page_title: Type 63 (armoured personnel carrier)
section_title: Variants
hierarchical_section_title: Type 63 (armoured personnel carrier) / Variants
context_page_description: The Type 63 is a Chinese armoured personnel carrier that entered service in the late 1960s. It was the first armoured vehicle designed in China without Soviet assistance. The design is simple and is comparable to other APCs of its time such as the M113.
  Approximately 8,000 all types and variants were produced by Norinco. It also equips several armies around the world and has seen action in different conflicts including the Vietnam War, the Sino-Vietnamese War, the Iran–Iraq War, and the Gulf War.
context_section_description: Variants are often designated by their manufacturer. WZ stands for Wu Zhuang Jia (armored vehicle 5) and designates the vehicles produced by the Fifth Machinery Works. YW stands for Yongding Wai Mao (Yongding external trade).
  Type 531 (1963 or 1961) – Basic version with Type 56 7.62 mm machine gun, not mass-produced.
  Type A531 or Type 63 (1968 or 1963) – Production variant with 12.7 mm machine gun Type 54, uprated engine and different transmission. Also known as Type 531A.
  VTT-323 – North Korean version of the Type A531.
  Type B531 or Type 63-I (1981) – Improved version with stronger suspension, additional firing ports and two additional roof hatches.
  Type 63C – PLA version of the YW531C.
  Type 63CA – PLA version of the YW531E.
  Type WZ701 – Command version of the Type A531 with higher troop compartment and fitted with up to five radios (Type 889, Type 892, Type 70-2B) and a generator. Armament consists of a Type 56-1 machine gun of 7.62 mm.
  Type WZ721 – Communications relay vehicle with higher roof line and ZZT1 set.
  Type WZ750 – Armoured ambulance with higher roof line, unarmed.
  Type WZ302 or Type 54-1/Type 63-1 SPH – Self-propelled artillery version of the Type B531 mounting a 122 mm Type 54-I howitzer. An improved version, the Type 70, has a longer chassis. Both vehicles also mount a Type 67 machine gun.
  Type WZ303 or Type 70 MRL – Rocket artillery version of the Type A531 with 19-tube 130 mm multiple rocket launcher (similar to the BM-14 MRL).
  Type YD801 – Fire fighting vehicle.
  ZZM88 – Cryptography vehicle. Program begun in July 1984 and entered service in August 1992.  Used to provide cryptographic codes for other vehicles.
  Type WZ534 (Type 89)
  SPAAA Type WZ531 - ZSD63 with PG87 25mm dual barreled AAA gun
caption: 63 Amphibious APC at the Military Museum
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