Type 85
Summary
| Origin country | 🇨🇳 China |
| Category | Main Battle Tank |
| Sub-type | Medium Main Battle Tank |
| Manufacturer | Norinco |
| Number built | 200 units |
Technical specifications
| Crew | 4 personnels |
| Range | 700 km |
| Mass | 41.0 tons |
| Height | 2.3 m (7.5 ft) |
| Width | 3.45 m (11.3 ft) |
| Length | 9.99 m (32.8 ft) |
| Max. speed | 57 km/h (35 mph) |
| Engine | Diesel Engine with 730 hp |
| Weapon 1 | 1 2A46M/ D-81TM 125mm smoothbore barrel gun |
| Weapon 2 | 1 NSV 12.7mm machine gun |
| Weapon 3 | 1 7.62mm PKT machine gun |
Further Reading
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Profile of Type 85
Description
Norinco developed the Type 85 as an export-oriented main battle tank using the Type 80 chassis as a foundation. The project originated after the Type 80-II prototype failed to attract foreign buyers due to engine performance issues during trials, where its power pack required eight hours to replace. To rectify these deficiencies, engineers integrated a newly designed angular welded turret with the existing chassis. Because of export restrictions on foreign-sourced weaponry, the Chinese developed a local 105mm rifled gun specifically for this series, which was initially marketed under the "Storm" designation.
The Type 85 represents a technical shift in Chinese tank design, being the first in its lineage to utilize a welded turret rather than a cast design. This construction allowed for the integration of composite armor. The chassis features six road wheels per side, a departure from the five-wheel configuration of previous Chinese medium tanks. Firepower was upgraded in later variants; while the Storm-1 used a 105mm gun, the Type 85-IIAP and Type 85-IIM were equipped with a 125mm smoothbore gun and an autoloader. This modification reduced the crew requirement from four to three personnel. The Type 85-III variant introduced explosive reactive armor and a transmission based on the T-72. In Pakistani service, the Type 85UG upgrade incorporates Thales sights, new ballistic computers, and the capability to fire Ukrainian Kombat gun-launched missiles.
The vehicle is operated by several nations, including Pakistan, Sudan, and Uganda. In Sudan, where the tank is locally designated the Al-Bashir, the Type 85-IIM saw combat during the 2012 border conflict with South Sudan. In engagements against South Sudanese T-72AV tanks, Sudanese Type 85 units destroyed four T-72s and damaged two others without sustaining serious damage. This performance was attributed to the fire control systems and ammunition of the Type 85. The tank has also been deployed during the Sudanese civil war that began in 2023. Within China, the Type 85-III served as the basis for the Type 88C, which was subsequently renamed the Type 96. Additionally, the Type 80 family was used during the 2020–2021 China–India skirmishes.