Type 96

The Type 96 is a heavy tank used by the People's Liberation Army in Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction.

Overview
The role of the Type 96 is simple, blow up anything stupid enough to get in its way. It does this extremely well as it is capable of setting most, if not all, vehicles on fire with one shot, although it cannot instantly destroy some of the more armored tanks like the M1.

The Type 96 can take significant fire, even from heavy weapons. Its main weakness is against helicopters, as its gun often cannot rise high enough to shoot the helicopter, while it whittles away the tanks health with relative impunity.

This tank is too heavy to be lifted by helicopters, and cannot be bought, although the Mafia will pay up to $40 000 for a Type 96 at full health. During the third act of the game it can be found fighting against North Korean T-62s near the Taechon Reactor. In the fourth act there are two of them guarding the bridge into Dandong (even if the player destroyed the bridge permanently in 'BOOM!'), along with the area near, fighting South Korean forces. It can also be found fighting SK forces at the valley north of the SK HQ.

Trading a Type 96 into the Russian Mafia will net you $40,000 if it's in good condition.

Tactics
The Type 96 is a powerful and deadly tank, second to only one: the M1 Tank. An Abrams can withstand more than one direct hit from a Type 96's main gun, while a single shot from the M1 Tank's main cannon sets the Type 96 ablaze, causing it to explode a few seconds later. The armor, turret traverse, and firepower of a Type 96 make the People's Liberation Army either a near-unstoppable ally and asset, or a lethally dangerous enemy. Driving a Type 96, especially when in good standing with Chinese forces, will show the player the truth of Colonel Peng's declaration early in the game: "Acting as our ally means you will be unstoppable".

In battle against unarmored, light, and medium-armored vehicles the Type 96 is almost certain to emerge victorious. Its 125mm main cannon is able to destroy any vehicles lighter than the Type 96 very quickly, while other heavy armor can be destroyed easily enough.

The Type 96 is NBC (Nuclear Biological Chemical) shielded, allowing it to operate safely in areas contaminated by high amounts of nuclear radiation.

Like all MBTs, the Type 96 is most threatened by large numbers of enemy armored vehicles, helicopters, air strikes, or determined attacks from anti-tank infantry. The Type 96 has no means of countering a high-speed jet aircraft, while helicopters can easily fly above the maximum elevation of its main gun and out of reach of its machine gun. Infantry can damage and destroy a Type 96 with rocket-propelled grenades and anti-tank missiles if not quickly dealt with. If forced to fight a hostile Type 96 crew on foot, the mercenary can move in close and try to kill its gunner, allowing them to hijack the Type 96.

Real life
The Type 96 is based on the Chinese tank of the same name. It is a third generation main battle tank based on the Type 88 design, entered in service in 1997.

Related pages

 * Vehicles of the People's Liberation Army in Playground of Destruction
 * Type 80
 * M1 Tank
 * T-62