View source for Type 59 Durjoy

{{short description|Main Battle Tank T-59}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{Original research|date=July 2021}}
{{more citations needed|date=July 2023}}
}}

<!-- Please do not add any information which is related to "300 more" Type 59 Durjoy tanks and theoretical "Durjoy MK2" variant. These rumors are spread by web portal "bdmilitary" (present name "defseca") which already flagged as unreliable source. These rumors then spread by Facebook and amateur Youtube channels. There is not a single reliable reference available for them. Bangladesh Army operates maximum 174 Type 59 Durjoy tanks. -->
{{Infobox weapon
| is_vehicle         = yes
| name               = Type 59G Durjoy
| image              = File:Bangladesh Army upgraded T-59G 'Durjoy' MBT. (27682919308).jpg
| image_size         = 270
| caption            = A Durjoy tank moving off-road
| type               = [[Main battle tank]]
| origin             = {{flag|China}}<br>{{flag|Bangladesh}}
| service            = 2015-present
| used_by            = [[Bangladesh Army]]
| wars               = <!-- Production history -->
| manufacturer       = *[[Norinco]] (manufacturer)
*[[Bangladesh Machine Tools Factory]] (upgrades with Chinese assistant)
| production_date    = 2015-present
| number             = ≤200<ref name="GS">{{cite web | url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/bangladesh/army-modernization.htm | title=Bangladesh Army - Modernization }}</ref>
| variants           = <!-- General specifications -->
| mass               = {{convert|42|t}}
| length             = {{convert|6.04|m}}
| width              = {{convert|3.27|m}}
| height             = {{convert|2.59|m}}
| crew               = 4(commander, gunner, driver, loader/operator)
<!-- Vehicle/missile specifications -->| armour             = Hull: Modular [[composite armour]] and [[Reactive armour|ERA]] on the hull front, side skirts and ERA on the sides <br />Turret: Modular applique armor(Same as [[Type 96 tank|Type 96A]]) {{Citation needed|reason=Proper source needed|date=July 2023}}and [[cage armour]] on the back of the turret
| primary_armament   = [[2A46 125 mm gun|125 mm]] [[Smoothbore|smoothbore gun]], capable of firing [[Anti-tank guided missile|ATGMs]] and the [[Armour-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot|APFSDS]] the Durjoy uses can penetrate 500 mm of RHA at 2&nbsp;km
| secondary_armament = 1 × [[W85 heavy machine gun|W85]] 12.7&nbsp;mm [[heavy machine gun]]<br/>1 x [[Type 80 machine gun|Type 86]] 7.62&nbsp;mm [[coaxial machine gun]]
| engine             = [[Diesel engine|diesel]]
| engine_power       = {{convert|730|hp}}
| pw_ratio           = 17.4 hp/t
| suspension         = [[Torsion bar suspension|Torsion bar]]
| vehicle_range      = {{convert|450|km}}
| speed              = {{convert|49|km/h}}
}}

The '''Type 59G Durjoy''', sometimes known as '''Type 59G''',<ref name="GS"/> is a highly modernized version of the Chinese [[Type 59 tank]] for the [[Bangladesh Army]]. The Bangladesh Army's old Type 59 tanks were upgraded similarly to Type 59G standard at ''902 Central Workshop'' of the [[Bangladesh Machine Tools Factory]] with Chinese assistance.

The Bangladesh Army renamed the tank as '''Durjoy''' ({{langx|bn|দুর্জয়}}).

==History==
The Bangladeshi Army required armoured vehicles with limited weight but good protection, firepower and speed. Between the 1980s and the early 2000s, the army had hundreds of [[Type 59 tank]]s which stayed in service until 2015. The [[Bangladesh Army]] decided to upgrade all the remaining functional tanks because the rebuilding process of a tank costs one third of buying a new one.

During this process, only the hull of the original tank is used and all the other aspects are upgraded.<ref name ="SAM t59g">{{cite news|url=https://southasianmonitor.com/2019/08/30/bangladesh-army-tests-indigenously-upgraded-durjoy-tanks/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190901195206/https://southasianmonitor.com/2019/08/30/bangladesh-army-tests-indigenously-upgraded-durjoy-tanks/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2019-09-01|author=Abied Hassan|title=Bangladesh Army tests indigenously upgraded Durjoy tanks|place=Bangladesh |date=2019-08-30|access-date=2019-09-02}}</ref>  [[Bangladesh Machine Tools Factory|BMTF]] upgraded 174 type 59 tanks to Durjoy standard.

==Description==
The tank uses the basic Type 59 hull which is {{convert|6.04|m}} long, {{convert|3.27|m}} wide and has a height of {{convert|2.59|m}}. The tank weighs {{convert|40|t||abbr=}} package.<ref name ="SAM t59g"/>

The Durjoy uses a {{convert|730|hp}} [[diesel engine]] and has a power to weight ratio of 17.4&nbsp;hp per tonnes. The maximum speed of the vehicle varies: in fact the tank can run at {{convert|49|km/h}} max. The tanks  range is {{convert|450|km}}. It is equipped with [[Continuous track#Rubber track pads|rubber padded tracks]] to navigate softer soils and swamps. The tank has five road wheels on each side with a prominent gap between the first and second road wheel. The track is driven by a drive sprocket at the rear, with an idler at the front. Also there are return rollers which was not present on the original type-59. The [[Vehicle suspension#Armoured fighting vehicle suspension|suspension]] is a [[torsion bar]] system. The engine exhaust is on the left fender.<ref name ="SAM t59g"/>

