Chinese general,i would like you to think i am using 40 year old tanks.

Why would i want to flaunt my new tanks and let the americans(since it's their lifelong enemy) know my weaknesses and strengths?

Of course,if all else fails,the 4 million standing army should be able to take much bullets.

 

The Chinese military has always dragged behind the 'top flight' nations...

Western Nations were obviously reluctant to sell her military equipment (and IIRC there still is a ban, although items like tank engines are being sold to China).

The CCCP did sell China some older military equipment (like the T-55 tank) but not anything 'top-flight', as (despite being fraternal Communist comrades ) they were not best buddies, and have fought several 'minor' border wars over the years.

China herself did not develop anything stellar because she could not. Her economy, infastructure etc was lacking.


More recently, China has been massively upgrading her military, with a mixture of Western tech (either bought items, like tank engines, or via western-aducated students) and home-grown stuff.
Her best modern stuff is not too far behind top-flight Western stuff. Certainly the gap is closing.

 

Aren't all russian export tanks of reduced capability compared to the same model kept for home use? Presumably limited electronics/sensors/guidence/targeting etc and reactive armour?

FNG

 

Well,we are talking about a nation that decided to make television sets and made it.A country that had just successfully launched their own spaceship into space .

I don't think it impossible that this said nation will develop something to rival the west if they want to.And they want to.

China has like a billion souls?There will always be no lack of talents.

 

And they are currently doing this.

But the great ramp-up only began quite recently (last 10-20 years). Most of Chinas billion souls were (and many still are) peasants, in the old sense of being poor farmers with bog-all options in life beyond farming (and maybe some crude metal-work in their government-sponsored forge).

 

While this is true,the number of graduates in China is steadily rising.

And let us not forget,even if only 5 % of their people are talented,it is almost 5 million(did i do my math correct?)

 

Both of which had been done by the west many decades ago. While China is learning to do what is old technology the western powers are moving ahead with new technologies. China will eventually become an economic powerhouse due to it's trade witht he west and one day may become a true innovator...but that will occur only after they have thrown off the shackles of a discredited political idealogy that their leaders are still clinging to in order to maintain their grasp on the reins of power.

 

No you didnt.
Apparently population of China is over one billion and 5% of one billion is 50 million.

 

I am very thankful i didn't take maths any more......But yea,that proves my point

 

Mainly because China had only "woke" up in the last century or so. The repressions of the previous Qing dynasty and the antics of the corrupt KMT government had left a China that was barely alive.Let us not forget that it was imperialism by at least 8 foreign powers on her soil that led and contributed to her weakness...China's advance must surely be credited with the kind of advance staling had made?

What you are saying is merely hypothethical isn't it?Innovation may come with or without the communist leaders in my opinion.But you are entitled to that hypothesis.lol.