New Type98/99 MBT thread

SpicySichuan

Senior Member
Registered Member
More high-resolution photos of the 99A2. The more I look at it, the more it grows on me.

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So the A2 has LED lights like the Armata?
 

plawolf

Lieutenant General
What about the type 98s and DF-31 during the 1999 parade? The type 98 was a prototype of ZTZ-99, while the DF-31 did not enter deployment until mid. 2000s.

Actually, the 99 is the upgraded version of the 98.

While both might not have been officially deployed at the time of the parade, they would have built up enough numbers and had them with operational units long enough that those assets could and would have been deployed if an emergency suddenly deployed which needed them.

Deploying them might have been stretching the rule a bit, but its close enough that the general principle still more than holds true.
 

sequ

Major
Registered Member
The turret of the type 99A2 is bigger than the original type 99. There are also more electronics ( some sensors on top of the turret that seem to be folded down when not operational) and the laser dazzler thingie is different. If you compare the paintjob of the tanks, you'll notice they are all exactly the same.

I've noticed a that there are two different commanders periscopes for the type 99A2. One looks like the periscope of the older type 99 and the other (new??) looks like nothing I've seen before.

And of course the IFF system on top of the mantlet with thick cables running on top of the turret to the gunners position. No doubt this makes the type 99A2 a very modern tank. The only flaw I can mention is the vulnerability of the carousel type autoloader. We all know the scenes from turrets flying in the air...

I cant wait for some pictures of the interior of the tank.
 

kriss

Junior Member
Registered Member
Is it doable to install pressure release panel like ones on abrams on a carousel? Like releasing all the pressure to the side or through turret ring around the crew compartment.
 

plawolf

Lieutenant General
Is it doable to install pressure release panel like ones on abrams on a carousel? Like releasing all the pressure to the side or through turret ring around the crew compartment.

Problem with blow out panels is that they are, by design, structural weak points.

Having them on top of the turret is just about still acceptable because with the exception of top attack munitions, a tank isn't expecting to get hit there (and in the case of top attack, a tank is pretty much dead without active defence, so it doesn't make muck difference).

Having blow out panels on the side of a tank would create weak points that even RPGs would be able to penetrate fairly reliability. That is simply unacceptable.

That's just the general conceptual problems. Even if you accept that and push on ahead, you are going to have all sorts of practical problems.

Blow out panels work by providing a structural weak point in the direction you want blast energy to be channeled, that mean the rest of the compartment where you store the munitions need to be stronger than the panels. With a bustle ammunition locker, you just need to reinforce the bulkhead leading towards the crew compartment.

With a carousel, the munitions are stored in the main fighting compartment.

You just cannot feasible install strong enough bulkheads in there without fundamentally changing the structure of the entire tank, even if you had enough physical space.

Try as I may, I cannot see how that could be done and still leave enough space for the crew and for the turret to still function.

The Armata's separate armoured crew capsule is the only way to totally protect the crew with a carousel loader, by moving the crew out of the turret ring altogether.
 

Quickie

Colonel
More high-resolution photos of the 99A2. The more I look at it, the more it grows on me.

So the A2 has LED lights like the Armata?

I see what you did there.

true, but putting LED lights is a simple thing to do, also much better efficiency and last practically forever. All (including Type 96 and 59) should have LED lights instead

Do the Abrams have LED light?

Seriously guys? We are now getting hung up on LED lights?!

Its a tank, not a Chritsmas tree, LED lights have zero impact on the overall combat capabilities of tanks.

Greenish LED headlights on tanks in the darkness of night do bring out the cool vibes on most people. :cool:
 
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