Type 77 (armored personnel carrier)

Type 77
Type 77
Type	Amphibious armoured personnel carrier
Place of origin	People's Republic of China
Service history
In service	1978 – present
Production history
Manufacturer	Norinco
Specifications
Mass	15.5 tonnes
Length	7.15 m
Width	3.2 m
Height	2.16 m
Crew	2 + 20
Armor	Welded steel
Main; armament	12.7 mm machine gun
Engine	12150L-2 12-cylinder liquid-cooled diesel; 402 hp (300 kW) at 2,000 rpm
Power/weight	25.8 hp/t
Suspension	torsion bar
Fuel capacity	416 l
Operational; range	370 km (road)
Maximum speed	60 km/h (road) ; 12 km/h (water)

The Norinco Type 77 is a Chinese amphibious armoured personnel carrier. First fielded in 1978, it is in many ways similar to the earlier Soviet BTR-50. However the two vehicles share little in their designs, as the Type 77 is based on the Type 63 light tank.

Variants

Type 77 - Chinese tracked amphibious APC based on the Type 63-I amphibious light tank. The industrial designator is WZ511.
- Type 77-1 - amphibious armoured personnel/artillery carrier designed to carry a disassembled gun (85 mm towed anti-tank gun or 120 mm towed howitzer) on the roof. The vehicle has hydraulic winch and ramps to load/unload the gun. The industrial designator is WZ511-1.
- Type 77-2 - amphibious armoured personnel carrier. No winch and ramps. The industrial designator is WZ511-2.
- Type 76 ARV - recovery vehicle.
- Type 89 (PLZ-89) - Type 77 converted into a self-propelled howitzer armed with 122 mm gun. Although most vehicles were based on Type 77 APCs, some vehicles were based on Type 63-I amphibious light tanks.^[1]