Armor: May 31, 2001

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China has unveiled a 6x6 wheeled armored tank destroyer which was built several years ago but which has not entered into series production. It is not clear what vehicle was the basis of the new tank destroyer, but the WZ551 armored personnel carrier is the best guess. The armament is a 105mm rifled gun with a fume extractor, thermal sleeve, and an unusual muzzle brake (apparently to reduce the recoil against the light vehicle frame). There is a 7.62mm machinegun mounted coaxially and a 12.7mm machinegun on the turret roof. The commander has day and night sights; the gunner has day and night sights and a laser rangefinder. The vehicle has a combat weight of 18.5 tonnes.--Stephen V Cole