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At a glance
Tanque Argentino Medianolarger figure on 2 of 3
Type 80/88 main battle tanklarger figure on 1 of 3
Counts only measures both sources give with the same scope. A larger figure is not a better system.
Measured figures
Operational; Operational range
Single sourceOperational; with auxiliary fuel tanks
Single source590 km (370 mi), 800 km (500 mi) with auxiliary fuel tanks[source]
Operational; Type 80/85/88
Single sourceOperational; Type 88C
Single sourceBars compare reported quantities only. A larger figure does not make a system better; configurations and test conditions differ.
Configuration
| Specification | Tanque Argentino Mediano | Type 80/88 main battle tank |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Light main battle tank / Medium tank[source] | Main battle tank[source] |
| Place of origin | Argentina / West Germany[source] | China[source] |
| In service | 1983–present[source] | 1988–present[source] |
| Used by | Argentina[source] | See Operators[source] |
| Unit cost | 1,500,000 USD (1983 export price)[source] | — |
| Produced | 1979–1991, 1994–1995[source] | — |
| No. built | 280[source] | — |
| Armor | 50 mm (hull front and sides) 50 mm (turret front)[source] | Type 80: Cast Steel Turret Type 85II/Type 88: Welded Steel/Composite Armor Turret. May be fitted with Explosive Reactive Armor[source] |
| Main armament | 105 mm (4.13 in) FM K.4 Modelo 1L[source] | ZPL-79 105mm rifled gun (Type 80) ZPL-83 105mm rifled gun (Type 88) ZPL-83A 105mm rifled gun (Type 85/88B) ZPL-94 105mm rifled gun (Type 88A) ZPT-88C 125mm smoothbore gun (Type 85IIA/Type 88C)[source] |
| Secondary armament | 2×7.62 mm (0.30 in) machine gun[source] | Type 59 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun Type 59 12.7 mm air-defence machine gun[source] |
| Power/weight | 24 hp/tonne[source] | 18.9hp/ton (Type 80/85/88)[source] |
| Suspension | Torsion-bar[source] | — |
| Role | family of armoured vehicles[source] | family of Chinese second-generation main battle tanks (MBTs)[source] |
| Source measurement | The TAM series includes seven different variants, such as a 155 mm (6.1-inch) self-propelled howitzer and a mortar carrier vehicle. In total, over 280 such vehicles were built, including armored personnel carriers, artillery and mortar pieces. The TAM and VCTP (Infantry Fighting Vehicles based on the TAM chassis) were manufactured for the Peruvian Army , only to be integrated into the Argentine Army when Peru canceled the contract. The TAM also competed for other export orders, but the TAM was ultimately not exported.[source]Tanque Argentino Mediano · Lead; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage The armored vehicle would weigh no more than 30 tonnes (29.5 long tons; 33.1 short tons), move at a maximum speed of 70 km/h (43 mph), and cover at least 500 km (310 mi) on roads.[source]Tanque Argentino Mediano · Development; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage It would be armed with a modern 105 mm main gun, two machine guns , and grenade launchers.[source]Tanque Argentino Mediano · Development; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Two prototypes were manufactured in late 1976 and early 1977, which were put through extensive testing for two years and over a road range of 10,000 km (6,200 mi).[source]Tanque Argentino Mediano · Development; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage The new tank's firepower requirements were met by fitting a British Royal Ordnance L7 A1 105 mm (4.13-inch) main gun.[source]Tanque Argentino Mediano · Development; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage This gun was later replaced by the modified L7A2 and finally by Rheinmetall 's Rh-105-30 105 mm (4.13-inch) gun.[source]Tanque Argentino Mediano · Development; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage The locally built cannon can be elevated to 18 degrees or depressed to -7 degrees on the TAM.[source]Tanque Argentino Mediano · Development; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage The gun's hydraulic recoil mechanism has an extended length of 580 mm (22.8 inches) to absorb the 34-tonne (33-long-ton; 37-short-ton) recoil force.[source]Tanque Argentino Mediano · Development; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage It is designed to fire the M735A1 armor-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot , which can penetrate a maximum of 370 mm (14.6 inches) at 1,000 meters (1,100 yd).[source]Tanque Argentino Mediano · Development; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage The tank's secondary armaments include a co-axial 7.62 mm (0.30-inch) FN MAG 60-40 general purpose machine gun and a second FN MAG 60-20 mounted on the TAM's turret roof as an anti-aircraft machine gun.