Type 98 Main Battle Tank (Copy of Xion's Thread)




 
--
 
September 27th, 2004  
AsianAmerican
 
 

Topic: Type 98 Main Battle Tank (Copy of Xion's Thread)


How about the Type 98 MBT. PLA's newest bad boy. The Type 98 is the first known Tank to carry the "Dazzler" Laser System. (The latter two MBTs also are fitted with a JD-3 integrated laser rangefinder/warning/self-defense device – also called a "dazzler" – which uses a high-powered laser to directly attack the enemy weapon's optics and gunner.)

AFPC said China is believed to be the first country to use such active laser defense devices on its tanks.



SPECIFICATIONS

Crew: 3
Weight: 50 tons
Engine: 1,200 hp liquid cooled diesel
Transmission: Mechanical, planetary
Track: Metallic with RMSh, with rubber-tyred road wheels
Suspension: Torsion bar
Radio: Receive/transmit, telephone, laser communications
Dimension: Length: 11.00 m; Height: 2.00 m; Width: 3.40 m
Ground Pressure: N/A
Cruising Range: 450 km, or 600 km with external tanks
Speed: Max road 65 km/h; max off-road 47 km/h; average cross-country 35 km/h; max swim N/A
Fording Depths: 5 m with snorkel
Main Gun: Indigenous 125 mm smoothbore
Rate of Fire: 8 rounds/min
Elevation/Depression: N/A
Auxiliary Weapon: One coaxial 7.62 mm machine gun; one 12.7 mm air-defence machine gun
Fire Control: Laser rangefinder input, onboard computer, wind sensor, and control panel

Links...... http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/ar...TICLE_ID=32501
or
http://www.sinodefence.com/army/tank/type98.asp

September 27th, 2004  
A Can of Man
 
 
I hope there's a way to counter the laser weapon. Not only is it an illegal weapon, it's highly effective and will give this Tank which seems in many ways a T-72 given an extreme makeover.
I just don't see any real improvements over the T-72 except the angled turret. The chasis is exactly the same.
Also the 125mm gun's performance needs to be determined. If it's more or less like the T-72's then it's just a T-72 with a pretty face.
It's the laser that's the problem.
September 28th, 2004  
Snauhi
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by the_13th_redneck
I hope there's a way to counter the laser weapon. Not only is it an illegal weapon, it's highly effective and will give this Tank which seems in many ways a T-72 given an extreme makeover.
I just don't see any real improvements over the T-72 except the angled turret. The chasis is exactly the same.
Also the 125mm gun's performance needs to be determined. If it's more or less like the T-72's then it's just a T-72 with a pretty face.
It's the laser that's the problem.
yeah but if it gonna be laser on it , then it will be only on few of them.

And yes it just like T-72
--
September 28th, 2004  
A Can of Man
 
 
Either way... just a few of those who can blind the best tankers their opponents can field will be a huge blow.
September 28th, 2004  
AsianAmerican
 
 
Im trying to find the site but I have read a source that the dazzler system is being made in mass productions since China believes lasers will be very valuable to them.. Still trying to find the source, but yeah that laser on the tank as well as the new Chinese laser gun could be a very good tool for the PLA since the laser gun has a range of up to 3km.
September 28th, 2004  
SHERMAN
 
 
Quote:
just don't see any real improvements over the T-72 except the angled turret. The chasis is exactly the
Yes, but we dont know what the armour is made of and what the Fire-Control system is worth...Might be much better than a T72...
September 28th, 2004  
AsianAmerican
 
 
"The Type 98 reportedly weighs 50 tons and is powered by a new 1200-hp diesel engine. As far as armor protection is concerned, some initial observations can be made. Generally speaking, the Type 98's turret is larger than the turrets of other PLA tanks. More importantly, the turret has been lengthened or extended forward, creating a noticeable gap between the lower edge of the turret-front and the hull decking. This new gap is most visible just to the right and left of the driver's position (see photo on top of next page). It is very likely that the Chinese decided to increase/improve the turret frontal armor protecting the Type 98 to the point where extending the turret forward became a requirement"

More On The Dazzler

" According to its promotional information, one of the ZM-87's major uses is to "injure or dizzy targeted individuals." The ZM-87 can reportedly injure the human eye at 2-3 kms, this rising to over 5 kms using a 7-power magnification device. Additionally, short-term "flaring blind-ness" can be inflicted on the human eye at up to 10 kms. The ZM-87 and the laser weapon carried by the Type 98 should not be confused with electro-optical "dazzlers" like those turret-mounted de-vices used by the Iraqis during Operation Desert Storm. Those Iraqi devices (some of which are believed to have been supplied by the Chinese), are designed to confuse the tracking systems of Western/NATO anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs), without directly attacking the controlling optics or the eyesight of the weapon's gunner. The available photos of the Type 96 have also confirmed that the laser weapon can be elevated to a higher angle than the tank's main gun, indicating that the engagement of attack helicopters
is possible"

LINK---- http://www.madogre.com/Interviews/china_Tanks.htm

September 28th, 2004  
A Can of Man
 
 
Hmmm... I would think that they have a better fire control system, after all it's not like China lacks in good technicians and they got lots of very competent computer experts.
If anything, given a smarter software package.
About the dazzle laser, can just slap those on our tanks if it comes to it. Or if it continues to be an issue, just fight by infra red sensors. Oh there's an idea
September 28th, 2004  
SHERMAN
 
 
Acctually, a laser can screw those up prettey bad 2...
September 28th, 2004  
AsianAmerican
 
 
I dont think America has anything that can protect their eyes because the beam is to strong.... GOD it would just suck to get hit buy one... OUCH