A reconstruction of one of about 400 Chinese-made Type-69 MBTs (an improved T-54, including a 100mm dual-axis stabilised, smoothbore gun, a laser rangefinder and a new 580hp engine). The tanks were acquired in 1983–1985 to replace losses from the first two years of the war with Iran. As in the case of all the T-54s and T-55s operated by the Iraqi Army in the 1980s, they were camouflaged in standard colours of yellow sand and bluegreen, and most had side-skirts made of rubber. No turret numbers or any other kind of insignia are known to have been applied, although many Type-69s were seen and photographed by international journalists in the Faw area in 1986, most with their turrets loaded with the crew’s personal belongings and ammunition boxes. (Artwork by Radek Panchartek)