The Type 59 is a Chinese tier 8 premium medium tank.
Chinese medium tank. Initially, the vehicle was a copy of the Soviet medium T-54A tank. The Type 59 entered service in 1959. The first tanks manufactured had no gun stabilizer or night-vision device. Later the vehicle underwent several modernizations. Between 6,000 and 9,500 vehicles of all variants were manufactured from 1958 through 1987.
This tank was removed from the in-game store on 16 January 2012. The decision was made "to ensure a healthy gameplay balance at higher tiers, and also to encourage a wider variety of tier 8 medium tank usage." It last appeared in the gift shop in August 2012 until temporarily reappearing in the Premium Shop through the third half of May 2022. Though not available for traditional purchase, it frequently is the reward for first place in official competitions and tournaments.