Difference between revisions of "ZBD86"

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{{Specs-Card|code=cn_type_86}}
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{{About
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| about = Chinese light tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
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| usage = other versions
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| link = BMP-1 (Family)
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}}
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{{Specs-Card
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|code=cn_type_86
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|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|GarageImage ZBD86Late.jpg}}
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}}
  
 
== Description ==
 
== 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.'' -->
 
<!-- ''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.'' -->
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[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
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The '''{{Specs|name}}''' (ZBD86式步兵战车; industry code: WZ501) is the Chinese reverse-engineered version of the Soviet [[BMP-1]] which was acquired from military equipment exchanges with Egypt in the late 1970s. In the 1980s, during military modernization, the PLAGF faced a pressing need for a new IFV for its mechanized troops. As a result, one of the stored BMP-1s from Egypt was transported to Mainland China for evaluation. In order to expedite the development of a new IFV, the Central Military Commission approved plans to reverse-engineer the BMP-1, despite its underperforming gun systems. The WZ501 was subsequently built in December 1980, incorporating some domestic subsystems. However, due to testing and manufacturing flaws, engineers took nearly 8 years to finalize the design, making additional changes that happened to align with the improvements made to the later BMP-1 variants. The ZBD86 successfully passed state certification in 1986 and began production in April 1987, initially with placeholder gun systems. After failed attempts to introduce American and British turrets, the ZBD86 eventually received new 25/30 mm autocannon turrets in the late 1990s, becoming the ZBD86-I and ZBD86A respectively. These versions are still in service and recently competed with their ideological counterpart, the BMP-2, in the Army Games jointly held by Russia and Mainland China, where the ZBD86A demonstrated superior performance.
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{{break}}
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The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} Chinese light tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.91 "Night Vision"]].
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Introduced in [[Update 1.91 "Night Vision"]], the ZBD86 can be considered a Chinese variant of the BMP-1, being nearly identical to the original Soviet version when stock, with the exception of the absence of rolled-up canvas on the turret sides. However, this vehicle possesses a hidden advantage: the "ZBD86 Late" modification. This equips it with the HJ-73E ATGM, a highly potent derivative of the original "Malyutka" SACLOS control and a tandem warhead. When employed effectively, the HJ-73E can neutralize any target the ZBD86 encounters, irrespective of ERA or composite armour protection. This makes the ZBD86 a valuable asset in uptiers and a versatile vehicle overall.
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
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''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.''
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{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}
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<!-- ''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' -->
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The ZBD86 has very little to speak of in the armour department. Minimal frontal and nearly non-existent side armour results in the vehicle being vulnerable to almost any incoming fire. At most it can be counted on to shrug off heavy machine gun fire from the front. As such, the vehicle's survivability stems entirely from its mobility and reasonably small profile. Where possible, utilise hills or other cover, only exposing as much of the vehicle as is necessary to engage an unaware target.
 +
 
 +
The thin armour renders the ZBD86 vulnerable to overpressure damage from chemical munitions, nearby artillery impacts, and aircraft ordnance. Be very cautious of aircraft and do not stick around under artillery fire.
 +
 
 +
Despite the lack of armour, however, the ZBD86 will, on occasion, survive hits unexpectedly - the internals of the vehicle are largely non-critical and many rounds will over-penetrate, particularly subcalibre rounds.
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable"
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|-
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! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
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|-
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| Hull || 7-12 mm (80°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 19 mm (56°) ''Lower glacis'' || 16 mm (3-18°) ''Top'' <br> 18 + 4 mm ''Bottom'' || 16 mm (12°) ''Top'' <br> 12 mm (48°) ''Bottom'' <br> 12 mm (8-51°) ''Doors'' || 6 mm <br> 5 mm ''Engine exhausts''
 +
|-
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| Turret || 23 mm (0-53°) ''Turret front'' <br> 33 + 26 mm ''Gun mantlet'' || 13-23 mm (24-37°) || 13 mm (23-26°) || 6 mm
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|-
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| Cupola || 7 mm || 7 mm || 7 mm || 7 mm
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|-
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|}
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'''Notes:'''
 +
 
 +
* Suspension wheels and tracks are 10 mm thick.
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* Belly armour is 6 mm thick.
  
 
=== Mobility ===
 
=== Mobility ===
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{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}
 
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' -->
  
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{{tankMobility|abMinHp= 465|rbMinHp= 265}}
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{{tankMobility|abMinHp=465|rbMinHp=265}}
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The ZBD86's mobility is reasonably good, although somewhat lacking relative to other IFVs. Despite that, once it gets moving it can travel at a decent pace. It can reach around 45 km/h when driving off-road on flat terrain.
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 +
Be aware when attempting flanking manoeuvres and early pushes that there are vehicles with better mobility characteristics, and in many cases you'll encounter a vehicle before reaching a desirable position.
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=== Modifications and economy ===
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{{Specs-Economy}}
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The modules and stock grind of the ZBD86 are very similar to the BMP-1. The main difference is that that the "ZBD86 Late" modification is present instead of the BMP-1P modification. "ZBD86 Late" upgrades the vehicle's ATGM and adds smoke grenades, as on the BMP-1P, but does not remove the autoloader. Thus, a spaded ZBD86 will always reload and is not dependent on crew reload skills compared to a spaded BMP-1. The smoke grenades are mounted on the turret cheeks, three per side, instead of residing behind the turret as on the BMP-1P.
  
 
== Armaments ==
 
== Armaments ==
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{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
 
=== Main armament ===
 
=== Main armament ===
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''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibility of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Advise about how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.''
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{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|3}}
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<!-- ''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibility of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.'' -->
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{{main|Type 86 (73 mm)}}
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The Type 86 main cannon is a somewhat finicky weapon. The penetration of the DYP-73 HEAT round is no higher than the [[Type 62]]'s HEATFS but the muzzle velocity of 665 m/s is lower, making it difficult to use at long range. Still, the gun reloads in only 6 seconds and has an autoloader. It can be quite lethal at close quarters with careful aim and knowledge of enemy modules, these factors being important due to the limited post-penetration damage. For targets with larger volumes, it is best to aim for ammo racks. If that is difficult or risky, disable their gun and mobility first. DYP-73 has a TNT equivalent of about 480 g and might cause overpressure damage to light targets on occasion. Keep in mind that the {{PAGENAME}} does not feature any sort of stabilisation at all, and due to its light weight the gun is near impossible to get on target at speed.
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There is almost no reason to use the DYS-73 HE round. Its muzzle velocity is an abysmal 290 m/s and it has minimal penetration, making it useless against armoured targets, it can only be used against open-topped ATGM carriers similar to the [[M113A1 (TOW) (China)|M113]] or super light ATGM carriers of BR 9.0+, like the [[Wiesel 1A2]] (but these will probably know better and just dodge).
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 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
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|-
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! colspan="5" | [[Type 86 (73 mm)|73 mm Type 86]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || Reloading rate (seconds)
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|-
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! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
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! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
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! Autoloader
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|-
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! ''Arcade''
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| rowspan="2" | 40 || rowspan="2" | -4°/+30° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | - || 19.0 || 26.4 || 32.0 || 35.4 || 37.6 || rowspan="2" | 6.00
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|-
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! ''Realistic''
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| 11.9 || 14.0 || 17.0 || 18.8 || 20.0
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|-
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|}
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==== Ammunition ====
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{{:Type 86 (73 mm)/Ammunition|DYP-73, DYS-73}}
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==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
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[[File:Ammoracks_BMP-1.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]
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<!-- '''Last updated:''' -->
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
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|-
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! Full<br>ammo
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! 1st<br>rack empty
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! Visual<br>discrepancy
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|-
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| '''40''' || 1 ''(+39)'' || No
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|-
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|}
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The single ammunition rack consists of a shell barillet located around the turret basket.
  
 
=== Additional armament ===
 
=== Additional armament ===
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''Some tanks are armed with several guns in one or more turrets. Evaluate the additional weaponry and give advice on its use. Describe the ammunition available for additional weaponry. Give advice on about how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage. If there is no additional weaponry remove this subsection.''
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{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}
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{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}
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<!-- ''Some tanks are armed with several guns in one or more turrets. Evaluate the additional weaponry and give advice on its use. Describe the ammunition available for additional weaponry. Give advice on about how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage. If there is no additional weaponry remove this subsection.'' -->
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{{main|HJ-73|HJ-73E}}
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'''HJ-73'''
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The {{PAGENAME}} comes with a rail-mounted manually-guided ATGM as stock, initially aimed manually and with somewhat mediocre penetration and explosive mass values. While occasionally useful, generally the main gun is easier and more reliable. Use it at long range against enemies who are not paying attention or to finish off a crippled target while the main gun is reloading. It does not have enough penetration to bypass ERA.
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4 x HJ-73 ATGM
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* Guidance type: MCLOS
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* Firing range: 3 km
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'''HJ-73E'''
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Once the ZBD-86 Late upgrade is researched, the HJ-73 ATGM is replaced with a HJ-73E. Despite the new ATGM retaining the rail-mount, it is significantly more powerful and easier to use due to its semi-automatic guiding system. It penetrates more than twice as much as the original HJ-73 and ignores ERA due to the tandem-charge warhead. This will go clean through almost any target that the ZBD86 can encounter, even those equipped with early composite armour. It has enough penetration to go through the turret cheek of the [[M1 Abrams]]! Despite having a significantly lower TNT equivalent of 1.83 kg compared to the original HJ-73, the HJ-73E has excellent post-penetration damage due to its sheer penetration power. A center mass impact should be enough to take out all but the most voluminous targets.
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 +
Keep in mind that the ATGM can only be fired when stopped or at extremely low speeds. It also travels more slowly at 130 m/s compared to the 205 m/s of the BMP-1P's 9M113 ATGM.
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 +
4 x HJ-73E ATGM (ZBD-86 Late)
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* Guidance type: SACLOS
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* Firing range: 3 km
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==== Ammunition ====
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{{:HJ-73/Ammunition|HJ-73}}
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{{:HJ-73E/Ammunition|HJ-73E}}
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==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
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[[File:Ammoracks_BMP-1.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]
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<!-- '''Last updated:''' -->
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
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|-
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! Full<br>ammo
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! 1st<br>rack empty
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! 2nd<br>rack empty
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! Visual<br>discrepancy
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|-
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| '''4''' || 3 ''(+1)'' || 1 ''(+3)'' || No
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|-
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|}
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'''Note''':
 +
 
 +
* The missiles are listed from M1 to M4. M2 is the 1st rack. M3-M4 constitutes the 2nd rack.
  
 
=== Machine guns ===
 
=== Machine guns ===
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''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.''
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{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|4}}
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<!-- ''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|Type 86 (7.62 mm)}}
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 +
The {{PAGENAME}} comes equipped with a coaxial 7.62 mm Type 86 machine gun. This is only useful for clearing small obstacles or exposed crew in open-top vehicles.
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 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
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|-
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! colspan="5" | [[Type 86 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm Type 86]]
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|-
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! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
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|-
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| Coaxial || 2,000 (250) || 700 || - || -
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|-
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|}
  
 
== Usage in battles ==
 
== Usage in battles ==
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''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).''
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<!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' -->
  
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=== Pros and cons ===
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Some experience with the previous [[Type 62]] will transfer to the ZBD86. Both are armed with HEAT rounds, have similar mobility, and are best used in ambushes. The ZBD86 enjoys a significantly faster reload, better turret rotation speed, and powerful ATGMs to supplement the main gun. However, the ZBD86 has poorer defensive properties since it's a larger target and has worse gun depression. It is even more important to maintain stealth and good positioning, but on the bright side it can unleash a lot of pain onto its victims upon a successful attack.
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''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".''
 
