QJZ-89
Heavy machine gun
| Type 89 Heavy machine gun | |
|---|---|
 QJZ-89 machine gun mounted on the guardrails (bottom-center) | |
| 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 | 1,640 mm (64.6 in) (gun only) 2,119 mm (83.4 in) (with tripod) |
| Barrel length | 1,003 mm (39.5 in) |
| Cartridge | 12.7×108mm |
| Caliber | 12.7mm |
| Barrels | 1 |
| Action | hybrid short-recoil and direct gas impingement |
| Rate of fire | 450-600 rounds/min |
| Muzzle velocity | 850 m/s (2,800 ft/s) |
| Effective firing range | 1,500 m (4,921.3 ft) |
| Feed system | belt-feed with 50 rounds container box |
| Sights | Iron sight Optical Night vision sight |
The QJZ-89, also known as the Type 89 heavy machine gun, is a heavy machine gun designed in the People's Republic of China and fires the Soviet 12.7×108mm ammunition.[1]
History
In the early 1980s, Chinese firearms designers received scattered information from Soviet publications regarding the Soviet Union's adoption of a new heavy machine gun called the NSV. Chinese weapons industry misconstrued gun weight data of 25 kg (55 lb) as the whole system weight due to a translation error. Astonished by the misinterpreted capability of the NSV, Chinese designers began to develop a comparable weapon system. Only after the development ended did they realized the 25 kg (55 lb) weight figure didn't include the tripod.[2]
The weapon features a hybrid gas and recoil operated action. The gas system cycles the bolt group with the receiver recoils inside the outer gun housing to decrease peak recoil. The gun uses a direct impingement gas system, similar to Type 85 machine gun. Type 89 was named "lightweight heavy machine gun" due to its lightweight gun and tripod.[3]
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.[4]
Design
The QJZ-89 has 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. Its direct impingement gas system is likely based from the Type 77.[5]
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.[6]
Users
China
Cambodia
Mongolia: Used on Dongfeng EQ2050 during State Flag Day parade in 2022
Non-State Actors
See also
References
- ^ "QJZ-89". Guns' World (in Chinese).
- ^ "中国这款重机枪仅25公斤 射速600发/分被称拆墙神器". Sina News (in Chinese). 12 July 2018.
- ^ "INDIGENOUS MACHINE GUNS OF CHINA: PART TWO – HEAVY MACHINE GUNS". Small Arms Defense Journal. 25 May 2014.
- ^ "QJZ89". Weapon Systems.
- ^ "Type 89 HMG". Modern Firearms. 27 October 2010.
- ^ Indigenous Machine Guns of China: Part Two – Heavy Machine Guns Small Arms Defense Journal. 25 May 2014.
- ^ "United Wa State Army military parade showcases ongoing modernisation". Janes. 2019-04-23. Archived from the original on 2021-02-15. Retrieved 2021-02-15.
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