Type 63 antiaircraft gun
Encyclopedia
The Type 63 is a Chinese self-propelled anti-aircraft gun based on the Type 58 medium tank (itself a Chinese copy of the Soviet T-34/85).
, due to the lack of hydraulic elevation systems, the guns had to be elevated manually. Because of this, the Type 63 was ineffective against fast moving, low flying aircraft. Nevertheless, due to its rate of fire, it was found to be an effective ground support weapon.
(PLA), made little use of the Type 63, only having a small number available. Even with its faults it remained in service with the PLA until the late 1980s.
Despite its shortcomings, the Type 63 was also supplied to North Vietnam
during the Vietnam War
. At least one was captured by the Army of the Republic of Vietnam
during the 1972 Easter Offensive.
.
Description
The Type 63 retains the hull from the Type 58 but the turret was replaced by an open-top box turret armed with twin Type 63 37mm anti-aircraft guns. The guns were loaded manually with 5-round clips. While the Type 63 was on par with contemporary anti-aircraft systems, such as the M42 DusterM42 Duster
The M42 40 mm Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun, or "Duster," is an armored light air-defense gun built for the U.S. Army from 1952 until December 1959. Production of this vehicle was performed by the tank division of the General Motors Corporation. It used components from the M41 light tank...
, due to the lack of hydraulic elevation systems, the guns had to be elevated manually. Because of this, the Type 63 was ineffective against fast moving, low flying aircraft. Nevertheless, due to its rate of fire, it was found to be an effective ground support weapon.
Service history
The People's Liberation ArmyPeople's Liberation Army
The People's Liberation Army is the unified military organization of all land, sea, strategic missile and air forces of the People's Republic of China. The PLA was established on August 1, 1927 — celebrated annually as "PLA Day" — as the military arm of the Communist Party of China...
(PLA), made little use of the Type 63, only having a small number available. Even with its faults it remained in service with the PLA until the late 1980s.
Despite its shortcomings, the Type 63 was also supplied to North Vietnam
North Vietnam
The Democratic Republic of Vietnam , was a communist state that ruled the northern half of Vietnam from 1954 until 1976 following the Geneva Conference and laid claim to all of Vietnam from 1945 to 1954 during the First Indochina War, during which they controlled pockets of territory throughout...
during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. At least one was captured by the Army of the Republic of Vietnam
Army of the Republic of Vietnam
The Army of the Republic of Viet Nam , sometimes parsimoniously referred to as the South Vietnamese Army , was the land-based military forces of the Republic of Vietnam , which existed from October 26, 1955 until the fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975...
during the 1972 Easter Offensive.
Former Operators
- Small numbers until the 1980s. - Passed on to unified Vietnam. - A number captured from the Vietnam People's ArmyVietnam People's Army
The Vietnam People's Army is the armed forces of Vietnam. The VPA includes: the Vietnamese People's Ground Forces , the Vietnam People's Navy , the Vietnam People's Air Force, and the Vietnam Marine Police.During the French Indochina War , the VPA was often referred to as the Việt...
.
External links
- Type 63 Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun System from Federation of American Scientists website