The Durjoy tanks require a crew of 4 people which includes commander, driver, gunner and loader. Unlike the basic Type 59, the Durjoy has an air conditioning system to increase crew comfort and complete [[NBC protection]].<ref name ="SAM t59g"/>

===Protection===
[[File:Bangladesh Army upgraded T-59G 'Durjoy' MBT. (33659625935).jpg|thumb|left|Side view of Durjoy MBT]]
The primary protection system of the tank is made of a layer of thick steel [[Composite armour|modular composite armour]]. To increase protection against [[APFSDS]], [[High-explosive anti-tank|HEAT]] and [[Anti-tank guided missile|ATGM]] rounds, there is Chinese 3rd generation [[explosive reactive armour]] on the tank's front and turret.  Besides, there is [[cage armour]] at the back of the turret to increase the protection level. Smoke grenade launchers are fitted to each side of the turret. A collective [[fire suppression system]] is added to increase the crew survivability rate. The tanks are equipped with a [[laser warning receiver]] to give a warning when it's targeted by an enemy [[laser range-finder]] or [[laser designator]].<ref name ="SAM t59g"/>

===Armaments===
[[File:Bangladesh Army upgraded T-59G 'Durjoy' MBT. (33659622075).jpg|thumb|right|125&nbsp;mm main gun of Type 59 Durjoy]]
The Durjoy tank has a 125&nbsp;mm [[smoothbore gun]] which is the tank's primary weapon. The gun has a dual-axis [[gun stabilizer]] which enables the tank to fire at a target while the tank is moving. This gun is capable of firing [[armour-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot|APFSDS]], [[high-explosive anti-tank warhead|HEAT]] and [[Shell (projectile)#High-explosive shells|HE]] rounds as well as [[anti-tank guided missile]]s.<ref name ="SAM t59g"/> The [[Armour-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot|APFSDS]] used by Durjoy tank can penetrate 500mm [[Rolled homogeneous armour|RHA armor]] as far as 2&nbsp;km away.

As a secondary armament, it has a 12.7&nbsp;mm [[W85 heavy machine gun]] with 3000 rounds and a 7.62&nbsp;mm [[Type 80 machine gun|Type 86]] [[coaxial machine gun]] with 550-600 rounds. The 12.7&nbsp;mm machine gun can be used in an anti-aircraft role too.<ref name ="SAM t59g"/> It also has 81mm [[smoke grenade]]s.

===Electronics===
The Durjoy uses a modern [[fire-control system]] comparable to the fourth generation Chinese tanks. Its ballistic computer has an integrated [[Thermographic camera|thermal imaging system]] and [[laser designator]]. It also has an independent commander's sight.<ref name ="SAM t59g"/>

The Durjoy has a [[night vision system]] and [[Global Positioning System]] (GPS) navigation. Unlike a basic Type&nbsp;59 tank, these tanks have a [[Tactical data link|combat data link]] which gives them better [[situational awareness]]. This tank uses ''XDZ-1 SATCOM'' and ''VRC-2000L'' radio contact systems for communication.<ref name ="SAM t59g"/>

==Operators==
<!--READ FIRST: This section is for cited entries only. Please do not add entries into this list without a citation from a reliable source. All entries without a citation will be removed. Thank you.-->

{{flag|Bangladesh}}: 
*[[Bangladesh Army]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://21stcenturyasianarmsrace.com/2023/02/25/bangladesh-bought-the-newest-chinese-tanks/ | title=Bangladesh Bought the Newest Chinese Tanks | date=24 February 2023 }}</ref>
{{TZA}}: 15 Type-59Gs in service as of 2023<ref>{{cite report |last1=International Institute for Strategic Studies |title=The Military Balance 2023 |date=February 2023 |publisher=Routledge, Chapman & Hall, Incorporated |isbn=978-1-032-50895-5 |ref={{harvid|The Military Balance 2023}} |language=en |author1-link=International Institute for Strategic Studies |pages=482-483}}</ref>

==See also==

;Comparable tanks
{{Div col|colwidth=20em}}
*{{lwc|Al-Zarrar tank|Al-Zarrar}} 
*{{lwc|CM-11 Brave Tiger|CM-11}}
*{{lwc|CM-12 tank|CM-12}} 
*{{lwc|Leopard 1#Canada|Leopard C2}} 
*{{lwc|T-54/T-55 operators and variants#Slovenia|M-55S}} 
*{{lwc|M60-2000}} 
*{{lwc|Sabra (tank)|M60 Sabra}} 
*{{lwc|Magach}} 
*{{lwc|Ramses II MBT}} 
*{{lwc|Sho't}} 
*{{lwc|TR-85|TR-85M1}} 
*{{lwc|Type 72Z}} 
*{{lwc|Mobarez tank}} 
*{{lwc|Centurion (tank)#South Africa 2|Olifant Mk.II}} 
*{{lwc|PT-91 Twardy}} 
*{{lwc|T-55AGM}} 
*{{lwc|T-72M4CZ}} 
*{{lwc|Tanque Argentino Mediano}} 
*{{lwc|Tifon 2a}} 
*{{lwc|Zulfiqar (tank)|Zulfiqar}}
{{Div col end}}

{{Commons category|Durjoy tanks}}

;Related developments
*[[Type 59 tank|Type 59]]
*[[T-54/T-55]]
*[[Type 69 tank#Bangladesh|Type 69II G]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Military of Bangladesh}}
{{Post-Cold War tanks|style=wide}}
{{T-54/T-55_navigation|style=wide}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Equipment of the Bangladesh Army}}
[[Category:Post–Cold War main battle tanks]]
[[Category:Main battle tanks of Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Military vehicles introduced in the 2010s]]
[[Category:Bangladesh–China relations]]