Tanks of China
China's tank development consisted of three phases. Prior to 1950 China relied on foreign made tanks purchased from or supplied by France (Renault NC31), Britain (Vickers Mk.E B), the USA (M5A1 Stuart), or seized from Japan at the end of WWII (Chi-Ha). Chinese tanks through Tier-4 represent this period. In the early 1950s China was heavily influenced by vehicles, notably the T-34 and the IS-2, which were provided to China by the Soviets together with design and fabrication assistance for local production. By the late 1950's China began developing its own tanks by making modifications and improvements on the Soviet T-54 design. The Chinese Type-59 main battle tank and Type-62 light tank were the first Chinese tanks to be mass produced.
Chinese tanks, for the most part, have unparalleled mobility, good camouflage values and sloped armor. This makes their tanks very flexible regardless of if they are a heavy, medium, or light. They still play as you would expect, but they can often change their combat role a bit, should it be necessary. However, they have very poor gun depression, even worse than German or Russian tanks. They also have very poor module health, and their modules are usually exposed. This results in frequent crew loss, destroyed tracks, engine fires, or even ammo rack detonation.
Chinese Light Tanks are fast, agile, and have good penetration and accuracy. They play very much like medium tanks.
Chinese Medium Tanks are, up to a point, very similar to the Soviet ones, combining mobility and firepower, at the expense of a low rate of fire and poor gun depression.
Chinese Heavy Tanks are also similar to the Soviet models on which they were based. These tanks have good frontal armor and acceleration and faster rates of fire, which makes it possible to play them as "heavy" mediums.
