Talk:Type 59 tank

Missing heading
The image is clearly modified from the Tianamen Protestor photograph. The protestor should appear in front of the right tracks but has been edited out.

The factual accuracy of the article is disputed as the current picture (shown of tanks in the 1989 Tiananmen Sq. Protest) is in fact a Chinese Type 80/88 MBT ( http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/china/type-80-pics.htm ). Now if only, I know how to edit that article...

I've removed the Type 80 MBT photo from this article (why would you put T-80 photo in T-59 article?). Maybe we move that photo to the Type 80 MBT page. Claim that T-59-II was used in 6/89 is also removed (wrong tank) -- Adeptitus 05:13, 3 July 2006 (UTC)

The Tienmen "Tank Man" photo has been moved to Type 80/88 page at Type 96. -- Adeptitus 17:45, 5 July 2006 (UTC)


 * The tanks in that photo have slack track, large road wheels, and the old highly-sloped glacis plate. They are clearly Type 59 or 69, as attested by many sources (I can only think of Patrick Wright (2001), Tank: The Progress of a Monstrous War Machine at the moment). Please stop removing it from this article. —Michael Z. 2006-10-09 18:19 Z 


 * Furthermore, the Type 59 has five large roadwheels. The Type 80 has six smaller roadwheels.  The picture is clearly not of a Type 80. JonCatalan 22:01, 20 October 2006 (UTC)
 * It's gone lol, can someone just put the tank man picture on the Type 59 page? Plsdonttakemyname (talk) 12:56, 25 July 2022 (UTC)

Chinese tanks
Possible equivalent article similar to Tanks in the Spanish Army?

Is this a type 59 tank?
The Internet certainly thinks that this tank in the collection of the bovington tank museum is a type-59 (I would assume sourced via Iraq via first gulf war) User:颐园新居 thinks it isn't. Any third opinions?©Geni (talk) 09:59, 18 November 2015 (UTC)



Almost certain it is a Chinese tank. It has the bow machinegun distinctive to the Type 59 and the L7. It also has the laser rangefinder upgrade. Although I could be proven wrong if there was another T54 upgrade program with the L7 and the laser rangefinder. Also I've never seen a Type 59 with the smoke grenade launchers in that style.RedArrowSG (talk) 12:02, 18 November 2015 (UTC)

最明显的几个特征：坦克炮的抽烟装置与下面图片的中国59-II式的坦克炮（许可引进的L7）明显不同；坦克炮的安装样式也与中国坦克不一样；炮盾上方的凸出物？没有见过，与中国59/69式坦克的外置激光测距仪不一样；炮塔上填装手一侧舱门的座圈明显加高了. 是否是59式存在疑问，我个人怀疑是爱好者改装的. --颐园新居 (talk) 12:54, 18 November 2015 (UTC)

Thanks for the reply. It's true that it does look different. The L7's fume extractor is always off-center. Personally, I think the best way to solve this is to get into contact with somebody with bovington.

Btw, this has been labelled a T-55 on wikimedia, but it is a Type 59 isn't it? RedArrowSG (talk) 03:34, 19 November 2015 (UTC)

It is not a type 59 ，外观上最明显的区别是：看不到在炮塔上右前部圆型的通风装置（59/69式坦克源自T-54）；在车长舱门前方有一个方形的潜望镜头. 顺便说一句，很多人无法区分在战场69-II与T-55/升级T-54的图片，区别特征是：69-II式坦克的炮塔上右前部有圆型的通风装置（图上被炮盾遮挡）；在车长舱门前方的方形潜望镜外形不同，69-II式坦克的潜望镜安装基座的炮塔侧面凸出更明显. 改装升级的T-54有圆型的通风装置，但车长舱门前方的潜望镜以及安装基座的特征与T-55相同. --颐园新居 (talk) 12:25, 19 November 2015 (UTC)

Thanks! Seems like I've learned quite a bit in recognizing the Type 59. RedArrowSG (talk) 03:35, 20 November 2015 (UTC)

Just want to add the Bovington Type 59's smoke launchers looks like a British design. Chieftain I'm guessing somebody transplanted one set to the tank? RedArrowSG (talk) 13:05, 21 November 2015 (UTC)


 * Reddit thinks they were part of the upgrade attempt.©Geni (talk) 05:54, 11 October 2020 (UTC)

Jaguar Prototype
I've found out that during the 1980s, during a period of détente between China and the US, the Chinese and the Americans cooperated on the Jaguar Prototype tank, which was intended to be a modernization of the Type 59 and was successfully completed, though no orders were ever placed. Should it get mentioned on this page as a variant or should it get its own page? http://www.military-today.com/tanks/jaguar.htmSdio7 (talk) 17:01, 30 April 2018 (UTC)

I believe this could be a simple variant as it was based on Type 59 and was not mass produced.AyustimGniyrc (talk) 19:49, 30 April 2018 (UTC)

A Commons file used on this page or its Wikidata item has been nominated for deletion
The following Wikimedia Commons file used on this page or its Wikidata item has been nominated for deletion: Participate in the deletion discussion at the nomination page. —Community Tech bot (talk) 14:13, 22 October 2020 (UTC)
 * Type-59D main battle tanks of Myanmar. jpg.jpg