[source]Tanque Argentino Mediano · Development; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage The fire control system includes a Nd:YAG laser with a range of 9,900 meters (32,480 ft) and a FLER-HG ballistic computer to compute the gun's fire solutions—helping the gunner aim and hit the target.[source]Tanque Argentino Mediano · Development; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage The TAM's engine requirements included low weight and volume, but with a fast rate of acceleration and high reliability. The program chose MTU 's MB-833 Ka 500 diesel engine, producing 540 kW (720 hp) at 2,400 rpm . This gives the TAM a power-to-weight ratio of 24 horsepower per tonne and a maximum speed of 75 km/h (47 mph) on road and 40 km/h (25 mph) off-road. With a 680-liter (180-U.S.-gallon; 150-imperial-gallon) internal fuel tank, the TAM can travel 500 km (310 mi). Its range is extended to 900 kilometers (560 mi) if the vehicle is equipped with two 200-liter (53 U.S. gal; 44 imp gal) external fuel tanks. The TAM's transmission is a Renk HSWL-204 automatic, with a hydrodynamic torque converter . A double brake system includes hydraulic disk brakes on the roadwheels, and the suspension is a torsion bar .[source]Tanque Argentino Mediano · Development; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage The TAM's survivability is related to its low profile turret, based on that of the Leopard 1A4s and the Leopard 2 , and its physical armor array. It has 50 mm (1.97 inches) at 75 degrees on the glacis plate and 32 degrees on the vehicle's sides. This offers protection against anti-armor shells from up to 35 mm (1.38-inch) guns. The turret front is protected by 50 mm (1.97 in) of steel armor at an angle of 32 degrees. Although the tank's weight and armor protection are light compared to other main battle tanks, it has the advantage of better tactical mobility over the nation's terrain.[source]Tanque Argentino Mediano · Development; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage As a private venture, Thyssen-Henschel built a fourth prototype designated TH 301. Completed in 1978, it added a PERI R12 periscope, originally designed for the Leopard 1 A4, for the tank commander. The gunner and loader each received a day periscope as well. To enable the crew to fire effectively at night, a low light level television (LLLTV) camera, which moved in elevation with the main gun, was fitted to the mantlet . Furthermore, the tank received a more powerful 550 kW (750 metric horsepower) engine. The improvement program also made provisions to increase the thickness of the armor for additional protection.[source]Tanque Argentino Mediano · Development; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage The squad leader is situated in the turret of the vehicle; one rifleman sits behind him and another six are seated in the chassis, the eighth manning the hull machine gun and the ninth situated in the turret with the gunner.[source]Tanque Argentino Mediano · Variants; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage All personnel can fire their weapons from inside the vehicle, and the VCTP's turret is armed with Rheinmetall's Rh-202 20 mm (0.79-inch) autocannon .[source]Tanque Argentino Mediano · Variants; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage It is also armed with a 7.62 mm FN MAG 60-20 machine gun mounted on the turret roof.[source]Tanque Argentino Mediano · Variants; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Variants also include the Vehículo de Combate de Artillería de 155 mm (155 mm Artillery Combat Vehicle), or VCA 155, and the Vehículo de Combate Transporte de Mortero (Mortar Transport Combat Vehicle), or VCTM. The VCA-155 is an elongated TAM chassis fitted with Oto Melara 's Palmaria 155 mm (6.1-inch) self-propelled howitzer turret . It carries 28 projectiles, 23 of which are stored in the turret bustle. The VCTM carries an AM-50 120 mm (4.7-inch) internal mortar, which has a range of 9,500 meters (31,167.98 ft) and a rate of fire of 8 to 12 shots per minute. Based on the TAM chassis, the Vehículo de Combate Puesto de Mando (command combat vehicle), or VCPC , is another variant designed in 1982. The Vehículo de Combate Lanzacohetes (Rocket launcher combat vehicle), or VCLC , designed in 1986, is also based on the TAM chassis and can be fitted with both 160 mm (6.3-inch) and 350 mm (13.8-inch) rockets. A combat ambulance, Vehículo de Combate Ambulancia ( VCA ), and an armored recovery vehicle , Vehículo de Combate de Recuperación ( VCRT ) are other combat variants of the tank.