Army New hybrid 105mm light tank enters into service with Myanmar army

Isa Khan · Jan 5, 2023

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During a military parade, Myanmar armed forces unveiled a new local-made hybrid light light tank which is based on the hull and suspension of the 2S1 Gvozdika tracked self-propelled howitzer fitted with a Chinese-made 105mm turret.

The new light tank of the Myanmar armed forces was unveiled during a military parade celebrating Myanmar's 77th Armed Forces Day in Naypyidaw on March 27, 2022

In March 2019, the Army Recognition editorial team reported that Myanmar developed a prototype light tank based on the chassis of the Russian-made 2S1 Gvozdika tracked self-propelled howitzer fitted with a new Chinese-made two-man turret armed with one 105 mm cannon.

Citing information published on the Internet, the new light tank of the Myanmar army would have been developed in collaboration with China and is fitted with a Chinese-made turret which is also mounted on the WMA301 105mm 6x6 wheeled fire support armored vehicle, a modified export version of the Chinese-made PTL02, which is also in service with the Myanmar army.

The main armament of the new light tank of Myanmar consists of one 105mm rifled gun which is compatible with all standard NATO ammunition. It can fire APFSDS (Armor-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot), HEAT (High Explosive Anti-Tank), and HE (High Explosive) rounds. The turret seems to be equipped with a new fire control system and laser range finder.

The 2S1 chassis of the Myanmar light tank is based on the automotive and running gear of the Soviet-made MT-LB multipurpose tracked armored chassis. The all-welded steel hull is divided into three compartments with the driver at the front left side, the engine behind the driver, and the turret at the rear.

The suspension system of the Myanmar light tank is similar to the Soviet-made MT-LB multipurpose tracked vehicle and consists on each side of seven road wheels with the drive sprocket at the front, idler at the rear, and no track-return rollers. The upper part of the suspension is fitted with armor plates.

Using the same chassis as the Soviet-made 2S1, we can assume that it keeps the same mobility capacities. The 2S1 is motorized with a V-8 water-cooled 4-stroke diesel developing 300 hp coupled to a manual transmission with 5 forward and 1 reverse gears. It can run at a maximum road speed of 62 km/h with a maximum cruising range of 500 km.