QJZ-89
The QJZ-89, also known as the Type 89, is a heavy machine gun designed in the People's Republic of China and fires the Soviet-designed 12.7×108mm ammunition.
| QJZ-89 89式重机枪 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Heavy machine gun |
| Place of origin | China |
| Service history | |
| Used by | China |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Norinco |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 17.5 kg (38.58 lb) (gun only) 8.5 kg (18.74 lb) (tripod) |
| Length | 2,119 mm (83.4 in) |
| Barrel length | 1,003 mm (39.5 in) |
| Cartridge | 12.7×108mm |
| Caliber | 12.7mm |
| Barrels | 1 |
| Action | gas/recoil |
| Rate of fire | 450-600 rounds/min |
| Muzzle velocity | 850 m/s (2,788 ft/s) |
| Feed system | belt |
| Sights | Iron/Optical |
Overview
The Chinese military was still searching for a lighter heavy machine gun after the adoption of the Type 85 machine gun. The Type 89 was adopted just two years after the adoption of the Type 85 as an entirely new "lightweight heavy machine gun." The gun and tripod together only weigh 26 kg (57 lb), which is even lighter than the 32 kg (71 lb) Russian Kord machine gun on a bipod mount; although the American XM312 was lighter at 19 kg (42 lb), it never entered service and had a rate of fire too low to effectively engage low-flying aerial targets. It achieves such a low weight through a combination gas/recoil action usually seen on autocannons, where gas unlocks the breech while recoil operates the feed and decreases the peak recoil forces induced on the housing and mount. China has reportedly developed 12.7 mm armor piercing discarding sabot (APDS) ammunition for the QJZ-89, similar to U.S. saboted light armor penetrator rounds, increasing performance against light armored vehicles.[1]
Users
References
- Indigenous Machine Guns of China: Part Two – Heavy Machine Guns Small Arms Defense Journal. 25 May 2014.