[source]Tanque Argentino Mediano · Variants; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage In 2010, a modernization program was announced. Israeli defense contractor Elbit Systems was chosen to provide 3-axis gyro-stabilization. The first TAM unit upgraded by Elbit Systems was delivered in March 2013. The TAM 2C was upgraded with many features, mainly revolving around electronics and other secondary features. The upgrades included a thermal imager for the gunner and commander, a thermal sleeve for the barrel, and an auxiliary power unit to provide power to critical systems when the main engine is off and reduce fuel consumption while idling. The TAM 2C also had numerous firepower upgrades, including new APFSDS shells and a new HEAT shell, and the capability to fire LAHAT anti-tank guided missiles, with over 800 mm of penetration and 8 km range. It is not known whether or not the Argentinian government will purchase such missiles. The TAM 2C also received a new turret storage basket.[source]Tanque Argentino Mediano · Variants / TAM 2C; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage | In a trial between the Type 80-II and the AMX-32 , the Type 80-II required 8 hours to change its engine, while the AMX-32 only required an hour.[source]Type 80/88 main battle tank · History / Type 80 and Type 85 development; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Due to export restrictions, the Chinese were unable to use an imported 105mm gun on the Type 85 tank.[source]Type 80/88 main battle tank · History / Type 80 and Type 85 development; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage This led to the development of the first locally designed 105mm gun.[source]Type 80/88 main battle tank · History / Type 80 and Type 85 development; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage This led to further upgrades in the Type 85 to its engine from 730 hp to 800 hp and changing to a semi-auto transmission.[source]Type 80/88 main battle tank · History / Type 80 and Type 85 development; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage The Type 80 inherited the design philosophy of the Type 69/79 which combined a Soviet-style chassis and turret with Western technology. Like the Type 69 series, the initial Type 80 design possessed a hemispherical turret similar to the T-54/55 . Another similarity was that the driver sat in the left forward section of the hull. However, the Type 80 used a licence-built L7 rifled gun instead of the Soviet 100 mm rifled gun .[source] |
| Manufacturer | Tanque Argentino Mediano Sociedad del Estado[source]TAM family · TAMSE production | Norinco[source] |
| Origin reported by inventory | Argentina West Germany[source]Inventory Origin column; table 1, row 7, cell 3; revision 1374043591; retrieved 2026-10-02 | — |
| Wars | — | See Operational history[source] |
| Designed | — | 1978 (Type 80) 1981–1987 (Type 88)[source] |
| Variants | — | Type 80 Type 85 Type 88[source] |
| Fuel capacity | — | 1433L[source] |
| Country of origin | — | China[source]Inventory Origin column; table 8, row 6, cell 4; revision 1373722962; retrieved 2026-10-02 |
500 km (Type 80/85/88) 400 km (Type 88C)[source]
The Type 85-I (Storm-1) series had a new welded turret design that was angular instead of the familiar bowl-shape. The Type 85IIAP/M was the first tank in the series to be equipped with a 125 mm smoothbore gun.[source]Type 80/88 main battle tank · Design / Overview; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage
Type 80 served as a testbed for the imported ZPL-79 105 mm rifled gun. On Type 88 and Type 88B, the main armament is a dual-axis stabilized ZPL-83 and ZPL-83A 105 mm rifled gun with a fume extractor at its midway point. On Type 88A, the main gun is replaced by a longer, 62-caliber ZPL-94 , offering longer range, higher accuracy, and capability to launch laser-guided gun-launched missiles. The main gun has an elevation of -5 to 18 degrees and an electronic turret drive of 20°/s for horizontal control and 6°/s for vertical. The main gun on Type 80 is loaded manually and has a rate of fire of approximately 7 rounds per minute. On Type 88B, a form of assist loader is introduced for quicker and easier reload operations with a reportedly 13 rounds per minute maximum rate of fire.[source]Type 80/88 main battle tank · Design / Armaments; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage
Secondary armaments for all variants are the same, including one Type 59 12.7 mm heavy machine gun mounted on the turret roof, and one Type 59 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun. The Type 80 and Type 88 can store 44 rounds of ammunition for the main gun. On Type 88B and Type 88A, the tank features redesigned ammo racks with 48 rounds of ammunition. The 12.7 mm heavy machine gun has 300 rounds of ammo, while the coaxial machine gun has 2250 rounds.[source]Type 80/88 main battle tank · Design / Armaments; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage
