History:

The Type 63 Light Amphibious Tank was developed in the late 1950s and its design is based on the Type 62 turret and the hull of the Soviet PT-76 Light Amphibious Tank. The Type 63 is fitted with a 85mm gun that can fire AP, APHE, HE, and HEAT rounds, while the Type 63A is fitted with a 105 mm rifled gun (as on the Type 80) which can fire APFSDS rounds and is equippped with a new fire-control system. The hull is similar to the PT-76, but has a nearly horizontal glacis plate and different engine grills. The turret has a ventilator dome with a snorkel fitting and is surrounded by storage racks to provide additional protections against HEAT projectiles (variant Type 63A). Secondary weapons are a coaxial 7.62 mm machine gun and a 12.7 mm AA machine gun. The Type 63 is a very reliable and successful vehicle that fought well in the varied terrain of southeast Asia. The Type 63 tanks are deployed in large numbers with both the PLA Army and Marine Corps.