Vehicles imported into or designed by the WWII era Chinese states, Taiwan and Communist China, now the People's Republic of China. Communist Chinese tanks tend to carry the largest possible calibers into battle but pay heavily for the privilege. China lacks dedicated Self-Propelled Guns.
Chinese tanks, for the most part, have unparalleled mobility, good camouflage values and sloped armor. This makes their tanks very flexible regardless of if they are a heavy, medium, or light. They still play as you would expect, but they can often change their combat role a bit, should it be necessary. However, they have very poor gun depression, even worse than German or Russian tanks. They also have very poor module health, and their modules are usually exposed. This results in frequent crew loss, destroyed tracks, engine fires, or even ammo rack detonation. However, while most Chinese tanks have (comparably) poor hull armor, their turret armor is unparalleled, sometimes even surpassing the hull armor values of heavy tanks.
Chinese Tank Crew Tropes:
- Large Ham: The Chinese announcer is one of the most boisterous of the national announcers, ranging from overly joyful when you damage or destroy an enemy, half-sad half-frustrated when you get killed and either amazed, disappointed or downright sad when your shots bounce off.
- Shoddy Knockoff Product: Played With; many Chinese tanks are modifications of imported foreign ones or various derivatives thereof. Typically, they add larger-caliber guns (or modern versions of similar-caliber weaponry) and better engines, but their tanks often have exposed modules prone to damage and poor gun depression.
Renault NC-31
A modification of the Renault FT-17 tank featuring a soft ride suspension and a Kegresse-Hinstin fanged rubber track. These features, along with an upgraded engine, gave an increased top speed of 16 km/h. A total of 15 vehicles of this type were exported to China.
- Underground Monkey: Not quite a Palette Swap of the Renault FT, since the NC project was a legitimate effort to modernize the FT. And truly, the NC-31 has a much bigger engine, with twice the HP, and a cannon for its top armament (as opposed to the Hotchkiss autocannon on the FT). But come on, they practically just filed off the serial numbers and painted a red star on it.
Vickers Mk. E Type B
Developed in 1928 by J. V. Carden and V. Loyd. The vehicle never entered service in Great Britain. However, it was exported to other countries, including China. In 1937, twenty vehicles of this type fought against Japanese troops at Shanghai. Soviet Vickers-based T-26 vehicles were also exported to China, and 82 vehicles of that type were deployed in South China and Burma in 1941–1942.
- Underground Monkey: Somewhat averted. Fully upgraded, it does resemble the T-26 Soviet light tank, which is not really surprising considering that the T-26 was based on the Mk. E tank. Where this tank sits on the Palette Swap spectrum isn't really clear though...
- More Dakka: Can equip a 40 mm anti-aircraft gun, which can decimate tier II and even some tier III tanks in the right hands.
Type 2597 Chi-Ha
Developed by Mitsubishi from 1935 through 1937. The vehicle was mass-produced from 1938 through 1942, alongside an upgraded Shinhoto Chi-Ha for the last two years, with a total of 1,220 vehicles of both types manufactured. The Chi-Ha and Shinhoto Chi-Ha tanks were widely used by Japanese forces in China, and after Japan capitulation, these vehicles were used by both the PLA and Kuomintang forces in the Civil War of 1946.
- Early-Bird Cameo: Appeared earlier than its original Japanese version.
- Underground Monkey: Almost a completely blatant Palette Swap with the Japanese Type 97 Chi-Ha. From the in-game model, to the engines, the radios, even the background infomation is nearly identical! The only difference is that it's designated a light tank for some reason.
- Difficult, but Awesome: At first, the Type 2597 may comes off immediately as a tank uncomfortably wedged between being a scout, a brawling tank or a tank destroyer, all roles that it can fulfill but will not excel at. But, it is a versatile tank that has a very powerful gun for its tier, and will reward anyone if played more like a medium tank instead of a light tank.
M5A1 Stuart
The first tanks of the M5 series were produced in April 1942, and a new modification, the M 5 A 1, was preferred over other variants. After the M24 Chaffee was developed, the M 5 A 1 tanks were deemed obsolete and were exported to other countries, including China. A total of 100 tanks of this type were supplied to the Kuomintang. During the Civil War (1946–1949), many of these vehicles were captured by the PLA.
- Underground Monkey: As expected, although the armor layout is slightly different.
- Elite Tweak: Compared to the American counterpart, it has a much better gun.
- Fragile Speedster: like its American counterpart this vehicle relies on its speed to spot targets for allied Arty and Tank Destroyers.
59-16
In 1957 a new light tank project was initiated by the Chinese government. Development of vehicle was completed in 1959. The new tank, weighing 16 tons, was equipped with a four-wheel torsion-bar suspension and a rear placement of the drive wheel, and mounted a 57-mm gun (later upgraded to 76-mm).
- Unexpected Gameplay Change: The 59-16 fits your textbook definition of a scout tank. However, it requires that the player has the basic understanding of scouting playstyles (which is pretty advanced compared to most playstyles) to use it effectively.
- Crippling Overspecialization: It sports both excellent maneuverability and a tiny profile, making it one of the better scouting tanks of its tier. But it can't really do most other tasks effectively. The autoloading 76 mm is able to make short work of tanks with minimal protection, but will prove nearly useless against even some medium tanks.
Type 64
More than 50 of these vehicles were produced in Taiwan. All basic components of the vehicle were based on those of American vehicles. The Hellcat turret was mounted on the chassis of the M42 anti-aircraft vehicle, and the armament was the well-proven M1A2 gun. Only one Type 64 prototype survives today.
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Fake Nationality: It's actually Taiwanese, not Chinese, and based on US designs.
