# Chad operating Chinese-made Type 59G main battle tank

- Link: https://www.military.africa/2021/04/chad-operating-chinese-made-type-59g-main-battle-tank/
- Published: 2021-04-21T09:46:00+01:00
- Author: Ekene Lionel

Following the recent uprising in the Chadian republic, the _Armée nationale tchadienne_(
Chad National Army) deployed the Chinese-made Type 59G main battle tank to quell
the crises.

At least four heavily upgraded version of the Type 59G main battle tank were photographed
in the Chadian Capital, N’djamena providing tank support to troops defending the
city from rebel assault.

![Chad army type 59g main battle tank](military.africa/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/
chad-army-type-59g-main-battle-tank-1024x576.jpg)

A Type 59G Main battle tank in N’djamena following the uprising (source Chad’s interim
Government)

China supplied 30 tanks to Chad between 2011 up till 2013, apparently the Type 59G
tanks were part of the deal. However, the tank appears to have been vastly upgraded
with explosive Reaction Blocks in the frontal section of the turret, hull and sideskirt.

![Chadian army type 59g main battle tank](military.africa/wp-content/uploads/2021/
04/chadian-army-type-59g-main-battle-tank-1.jpeg)

A side view of the Type 59G mbt (source Chad:s interim government)

Also, Modular applique armor can be seen at the rear of the turret. A heavy machine
gun on a coaxial mount likely a W85 12.7 mm or Type 86 7.62 mm is fitted.

![Chad army type 59g main battle tanks](military.africa/wp-content/uploads/2021/
04/chad-army-type-59g-msin-battle-tanks.jpeg)

A Type 59G mbt

![Chadian army type 59g main battle tanks](military.africa/wp-content/uploads/2021/
04/chadian-army-type-59g-main-battle-tanks.jpeg)

The Type 59 (WZ-120) main battle tank was developed in 1958 from the Soviet Type
54A,but with some modifications. Since then, over 10,000 of the tanks have been 
produced.

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The Type 59G is a 3rd generation MBT offered by China North Industries Corporation(
Norinco). The Type 59G features improved armored protection, increased lethality
and accuracy as well as increased mobility.

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It is designed with a welded turret, redesigned armor on the rear and sides, improved
side skirts, and second generation night vision equipment and Fire control system(
FCS).

The type is powered by a 800 or 730 hp engine. The main armament is now a smoothbore
125 mm capable of firing a Armour-piercing fin-stabilized discarding-sabot (APFSDS),
HEAT, HE-FRAG, and ATGMs. The APFSDS round can penetrate 500 mm of rolled homogeneous
steel armor (RHA) at two kilometers.

It’s currently in service with Bangladesh and Tanzania which fields 30 Type 59G 
delivered between 2011 to 2013.

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The Type 59G main battle tank joins 60 T-55 MBTs, 30 PTL-02 Assaulter, 132 AML-60/
AML-90 armoured cars and 14 ERC-90F Sagaie gun support vehicles in the Chadian Army
armor inventory.

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