The Type 63 is a T-34-76 Obr.1943 produced by UralVagonZavod converted into an anti-aircraft vehicle, armed with Chinese twin 37 mm Type 61 AA guns. The related Type 65 variant was instead based on the T-34-85 chassis. None of the original Type 63's survive today.[3]
The Type 65 retained the hull from the T-34/85 but the turret was replaced by an open-top box turret armed with twin Type 61 37mm anti-aircraft guns.[1][2] The guns were loaded manually with 5-round clips. While the Type 65 was on par with contemporary anti-aircraft systems, such as the M42 Duster, due to the lack of hydraulic elevation systems, the guns had to be elevated manually. Because of this, the Type 65 was ineffective against fast moving, low flying aircraft, and while it proved somewhat effective in the ground support anti-armour role, it was ineffective against then-modern main battle tank armour of the Vietnam War.[citation needed]