However, contrary to the popular belief, it does have some essential differences from the PT-76 in the vehicle's waterjet propulsion system, etc.

In October 1958, the PLA decided to develop an indigenous amphibious tank based on the PT-76 design.

A prototype known as WZ-211 (Type 60) was built and tested in 1959, but the design suffered from a number of problems including engine overheating.

The prototype was completed in 1962 and was sent to Norinco Factory 615, the Shaanxi Weiyang Diesel Engine Plant (陕西渭阳柴油机厂), for continued research.

The right turret hatch opens backwards and has a mount for 12.7 mm Type 54 anti-aircraft heavy machine gun.

The left turret hatch opens forwards, has a periscope vision block and can be fitted with the 7.62 mm Type 59T anti-aircraft medium machine gun.

The Type 63 has a flat, boat-like hull similar to the design of the PT-76, apart from a nearly horizontal glacis plate, higher gradient of the bottom of the bow, different engine grills with three separate vertical slot side air inlets on the Type 63, in contrast to the single large inlet with inset vertical baffle plate on the PT-76.

Also a 7.62 mm Type 59T anti-aircraft medium machine gun can be additionally fitted to left hand side turret hatch.

Type 63 amphibious light tanks are also equipped with a man-portable anti-aircraft missile launcher which is fired by a crew member standing in one of the turret hatches.

This gives it protection against 7.62 mm calibre small arms fire and small artillery shell fragments, but it is not sufficient to protect from either heavy machine gun fire and bigger artillery shell fragments.

[1] The torsion bar suspension consists of six road wheels with the drive sprocket at the rear and the idler at the front.

The second production run, designated Type 63-I, was given the more powerful 12150L-2 12-cylinder liquid-cooled diesel engine, which developed 402 hp (300 kW) at 2,000 rpm.

Preparation for swimming involves switching on the bilge pumps, erecting the trim vane at the front of the vehicle and switching the driver's periscope vision blocks for a swimming periscope vision block that enables the driver to see over the trim vane.

When not in use the trim vane is placed in its laying position in the front of the bow over the barrel of the main gun and serves as additional armour.

The Type 63 was intended for inland river and lake crossing operations and amphibious landing in the coastal regions and can swim long distances in harsh sea conditions at high speeds.

Type 63's high amphibious ability was proved in 1966 when it crossed the 31 km long Qiongzhou Strait between mainland China and the Hainan island.

[4] The Type 63 was exported to Albania, Cambodia, Iraq, North Korea, Myanmar, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam.