ST2 Light tank

[Zarvan]

Light tank

The ST2 is classified by NORINCO as tracked fire support vehicle or tank destroyer, though it is a light tank by its function



Country of origin China
Entered service ?
Crew 4 men
Dimensions and weight
Weight ~ 20 t
Length (gun forward) ~ 7.5 m
Hull length ~ 6.8 m
Width ~ 3.1 m
Height ~ 2.8 m
Armament
Main gun 105 mm rifled
ATGW GP2
Machine guns 1 x 12.7 mm, 1 x 7.62 mm
Elevation range - 4.5 to + 18 degrees
Traverse range 360 degrees
Ammunition load
Main gun 32 rounds
Machine guns ?
Mobility
Engine diesel
Engine power 400 ~ 500 hp
Maximum road speed ~ 70 km/h
Range ~ 500 km
Maneuverability
Gradient 60%
Side slope 30%
Vertical step 0.7 m
Trench ~ 2 m
Fording ~ 1.5 m


Currently China operates a number of out-dated Type 62 light tanks. It looks like the Chinese army is looking for a replacement for this ageing light tank. Chinese requirement might be for at least 300 new light tanks. Within the past couple of years some new light tank designs emerged in China. One of them is the ST2. This armored vehicle combines the chassis of the ZJX 93 armored recovery vehicle and turret of WMA 301, or ST1fire support vehicle. In China it is classified as a tracked fire support vehicle or tank destroyer. However it is a light tank by its function. The ST2 was first revealed in 2014. Most likely that this combat vehicle was is also aimed at export customers. Chinese armored vehicles, that were not approved for service with the Chinese armed forces are typically offered for export by NORINCO.

The concept of combining hulls and turrets of existing systems in not new. It is a relatively easy and low-cost way of creating new weapon systems. In 2008 a similar light tank was developed by merging a Type 89 (ZSD 89) armored personnel carrier chassis with a 105 mm turret of a Type 63A amphibious light tank. Though it was not a success and only a single prototype was built.

The new ST2 light tank is intended for reconnaissance, infantry fire support, territorial defense and other roles. It can successfully engage various armored vehicles, such as armored personnel carriers, infantry fighting vehicles, artillery systems and so on. Even though the ST2 can engage main battle tanks, it is not normally intended for such engagements.

Hull of this new Chinese light tank is similar to that of the ZJX 93 armored recovery vehicle. The ZJX 93 is an extended version of the Type 89 armored personnel carrier with additional road wheel. It has more internal volume, which enabled to install the turret. The ZJX 93 has not been manufactured for some years. So it is possible that the ST2 light tank uses refurbished and upgraded, rather than newly-built chassis.

The ST2 has a 3-man turret. It is armed with a 105 mm rifled gun, which is compatible with all standard NATO 105 mm tank ammunition. The gun can fire a wide range of ammunition, including APFSDS-T, HEAT, HE, and even bunker busting rounds. Maximum range of fire is around 3 000 m. As mentioned before, this light tank is not that effective against modern main battle tanks. However this gun penetrates front armor of the tanks like T-55,T-62, and some other, that are widespread in Africa and Southeast Asia - in the regions where these fire support vehicles are likely to be deployed. The ST2 light tank can also launch GP2 anti-tank guided missiles in the same manner as ordinary projectiles. The GP2 has a tandem HEAT warhead which is claimed to penetrate 650 mm of rolled homogenous armor equivalency behind explosive reactive armor. The GP2 missile can engage targets at a maximum range of 5 000 m. A total of 32 rounds are carried for the main gun. The gun is loaded manually by the loader.

The ST2 is reportedly fitted with a thermal imager. So this vehicle can engage targets accurately at night and during adverse weather conditions.

Secondary armament consists of coaxial 7.62 mm machine gun and roof-mounted 12.7 mm machine gun.

Due to its light weight the ST2 light tank provides only limited protection for its crew. Its armor withstands hits from small arms fire and artillery shell splinters. This combat vehicle is fitted with NBC protection system and can operate in contaminated areas. Also the ST2 is likely to have an automatic fire suppression system.

This light tank is operated by a crew of 4. Commander, gunner and loader are seated in the 3-man turret turret. There is a door at the rear of the hull for entrance and ammunition loading. Also there are roof hatches. Driver is seated at the front of the hull, next to an engine.

This light tank is powered by a diesel engine. It is likely to develop around 400-500 hp. Even though the ZJX 93 armored vehicle is fully-amphibious, it looks like the ST2 tank lost the amphibious capability due to increased weight.

http://www.military-today.com/tanks/st2.htm

 

[masud]

IF AMPIBOUS then bangladesh army should take a look at this vehicle..............

IF AMPIBOUS then bangladesh army should take a look at this vehicle..............

 

[Penguin]

It is essentially an APC with a 105mm tank gun turret slapped onto it. Without any additional armor, extremely vulnerable. The hull is made of welded steel, and provides protection against shell splinters and small arms fire. Welded steel hull, resist rounds up to 12.7mm. Take that to mean 12.7mm protected front, 7.62mm sides and rear. The basic vehicle has an amphibious river crossing capability and is propelled through the water by its track at a speed of 6km/h. Not sure this is retained with the addition of the turret (could require side mounted floatation aids)

It's not entirely new:
" There was even a light tank version of the Type 89, fitted with a complete turret of the Type 63A amphibious light tank. It was first publicly revealed in 2008. However this vehicle had no success. Only a single prototype was built. A couple of years later a light tank version, based on this armored personnel carrier was reviewed. In 2014 an ST2 light tank was revealed. It uses an extended hull of the Type 89 with an extra road wheel, and 105 mm turret of WMA 301 or ST1 fire support vehicle."
http://www.military-today.com/apc/yw_534.htm

Presumably, the shorter 5-roadwheel original vehicle was too short/light for the turret and gun recoil.

 

[Beast]

It is essentially an APC with a 105mm tank gun turret slapped onto it. Without any additional armor, extremely vulnerable. The hull is made of welded steel, and provides protection against shell splinters and small arms fire. Welded steel hull, resist rounds up to 12.7mm. Take that to mean 12.7mm protected front, 7.62mm sides and rear. The basic vehicle has an amphibious river crossing capability and is propelled through the water by its track at a speed of 6km/h. Not sure this is retained with the addition of the turret (could require side mounted floatation aids)

It's not entirely new:
" There was even a light tank version of the Type 89, fitted with a complete turret of the Type 63A amphibious light tank. It was first publicly revealed in 2008. However this vehicle had no success. Only a single prototype was built. A couple of years later a light tank version, based on this armored personnel carrier was reviewed. In 2014 an ST2 light tank was revealed. It uses an extended hull of the Type 89 with an extra road wheel, and 105 mm turret of WMA 301 or ST1 fire support vehicle."
http://www.military-today.com/apc/yw_534.htm

Presumably, the shorter 5-roadwheel original vehicle was too short/light for the turret and gun recoil.

I guess with the heavy turret fitted. It will lack any amphibious capability. But the concept Norinco try to sell is a light assault armoured. If heavy armour are fitted and the vehicle weight shoot up to 30tons with price also shoot up. It will lack the appeal it trying to sell in the first place. Many of these type of cost effective armour end up in African countries who want cost effective and light armoured where many of their poor bridge cannot take too heavy vehicle. No to mention they have very limited budget.

 

[ZY-CN-CA]

Chinese netizens should have a sense of confidentiality！

 

[Penguin]

I guess with the heavy turret fitted. It will lack any amphibious capability. But the concept Norinco try to sell is a light assault armoured. If heavy armour are fitted and the vehicle weight shoot up to 30tons with price also shoot up. It will lack the appeal it trying to sell in the first place. Many of these type of cost effective armour end up in African countries who want cost effective and light armoured where many of their poor bridge cannot take too heavy vehicle. No to mention they have very limited budget.

Well, you could provide (optional) packages providing different armor levels. Depending on which option(s) chosen or not, amphibious capability could possibly be maintained. And a floatation aids package is also a possibility.

E.g. an applique armor kit
E.g. an ERA kit
E.g. a SLAT cage.
E.g. an APS

See M-8 Armored Gun System.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M8_Armored_Gun_System
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/m8-ags.htm
http://www.army-guide.com/eng/product926.html

See e.g. Arisgator Package for M113

http://www.army-guide.com/eng/product1007.html

 

[UkroTurk]

Light tanks aren't to be supposed too much weak.
Steal armour against 12.7 is nothing, it's just waste of money.
Every terrorist who hide with antimaterial rifle can be real danger.
If somebody has 23 mm gun, he would waste your light tank.

That's why Russians uses welded aluminium and Americans titainium armour in light tanks.

Armor Turret – Welded steel
Hull – Aluminum alloy with composite skin
20tons.
M 551 SheriDan

The vehicle designed to mount the gun had a steel turret and aluminum hull. Although the hull could defeat heavy machinegun fire of up to 12.7mm AP,[8] it was easily defeated by rocket propelled grenades, which could destroy the vehicle if the spalling contacted the caseless main gun rounds. Like the M113 armored personnel carrier, it was also vulnerable to mines.
M8 Buford.

The armored gun system used titanium appliqu� armor. The M8 can be fitted with three levels of protection:

1. Level I against splinters
2. Level II against armor piercing small arms and small cannon fire
3. Level III against cannon up to 30mm

Also I would argue that why light tanks need big tank gun?
ATGMs are unique for light vehicles.

http://www.armyrecognition.com/imag...S_Turkey_Turkish_defence_industry_640_001.jpg

Turkish 10 tons vehicle features better armour then Chinese.



If you want support your artillery against cheap terrorist, you would prefer 120mm mortar on this vehicle.

It weights 10 tons.

Also you may just use towed 105mm ligtweited howitzers made from titatinium.

If titanium were so expensive , new Turkish 105 mm artillery gun ideal for you.
It s made by aliminium and cheap.

New 105mm air transportable light towed howitzer from the Turkish Company MKE.
The Turkish Company MKE presents for the first time in Kazakhstan its new 105mm air transportable light towed howitzer. The new 105mm MKE towed howitzer can provides direct and indirect fire support to the forces deployed in combined arms operations.

New Turkish-made MKE 105 mm air transportable light towed howitzer at KADEX 2016, Kazakhstan Defense Exhibition in Astana.

The MKE 105mm towed howitzer can fire all type of ammunition uses by NATO countries. The maximum rate of fire is six rounds per minute for the first two minutes. The sustained rate of fire is three rounds per minute for 30 minutes. It has a standard firing range of 17,000m at sea level. A standard crew of five is needed to prepare the howitzer for firing.

The MKE 105mm light towed howitzer can be easily moved and rapidly deployed in the field to deliver optimum fire power with less combat weight. The howitzer has a lower silhouette with a total weight of 1,600 kg without fire control system.

It can be towed by a wide range of light wheeled or tracked vehicles. It can be routinely air dropped by parachute and also carried under slung by CH-47 Chinook, UH-60 Black Hawk or S-70 Sikorsky helicopters.

L118 light gun
The versatile 105mm light gun is used by the parachute and commando field artillery regiments of the British Army.

The light gun can be towed by a medium-weight vehicle or carried around the battlefield underslung by a Chinook helicopter.

Royal Artillery L118 light guns are fitted with an automatic pointing system (APS), which enables the gun to be unlimbered and in action in 30 seconds. APS is based on an inertial navigation system, operated via a touch screen, it replaces the traditional dial sight.
Crew: 6
Length (gun forward): 8.8m
Height: 2.13m
Width: 1.78m
Combat weight: 1858kg
Ammunition: High Explosive (HE), smoke, illuminating, target marking
Maximum range: HE 17.2km
Shell weight: HE 15.1kg
Manufacturer BAE Syste

 

[Penguin]

Light tanks aren't to be supposed too much weak.
Steal armour against 12.7 is nothing, it's just waste of money.
Every terrorist who hide with antimaterial rifle can be real danger.
If somebody has 23 mm gun, he would waste your light tank.

A 23mm AAA gun firing AP rounds into the back end of a tank can also kill a tank.

A properly used fire support vehicle would stay out of range of such threats.

AMR and Zu-23-2 effective range is 2-2.5km max. Maximum effective range of a 120mm smoothbore equipped tank is around 3.5 to 4 km, depending on round and FCS, and for a 105mm gun like L7 it is not much less.
http://www.steelbeasts.com/sbwiki/index.php/Ammunition_Data

That leave 1-1.5km to play with.

Besides, at such longer ranges, the penetration power of the lighter round .50 or 23mm is much less than that of the heavy 105mm round as residual energy of the latter is much greater. And the AFV has armor while the rifle or light cannon typically does not.

A certain level of API proof armor is usually for a certain range. For example BMP-3:
"Over the frontal, the vehicle is protected against 30 mm gun rounds at a range of 200 m."
"According to Kurganmashzavod, the BMP-3 may also be fitted with additional side armor tiles, which can resist .50 caliber armor-piercing ammunition perpendicularly at close ranges. They give the BMP-3 added side protection from autocannon fire as well."
"The body covered from the sides and the top. In such kit, it is protected against 12.7 mm machine gun rounds in the range of 100–200 m"
"Additional passive armour protection is effective against 12.7 mm armour-piercing rounds from a range of 50 m."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMP-3
Which means if you are within 200m it is no longer 30mm cannon proof over the frontal arc...