The Type 63 is China's first tracked armoured personnel carrier (APC). In sharp contrast to most other PLA military equipment, the first tracked APCs were developed as entirely new designs with no soviet equivalent.

Type 63, also known as YW-531 or A-531, was first fielded in 1964. The manufacturer is the North Vehicle Manufacturing Factory located near Beijing. The initial batch production variant sufferred serious problems, and the improved formal production variant did not enter service until 1970.

As most of the 1950s-era Soviet-designed self-propelled artillery retired from active service in the 1970s, the PLA began to test mounting the Type 54 122 mm howitzer on the YW-531/Type 63 chassis. In 1981, China's first SP howitzer Type 70 was introduced. It uses a YW-531B (also known as B-531 or Type 63-1) chassis, which features five road wheels. This design was not fully successful and only 200 Type 70 SP howitzers have been built.

In 1982, the modified YW-531C (also known as Type 63C) was fielded. The YW-531C uses a German KHD air cooled diesel power pack to replace the original obsolete water cooled engine. The YW-531C is the most popular variant of the Type 63 series, with over 1,800 vehicles delivered to the PLA.

The YW-531 and its modified variants are China's most numerous and most heavily exported armoured vehicle. The vehicle is in service with a number of third-world countries and saw service in the Vietnam war and with Iraq in the Iraq-Iran War and Gulf War. Users include Albania, China, Iraq, North Korea, Sudan, Tanzania, Vietnam and Zaire.

The base vehicle is a typical 1960's design -- an simple light armoured box with a 12.7 mm machine gun mounted on top. The vehicle has a welded steel hull, in which the driver sits at the left front with an additional crewman directly behind him, and the commander sits in the right front with the engine behind. A gunner sits in the centre of the vehicle, with the infantryman sitting on fold down seats in the troop compartment.

The Type 63's thin armour provides little protection against anything larger than a 12.7 mm machine gun, and even some 7.62 mm rounds can hole the armour. It is fully amphibious by its tracks it is propelled in the water and has a small trim vane on the glacis plate.

Power pack on the early variant (YW-531A/B) is a water cooled 6150L diesel engine (191 kW). The engine was derived from the Soviet T-34 tank's B2-34 engine, which was initially designed in the 1930s. The YW-531C is fitted with a German KHD air cooled diesel.

Also known as the A-531 or Type 63. Combat weight 12.6 ton. Main weapon 12.7 mm machine gun. 4 roadwheels, 4 firing ports, 1 radio.

This variant has a rectangular, three-sided open-topped shield around the gun, and better vision ports and ventilation. The C, D and E variants differ in intercom sets and firing ports.

YW-531B/Type 70 Self-Propelled 122 mm Howitzer

Also known as the B-531 or Type 63-1. Used as the chassis of the Type 70 122 mm SP howitzer. Five roadwheels.

Also known as Type 63C. Modified variant. Combat weight 12.6 ton. Main weapon 12.7 mm machine gun. 4 roadwheels, 4 firing ports, 2 radios.

Modifications include include German air cooled diesel power pack, improved gear box, new Type 889 radio, etc.

• YW-304 Self-Propelled 82 mm mortar

Based on the YW-531C. 4 roadwheels, open top.

• YW-381 Self-Propelled 120 mm Mortar

Based on the YW-531C. 4 roadwheels, open top.

• Type 70 19-tube 130 mm Multiple Rocket Launcher

Based on the YW-531C. Four road wheels.

• YW-701 Armoured Command Vehicle

Based on the YW-531C. Command post variant with 4 roadwheels and a box compartment over rear half of vehicle, and 5 radios. Armament is a 7.62 mm MG. China developed the YW-701 in the late 1960's as a variant of the YW-531 to provide the Commanders of Mechanised Formations with the same cross country mobility and protection as the vehicles they commanded.

The YW-701 has a raised rear hull to provide increased room for the personnel who work inside. It has a number of radio sets to allow commanders to control their forces. The YW 701 are employed at Headquarters level in the Armoured and Mechanised Units and Formations of the the Armies of China, Iraq and Sri Lanka.

YZ-750 Armoured Ambulance

Based on the YW-531C. The YZ-750 has a similar box compartment to YW-701.