The story began in 1969 in the Sino-Soviet border conflict,Chinese captured a T-62,At that time, all their anti-tank weapons were unable to effectively destroy the T62.
So Armor troops think they need a new second-generation tank,call “122”(The Type 69 "121 that was being developed at the time was considered to be the same generation as Type 59)
and.there is no WZ at this time
T62 under test
In December 1969,,Armored Forces and Design Department Meeting in Beijing,The meeting discussed the design work of the second-generation tank and the choice of main gun caliber
There were three options for the caliber of the main gun at that time, 100 mm (may be a type-69 smoothbore gun), 115 mm (may be a copy of the T-62 main gun), and the final choice 120 mm smoothbore gun
In the fall of 1970, the construction of the 122 three-hydro was completed(Hydro-pneumatic suspension,Hydraulic transmission,Hydraulic assisted control)at 617 factory
But the test proved that the new hydraulic technology is not reliable enough,So the original Hydro-pneumatic suspension was replaced by the traditional torsion bar suspension,
This is the 122 three-mechanical
122 three-hydro,the Hydro-pneumatic suspension is completely relaxed
The most famous photo of 122 three-hydro
122 three-mechanical,The anti-tank missiles were removed, and the twin 12.7 mm machine guns were replaced with a single one, fume extractor has also been changed
At the same time, the prototype built at Luoyang's 704 factory,The main gun is similar to the 122 three-mechanical, but has a muzzle brake
Anti-tank missiles are retained,12.7mm machine gun replaced by 20mm gun
122 three-hydro and prototype 704
122 three-hydro Probably disassembled,and The main gun was later installed on the 1224
but 122 three-mechanical(Probably more than one,There is a strange tank in the Chinese Tank Museum, which is very similar to a 122 three-mechanical turret on type-80 hull) and prototype 704 all survived
122 three-mechanical in 617 factory
For 122 three-mechanical,everything is fine,Hope to serve in a few years
BUT,In 1974, a meeting decided that the caliber of the tank’s main gun did not need to be increased.
This meeting killed 122 and choose Type 69 tank.
It turns out it was a mistake,The 100mm smoothbore gun of the Type 69 tank did not perform well
and soon the Chinese found that they needed a bigger gun to deal with a tank that was stronger than the T62.
To be continued
So Armor troops think they need a new second-generation tank,call “122”(The Type 69 "121 that was being developed at the time was considered to be the same generation as Type 59)
and.there is no WZ at this time
![001mberbzy6OJEXL1Clc5&690.jpeg 001mberbzy6OJEXL1Clc5&690.jpeg](https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/data/attachments/203/203515-00132f6c582f0b853b65512a4643500f.jpg)
![4a243eb5ly1fhcglg90drj20zk0qoae4.jpg 4a243eb5ly1fhcglg90drj20zk0qoae4.jpg](https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/data/attachments/203/203517-21c707a868873238b9cfbf533123bb3a.jpg)
T62 under test
In December 1969,,Armored Forces and Design Department Meeting in Beijing,The meeting discussed the design work of the second-generation tank and the choice of main gun caliber
There were three options for the caliber of the main gun at that time, 100 mm (may be a type-69 smoothbore gun), 115 mm (may be a copy of the T-62 main gun), and the final choice 120 mm smoothbore gun
In the fall of 1970, the construction of the 122 three-hydro was completed(Hydro-pneumatic suspension,Hydraulic transmission,Hydraulic assisted control)at 617 factory
But the test proved that the new hydraulic technology is not reliable enough,So the original Hydro-pneumatic suspension was replaced by the traditional torsion bar suspension,
This is the 122 three-mechanical
![26_11071_5c8b21bbaeb1e62.jpg 26_11071_5c8b21bbaeb1e62.jpg](https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/data/attachments/203/203521-8d8412c66686a039a0f191ae27978230.jpg)
122 three-hydro,the Hydro-pneumatic suspension is completely relaxed
![993fd5cb39dbb6fdabd8607d1e24ab18952b37d4.jpg 993fd5cb39dbb6fdabd8607d1e24ab18952b37d4.jpg](https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/data/attachments/203/203522-80ed42455e58cb165056fa61a0a7360a.jpg)
The most famous photo of 122 three-hydro
![122-not-sure-which-version.jpg 122-not-sure-which-version.jpg](https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/data/attachments/203/203523-cefdd9079662bdc199af0f5083046ea5.jpg)
![4f71f0c27d1ed21bff35abbeba6eddc453da3fd7.jpg 4f71f0c27d1ed21bff35abbeba6eddc453da3fd7.jpg](https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/data/attachments/203/203524-4c1697e5ccce24375ae0b34148343092.jpg)
122 three-mechanical,The anti-tank missiles were removed, and the twin 12.7 mm machine guns were replaced with a single one, fume extractor has also been changed
![5a7926c236ff466ec05eec65fc78034501807bd2.jpg@1320w_474h.webp.jpg 5a7926c236ff466ec05eec65fc78034501807bd2.jpg@1320w_474h.webp.jpg](https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/data/attachments/203/203525-1007321767dd842a9b1e87e3b9872b03.jpg)
At the same time, the prototype built at Luoyang's 704 factory,The main gun is similar to the 122 three-mechanical, but has a muzzle brake
Anti-tank missiles are retained,12.7mm machine gun replaced by 20mm gun
![f020c086ff2570e64d8d7bff9da7dedf801b843e.jpg@1280w_996h.webp.jpg f020c086ff2570e64d8d7bff9da7dedf801b843e.jpg@1280w_996h.webp.jpg](https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/data/attachments/203/203526-05c18fd7a4b5c6425035b9c07d83a100.jpg)
122 three-hydro and prototype 704
122 three-hydro Probably disassembled,and The main gun was later installed on the 1224
but 122 three-mechanical(Probably more than one,There is a strange tank in the Chinese Tank Museum, which is very similar to a 122 three-mechanical turret on type-80 hull) and prototype 704 all survived
![24966734aaddabc857802b33a98d157688cefeb9.jpg@1320w_586h.webp.jpg 24966734aaddabc857802b33a98d157688cefeb9.jpg@1320w_586h.webp.jpg](https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/data/attachments/203/203527-999023ababc39399c53f44172c119228.jpg)
122 three-mechanical in 617 factory
For 122 three-mechanical,everything is fine,Hope to serve in a few years
BUT,In 1974, a meeting decided that the caliber of the tank’s main gun did not need to be increased.
This meeting killed 122 and choose Type 69 tank.
It turns out it was a mistake,The 100mm smoothbore gun of the Type 69 tank did not perform well
and soon the Chinese found that they needed a bigger gun to deal with a tank that was stronger than the T62.
To be continued