The Type 79 is a Tier 3 progression Main Battle Tank under Zhang Feng's dealership.
History
Class: Main Battle Tank
Developed: 1981-1983
Service: 1986+
Vehicles Built: 300-800 (sources vary)
Operators: China
The Type 79 Main Battle Tank is the ultimate mass-produced evolution of the Type 69. The Type 79 MBT starts where the Type 69 left off. In the late 1970s and the early 1980s, a significant improvement to the relationships between China and the United States of America took place, which gave the former the access to many western technologies. One of the top items on the Chinese shopping list was the famous British Royal Ordnance 105mm L7 rifled tank cannon. Widely used by NATO in one form or another, it was a weapon to be reckoned with, completely outclassing the old generation of Soviet T-54/55 Main Battle Tanks. Naturally, since the Type 59 and Type 69 both were based on the Type 59 MBT, which in turn was a T-54A copy, the Chinese were very keen on obtaining the weapon for themselves and to arm their tanks with something similar.
And so, in the late 1970s, they managed to set up a bogus Austrian trade company and purchase at least one of these guns for themselves. This approach would not work for the much closely guarded 120mm smoothbore but for the time being, the Chinese were satisfied. The gun was wrapped up, shipped to China and promptly examined and copied by the Chinese experts from NORINCO. The result was a weapon called Type 83 rifled cannon, roughly comparable in performance to the L7. It was immediately integrated into the Type 69-II MBT, resulting in a variant called Type 69-III. Apart from the gun, the vehicle remained mostly the same, including its steel-only armor.
Three prototypes were built and tested between 1981 and 1984. The tests were successful and proved that the vehicle was ready for mass-production, which started in 1984. It appeared in public for the first time on October 1, 1984 during the 35th National Day of the People's Republic of China military parade in Beijing but it took fourteen more months before the tank was formally accepted in service in January 1986 under the name of Type 79. Unlike the Type 69-II, the Type 79 was not exported and was produced in limited number for domestic use. It was never widespread, however, and the production numbers are estimated to be between 300 and 800 vehicles, some of which remain in service to this day, used mostly by reserve units.
Vehicle Traits
- Armored: This vehicle's armor can withstand a lot of punishment, allowing it to survive even serious firefights.
- HESH Rounds: This vehicle can fire special Squash Head rounds. These are extremely effective against angled armor that is typical for Soviet tanks.
Ammunition
| Ammo Name |
Ammo Type |
XP Cost | Damage | Penetration | Velocity | Reload Time |
More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 105mm 105-I APDS | APDS | Stock | 340 | 430[note 1] mm | 1420 m/s | 6.20 s | ||
| ||||||||
| 105mm 105-IDU APDS | APDS |  2,170
|
370 | 505[note 2] mm | 1425 m/s | 6.20 s | ||
| ||||||||
| 105mm 105-HEP-I | HEP | Stock | 300 | 370 mm | 732 m/s | 6.20 s | ||
| ||||||||
| 105mm 105-HEAT-I | HEAT | 1,890
|
480 | 600 mm | 1115 m/s | 6.20 s | ||
| ||||||||
| 7.62mm AP | AP | Stock | 8 | 18[note 3] mm | 855 m/s | 5.00 s | ||
| ||||||||
Upgrades
Armor
| XP Cost | Credit Cost | Hull Armor |
Hull Composition |
Turret Armor |
Turret Composition |
ERA Name | ERA Penetration Reduction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock | Stock | 430 mm (vs AP) 580 mm (vs HEAT) |
Steel | 745 mm (vs AP) 805 mm (vs HEAT) |
Steel | N/A | N/A vs AP N/A vs HEAT |
| This MBT features basic sheet armor without any advanced components, making it vulnerable to HEAT shells and ATGMs. | |||||||
Weapon
| Name | XP Cost | Credit Cost | Aim Time | Reload Time | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 105mm ZPT-83 Rifled Cannon | Stock | Stock | 1.50 s | 6.20 s | ||
Stats:
Ammo:
105mm 105-IB APDS 105mm 105-IDU APDS 105mm 105-HEP-I 105mm 105-HEAT-I 7.62mm AP | ||||||
Engine
| Name | XP Cost | Credit Cost | Max Speed | Reverse Speed | Forward Acceleration |
Hull Traverse | Fire Chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NORINCO 12150L-7BW 580 hp Diesel Engine | Stock | Stock | 50 km/h | 13 km/h | 7.19 s (0 to 32 km/h) 23.11 s (0 to Max Speed) |
30.11° | 10 % |
| NORINCO 12150L-7BWA 580 hp Diesel Engine | 300
|
 5,685
|
50 km/h | 13 km/h | 7.19 s (0 to 32 km/h) 23.41 s (0 to Max Speed) |
35.06° | 10 % |
Parts
| Name | XP Cost | Credit Cost | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Type 84 Smoke Grenades |
Stock | Stock | Comes with 4 charges Recharge time: 35s Duration: 10s |
|
Type 84G Smoke Grenades |
720
|
13,640
|
Comes with 8 charges Recharge time: 25s Duration: 10s |
|
 Improved Fire Control System |
1,005
|
19,180
|
Aiming time is reduced by 20% | |
 TCRLA Laser Rangefinder |
1,310
|
24,860
|
Accuracy is improved by 10% | |
 Improved Loading Mechanism |
3,405
|
64,635
|
Rate of fire is increased by 7% | |
 Upgraded Fire Control System Sensors |
Stock | Stock | Reduces the accuracy penalties for firing and traversing the hull. | |
Improved Gun Stabilizer |
Stock | Stock | Overall accuracy while moving is improved by 20% | |
 Stock Tracks |
Stock | Stock | Mobility (Light Terrain): 88.8% Mobility (Heavy Terrain): 74.4% |
Other unlocks
| Name | Cost | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
 Battle Hardened |
 450
|
The Battle-Hardened status allows you to earn more Experience and Credits and also grants preferential matchmaking to the vehicle. |
|
 670 Reputation |
1,350
|
Provides an injection of 670 Reputation. | |
670 Reputation |
1,350
|
Provides an injection of 670 Reputation. |