All versions of the Type 80/85/88 tanks are fitted with thermal suppression camouflage paint, a collective NBC protection system, an air filtration and ventilation system, an automatic fire/after-effect suppression system, and 2 sets of four 76mm smoke grenade dischargers.[source]Type 80/88 main battle tank · Design / Protection; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage
Type 80 and Type 88 tanks are powered by 12150ZL diesel engine developing 730 hp (537 kW). The maximum road speed is 57 km/h and the average off-road speed is 32 km/h. The power-to-weight ratio is about 18.9 hp/ton. The transmission has 5 forward gears and 1 reverse gear. It has a maximum cruising range of 500 km and can negotiate a gradient of 61% and a side slope of 58%. It can cross a vertical obstacle of 0.8 m and a trench of 2.7m.[source]Type 80/88 main battle tank · Design / Mobility; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage
Prototype Chinese second-generation tank design which did not enter production. Uses an older-style round steel cast turret with a new chassis. Four-man crew. Came with NBC protection. The vehicle served as a testbed for the imported ZPL-79 105mm rifled gun. Main difference between Type 80 and Type 80-I was in the fire control system with the original range finding laser mounted on the gun mantlet incorporated into the tank commander's gun sight.[source]Type 80/88 main battle tank · Variants / Type 80; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage
Type 80 was developed for export purposes. Type 80-II had a new 12150ZL(G) engine developing 790 hp (588 kW), new transmission, air ventilation system, improved vehicle radio system, and thermal smoke generator.[source]Type 80/88 main battle tank · Variants / Type 80; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage
Type 80-II chassis with welded turret. Also known as Storm-I. Had a 730 hp engine.[source]Type 80/88 main battle tank · Variants / Type 85/Storm; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage
Type 80/88 chassis with welded turret. Also known as Storm-II. Featured a locally developed ZPL-94 105mm gun, 800 hp engine and semi-automatic transmission.[source]Type 80/88 main battle tank · Variants / Type 85/Storm; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage
Upgraded variant of the Type 85-II/Storm-2 to suit Pakistan's specifications. The 105mm gun was changed to a 125 mm smooth-bore gun with an autoloader. The original four-man crew was reduced to a three-man crew. Pakistan had originally wanted a 1000 hp engine, but this was not available in China at the time. Export designation to Pakistan was Type 85-IIM or Type 85-IIAP (The "P" standing for "Pakistan").[source]Type 80/88 main battle tank · Variants / Type 85/Storm; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage
Developed in 1993. Upgrade for the Storm-II/Type 85-IIM with 1000 hp engine, ERA, improved FCS, and thermal night sight. It used the transmission from the T-72 tank. In 1994, when China competed against the Ukrainian T-84 for export to a tropical country, the Type 85-III performed better but suffered a higher number of faults and was thus not chosen.[source]Type 80/88 main battle tank · Variants / Type 85/Storm; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage
Despite the name, Type 88B was the first mass-produced Type 88 variant. The Type 80 underwent further development and was accepted into PLA service in 1988, hence its designation was changed to Type 88. It was mounted with ZPL-83A 105mm gun which could fire all 105mm NATO gun ammunition.[source]Type 80/88 main battle tank · Variants / Type 88; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage
Later variant of the Type 88B. Distinguished from Type 88B by type of 105 mm gun mounted. The Type 88A mounts a 62 caliber ZPL-94 105mm gun that is longer than the NATO L7 cannon and is capable of firing ATGMs .[source]Type 80/88 main battle tank · Variants / Type 88; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage
Type 85-III was produced for domestic service in the PLA. Uses an angular welded turret. Armed with a 125 mm ZPT-98 smoothbore gun with an autoloader. Equipped with JSFCS-212 fire control system (FCS) (with laser rangefinder, ballistics computer, stabilized gunner's sight and dual-axis gun stabilization), and Type 889B radio with range of up to 30 km. Later renamed to Type 96 .[source]Type 80/88 main battle tank · Variants / Type 88C; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage
Type 85-IIM variant with 125mm gun[source]Type 80/88 main battle tank · Variants / Type 88C; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage