"The Type 59 Durjoy is a local Bangladeshi Main Battle Tank upgraded from the original Chinese Type 59 design."
Power & Performance Those special qualities that separate one land system design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the Type 59G Main Battle Tank (MBT).
1 x Diesel-fueled turbocharged engine developing 730 horsepower driving conventional track-and-wheel arrangement. Installed Power
31 mph 50 kph Road Speed
280 miles 450 km Range
Structure The physical qualities of the Type 59G Main Battle Tank (MBT).
4 (MANNED) Crew
19.8 ft 6.05 meters O/A Length
10.7 ft 3.27 meters O/A Width
8.5 ft 2.6 meters O/A Height
92,043 lb 41,750 kg | 46.0 tons Weight
Armament & Ammunition Available supported armament, ammunition, and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the Type 59G (Durjoy) Main Battle Tank (MBT).
1 x 125mm smoothbore main gun in turret front face (ATGM-capable).
1 x 7.62mm Type 86 co-axial anti-infantry Medium Machine Gun in (MMG) turret front-face.
1 x 12.7mm W85 Anti-Aircraft (AA) Heavy Machine Gun (HMG) at commander's cupola.
2 x 6 Smoke Grenade Dischargers.
AMMUNITION: 28 x 125mm projectiles.
2,000 x 7.62mm ammunition (estimated).
550 x 12.7mm ammunition (estimated).
12 x Smoke Grenades.
Variants Notable series variants as part of the Type 59G (Durjoy) family line.
The Type 59 "Durjoy" is a Main Battle Tank (MBT) design relied upon by the modern Bangladesh Army. It is a further evolution (by way of modernization) of the Cold War-era Type 59 series originating from China - the Type 59 itself being nothing more than a localized Chinese copy of the classic Soviet-era T-54 (A-model) (these tanks are both detailed elsewhere on the Military Factory. The T-54 entered service in 1947 and production reached an astounding 100,000 between it and the closely-related T-55 mark. The Chinese version went on to reach a production total of 10,000 units from 1958 until 1985 (under the NORINCO brand label) while the Bangladeshi "Durjoy" exists through just 174 examples.
NOTE: Bangladesh originally received their Type 59 tanks by way of Egypt through an initial order of 30 ex-Egyptian Army service tanks in 1975. Over 100 examples were eventually procured. The upgraded Durjoy form was made possible by kits provided by China and assembled in Bangladesh from the period spanning 2014 to 2019 by Bangladesh Machine Tools Factory. With its modernization in place, the Durjoy is considered to be in same class as the upgraded American M60 "Patton", modern Polish PT-91 "Twardy", and in-service Iranian "Zulfiqar" MBTs.
At its core, the tank is a 46-ton vehicle, a notable increase from the original T-54's 40-ton curb weight. It has a running length of 19.8 feet with a beam of 10.7 feet and a height to turret top of 8.6 feet. Inside is a crew of four comprising a driver, tank commander, gunner, and loader. There are five, rubber-tired roadwheels to a hull side with the drive sprocket mounted at rear and the track idler at front. "Saw-tooth" side armor skirts protect the upper reaches of the track-and-wheel arrangement. The hull is suspended via a torsion bar suspension system giving it excellent cross-country mobility. Couple with its 730 horsepower output diesel-fueled engine, this gives the tank an unfettered road speed of 30 miles-per-hour with a range (on internal fuel stores) of 280 miles. External fuel drums can be installed over the rear hull face of the tank for increased operational ranges.
The modernization program has given the vehicle a new turret component with 125mm caliber main gun sporting an integrated recoil mechanism and fume extractor. The gun is afforded 28 total 125mm projectiles including the more potent, armor-defeating APFSDS type. The barrel also supports the firing of Anti-Tank Guided-Missiles (ATGMs). The commander's position also sees a Chinese 12.7mm Type 85 Heavy Machine Gun (HMG) installed. It retains a 7.62mm co-axial machine gun (Chinese Type 86) fit for anti-infantry actions. 81mm Smoke grenade dischargers are also fitted.
The base hull is constructed from composite armor and applique armor. Explosive Reactive Armor (ERA) blocks are used to enhance vehicle and crew survivability. "Cage Armor" is identified over the rear facing of the turret for protection from Line-of-Sight (LoS) rocket attacks originating from behind the vehicle. Headlamps are similarly protected over in cage armor. Additionally, the tank carries its own Nuclear-Biological-Chemical (NBC) protection suite, Laser Warning Receiver (LWR), and Fire suppression system. 12 x Smoke grenade launchers are seated in two banks of six grenades with each bank located at the turret sides.
Beyond this, the crew has access to a laser designator, thermal imaging system, and SATellite COMmunications (SATCOM) as well as an integrated air conditioning system.
Service entry of Durjoy tanks began in 2015 and continues today (2023).
Operators Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the Type 59G (Durjoy). Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national land systems listing.
Total Production: 174 Units Contractor(s): Bangladesh Machine Tools Factory - Bangladesh
[ Bangladesh ]
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Photograph by Shadman Samee via Wikipedia.
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