  
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'''Pros:'''
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The ZBD86 is a shoot-and-scoot type of vehicle as an exposed ZBD86 is a dead ZBD86 - avoid being a target at all costs. Use your mobility to find reasonable sniping spots for the ATGM that have a good view and cover to hide behind. The cannon is helpful at close quarters, where targeting crew members and ammo racks is easy, but is difficult to aim precisely at medium or long range. At these distances, the traditional 1-2 punch of first firing the main gun and quickly following up with an ATGM is viable. Remember that if ''anything'' sees you, it can destroy you - even a .50 cal will make quick work of the ZBD86 from the sides or back. Retreat back into cover while reloading and be careful if you have damaged a target without crippling them; once an enemy knows your position, it becomes far easier for them to destroy you.
  
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*
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The ZBD86's HEAT shell can be formidable against light tanks and SPAAs since these vehicles tend to have smaller volumes and more tightly clustered crew. It is generally the best to aim for crew compartments so that the HEAT jet can do as much work as possible; the explosive content may or may not be able to trigger overpressure damage depending on the target and impact zone, so count it as a nice surprise if it happens. Vehicles equipped with stabilized autocannons like the [[Falcon]], [[Gepard]], or [[M3 Bradley]] can easily maul the thinly-protected ZBD86, so do not pop out in plain sight and do your best to disable them in one shot. ATGMs are typically better saved for armoured targets but it usually only takes one of them to blow a light target to smithereens.
  
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'''Cons:'''
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The HJ-73E is an enticing weapon since its tandem warhead and extremely high penetration will maul any vehicle it meets. ERA-equiped tanks like the [[Magach 3 (USA)|Magach 3]], [[Sho't Kal Dalet (Great Britain)|Sho't Kal Dalet]], and [[Centurion Mk.5 AVRE]], which the original BMP-1 might struggle with, can be given a very rude surprise. Tough heavy tanks with steel armour can also be dispatched easily, making the ZBD86 a giant-slayer of sorts. Unfortunately, the HJ-73E travels slowly and is mounted on an upward-tilted launch rail like the basic HJ-73, which make it inconvenient to use at both close quarters and long range. Keep a healthy distance of at least 200 m from your target before launching the ATGM. For long distance engagements, try to use the HJ-73E against targets that are either immobile and not paying attention or exposed in the open without much cover. It is also important to stay close to cover yourself while launching the ATGM, as attentive enemies can deduce your location and guiding the missile requires staying in the line-of-sight and thus being at least partially exposed for the entire flight duration.
  
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*
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A lucky opponent (and/or one with a lot of machine guns) may be able to shoot the HJ-73E out of the air due to its slow flight speed. If they attempt this, the counter is to guide the missile on a less predictable path while it makes its way to the target, only aiming directly when it gets close. A similar tactic can be helpful against enemies that are not immediately focusing on the ZBD86 but may react to a missile heading straight towards them; for example, launching and guiding the HJ-73E in a different direction while keeping them in view might fool them into thinking that you are aiming at another target, which does not arouse the same panic factor, but snapping your aim to them at the last second as a bootleg form of terminal guidance will leave them very little time to duck into cover or deploy smoke grenades. Remember that these kinds of fancy missile manoeuvres take longer, leaving the ZBD86 more exposed, so it is still best to prioritize unaware targets and use direct aim.
  
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== History ==
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Be very careful of aircraft, as the boxy ZBD86 is easy to spot from above. With only 6-7 mm of roof armour, it's trivial for contemporary planes to riddle it with holes. When planes are around, take advantage of the smoke grenades and ESS to mask your position when necessary. If there are buildings and trees to hide among, even better.
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<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' -->
 
  
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'''Development'''
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The ZBD86 can research NVD, which can help during night battles to increase visibility. NVD is available in commander, gunner, driver and outside viewports. Once purchased, the NVD modification also allows the use of a infrared spotlight to help illuminate targets if they are hard to see. However, it is mounted to the hull, and as such will require the hull to be rotated to illuminate anything.
  
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In the 1950’s, Soviet armored personnel carrier (APC) tactics consisted of lightly armored vehicles that would transport soldiers to combat zones, and then head back behind the lines to safety. During this time, the West German Bundeswehr was using the Schützenpanzer Lang and infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) tactics, where the vehicles would work with the infantry and tanks in order to support them, especially against lightly armored targets. The BMP was a Soviet IFV design created in the late 1950’s. Some of the requirements were the ability for all of the infantry carried to be able to fire from within the vehicle, which was unseen before in IFV designs. It was intended to support the infantry and combat enemy light vehicles. The design placed emphasis on speed and maneuverability, potent armament, and sufficient armament to protect against 23 mm autocannons over the frontal arc. There was a debate over how the vehicle should be wheeled or tracked, and a number of options were explored including hybrid designs with both. The design that was chosen was a tracked vehicle with the engine in the front and the crew compartment in the rear; it was designated the Object 764. A prototype was created in 1964, and the final design was chosen in 1965 - an improved model called the Object 765. In service the production model was called the BMP-1.
+
=== Pros and cons ===
 +
<!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' -->
  
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'''Design'''
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'''Pros:'''
  
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The BMP-1 features a fully tracked hull, with a sharply angled glacis at the front, a centrally mounted turret, and a crew compartment in the rear of the hull, with doors for the infantry to mount and dismount the vehicle. The hull layout is as follows: the engine was in the front right section of the hull. The driver sat to the front left of the vehicle, the commander sat right behind the driver, and the gunner sat in the right side of the turret. The troop compartment located at the rear of the vehicle could seat 8 infantry soldiers. The ability to fire from inside the vehicle was provided by four firing ports on each side of the hull and one in the left door. There are also four hatches in the roof. The infantry sit on two benches with padding, back to back, facing the outer sides of the vehicle. The armor of the frontal arc is enough to generally protect against 20 mm autocannon fire, the side armor generally protects against 12.7 mm machine gun fire, and the roof and rear armor protects against small arms fire and shell fragments. In addition, the sloped glacis on the front of the hull also increased the chances of shells bouncing, because of the extreme angles. The protection level depended somewhat on the version of the BMP-1 in question, as different nations had differing levels of armor quality. The main armament consisted of a 73 mm 2A28 Grom smoothbore semi-automatic cannon, along with a 9M14 Malyutka anti-tank guided missile (ATGM). Secondary armament consisted of a 7.62 mm PKT machine gun. The engine provides 300 hp, and is a six-cylinder four-stroke diesel engine. The suspension system used was a torsion bar suspension system. The BMP-1 is fully amphibious with little preparation. Before entering the water a trim vane has to be raised, which provides additional frontal armor when in the lowered position. It can achieve 65 kph (40 mph) on road and 8 kph (5 mph) in water.
+
* Good mobility
 +
* One of the earliest ATGM light tanks, one of the earliest to receive mouse-guided (SACLOS) ATGMs, first to receive tandem warhead ATGM
 +
* Amphibious ability allows it to reach positions that other vehicles struggle to
 +
* Remains competitive in uptiers with its autoloader, HEAT shells, and ATGMs
 +
* All ammunition types are default and as such have no cost
 +
* HJ-73E ATGM has extremely high penetration for its rank, counters ERA equipped tanks
 +
* Equipped with a night vision device
 +
 
