Type 80/88 main battle tank

In the 1970s China's primary MBT in service was the Type 59, a licensed copy of the T-54 medium tank which was obsolete compared to contemporary Soviet and Western designs. Even then, the Type 69 was barely able to meet export requirements. Further tank development commenced which would lead to the Type 80 and Type 90 prototypes. Type 80 and Type 85 development The Type 80 began development in 1978, building upon the foundation that was laid during the development of the Type 69 tank. Development took place in Factory 617 and Institute 201, Factory 447 and 616 were also involved. It was the first Chinese tank to be classified as a "Main Battle Tank". The Type 80 was a prototype which did not enter production but was the basis of improved variants such as the Type 80-I, Type 80-II and Type 85, creating a family of MBTs. The Type 80 used the turret from the Type 79 MBT but with a thickened turret front. However, the first Storm tanks also failed to gather interest among potential buyers. This led to further upgrades in the Type 85 to its engine from 730 hp to 800 hp and changing to a semi-auto transmission. This upgraded Type 85 would eventually be designated the Type 85-II/Storm-II. The Type 85-II would catch the interest of the Pakistani government and was finally exported under the designation Type 85-IIAP or Type 85-IIM. While the Type 85 should have been named the Type 88 by its year of development, it was eventually decided that it would be retroactively named the Type 85 due to its more dated specifications. Combat History ====Sudan==== in 2012 South Sudan would deploy T-72AV against Sudan to which Sudanese Type 85-II-M (designated Al-Bashir) tanks would respond. Upon clashing, 4 T-72s were destroyed with another 2 badly damaged, no Type 85s were seriously damaged or lost. This resulted from the Type 85-II-M's superior fire control system and ammunition.{{Cite web|date=2022-09-15|title=How Sudan's ‘Al Bashir’ Tank Crushed Ukrainian T-72s in Combat: The Most Dangerous African-Built Armour == Design ==

Overview The chief engineer of the Type 80 was Fang Wei Xian, who also designed the Type 69 and Type 90 tank families. However, the Type 80 used a licence-built L7 rifled gun Secondary armaments for all variants are the same, including one Type 59 12.7 mm heavy machine gun mounted on the turret roof, and one Type 59 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun. The Type 88 tank features improved Type 37A fire control system. Type 37A features integrated gunner sight with daylight optics, passive night vision channel, and laser range finder. The daylight emergency sight from Type 80 is kept at its original location. The new fire control system has improved ballistic computer, new radio communication system, dual-axis stabilizer, self-diagnosis software, and second generation passive night-vision device for driver and gunner. The Type 88B and Type 88A tanks are equipped with improved ISFCS-212 fire control system, with driver, gunner and commander all have access to 2nd generation passive night vision devices. The gunner sight is stabilized. Type 88A and later batches of Type 88B had its gunner sight replaced by thermal imagining devices. Protection Starting from Type 80, the tank is protected by composite armor plates are mounted on the vehicle frontal chassis and composite rubber/metal side armor skirts. The turret of Type 80/88 is still made of rolled homogeneous armour, with the exception being Type 85 series, which is constructed with welded turret and composite armor layers. Original prototype of Type 80 had cut out on the frontal cast turret for gunner observation sight, similar to Type 59 tank. This was removed in Type 80-I and Type 88 models with roof-mounted periscopes and fire control sights. All versions of the Type 80/85/88 tanks are fitted with thermal suppression camouflage paint, collective NBC protection system, air filtration and ventilation system, automatic fire/after-effect suppression system, and 2 sets of four 76mm smoke grenade dischargers. Mobility Type 80 and Type 88 tank are powered by 12150ZL diesel engine developing 730 hp (537 kW). The maximum road speed is 57 km/h and average off-road speed is 32 km/h. The power-to-weight ratio is about 18.9 hp/ton. The transmission has 5 forward gears and 1 reverse gear. It has a maximum cruising range of 500 km and can negotiate a gradient of 61% and side slope of 58%. It can cross a vertical obstacle of 0.8 m and trench of 2.7m. ==Variants==

In Chinese tank development, the "M" or "II" in the designation typically represents a variant primarily intended for export. Four-man crew. Came with NBC protection. Type 80-II chassis with welded turret. Pakistan had originally wanted a 1000 hp engine, but this was not available in China at the time. Export designation to Pakistan was Type 85-IIM Type 88 ;Type 88 Type 88 was the first design of the Type 88 series. This variant never went into mass production. ;Type 88B Despite the name, Type 88B was the first mass-produced Type 88 variant. The Type 80 underwent further development and was accepted into PLA service in 1988, hence its designation was changed to Type 88. Distinguished from Type 88B by type of 105 mm gun mounted. 105mm gun that is longer than the NATO L7 cannon and is capable of firing ATGMs. Type 88C Type 85-III produced for domestic service in the PLA. Uses an angular welded turret. Later renamed to Type 96. File:Type 88 tanks 01.jpg|Type 88A tanks File:Storm-1 Tank 20131004.JPG|Storm-1/Type 85-I. Prototype designation for export. Never mass-produced. Welded turret on Type 80 chassis. File:Chinese Type 85-IIM Tank.jpg|Type 85-IIM variant with 125mm gun File:Chinese Type 85-ІІІ Tank.jpg|Type 85-ІІІ ==Operators==

;: 300 Type 88A/B . ;: 268 Type 85-IIAP . Being Upgraded to Type-85UG/T-85UG standards. ;: 10 Type 85-II-M (local designation Al-Bashir) . ;: ~5 Type 85-II-M received in 2008. ==See also==