Type 62
The development of a lightweight version of the Type 59 tank was started in 1957. The new tank was designed to fight in the mountainous and boggy terrain of South China. The first prototype was built in 1962. Later the vehicle underwent several modernizations.
WZ-131
Development of a lightweight version of the Type 59 tank started in 1957. The new tank was designed to fight in the mountainous and boggy terrain of South China. The first prototype was built in 1962. Later, the vehicle underwent several stages of modernization.
- Glass Cannon: Sports a 100 mm gun, the same gun used on the Type 59, which is a tier 8 medium tank.
WZ-132
The order for the WZ-132 tank was placed in 1964. The design was based on the WZ-131, but with the goal of enhancing firepower and armor protection. A few prototypes were built before the project was canceled in the late 1960s. All prototypes were destroyed during Chinese nuclear weapon testing.
- Glass Cannon: Like the WZ-131, it also sports a 100 mm gun, only it's slightly better.
Type T-34
Among the 1,800 T-34 tanks supplied by the U.S.S.R. to China in the early 1950s, there was a number of T-34-76s. After the tanks saw service in the PLA, almost all of them were sent to North Korea. The usefulness of these tanks was extended by Chinese-designed upgrades, including a new engine and modernized suspension.
- Artistic License – History: In reality, no T-34-76 tanks served in the PLA, which also rules out them sending T-34-76s to the PVA in Korea. The PVA relied on T-34-85s and IS-2s, as the T-34-76 was considered obsolete long before then.
- Department of Redundancy Department: The "T" in the Russian T-34 stands for "type". Yes, this tank is literally the Type Type-34.
- Ditto Fighter: Almost identical to the Russian T-34.
Type 58
The U.S.S.R. exported a total of 1,800 T-34-76 and T-34-85 tanks to China. In 1954 the Chinese government made the decision to begin domestic production of the T-34-85 in 1958, with the new vehicle designated the Type 58. However, production was never initiated, and the Chinese army settled for modifications to the Soviet-made T-34s.
- Power Up Letdown: Its performance does not increase significantly when upgraded.
T-34-1
In 1954, the Chinese government considered the possibility of launching production of the T-34-85 in China. At the same time, Chinese engineers proposed an alternative project: the T-34-1. While based on the T-34-85, the T-34-1's transmission compartment and suspension were to be rearranged, reducing the overall weight and lowering the hull. In 1954, several designs of the vehicle, with varying turrets and armament, were developed. However, a prototype was never built.
Type 59
Chinese medium tank. Initially, the vehicle was a copy of the Soviet medium T-54A tank. The Type 59 entered service in 1959. The first tanks manufactured had no gun stabilizer or night-vision device. Later the vehicle underwent several modernizations. Between 6,000 and 9,500 vehicles of all variants were manufactured from 1958 through 1987.
- Commonplace Rare: In reality, the Type 59 has seen a long production run of 10,000 units and is still used by multiple nations (upgraded or otherwise) as either standard or reserve. The Type 59 in World of Tanks is one of the rarest tanks, because it is not sold very often (and being a Tier 8 premium, it is quite expensive when it is sold).
- Power Equals Rarity: Considered one of the best tier 8 premium tanks, it combines decent armor with a decent gun and acceptable mobility. It very often performs better than expected in 1-on-1 fights with tier VIII mediums and light tanks. Getting your hands on one of these though...
T-34-3
The T-34-3 medium tank was to be a modification of the T-34-2. Unlike the Type 59, the T-34-3 featured reduced armor and the 122-mm gun. The design was developed in 1957. However, mass production of the Type 59 was started in 1958, and the T-34-3 project was discontinued.
- BFG: Sports the biggest gun on any medium tank in the game (122 mm). Though it's quite finnicky in most respects.
59-Patton
After 1960, Chinese government launched the development of a new tank. The engineering experiments included a wide use of previously produced Type 59 tanks. One vehicle was equipped with the turret, gun, and fire control system of an American M 48 A 3 tank.
- Military Mashup Machine: As the name suggests, it's a Type 59 hull mated with the turret of an M48 Patton.
T-34-2
The T-34-2 was not an upgraded modification of the Soviet T-34 tank, but was a totally different vehicle. Chinese engineers conceived the T-34-2 as an analog of the Soviet T-54. Later the U.S.S.R. passed the technology of T-54 production to China, and the T-34-2 project was discontinued.
- BFG: Can mount a 122 mm gun, though it's finnicky at best.
WZ-120
Initially, the WZ-120 (Type 59) tank was a copy of the Soviet medium T-54A tank. In later modifications the tank was upgraded. Between 6,000 and 9,500 vehicles of all variants were manufactured from 1958 through 1987.
- BFG: Can mount a 122 mm gun, which is also mounted on the 113, the Chinese tier X heavy tank.
121
Development of a new medium tank based on the Type 59 began in 1962. The new tank was expected to feature improvements in firepower and armor protection. However, the project was canceled shortly after. Some technical innovations were applied later, in the development of the Type 69 tank. All 121 tank prototypes were destroyed during Chinese nuclear weapon testing.
- BFG: Sports a 122 mm gun, which is actually better in some aspects than the gun on the 113, the Chinese tier X heavy tank.
IS-2
Soviet IS-2 tanks were exported to China in the early 1950s and were used during the Korean War from 1950 through 1953. According to U.S. reconnaissance data, at least four Chinese tank companies deployed in Korea had the IS-2 tank, with five tanks in each company. The IS-2 remained in Chinese service until the late 1950s. Production was discontinued due to a shortage of spare parts and the launch of the Type 59 project. A few IS-2 tanks were exported to Vietnam.