 +
'''Cons:'''
  
−
'''Production and Service'''
+
* Mediocre reverse speed for a light tank
 +
* Chemical ammunition only, may struggle to damage vehicles with ERA like the [[Centurion Mk.5 AVRE]] without the HJ-73E
 +
* All available ammunition is hyper-sensitive and will detonate on hitting light obstacles such as fences or bushes
 +
* Somewhat large silhouette for a light tank
 +
* Poor gun depression
 +
* No stabilizer
 +
* Only three crew members, the commander and driver are clustered together
 +
* Vulnerable to heavy machine gun and light cannon fire, particularly from the sides or top
 +
* Very vulnerable to aircraft, helicopters, and artillery
 +
* Infrared spotlight mounted to hull, won't rotate with turret when NVD is on
 +
* HJ-73E is tilted upwards which makes close targets impossible to hit
  
−
Over 20,000 BMP-1's were produced in the Soviet Union alone, with many more produced in China and Czechoslovakia. The BMP-1 was widely exported and saw significant combat worldwide. BMP-1's participated in the Yom Kippur War, the Angolan Civil War, the Iran-Iraq War, the Gulf War, and many other conflicts. It was well liked for its maneuverability, but it was found that the cannon lacked effective range and the 9M14 ATGM's were hard to control. During the Gulf War it was found that the 25 mm Bushmaster cannon found on the M2/M3 Bradley could consistently penetrate the frontal armor of the BMP-1, even at range.
+
== History ==
 +
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' -->
 +
{{main|BMP-1#History|l1=History of the BMP-1}}
  
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'''BMP-1P Upgrade'''
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The People's Republic of China produced many Soviet vehicles such as the [[Type 59]]/[[T-54 (1951)|T-54]] and [[J-6A|J-6]]/[[MiG-19PT|MiG-19]] under license during its early years, when relations with the Soviet Union were cordial. However, the Sino-Soviet split starting from the early 1960s significantly toned down the cooperation between the two countries. When the BMP-1 first entered service around 1968, the Soviet Union was unwilling to share this new and novel vehicle with China. The BMP-1 was exported to numerous Soviet client states however, and some of these countries like Egypt were on good terms with China. A BMP-1 example was delivered to China from Egypt in the early 1980s and the design was subsequently reverse engineered into the '''ZBD86''', also known as "Type 86", entering service with the PLA in 1986.  The original ZBD 86 model was mostly identical to the BMP-1, featuring a copy of the 9M14 Malyutka ATGM called the "[[HJ-73]]", but since almost two decades had passed since the BMP-1's original introduction, the design was in need of improvements. The "NFV-1" variant was designed for export in collaboration with the American FMC company, featuring a [[M242 (25 mm)|25 mm M242 Bushmaster cannon]] in a redesigned turret. The NFV-1 did not enter service, but Chinese designers learned from the project that for IFVs, autocannons were significantly more practical than the original 73 mm low-velocity cannon. Subsequent models were all armed with autocannons. The ZBD 86-I was the first updated variant to enter mass production and was equipped with the same M242 cannon in an unusual overhead turret, apparently lacking ATGM capability, along with a more powerful engine. The modernized "ZBD86A" variant used ZPT99 30 mm autocannon (domestic version of [[2A72 (30 mm)|2A72]], imported in parallel to the BMP-3 turret brought from Russia) in an angular and more traditional turret that could once more mount an upgraded version coded [[HJ-73E]] which enhances its odds to fight back heavier vehicles .  Over 3,000 ZBD 86s have been produced and over 1,000 are still in service today. However, they have been supplanted in recent years by more advanced Chinese IFVs such as the ZBD04 series, which boast much better protection and armament.
  
−
The BMP-1P was an upgrade to the ATGM systems of the BMP-1. It replaced the 9M14 Malyutka missiles with 9M113 Konkurs or 9M111 missile. This increased the weight of the vehicle, leading to a slight decrease in maneuverability.
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== Media ==
 +
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
  
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'''Chinese Service'''
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;Skins
  
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China produced their own version of the BMP-1 called the ZBD 86, also known as Type 86. They produced a total of over 3,000 Type 86 vehicles of different variants. Over 1,000 are still in service today.
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* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=cn_type_86 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]
  
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== Media ==
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;Videos
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''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''
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{{Youtube-gallery|SJoW-2_6J6o|'''Amphibious tanks'''  discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 5:15  - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|2h5kFyznXKU|'''Best IFVs''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 0:29 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''}}
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
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* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''
 
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''
  
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== ''Bibliography'' ==
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== External links ==
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* ''topic on the official game forum;''
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* ''other literature.'' -->
  
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* ''David B. (2015, December 1). BMP-1. Tank Encyclopedia. https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/coldwar/USSR/soviet_BMP-1.php''
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=== References ===
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* ''BMP-1. (2020, March 25). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=BMP-1&oldid=947316322''
 
  
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== External links ==
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;Bibliography
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''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 
  
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* ''topic on the official game forum;''
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* David B. (2015, December 1). BMP-1. Tank Encyclopedia. https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/coldwar/USSR/soviet_BMP-1.php
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* ''encyclopedia page on the tank;''
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* BMP-1. (2020, March 25). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=BMP-1&oldid=947316322
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* ''other literature.''
 
