Type-70/Type-84 (W653/W653A)

The Type 70 (WZ-701) is a Chinese armored command vehicle derived from the Type 63 APC chassis, designed to provide mobile command and control capabilities. The Type 84 (W653A) is an improved variant, often configured as an armored recovery or engineer vehicle, featuring a crane and winch.

Developed by Norinco during the Cold War, these specialized support vehicles were created to provide the People's Liberation Army (PLA) with dedicated mobile command and armored recovery capabilities to support its rapidly mechanizing armored divisions. The Type 70 command vehicle entered service in the early 1970s, followed by the Type 84 armored recovery vehicle in 1984 to support the PLA's expanding tank fleet. In addition to domestic use during border skirmishes, these platforms were widely exported, seeing significant combat action with the Iraqi Army during the Iran-Iraq War and the subsequent Gulf War. Although largely phased out of active front-line PLA service in favor of modern tracked support platforms, both variants remain operational with reserve units and several foreign militaries across Asia and Africa.