Harbin Type 89 Antitank Gun
Notes: This
self-propelled antitank gun was first fielded in China in small numbers in the
late 1980s. The chassis is the same
as that of the Type 83 152mm self-propelled gun/howitzer.
The M-1989 has a driver’s compartment at the front left and the engine
compartment on the front right. The
turret is mounted on the rear of the vehicle, with a door on the rear of the
vehicle for crew entry. The 120mm
gun is fitted with a thermal sleeve and fume extractor.
The commander has a cupola on the right side of the turret with a
machinegun mount. There are stowage
baskets on either side of the turret rear. There are four smoke grenade
launchers on each side of the turret, and a thick, oily smoke cloud can be laid
by injecting diesel fuel into the vehicle’s exhaust. At the rear of the hull is
a door for crew entry and quick replenishment of ammunition. The driver is on
the front left. The crew is protected by a collective NBC system as well as an
automatic fire suppression system. A special rack carries a Type 69 RPG and four
rounds, which are considered part of the basic weaponry of the vehicle. The Type
83-152 has inertial navigation and a mapping system with computer to give the
driver instructions. Power is provided with the 520-horsepower turbodiesel
WR4B-12V160LD engine coupled to an automatic transmission. Armor is of steel,
but it is thin steel and provides minimal protection. The basic chassis is as
similar to the Type 83 as possible in order to simplify production; however,
interior appointments are very different due to the different weaponry and
ammunition.
The ammunition
is of Chinese make, similar to the NATO 120mm ammunition, but no APFSDSDU
ammunition is made in China for this weapon.
The gun can fire NATO ammunition, however, including APFSDSDU rounds. The
main gun is long and accurate, though with limited fire control equipment. The
gun has a semiautomatic loader which quickens the fire rate, though not as much
as a 125mm gun with an autoloader. The gun is not stabilized, so shots while
moving are not recommended.
Note that unlike
other Chinese weapons systems, the Type 89 has never been offered for sale
outside of China. It has also only seen small-scale introduction inside of
China, due to its 120mm gun; the 125mm and 100mm guns are felt to be
logistically superior to the 120mm gun, as well as being superior due to the
125mm gun’s ability to be fed by an autoloader. Only about 100 Type 89s were
built, equipping two divisions as well as a few independent brigades. Though
vehicles were built which filled equivalent roles, a version with a 125mm or
100mm gun was never built.
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
$668,634 |
D, A |
783 kg |
31 tons |
4 |
21 |
Passive IR (D, G), Image Intensification (G) |
Shielded |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor |
121/85 |
34/24 |
885 |
194 |
Trtd |
T4 |
TF7 TS4
TR4 HF8
HS3 HR3 |
Fire Control |
Stabilization |
Armament |
Ammunition |
+2 |
Basic |
120mm Type 82-2 L/50 gun, PKT, W-85 (C), Type 69-1 RPG |
60x120mm, 1100x7.62mm, 650x12.7mm, 4xType 69 rounds |