  
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{{TankManufacturer Norinco}}
 
{{China light tanks}}
 
{{China light tanks}}
 
[[Category:ATGM vehicles]]
 
[[Category:ATGM vehicles]]

Latest revision as of 06:17, 4 July 2024

This page is about the Chinese light tank ZBD86. For other versions, see BMP-1 (Family).
ZBD86
ussr_bmp_1.png
GarageImage ZBD86.jpg
GarageImage ZBD86 Late.jpg
ZBD86
China flag.png China
V Rank
Battle rating:
AB RB SB
7.7 8.0 8.0
Class:
Research:53 000 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:300 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png

Description

The ZhuangJia BuBing LÜDai 86 (ZBD86式步兵战车; industry code: WZ501) is the Chinese reverse-engineered version of the Soviet BMP-1 which was acquired from military equipment exchanges with Egypt in the late 1970s. In the 1980s, during military modernization, the PLAGF faced a pressing need for a new IFV for its mechanized troops. As a result, one of the stored BMP-1s from Egypt was transported to Mainland China for evaluation. In order to expedite the development of a new IFV, the Central Military Commission approved plans to reverse-engineer the BMP-1, despite its underperforming gun systems. The WZ501 was subsequently built in December 1980, incorporating some domestic subsystems. However, due to testing and manufacturing flaws, engineers took nearly 8 years to finalize the design, making additional changes that happened to align with the improvements made to the later BMP-1 variants. The ZBD86 successfully passed state certification in 1986 and began production in April 1987, initially with placeholder gun systems. After failed attempts to introduce American and British turrets, the ZBD86 eventually received new 25/30 mm autocannon turrets in the late 1990s, becoming the ZBD86-I and ZBD86A respectively. These versions are still in service and recently competed with their ideological counterpart, the BMP-2, in the Army Games jointly held by Russia and Mainland China, where the ZBD86A demonstrated superior performance.

Introduced in Update 1.91 "Night Vision", the ZBD86 can be considered a Chinese variant of the BMP-1, being nearly identical to the original Soviet version when stock, with the exception of the absence of rolled-up canvas on the turret sides. However, this vehicle possesses a hidden advantage: the "ZBD86 Late" modification. This equips it with the HJ-73E ATGM, a highly potent derivative of the original "Malyutka" SACLOS control and a tandem warhead. When employed effectively, the HJ-73E can neutralize any target the ZBD86 encounters, irrespective of ERA or composite armour protection. This makes the ZBD86 a valuable asset in uptiers and a versatile vehicle overall.

General info

Survivability and armour

Smoke grenades
Creation of a smoke screen in front of the vehicle
ESS
Creation of a smoke screen in the direction of movement of the vehicle
Armourfront / side / back
Hull19 / 18 / 16
Turret23 / 19 / 13
Crew3 people
Visibility70 %

The ZBD86 has very little to speak of in the armour department. Minimal frontal and nearly non-existent side armour results in the vehicle being vulnerable to almost any incoming fire. At most it can be counted on to shrug off heavy machine gun fire from the front. As such, the vehicle's survivability stems entirely from its mobility and reasonably small profile. Where possible, utilise hills or other cover, only exposing as much of the vehicle as is necessary to engage an unaware target.

The thin armour renders the ZBD86 vulnerable to overpressure damage from chemical munitions, nearby artillery impacts, and aircraft ordnance. Be very cautious of aircraft and do not stick around under artillery fire.

Despite the lack of armour, however, the ZBD86 will, on occasion, survive hits unexpectedly - the internals of the vehicle are largely non-critical and many rounds will over-penetrate, particularly subcalibre rounds.

Armour Front (Slope angle) Sides Rear Roof
Hull 7-12 mm (80°) Front glacis
19 mm (56°) Lower glacis 		16 mm (3-18°) Top
18 + 4 mm Bottom 		16 mm (12°) Top
12 mm (48°) Bottom
12 mm (8-51°) Doors 		6 mm
5 mm Engine exhausts
Turret 23 mm (0-53°) Turret front
33 + 26 mm Gun mantlet 		13-23 mm (24-37°) 13 mm (23-26°) 6 mm
Cupola 7 mm 7 mm 7 mm 7 mm

Notes:

  • Suspension wheels and tracks are 10 mm thick.
  • Belly armour is 6 mm thick.

Mobility

Amphibious
The design allows you to swim and control movement in the water
Speedforward / back
AB73 / 12 km/h
RB and SB66 / 11 km/h
Number of gears10 forward
2 back
Weight13.0 t
Engine power
AB572 hp
RB and SB300 hp
Power-to-weight ratio
AB44.0 hp/t
RB and SB23.1 hp/t
Game Mode Max Speed (km/h) Weight (tons) Engine power (horsepower) Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
Forward Reverse Stock Upgraded Stock Upgraded
Arcade 73 12 13 465 572 35.77 44
Realistic 66 11 265 300 20.38 23.08

The ZBD86's mobility is reasonably good, although somewhat lacking relative to other IFVs. Despite that, once it gets moving it can travel at a decent pace. It can reach around 45 km/h when driving off-road on flat terrain.

Be aware when attempting flanking manoeuvres and early pushes that there are vehicles with better mobility characteristics, and in many cases you'll encounter a vehicle before reaching a desirable position.

