Type 77 (armored personnel carrier) explained
| Type 77 |
| Type: | Amphibious armoured personnel carrier |
| Is Vehicle: | yes |
| Service: | 1978 – present |
| Weight: | 15.5 tonnes |
| Length: | 7.15 m |
| Width: | 3.2 m |
| Height: | 2.16 m |
| Crew: | 2 + 20 |
| Armour: | Welded steel |
| Primary Armament: | 12.7 mm machine gun |
| Engine: | 12150L-2 12-cylinder liquid-cooled diesel |
| Engine Power: | 402 hp (300 kW) at 2,000 rpm |
| Fuel Capacity: | 416 l |
| Pw Ratio: | 25.8 hp/t |
| Suspension: | torsion bar |
| Vehicle Range: | 370 km (road) |
| Speed: | 60 km/h (road)
12 km/h (water) |
The Norinco Type 77 is a Chinese amphibious armoured personnel carrier. First fielded in 1978, it is similar to the Soviet BTR-50 in function.[1] Like the BTR-50 designed by putting a higher hull on the PT-76 light tank chassis, Type 77 is based on the Type 63 light tank,[2] which is itself a derivative of PT-76, making both vehicles very similar.[3]
Design
The Type 77 was designed in 1978 based on the Type 63 after certification to manufacture it was received in 1977.[4]
The Type 77 is equipped with a 12.7 machine gun mounted on top with no protection for the gunner.[5]
Variants
Base variants
- Type 77 - Chinese tracked amphibious APC based on the Type 63-I amphibious light tank. The industrial designator is WZ511.
- Type 77-1 - amphibious armoured personnel/artillery carrier designed to carry a disassembled gun (85 mm towed anti-tank gun or 120 mm towed howitzer) on the roof. The vehicle has hydraulic winch and ramps to load/unload the gun. The industrial designator is WZ511-1.
- Type 77-2 - amphibious armoured personnel carrier. No winch and ramps. The industrial designator is WZ511-2.
- Type 76 ARV - recovery vehicle.
Major modifications
- Type 89 self-propelled howitzer (PLZ-89) - Type 77 converted into a self-propelled howitzer armed with 122 mm gun. Although most vehicles were based on Type 77 APCs, some vehicles were based on Type 63-I amphibious light tanks.[6] [7]
- Type 77 Armored Engineering Vehicle - Military engineering vehicle variant featuring two water-jets, excavation crane, and hydraulically-operated dozer in a V-blade configuration.[8]
Operators
China: 200 to 300 Type 77s formerly used by the PLA Marine Corp for combat support.[4]
Notes and References
- Web site: Chinese Armour on the Move . 2024-02-07.
- Web site: Type 77 Armored personnel carrier . Military Today.
- Web site: Type 63 Light Amphibious Tank. man.fas.org.
- Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20120123141901/http://www.sinodefence.com/army/armour/type77.asp . 2012-01-23 . Type 77 Amphibious Armoured Personnel Carrier. 2024-02-07 .
- Web site: Type 77 / WZ 511 Armored Personnel Carrier. www.globalsecurity.org.
- Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20120414021457/http://www.sinodefence.com/army/tank/type63.asp . 2012-04-14 . Type 63 Amphibious Tank . 2024-02-07.
- Web site: ODIN - OE Data Integration Network. odin.tradoc.army.mil.
- Web site: Review: China army new tracked and wheeled engineer armored vehicles . Army Recognition . 5 April 2021.
