Type 63 anti-aircraft gun

Infobox Weapon
is_vehicle=yes
type=Anti-aircraft gun
origin=People's Republic of China
name = Type 63
crew = 6


caption =
length = 6.432 m (21 ft 1 in)
width = 2.99 m (9 ft 10 in)
height = 2.99 m (9 ft 10 in)
weight = 32 tonnes (35.2 tons)
engine =12-cyl. diesel model V-2
engine_power =500 hp (373 kW)
suspension =Christie
maximum_road_speed =55 km/h (34 mph)
fording_depth = 1.32 m (4 ft 4 in)
vehicle_range =
primary_armament = twin 37 mm (1.45 in) anti-aircraft cannons
armour = 18-45 mm (0.7-1.8 in)
engine = 12-cylinder turbocharged diesel
engine_power = 580hp
pw_ratio =

The Type 63 was a self-propelled anti-aircraft weapons system.

Description

Created to meet the requirement of a self propelled anti-aircraft gun, the Chinese took the chassis from a Soviet T-34 tank and added an open top turret with twin 37mm anti-aircraft guns. The guns were loaded manually with 5-round clips. The resulting vehicle, the Type 63, was a severely limited weapon. It has no provision for radar control and had to be sighted and elevated manually. This rendered it of little use versus fast, low flying aircraft.

ervice History

Despite its shortcomings, it was supplied to the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War. The People's Liberation Army made little use of it, only having small numbers available. However, even with its faults it served until the late 1980s.

References

* Hogg, Ian (2000). "Twentieth-Century Artillery". Friedman/Fairfax Publishers. ISBN 1-58663-299-X