Type 62

The Norinco Type 62 is a Chinese light tank developed in the early 1960s, based on the Chinese Type 59 with a reduced main gun calibre, lighter armour and a smaller suite of electronics and other equipment to help reduce weight. Bearing in mind that the Chinese Type 59 is essentially the Soviet T-54 (introduced 1947), its reduction the Type 62 with its 85 mm cannon and wedgy little turret is clearly reminiscent of the hull-predecessor of the T-54 which is T-44-85 (introduced 1944), which turret and gun are from the T-34-85 (introduced 1943). The Type 62 is retired from the Chinese People's Liberation Army Ground Forces, but is still in use with other nations. It had recently been upgraded to modern standards and to provide the PLA with a dedicated light tank. It is also known under its industrial designation, WZ-131.