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference
AB2 787 → 4 484 Sl icon.png
RB3 338 → 5 370 Sl icon.png
SB4 540 → 7 304 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications87 600 Rp icon.png
146 700 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost2 100 Ge icon.png
Crew training86 000 Sl icon.png
Experts300 000 Sl icon.png
Aces1 200 Ge icon.png
Research Aces720 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
110 / 160 / 210 % Sl icon.png
196 / 196 / 196 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Mobility Protection Firepower
Mods new tank traks.png
Tracks
Research:
6 100 Rp icon.png
Cost:
9 800 Sl icon.png
260 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank suspension.png
Suspension
Research:
4 100 Rp icon.png
Cost:
6 600 Sl icon.png
175 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank break.png
Brake System
Research:
4 100 Rp icon.png
Cost:
6 600 Sl icon.png
175 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank filter.png
Filters
Research:
5 700 Rp icon.png
Cost:
9 200 Sl icon.png
240 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank transmission.png
Transmission
Research:
5 900 Rp icon.png
Cost:
9 500 Sl icon.png
250 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank engine.png
Engine
Research:
5 900 Rp icon.png
Cost:
9 500 Sl icon.png
250 Ge icon.png
Mods tank tool kit.png
Improved Parts
Research:
4 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
9 800 Sl icon.png
260 Ge icon.png
Mods extinguisher.png
Improved FPE
Research:
2 700 Rp icon.png
Cost:
6 600 Sl icon.png
175 Ge icon.png
Mods tank reinforcement cn.png
Crew Replenishment
Research:
5 700 Rp icon.png
Cost:
9 200 Sl icon.png
240 Ge icon.png
Mods engine smoke screen system.png
ESS
Research:
5 900 Rp icon.png
Cost:
9 500 Sl icon.png
250 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank horizontal aiming.png
Horizontal Drive
Research:
6 100 Rp icon.png
Cost:
9 800 Sl icon.png
260 Ge icon.png
Mods tank cannon.png
Adjustment of Fire
Research:
4 100 Rp icon.png
Cost:
6 600 Sl icon.png
175 Ge icon.png
Mods airstrike.png
Airstrike
Research:
4 100 Rp icon.png
Cost:
6 600 Sl icon.png
175 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank vertical aiming.png
Elevation Mechanism
Research:
5 700 Rp icon.png
Cost:
9 200 Sl icon.png
240 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
ZBD86 Late
Research:
5 700 Rp icon.png
Cost:
9 200 Sl icon.png
240 Ge icon.png
Mods art support.png
Artillery Support
Research:
5 900 Rp icon.png
Cost:
9 500 Sl icon.png
250 Ge icon.png
Mods scouting.png
Improved optics
Research:
5 900 Rp icon.png
Cost:
9 500 Sl icon.png
250 Ge icon.png

The modules and stock grind of the ZBD86 are very similar to the BMP-1. The main difference is that that the "ZBD86 Late" modification is present instead of the BMP-1P modification. "ZBD86 Late" upgrades the vehicle's ATGM and adds smoke grenades, as on the BMP-1P, but does not remove the autoloader. Thus, a spaded ZBD86 will always reload and is not dependent on crew reload skills compared to a spaded BMP-1. The smoke grenades are mounted on the turret cheeks, three per side, instead of residing behind the turret as on the BMP-1P.

Armaments

Setup 1:73 mm Type 86 cannon
7.62 mm Type 86 machine gun
HJ-73
Setup 2:73 mm Type 86 cannon
7.62 mm Type 86 machine gun
HJ-73E

Main armament

73 mm Type 86 cannon
Autoloader
Automatically feeds projectiles into the breech. The speed does not depend on the skills of the loader
Ammunition40 rounds
Reload6.0 s
Vertical guidance-4° / 30°
Main article: Type 86 (73 mm)

The Type 86 main cannon is a somewhat finicky weapon. The penetration of the DYP-73 HEAT round is no higher than the Type 62's HEATFS but the muzzle velocity of 665 m/s is lower, making it difficult to use at long range. Still, the gun reloads in only 6 seconds and has an autoloader. It can be quite lethal at close quarters with careful aim and knowledge of enemy modules, these factors being important due to the limited post-penetration damage. For targets with larger volumes, it is best to aim for ammo racks. If that is difficult or risky, disable their gun and mobility first. DYP-73 has a TNT equivalent of about 480 g and might cause overpressure damage to light targets on occasion. Keep in mind that the ZBD86 does not feature any sort of stabilisation at all, and due to its light weight the gun is near impossible to get on target at speed.

There is almost no reason to use the DYS-73 HE round. Its muzzle velocity is an abysmal 290 m/s and it has minimal penetration, making it useless against armoured targets, it can only be used against open-topped ATGM carriers similar to the M113 or super light ATGM carriers of BR 9.0+, like the Wiesel 1A2 (but these will probably know better and just dodge).

73 mm Type 86 Turret rotation speed (°/s) Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode Capacity Vertical Horizontal Stabilizer Stock Upgraded Full Expert Aced Autoloader
Arcade 40 -4°/+30° ±180° - 19.0 26.4 32.0 35.4 37.6 6.00
Realistic 11.9 14.0 17.0 18.8 20.0

Ammunition

Penetration statistics
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
10 m 100 m 500 m 1,000 m 1,500 m 2,000 m
DYP-73 HEAT 300 300 300 300 300 300
DYS-73 HE 11 11 11 11 11 11
Shell details
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Velocity
(m/s) 		Projectile
mass (kg) 		Fuse delay
(m) 		Fuse sensitivity
(mm) 		Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (g) 		Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
DYP-73 HEAT 665 2.6 0 0.01 481.95 65° 72° 77°
DYS-73 HE 290 3.7 0.05 0.1 735 79° 80° 81°

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the ZBD86
Full
ammo 		1st
rack empty 		Visual
discrepancy
40 1 (+39) No

The single ammunition rack consists of a shell barillet located around the turret basket.

Additional armament

HJ-73E
Ammunition4 rounds
Flight speed130 m/s
Range3 200 m
Fire on the moveup to 5 km/h
HJ-73
Ammunition4 rounds
Flight speed140 m/s
Range3 500 m
Method of aiming
ABSemi-auto
RB and SBManual
Fire on the moveup to 5 km/h
Main articles: HJ-73, HJ-73E

HJ-73

The ZBD86 comes with a rail-mounted manually-guided ATGM as stock, initially aimed manually and with somewhat mediocre penetration and explosive mass values. While occasionally useful, generally the main gun is easier and more reliable. Use it at long range against enemies who are not paying attention or to finish off a crippled target while the main gun is reloading. It does not have enough penetration to bypass ERA.

