WZ-122 Main Battle Tank

Not to be confused with Type 80.

WZ-122 Main Battle Tank
Type	Main Battle Tank
Place of origin	PRC
Production history
Number built	Only several prototypes
Specifications
Weight	≤37.5 Tonnes (1970 blueprint)^[1]
Length	Unknown
Width	Unknown
Height	Unknown
Crew	4

Armor	Unknown
Main armament	120 mm tank gun
Secondary armament	1 × 12.7 mm AAMG 1 × 7.62 mm MG
Engine	diesel 650–680 hp (in 1970s plan)
Suspension	hydropneumatic suspension (WZ-122A) torsion-bar (WZ-122B)

The WZ-122 (Chinese: WZ-122主戰坦克) was a main battle tank developed by the People's Republic of China. Its development started in March 1970. After several prototypes were built, the plan was set aside in 1974.^[2]

History

After the Zhenbao Island incident (zh:珍寶島事件) in 1969, the PRC decided on the necessity to develop new tank models. These new tanks included WZ-132, WZ-121 (Type 69) and WZ-122, which commenced development in March 1970.

The first prototype designated WZ-122A was finished on 25 September 1970. The tank's cast turret and wheels were of similar design style to Soviet tanks, but also differed to the USSR's tanks in some components such as the suspension.^[2] However, this tank was too complex for practical use in China at that time. So, this tank was quickly set aside. In January 1971, another prototype was finished. This prototype used many mature parts, however many issues had been found during the test, which led to its eventual abandonment.^[3]

References

Chinese modern AFVs

Main battle tanks	Gongchen (modified Type 97 Chi-Ha)^x T-34^x IS-2^x Type 59 Type 59G Type 62^x Type 62G Type 69/79^x Type 88^x Type 96/A Type 99 Type 99A

Export MBTs	Type 85^x Type 90^x MBT2000 VT1A VT2 VT4

amphibious tanks	Type 63 Type 63A ZTD-05 VN16

Infantry fighting vehicles	YW307 Type 91 ZBD-97 ZBD-04 ZBD-05 ZBD-04A ZBL08 VN1 VN18 VN11 VN12

APCs	Type 63 Type 77 ZSD-85 ZSD-89 ZSD-90 ZSL-92 VN2 ZFB-05 ZBL09 ZBD-08

SPGs	Type 85 PLZ07A PLZ07B PLL-05 Type 83 SPH ZBL09 SPH ZBL09 Mortar PLZ-45 PLZ-89 PLZ-52 PLZ-05 PLZ-04

Tank destroyer	PTZ-89 ZBL09 tank destroyer ST1

MRLs	Type 63 Type 81 Type 82 Type 83 Type 90 Type 90A Type 90B WM-40 WM-80 SR-4 PR50 AR3 A100 A200 A300 WS-1 WS-2 WS-3 WS-6 WS-15 WS-22 WS-32 WS-33 WS-35 WS-43 WS-63 SR-5 SY300 SY400 Weishi

SPAAG	LD2000 PGZ-95 PGZ-04A CS/SA5 SWS2

Wheeled assault guns	ZBL09 assault gun ST1

Prototypes	WZ-111 Type 98 WZ-132 WZ-122 59-16 Type 80

Note: ^x = retired from service or has ceased development

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