Light tank

A light tank is a tank variant initially designed for rapid movement, and now primarily employed in the reconnaissance role, or in support of expeditionary forces where main battle tanks cannot be made available. Early light tanks were generally armed and armored similar to an armored car, but used tracks in order to provide better cross-country mobility.

The fast light tank was a major feature of the pre-WWII buildup, where it was expected they would be used to exploit breakthroughs in enemy lines created by slower, heavier tanks. Numerous small tank designs and "tankettes" were developed during this period and known under a variety of names, including the "combat car".

The light tank has been one of the few tank variants to survive the development of the main battle tank, and has seen use in a variety of roles including the support of light airborne or amphibious forces and reconnaissance. Modified IFVs are assuming these roles in many militaries due to their immediate availability, a cheaper alternative to developing and fielding a pure light tank.

59-16 Light Tank

59-16 Light Tank (simplified Chinese: 59-16式轻型坦克; traditional Chinese: 59-16式輕型坦克) was a former Chinese light tank design which was developed during the late 1950s, originally intended as one of the "tributes to the 10th anniversary of the founding of the PRC". Within the design plans, the intended weight was planned to be approximately 16 mt with a 76 mm tank gun. However, because this tank was too weak to fight against the western tanks at that time, it was eventually set aside by the military.

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