ZTZ59A - Revision history

U41531792: /* Pros and cons */

2024-01-08T05:23:40Z

‎Pros and cons

U38088265: /* Main armament */

2023-08-12T22:27:03Z

‎Main armament

U4656018: Revised description to current standards

2023-06-30T19:55:40Z

Revised description to current standards

U79942984: Updated mentions of APDS, changed lineup advice.

2023-04-22T21:22:00Z

Updated mentions of APDS, changed lineup advice.

U38088265: /* Machine guns */

2023-03-12T16:12:35Z

‎Machine guns

U44629479: /* Machine guns */ Changed to Type 54 (12.7 mm)

2023-03-11T17:14:02Z

‎Machine guns: Changed to Type 54 (12.7 mm)

U44629479: /* Ammunition */ Converted to transclusion

2023-02-05T20:21:59Z

‎Ammunition: Converted to transclusion

U44629479: Edits

2022-10-06T14:42:12Z

Edits

U10980488: /* Usage in battles */

2022-10-06T14:37:41Z

‎Usage in battles

U38088265: /* Main armament */ Updated

2022-09-17T11:37:42Z

‎Main armament: Updated

@@ Line 165: / Line 165: @@
 * Poor mobility overall, meaning low agility and responsiveness to changing situations
 * Armour is still inadequate to stop common HEATFS or APFSDS (e.g. [[Leopard 1 (Family)|Leopard 1]], [[T-55AM-1|T-55AM]], [[OF-40 (Family)|OF-40]])
-* Limiting gun depression of -4° hinders its capacity in uneven battlefield
+* Limiting gun depression of -5° hinders its capacity in uneven battlefield
 * Terrible reverse speed of -7 km/h prevents it from getting out of danger quickly
 * Smoke grenades discharge behind the tank, can't conceal the tank very well

@@ Line 72: / Line 72: @@
 |-
 ! ''Arcade''
-| rowspan="2" | 34 || rowspan="2" | -5°/+18° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | {{Annotation|Vertical|up to 40 km/h}} || 9.5 || 13.2 || 16.0 || 17.7 || 18.8 || rowspan="2" | 11.18 || rowspan="2" | 9.89 || rowspan="2" | 9.12 || rowspan="2" | 8.60
+| rowspan="2" | 34 || rowspan="2" | -5°/+18° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | {{Annotation|Vertical|up to 40 km/h}} || 9.5 || 13.2 || 16.0 || 17.7 || 18.8 || rowspan="2" | 9.75 || rowspan="2" | 8.62 || rowspan="2" | 7.95 || rowspan="2" | 7.50
 |-
 ! ''Realistic''

@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 == Description ==
 <!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
-The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a premium rank {{Specs|rank}} Chinese medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "Ground Breaking"]].
+The '''{{Specs|name}}''' (Chinese: [ZTZ]59A式中型坦克 or 59-I式中型坦克; industry code WZ120A) was the first major revision for the Type 59 in PLAGF service. The plans for this revision was based on the suggestions gathered from the armored corps during the Sino-Vietnamese War to upgrading the existing fleet with new FCS and suspensions before the later 59-II (59B) with 105 mm gun could enter service; the upgrades included IR searchlight, LRF and new FCS with automatic ballistic solutions for faster acquisition, side fences and smoke grenade launchers by the turret, as well as new APFSDS for better penetration. The upgraded tank was certified in 1984 and became the placeholder upgrades during the modernization of PLA.
-The ZTZ59A is based on the long-existing [[Type 59]] and upgraded with some technologies from [[Type 69]]. Although the Type 59 chassis is rather outdated compared to later MBTs, or indeed many of its contemporaries in War Thunder, the ZTZ59A has some improvements that extend its lease on life somewhat. A laser rangefinder allows it to stay away from the heated battlefield and strike enemies from further away and a pair of barrel-type smoke grenades are available, enhancing its survivability and offering a straight upgrade to the tech tree Type 59.
+Introduced in [[Update "Ground Breaking"]] as a GE premium for PLAGF, the ZTZ59A is based on the long-existing [[Type 59]] and upgraded with some technologies from [[Type 69]]. Although the Type 59 chassis is rather outdated compared to later MBTs, or indeed many of its contemporaries in War Thunder, the ZTZ59A has some improvements that extend its lease on life somewhat. A laser rangefinder allows it to stay away from the heated battlefield and strike enemies from further away and a pair of barrel-type smoke grenades are available, enhancing its survivability and offering a straight upgrade to the tech tree Type 59.
 == General info ==