4 x HJ-73 ATGM

  • Guidance type: MCLOS
  • Firing range: 3 km

HJ-73E

Once the ZBD-86 Late upgrade is researched, the HJ-73 ATGM is replaced with a HJ-73E. Despite the new ATGM retaining the rail-mount, it is significantly more powerful and easier to use due to its semi-automatic guiding system. It penetrates more than twice as much as the original HJ-73 and ignores ERA due to the tandem-charge warhead. This will go clean through almost any target that the ZBD86 can encounter, even those equipped with early composite armour. It has enough penetration to go through the turret cheek of the M1 Abrams! Despite having a significantly lower TNT equivalent of 1.83 kg compared to the original HJ-73, the HJ-73E has excellent post-penetration damage due to its sheer penetration power. A center mass impact should be enough to take out all but the most voluminous targets.

Keep in mind that the ATGM can only be fired when stopped or at extremely low speeds. It also travels more slowly at 130 m/s compared to the 205 m/s of the BMP-1P's 9M113 ATGM.

4 x HJ-73E ATGM (ZBD-86 Late)

  • Guidance type: SACLOS
  • Firing range: 3 km

Ammunition

Penetration statistics
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
10 m 100 m 500 m 1,000 m 1,500 m 2,000 m
HJ-73 ATGM 400 400 400 400 400 400
Missile details
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Velocity
(m/s) 		Range
(m) 		Projectile
mass (kg) 		Fuse delay
(m) 		Fuse sensitivity
(mm) 		Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (kg) 		Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
HJ-73 ATGM 140 3,000 10.9 0.05 0.1 3.25 80° 82° 90°

Penetration statistics
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
10 m 100 m 500 m 1,000 m 1,500 m 2,000 m
HJ-73E ATGM (tandem) 800 800 800 800 800 800
Missile details
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Velocity
(m/s) 		Range
(m) 		Projectile
mass (kg) 		Fuse delay
(m) 		Fuse sensitivity
(mm) 		Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (kg) 		Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
HJ-73E ATGM (tandem) 130 3,200 12.5 0.4 0.1 1.83 80° 82° 90°

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the ZBD86
Full
ammo 		1st
rack empty 		2nd
rack empty 		Visual
discrepancy
4 3 (+1) 1 (+3) No

Note:

  • The missiles are listed from M1 to M4. M2 is the 1st rack. M3-M4 constitutes the 2nd rack.

Machine guns

7.62 mm Type 86 machine gun (coaxial)
Ammunition2 000 rounds
Belt capacity250 rounds
Reload8.0 s
Fire rate700 shots/min
Main article: Type 86 (7.62 mm)

The ZBD86 comes equipped with a coaxial 7.62 mm Type 86 machine gun. This is only useful for clearing small obstacles or exposed crew in open-top vehicles.

7.62 mm Type 86
Mount Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal
Coaxial 2,000 (250) 700 - -

Usage in battles

Some experience with the previous Type 62 will transfer to the ZBD86. Both are armed with HEAT rounds, have similar mobility, and are best used in ambushes. The ZBD86 enjoys a significantly faster reload, better turret rotation speed, and powerful ATGMs to supplement the main gun. However, the ZBD86 has poorer defensive properties since it's a larger target and has worse gun depression. It is even more important to maintain stealth and good positioning, but on the bright side it can unleash a lot of pain onto its victims upon a successful attack.

The ZBD86 is a shoot-and-scoot type of vehicle as an exposed ZBD86 is a dead ZBD86 - avoid being a target at all costs. Use your mobility to find reasonable sniping spots for the ATGM that have a good view and cover to hide behind. The cannon is helpful at close quarters, where targeting crew members and ammo racks is easy, but is difficult to aim precisely at medium or long range. At these distances, the traditional 1-2 punch of first firing the main gun and quickly following up with an ATGM is viable. Remember that if anything sees you, it can destroy you - even a .50 cal will make quick work of the ZBD86 from the sides or back. Retreat back into cover while reloading and be careful if you have damaged a target without crippling them; once an enemy knows your position, it becomes far easier for them to destroy you.

The ZBD86's HEAT shell can be formidable against light tanks and SPAAs since these vehicles tend to have smaller volumes and more tightly clustered crew. It is generally the best to aim for crew compartments so that the HEAT jet can do as much work as possible; the explosive content may or may not be able to trigger overpressure damage depending on the target and impact zone, so count it as a nice surprise if it happens. Vehicles equipped with stabilized autocannons like the Falcon, Gepard, or M3 Bradley can easily maul the thinly-protected ZBD86, so do not pop out in plain sight and do your best to disable them in one shot. ATGMs are typically better saved for armoured targets but it usually only takes one of them to blow a light target to smithereens.

The HJ-73E is an enticing weapon since its tandem warhead and extremely high penetration will maul any vehicle it meets. ERA-equiped tanks like the Magach 3, Sho't Kal Dalet, and Centurion Mk.5 AVRE, which the original BMP-1 might struggle with, can be given a very rude surprise. Tough heavy tanks with steel armour can also be dispatched easily, making the ZBD86 a giant-slayer of sorts. Unfortunately, the HJ-73E travels slowly and is mounted on an upward-tilted launch rail like the basic HJ-73, which make it inconvenient to use at both close quarters and long range. Keep a healthy distance of at least 200 m from your target before launching the ATGM. For long distance engagements, try to use the HJ-73E against targets that are either immobile and not paying attention or exposed in the open without much cover. It is also important to stay close to cover yourself while launching the ATGM, as attentive enemies can deduce your location and guiding the missile requires staying in the line-of-sight and thus being at least partially exposed for the entire flight duration.

