The Norinco Type 77 is a Chinese amphibious armoured personnel carrier. First fielded in 1978, it is similar to the Soviet BTR-50 in function.[1] Like the BTR-50 designed by putting a higher hull on the PT-76 light tank chassis, Type 77 is based on the Type 63 light tank,[2] which is itself a derivative of PT-76, making both vehicles very similar.[3]
| Type 77 | |
|---|---|
 Type 77 armoured personnel carrier advancing with People's Liberation Army Marine Corps soldiers. | |
| Type | Amphibious armoured personnel carrier |
| Place of origin |  People's Republic of China |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1978 – present |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Norinco |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 15.5 tonnes |
| Length | 7.15 m |
| Width | 3.2 m |
| Height | 2.16 m |
| Crew | 2 + 20 |
| Armor | Welded steel |
Main armament | 12.7 mm machine gun |
| Engine | 12150L-2 12-cylinder liquid-cooled diesel 402 hp (300 kW) at 2,000 rpm |
| Power/weight | 25.8 hp/t |
| Suspension | torsion bar |
| Fuel capacity | 416 l |
Operational range | 370 km (road) |
| Maximum speed | 60 km/h (road) 12 km/h (water) |
Design
editThe Type 77 was designed in 1978 based on the Type 63 after certification to manufacture it was received in 1977.[4]
The Type 77 is equipped with a 12.7 machine gun mounted on top with no protection for the gunner.[5]
Variants
editBase variants
edit- Type 77 - Chinese tracked amphibious APC based on the Type 63-I amphibious light tank. The industrial designator is WZ511.
- Type 77-1 - amphibious armoured personnel/artillery carrier designed to carry a disassembled gun (85 mm towed anti-tank gun or 120 mm towed howitzer) on the roof. The vehicle has hydraulic winch and ramps to load/unload the gun. The industrial designator is WZ511-1.
- Type 77-2 - amphibious armoured personnel carrier. No winch and ramps. The industrial designator is WZ511-2.
- Type 76 ARV - recovery vehicle.
Major modifications
edit- Type 89 self-propelled howitzer (PLZ-89) - Type 77 converted into a self-propelled howitzer armed with 122 mm gun. Although most vehicles were based on Type 77 APCs, some vehicles were based on Type 63-I amphibious light tanks.[6][7]
- Type 77 Armored Engineering Vehicle - Military engineering vehicle variant featuring two water-jets, excavation crane, and hydraulically-operated dozer in a V-blade configuration.[8]
Operators
editReferences
edit- ^ "Chinese Armour on the Move". Retrieved 2024-02-07.
- ^ "Type 77 Armored personnel carrier". Military Today.
- ^ "Type 63 Light Amphibious Tank". man.fas.org.
- ^ a b "Type 77 Amphibious Armoured Personnel Carrier". Archived from the original on 2012-01-23. Retrieved 2024-02-07.
- ^ "Type 77 / WZ 511 Armored Personnel Carrier". www.globalsecurity.org.
- ^ "Type 63 Amphibious Tank". Archived from the original on 2012-04-14. Retrieved 2024-02-07.
- ^ "ODIN - OE Data Integration Network". odin.tradoc.army.mil.
- ^ "Review: China army new tracked and wheeled engineer armored vehicles". Army Recognition. 5 April 2021.
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