Shawn Enloe shares with us a walk around of a Chinese Type 59 tank used by the Iraqi army in the first Gulf War. It was captured and brought to Ft. Lewis for the museum.

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If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!

Well - for starters it's a Type 69 rather than a Type 59...

The bulge in the rear lower hull to accommodate a larger cooling fan, plus the headlamps mounted on the fenders, are the obvious identifying features. Also indicative is the presence of both the ventilator dome on the turret roof AND the ventilator slot near the base of the turret on the right-hand side ('59s only had the dome ventilator).

Nice walk-round though!

Regards,
John

Have they completed the museum restoration yet on Ft Lewis?

John, the plaque affixed to the tank had labled it as a Type 59, so even the museum is prone to make a few mistakes here and there I guess.

TopSmith: yes a portion of the museum has been completed and features some interesting displays from the forts early days. I would encourage people to visit the museum, the tank park alone is worth it.