A lucky opponent (and/or one with a lot of machine guns) may be able to shoot the HJ-73E out of the air due to its slow flight speed. If they attempt this, the counter is to guide the missile on a less predictable path while it makes its way to the target, only aiming directly when it gets close. A similar tactic can be helpful against enemies that are not immediately focusing on the ZBD86 but may react to a missile heading straight towards them; for example, launching and guiding the HJ-73E in a different direction while keeping them in view might fool them into thinking that you are aiming at another target, which does not arouse the same panic factor, but snapping your aim to them at the last second as a bootleg form of terminal guidance will leave them very little time to duck into cover or deploy smoke grenades. Remember that these kinds of fancy missile manoeuvres take longer, leaving the ZBD86 more exposed, so it is still best to prioritize unaware targets and use direct aim.

Be very careful of aircraft, as the boxy ZBD86 is easy to spot from above. With only 6-7 mm of roof armour, it's trivial for contemporary planes to riddle it with holes. When planes are around, take advantage of the smoke grenades and ESS to mask your position when necessary. If there are buildings and trees to hide among, even better.

The ZBD86 can research NVD, which can help during night battles to increase visibility. NVD is available in commander, gunner, driver and outside viewports. Once purchased, the NVD modification also allows the use of a infrared spotlight to help illuminate targets if they are hard to see. However, it is mounted to the hull, and as such will require the hull to be rotated to illuminate anything.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Good mobility
  • One of the earliest ATGM light tanks, one of the earliest to receive mouse-guided (SACLOS) ATGMs, first to receive tandem warhead ATGM
  • Amphibious ability allows it to reach positions that other vehicles struggle to
  • Remains competitive in uptiers with its autoloader, HEAT shells, and ATGMs
  • All ammunition types are default and as such have no cost
  • HJ-73E ATGM has extremely high penetration for its rank, counters ERA equipped tanks
  • Equipped with a night vision device

Cons:

  • Mediocre reverse speed for a light tank
  • Chemical ammunition only, may struggle to damage vehicles with ERA like the Centurion Mk.5 AVRE without the HJ-73E
  • All available ammunition is hyper-sensitive and will detonate on hitting light obstacles such as fences or bushes
  • Somewhat large silhouette for a light tank
  • Poor gun depression
  • No stabilizer
  • Only three crew members, the commander and driver are clustered together
  • Vulnerable to heavy machine gun and light cannon fire, particularly from the sides or top
  • Very vulnerable to aircraft, helicopters, and artillery
  • Infrared spotlight mounted to hull, won't rotate with turret when NVD is on
  • HJ-73E is tilted upwards which makes close targets impossible to hit

History

Main article: History of the BMP-1

The People's Republic of China produced many Soviet vehicles such as the Type 59/T-54 and J-6/MiG-19 under license during its early years, when relations with the Soviet Union were cordial. However, the Sino-Soviet split starting from the early 1960s significantly toned down the cooperation between the two countries. When the BMP-1 first entered service around 1968, the Soviet Union was unwilling to share this new and novel vehicle with China. The BMP-1 was exported to numerous Soviet client states however, and some of these countries like Egypt were on good terms with China. A BMP-1 example was delivered to China from Egypt in the early 1980s and the design was subsequently reverse engineered into the ZBD86, also known as "Type 86", entering service with the PLA in 1986. The original ZBD 86 model was mostly identical to the BMP-1, featuring a copy of the 9M14 Malyutka ATGM called the "HJ-73", but since almost two decades had passed since the BMP-1's original introduction, the design was in need of improvements. The "NFV-1" variant was designed for export in collaboration with the American FMC company, featuring a 25 mm M242 Bushmaster cannon in a redesigned turret. The NFV-1 did not enter service, but Chinese designers learned from the project that for IFVs, autocannons were significantly more practical than the original 73 mm low-velocity cannon. Subsequent models were all armed with autocannons. The ZBD 86-I was the first updated variant to enter mass production and was equipped with the same M242 cannon in an unusual overhead turret, apparently lacking ATGM capability, along with a more powerful engine. The modernized "ZBD86A" variant used ZPT99 30 mm autocannon (domestic version of 2A72, imported in parallel to the BMP-3 turret brought from Russia) in an angular and more traditional turret that could once more mount an upgraded version coded HJ-73E which enhances its odds to fight back heavier vehicles . Over 3,000 ZBD 86s have been produced and over 1,000 are still in service today. However, they have been supplanted in recent years by more advanced Chinese IFVs such as the ZBD04 series, which boast much better protection and armament.

Media

Skins
Videos
Amphibious tanks discusses the ZBD86 at 5:15 - War Thunder Official Channel
Best IFVs discusses the ZBD86 at 0:29 - War Thunder Official Channel

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

  • reference to the series of the vehicles;
  • links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links

References

Bibliography


Norinco (China North Industries Corporation)
Light AFV/IFV 
WZ501  ZBD86¹
WZ131  ▂Type 62 · Type 62
WZ211  Type 63 · ZTS63
WZ502  ZBD04A
MBT 
WZ120  Type 59¹ · ZTZ59A · ZTZ59D1
WZ121  Type 69
WZ122  ZTZ88B · ZTZ88A · ZTZ96 · ZTZ96A · ZTZ96A (P)
WZ123  ZTZ99-II · ZTZ99-III
WZ1001  WZ1001(E) LCT · ZTZ99A
Tank Destroyers  AFT09 · PTL02 · PTZ89 · ZLT11
SPH  PLZ83
SPAA  ZSD63/PG87² · PGZ09 · PGZ04A
Export 
WZ121  Type 69-IIa · T-69 II G
MBT2000  MBT-2000 · Al-Khalid-I
MBT3000  VT4A1
Other  WMA301 · WZ305
  ¹ License production / Reverse engineered · ² Field modifications

China light tanks
Type 63  Object 211 · Type 63 · ZTS63
Type 62  Type 62
WZ551  ZSL92 · PTL02 · WMA301
ZBL08  ZLT11
Type 86  ZBD86
WZ502  ZBD04A
ROC  M41D · M64
Type 59  QN506
USA  ␗M8 LAC · ␗M3A3 Stuart · ␗M3A3 (1st PTG) · ␗M5A1 · ␗M24 · ␗M18 GMC · ␗M41A3
USSR  ␗T-26 · T-26 No.531 · ␗PT-76

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