@@ Line 82: / Line 82: @@
 {{:Type 59 (100 mm)/Ammunition|BR-412, BR-412D, Type 1959 APDS, Type 1973 HEAT-FS, OF-412}}
-The ZTZ59A's ammo selection is mostly identical to the Type 59. As usual, the BR-412D APCBC round is highly effective against lightly armoured targets such as light tanks and Leopard 1s, successful penetrations usually resulting in instant knockouts. It also works very well for flanking shots. The Type 1959 APDS round has the highest muzzle velocity and enough penetration to handle most targets. The Type 1973 HEAT-FS round has the best penetration and can counter just about any vehicle with steel armour, but has a sensitive fuse and can be stopped by ERA or composite armour.
+The ZTZ59A's ammo selection is mostly identical to the Type 59. As usual, the BR-412D APCBC round is highly effective against lightly armoured targets such as light tanks and Leopard 1s, successful penetrations usually resulting in instant knockouts. It also works very well for flanking shots. The Type 1959 APDS round has the highest muzzle velocity and impressive flat penetration, but the limited angled penetration can be an issue against the hull armour of heavy tanks (and even some medium tanks).The Type 1973 HEAT-FS round has the best penetration and can counter just about any vehicle with steel armour, but has a sensitive fuse and can be stopped by ERA or composite armour.
 The BR-412 APHE shell is worse than BR-412D in every practical way and should be disregarded because the ZTZ59A is a premium tank with all ammo types unlocked from the start. The OF-412 HE shell is technically the best option for triggering overpressure damage against light targets, but it has no utility against targets with half-decent armour and the HEATFS is more versatile. The ZTZ59A does not have access to the Type 59's BR-412B APHEBC round, but that round is again inferior to BR-412D in practical terms and its absence will not be missed.
@@ Line 145: / Line 145: @@
 Bear in mind that the ZTZ59A does not have the Type 69's improved turret drive or engine, so it is less mobile and has a difficult time reacting to ambushes. These weakness can be mitigated if one maintains some separation from the front lines. In close range engagements, remember to utilize the hull traverse as well as the turret traverse to quickly adjust one's aim. The smoke grenades are also nice for covering retreats because the basic Type 59 has no sources of smoke whatsoever, though keep in mind that they are barrels mounted on the back of the tank and are not the best for instant concealment while reversing into cover.
-The ZTZ59A does not bring anything drastically new to the table, but as a direct improvement to the Type 59, it is a good addition to the already impressive Chinese ground lineup at this BR. Partnering it with the Type 69 gives one access to two MBTs with laser rangefinder, and because the Type 69 is more suited for front line work, the ZTZ59A can be preferentially used for laid back sniping. The [[PTL02]] is of course the supreme sniper with its excellent APFSDS, high mobility, and thermal sights, but the ZTZ59A has a lower profile and is sturdy enough to participate in direct assaults as well without being melted by any incoming fire.
+The ZTZ59A does not bring anything drastically new to the table, but as a direct improvement to the Type 59, it is a good addition to the already impressive Chinese ground lineup at this BR bracket. Partnering it with the Type 69 gives one access to two MBTs with laser rangefinder, and because the Type 69 is more suited for front line work, the ZTZ59A can be preferentially used for laid back sniping.
 === Pros and cons ===

@@ Line 125: / Line 125: @@
 ! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
 |-
-| Pintle || 500 (50) || 600 || -5°/+60° || ±180°
+| Pintle || 500 (50) || 600 || -4°/+82° || ±180°
 |-
 |}
@@ Line 134: / Line 134: @@
 ! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
 |-
-| Coaxial || 3,000 (250) || 600 || N/A || N/A
+| Coaxial || 3,000 (250) || 600 || - || -
 |-
 |}

@@ Line 117: / Line 117: @@
 {{Specs-Tank-Weapon|3}}
 <!-- ''Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.'' -->
-{{main|DShK (12.7 mm)|SGMT (7.62 mm)}}
+{{main|Type 54 (12.7 mm)|SGMT (7.62 mm)}}
 {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
 |-
-! colspan="5" | [[DShK (12.7 mm)|12.7 mm DShK]]
+! colspan="5" | [[Type 54 (12.7 mm)|12.7 mm Type 54]]
 |-
 ! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal

@@ Line 80: / Line 80: @@
 ==== Ammunition ====
-{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
+{{:Type 59 (100 mm)/Ammunition|BR-412, BR-412D, Type 1959 APDS, Type 1973 HEAT-FS, OF-412}}
 The ZTZ59A's ammo selection is mostly identical to the Type 59. As usual, the BR-412D APCBC round is highly effective against lightly armoured targets such as light tanks and Leopard 1s, successful penetrations usually resulting in instant knockouts. It also works very well for flanking shots. The Type 1959 APDS round has the highest muzzle velocity and enough penetration to handle most targets. The Type 1973 HEAT-FS round has the best penetration and can counter just about any vehicle with steel armour, but has a sensitive fuse and can be stopped by ERA or composite armour.

