Summary
The W85 heavy machine gun or QJC-88 vehicle mounted heavy machine gun is a gas-operated heavy machine gun designed in the People's Republic of China. It fires the Soviet-designed 12.7×108mm round.[3] The W85 was never accepted into the PLA service in its original configuration, only adopted as a vehicle mounted machine gun as the QJC-88.
| W85 heavy machine gun | |
|---|---|
 W85 mounted on a Type 96B tank | |
| Type | Heavy machine gun |
| Place of origin | China |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1980s-present |
| Used by | See Users |
| Wars | War in Darfur Northern Mali conflict Syrian Civil War Libyan Civil War Iraqi Civil War[1] Yemeni Civil War Russo-Ukrainian War[2] |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Norinco |
| Produced | 1985-present |
| Variants | QJC-88 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 18.5 kg (40.79 lb) (gun only) 39 kg (85.98 lb) (with tripod) |
| Cartridge | 12.7×108mm |
| Action | Gas-operated, long stroke gas piston, open bolt |
| Rate of fire | 550-600 rounds/min |
| Muzzle velocity | 850 m/s (2,788 ft/s) |
| Sights | Iron sights |
Overview edit
The W85 was designed to be as light as possible for infantry use. Its small receiver is of generally rectangular cross-section, and it has a thick gas tube below the barrel containing a conventional gas piston. In addition to iron sights, it has rails for optics or anti-aircraft sights. It fires 12.7×108mm rounds from belts and is more accurate than the Type 54 heavy machine gun, but the thinner barrel overheats faster.
In trials, the W85 lost out to the Type 85 as an infantry weapon and was not accepted into PLA service for this role.[4]
QJC-88 edit
The QJC-88 was introduced as a pintle mounted machine gun for tanks and armored vehicles. It weighs the same as the W85, is solenoid fired, and is mounted on a special cradle allowing for elevation angles of -5 to +65°.[4]
Mounted platforms:
- Type 99 tank: as commander heavy machine gun.
- Type 96 tank: as commander heavy machine gun.
- Type 15 tank: as commander heavy machine gun on a remote weapon station.
- Type 59 Durjoy tank: as commander heavy machine gun.
- Type 05: on armored personnel carrier variant.
- Type 08: on various comigrations, such as ZSL-10 APC, ZTL-11 assault vehicle, and Type 08 Artillery Reconnaissance Vehicle.
- PLL-05: as commander heavy machine gun.
- Type 89 AFV: on various comigrations as the self-defense weapon.
Users edit
Cambodia[6]
China[6][7]
Iraq:[1][8]
Libya: Libyan National Army[9]
Mali[10]
Rwanda: Used by Rwandan peacekeepers in Darfur.[6]
South Sudan: South Sudan Democratic Movement[11]
Sri Lanka[12]
Sudan: Manufactured locally as Khawad.[13]
Ukraine: Possibly intercepted Iranian delivery to the Houthis transferred to Ukraine[14]
Non-state actors edit
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b Iraq: Turning a blind eye: The arming of the Popular Mobilization Units (PDF) (Report). Amnesty International. 5 January 2017. p. 25. MDE 14/5386/2017.
- ^ "匪夷所思！乌军使用上中国W85式高射机枪，他们是如何搞到的？" (in Chinese). Jan 16, 2023.
- ^ W85 heavy machine gun Archived September 14, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b Indigenous Machine Guns of China: Part Two – Heavy Machine Guns Small Arms Defense Journal. 25 May 2014.
- ^ "Soviet Influenced Heavy Machine Guns in Afghan Service". thefirearmblog.com. May 4, 2018.[better source needed]
- ^ a b c d "W85式/QJC88式高射机枪" (in Chinese). firearmsworld.net. 2011-02-03. Retrieved 2017-08-04.
- ^ World Guns Modern Firearms (2017-06-21). "W85 heavy machine gun (PR China)". modernfirearms.net. Retrieved 2017-08-04.
- ^ a b Timothy Yan (2016-06-21). "These Are not the DShKs you're looking for: Part 2, the W85 Heavy Machine Gun". Guns & Tech. Retrieved 2017-08-04.
- ^ "The Coronavirus Could Heal Libya". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
- ^ Powelson, Simon J. (December 2013). "Enduring engagement yes, episodic engagement no: lessons for SOF from Mali". Monterey, California: Naval postgraduate school. p. 24. hdl:10945/38996.
- ^ Small Arms Survey 2014, p. 233.
- ^ "Army-manufactured innovative Unicob - MRAPV unveiled". www.defence.lk. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
- ^ Small Arms Survey (2014). "Weapons tracing in Sudan and South Sudan" (PDF). Small Arms Survey 2014: Women and guns (PDF). Cambridge University Press. p. 241. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 5, 2014.
- ^ "Ukraine Weapons Tracker: Another curious weapon appears in #Ukraine- a Chinese 🇨🇳 W85 12.7x108 HMG mounted on a Ukrainian technical". Twitter. Retrieved 2022-11-14.
- ^ "Puissante contre-offensive de l'Etat islamique dans le désert syrien". France Soir (in French). 16 October 2018.
- ^ Nash & Searle 2021, p. 28.
- ^ Nash & Searle 2021, p. 43.
Bibliography edit
- Nash, Ed; Searle, Alaric (2021). Kurdish Armour Against ISIS. UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 9781472847584.