Chinese VT4 Tank Breaks Down During Dynamic Display in Zhuhai

27 November, 2024 VT-4 tank during demonstration. Photo from open source A Chinese-made VT4 main battle tank broke down and stalled during a dynamic display at the Zhuhai Air Show.

The Defence Blog reported on this with reference to a video shared on the X. During the demonstration, organized by Norinco, where tracked and wheeled vehicles were presented, the export version VT-4 was supposed to demonstrate its driving characteristics. However, during one of the scenarios, which involved driving up a hill, the tank stopped due to a mechanical malfunction and stalled before completing the maneuver.

It remained near the artificial hill until the demonstrations of other equipment were completed, after which it was evacuated.

The cause of the malfunction is not yet known. This incident highlights the quality of products from Chinese defense companies, particularly Norinco. Despite the wide range of products the company offers for export, most samples have a much lower price, which may indicate certain features of the production process or the quality of individual components.

The VT-4 tank is equipped with a 12-cylinder VT/E1 engine with an output of 1200 horsepower, mated to a Ch1000B automatic transmission.

VT-4 main battle tank. Source: militaryleak.com

This incident brings to mind a similar one that occurred during the 2016 Tank Biathlon organized by Russia.

During the speed stage of the competition, the track roller of the Chinese Type 96B tank, which had been specially developed for the event, just fell off. Militarnyi previously reported that the Chinese state-owned Norinco Corporation demonstrated an updated SH-16A self-propelled 155 mm howitzer with a fully automated artillery module. China North Industries Group Corporation presented a further development of the export-oriented self-propelled gun, which received a new 8x8 wheeled chassis unified with the VN-23 tank destroyer.

Such a structural upgrade of the system, just a year after the original SH-16 was introduced on a 6x6 truck chassis, was made possible due to the modular design of the fully automated artillery unit.

The armored unmanned turret weighing about 14 tons is equipped with a 155-mm barrel with a length of 52 caliber--the standard for a modern artillery system.

The SH-16A is said to have a maximum range of 53 kilometers using active-reactive ammunition.