@@ Line 189: / Line 189: @@
 Bear in mind that the ZTZ59A does not have the Type 69's improved turret drive or engine, so it is less mobile and has a difficult time reacting to ambushes. These weakness can be mitigated if one maintains some separation from the front lines. In close range engagements, remember to utilize the hull traverse as well as the turret traverse to quickly adjust one's aim. The smoke grenades are also nice for covering retreats because the basic Type 59 has no sources of smoke whatsoever, though keep in mind that they are barrels mounted on the back of the tank and are not the best for instant concealment while reversing into cover.
-The ZTZ59A does not bring anything drastically new to the table, but as a direct improvement to the Type 59, it is a good addition to the already impressive Chinese 8.0 ground lineup. Partnering it with the Type 69 gives one access to two MBTs with laser rangefinder, and because the Type 69 is more suited for front line work, the ZTZ59A can be preferentially used for laid back sniping. The [[PTL02]] is of course the supreme sniper with its excellent APFSDS, high mobility, and thermal sights, but the ZTZ59A has a lower profile and is sturdy enough to participate in direct assaults as well without being melted by any incoming fire.
+The ZTZ59A does not bring anything drastically new to the table, but as a direct improvement to the Type 59, it is a good addition to the already impressive Chinese 7.7 ground lineup. Partnering it with the Type 69 gives one access to two MBTs with laser rangefinder, and because the Type 69 is more suited for front line work, the ZTZ59A can be preferentially used for laid back sniping. The [[PTL02]] is of course the supreme sniper with its excellent APFSDS, high mobility, and thermal sights, but the ZTZ59A has a lower profile and is sturdy enough to participate in direct assaults as well without being melted by any incoming fire.
 === Pros and cons ===
@@ Line 225: / Line 225: @@
 ;Skins
 * [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=cn_ztz_59a Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

@@ Line 32: / Line 32: @@
 ! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
 |-
-| Hull || 100 mm (60°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 100 mm (54°) ''Lower glacis'' || 80+3 mm ''Top'' <br> 20 mm + 20 mm (31°) ''Bottom'' || 45 mm (16°) ''Upper plate'' <br> 30 mm (72°) ''Lower glacis'' || 100 mm (30°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 30 mm ''Crew compartment'' <br> 20 mm ''Engine compartment'' <br> 5 mm ''Engine vents''
+| Hull || 100 mm (60°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 100 mm (54°) ''Lower glacis'' || 80+3 mm ''Top'' <br> 20 mm + 20 mm (31°) ''Bottom'' || 45 mm (16°) ''Upper plate'' <br> 30 mm (72°) ''Lower glacis'' || 100 mm (30°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 30 mm ''Crew compartment'' <br> 20 mm ''Engine compartment'' <br> 5 mm ''Engine vents''
 |-
-| Turret || 160 mm (14-39°) ''Turret front'' <br> 150-250 mm (4-78°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 115-155 mm (24-45°) ''Front and centre'' <br> 100 mm (18-38°) ''Rear'' || 65 mm (14°) || 30-60 mm
+| Turret || 160 mm (14-39°) ''Turret front'' <br> 150-250 mm (4-78°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 115-155 mm (24-45°) ''Front and centre'' <br> 100 mm (18-38°) ''Rear'' || 65 mm (14°) || 30-60 mm
 |-
 | Cupola || 100 mm (34-66°) || 100 mm (27-66°) || 100 mm (25-66°) || 30-40 mm
@@ Line 72: / Line 72: @@
 |-
 ! ''Arcade''
-| rowspan="2" | 34 || rowspan="2" | -4°/+17° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | {{Annotation|Vertical|up to 40 km/h}} || 9.5 || 13.2 || 16.0 || 17.7 || 18.8 || rowspan="2" | 11.18 || rowspan="2" | 9.89 || rowspan="2" | 9.12 || rowspan="2" | 8.60
+| rowspan="2" | 34 || rowspan="2" | -5°/+18° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | {{Annotation|Vertical|up to 40 km/h}} || 9.5 || 13.2 || 16.0 || 17.7 || 18.8 || rowspan="2" | 11.18 || rowspan="2" | 9.89 || rowspan="2" | 9.12 || rowspan="2" | 8.60
 |-
 ! ''Realistic''