![]() Export variants, however, see a different arrangement. His hatch has a fully revolving plate where is fixed his periscope. The commander sits on the front right, with his own single piece hatch opening to the right. The front one could be swapped for a night vision device. He could see through two day periscopes cover the front-right angles. The driver sits in the front left with a single piece hatch opening to the left. The official figure was a crew of 15, including the commander and driver, but the configuration could change from two to four front seats, and generally 10 infantrymen sitting in the rear compartment. Compartmentation includes a right rear engine, driver and TC in front, a third crewman behind the driver and the troop compartment behind. Reusing components of the Type 77 amphibious APC and other Chinese light vehicles, the Type 63 had an entirely welded hull with cold steel RHA, with a front three-sided beak and some overhang, with a front armor of 14 mm protecting against HMGs and 8-9 mm elsewhere, to protect against small arms fire. The Fourth faculty of the Harbin Engineering Academy was also called upon and placed under the supervision of the Scientific department of the PLA Armour Corp., assisted by the Fifth Department of First Machinery Works and Soviet experts. Design work started at the No.1 specialized Institute of the First Machinery works (which had some experience on tanks design before). The Yong Ding Machinery Factory (later part of NORINCO group) was designated to manufacture the APC. In July 1958 the central government of China announced a national scientific development and strategic plan for a tracked armored personnel carrier with a goal for mass production set in 1960. Still in service today and widely exported, it saw at least four major conflicts. It was mass-produced until the late 1980s, was also called K-63, M1967, M1970 and knew 17 major variants. ![]() At first, the relatively small APC looked similar in general appearance to most tracked APCs of the time. Production : 8000 The first Chinese APCÄ«eing not only the first APC designed in China but also the first Chinese vehicle entirely designed without Soviet influence, the Type 63 soon attracted great interest from the experts in military matters worldwide. Type 63 Armored Personal Carrier Chinese P.L.A.
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