The history of Chinese armor began during the pre-WW2 Republic of China era, when the first armored vehicles started appearing in the region. They were mostly very light and obsolete armored cars, but some tanks found their way to China as well. This was the Chinese Warlord era – land was divided between powerful leaders with their own militaries, including armored forces.
中国装甲力量的发展始于二战前的民国时期，这是天朝境内出现了第一批装甲载具。它们几乎清一色的是非常过时的轻型装甲车，不过仍有一部分坦克进入了天朝。这是天朝军阀混战的时期，各个军阀的斗争让天朝四分五裂，它们都有自己的军事组织，包括装甲力量。

The replacement turned out to be the Type 59 medium tank. The Type 59 was basically a copy of the early T-54A with some of the more sophisticated components missing and the production process simplified for Chinese conditions – the plans and license for the vehicle’s production were handed over to China by the Soviets following the 1950 Sino-Soviet friendship treaty. It was accepted in service in 1959 (hence the Type 59 designation). Its main features included thick sloped armor, a durable cast turret and a 100mm gun (a copy of the ubiquitous Soviet D-10T).
替换的最终方案就是（大名鼎鼎的）59式中型坦克。59式坦克实质上是以早期T-54A为原型，去掉了一些复杂组件，简化生产过程来适应当时的中国国情-苏联在1950年根据《中苏友好条约》将该车的生产方案和生产许可交给了中国。

The Type 59 and its modifications remained in Chinese service for around thirty years with production running until 1985. In Armored Warfare, the Type 59 will be a tier 3 MBT, following the tier 2 Type 62 light tank. The Type 62 was basically a smaller, lighter version of the Type 59, designed to fight in China’s mountainous areas where heavier vehicles could not operate. Unlike Type 59, Type 62 was armed with an 85mm rifled gun and was much less durable than its bigger counterpart. Nevertheless, it was effective as very few other tanks could pass through the same terrain. The Type 59 itself was eventually upgraded with a 105mm rifled gun (either heavily inspired by the Royal Ordnance L7 or a direct copy of this gun). It’s worth noting that around 10 thousand Type 59 tanks were made – this design was also heavily exported and fought (for example) in the Iran-Iraq war or in the Gulf.
59式以及它的各种改进型号在中国服役直到1985年，前后30余年时间。在AW中，59会是一辆3级MBT，在它前面的2级的62式轻型坦克。62本质上一个更小更轻的59，设计理念是在重型载具不能运行的中国山区作战。不同于59，62使用了85毫米线膛炮作为主要武器而且它的可靠性远不如59。不过，62式仍是成功的，它可以通过很多其他坦克无法通过的地形。59式的最终升级版本是105毫米线膛炮（由英国皇家军械L7炮参考而来）。值得一提的是全球各地有近万辆59式依然征战不休，59式被大量的出口，并驰骋于战场之上，例如两伊战争，海湾战争。

While the 105mm gun was a significant improvement over the old 100mm model, the Chinese were not done copying yet. In 1969, during the Sino-Soviet border conflict, Chinese forces managed to capture an intact modern T-62 medium tank. This vehicle was reverse-engineered and the technological advances gleaned from it were used to upgrade the Type 59, resulting in the Type 69 – this Type 59 variant featured a stronger engine and some of the T-62-based improvements. The Chinese never really liked this tank all that much, but it became a very successful export vehicle with around two thousand sold all across the world. In the 1980s (after a warming of Sino-American relations), this vehicle was further upgraded with several western components including the aforementioned 105mm gun and a new fire control system, resulting in a variant called Type 79.
虽然105mm主炮性能比它的前辈100mm炮有显著的提高，但中国人并没有止步于此。1969年，中国军队在中苏边境冲突期间成功缴获了一辆完整的T-62中型坦克。通过逆向工程技术，T-62的先进技术被用于升级59式，结果就是69式的出现-这种59改装备了更强大的引擎和一些来自T-62的技术。事实上中国军队从来都不喜欢这辆坦克，但是它却成为了一个非常成功的出口型号，大约有2000两出售到世界各地。到了20世纪80年代（中美关系回暖之后），该型号的升级型安装了之前提到过的105mm主炮和新的火控系统，它被称为79式。

Another alternative second generation Chinese tank design by Plant 617 (and others) was the Type 88 – like the two abovementioned vehicles, it too combined the older Type 80 body with modern (mostly western-based) components (such as a 105mm gun – which was later upgraded to a 125mm). The upgraded variant of the Type 88 is probably still in service in China in smaller numbers.
Meanwhile, work had began on the first Chinese third generation MBT. The Type 85 was chosen as a platform and again it was heavily upgraded to produce the Type 90 – the first Chinese tank to feature modular armor. The Chinese military was not interested in this vehicle – instead it was offered for export to Pakistan where it eventually became the Al Khalid MBT.
另一个源于中国的第二代主战坦克设计是617所带头设计的88式，就像之前说的两种车辆，他也结合了旧80式和西方的现代化组件，如105毫米火炮--后来升级为125毫米。88式的升级版很可能还少量列装于中国部队。
同时中国的第三代主战坦克也提到了日程中。85式被选作一个平台，升级为90式坦克---中国特色的模块化装甲。但是吧，中国军方表示不感兴趣，这种车辆最终被出口到巴基斯坦，最终成为了阿尔哈立德主战坦克。

Another upgraded Type 85-III was introduced in 1996. It also featured modular armor design and the lessons learned from the Type 90 development were put to good use – it had a modern 1000hp diesel engine and – most importantly – a new, western-style welded turret. It entered service in 1997 under the designation Type 96 and became the standard modern MBT of the Chinese military – well over 2000 were produced.
Chinese tank development continued with the Type 98 MBT. Introduced in 1999 during a military parade in Beijing, this tank is quite different from its predecessors. It resembles the T-72, but the turret is welded. The main armament is a fully stabilized 125mm smoothbore gun. Around a dozen vehicles of this type were built before a new variant was introduced in 2000 – this new variant featured an ERA set, a more powerful engine, a thermal imager and an advanced fire control system. This new variant became the Type 99 MBT and with over 600 built, it currently represents the best tank in Chinese service – it is believed that this advanced (and very expensive) MBT is to serve in elite Chinese units, while the regular units will remain equipped with the older Type 96. It is quite agile (1500hp diesel for around 54 tons) and well-armed – the upgraded version (Type 99A) features a new type of ERA set that resembles the Russian “Relikt”. In Armored Warfare, the Type 98 will be a tier 8 vehicle while the Type 99A2 will appear on tier 9.
另一种85式改了又该即59超超改的版本，在1996年被正式披露，他拥有基于90式但是更加出色的模块化装甲，一个现代化的1000HP柴油发动机，以及最重要的，一个新的，焊接炮塔。它服役于1997年，并被定名为96式，成为中国新一代的现代化主战坦克--生产量超过两千辆。
中国继续发展了新型59超超超改，即98式主战坦克。98式于1999年阅兵时展出，这种坦克与前辈完全不同，类似于T72的布局，但是采用焊接炮塔。主要武器是一门全稳定的125毫米炮。在2000年，一个新的59超超超再改即98式的升级版出现了，他拥有更强大的引擎，热成像仪，以及先进的火控系统。这个车型被称为99式，据说已生产超过600辆，他代表了目前中国最好的主战坦克--据说，这种最先进（也是最贵的）的主战坦克主要列装中国的精锐部队，而其他单位还在使用相对旧一点的96式。这辆车极为灵活（1500HP柴油发动机和大约54吨的自重），装备精良，升级后（即99A）采用了类似俄罗斯Relikt的ERA系统。在Armored Warfare中，98式将是一辆T8级别的车，而99A2式将出现在T9级别。

Currently, the known pinnacle of Chinese armor development seems to be the MBT-3000 (also known as VT-4) export tank. This 52 ton vehicle is – according to Chinese sources – superior to any other export MBT on the market, although this claim is difficult to prove as most of the data about this tank are classified. Earlier in 2015, Chinese officials caused an outrage claiming the MBT-3000 to be equal or superior to the T-14 Armata – whether such claims are truthful or simply an attempt to bring more attention to this vehicle remains to be seen.
目前，外界所知的中国最强的装甲载具似乎是MBT-3000（也就是VT-4）的出口型。这两52吨重的坦克-根据中国的消息-比市场上任何其它出口型MBT都要先进，不过因为该坦克的各项数据都是机密，所以无法证实其真实性。2015年早些时候，中国官员曾声称MBT-3000等于或优于T-14 Armata，无论这种声明是真的亦或是单纯的炒作只能继续观望。

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@不死鸟v8