Type 89 Heavy machine gun
QJZ-89 machine gun mounted on the guardrails (bottom-center)
TypeHeavy machine gun
Place of originChina
Service history
Used byChina
Production history
ManufacturerNorinco
Specifications
Mass17.5 kg (38.58 lb) (gun only)
8.5 kg (18.74 lb) (tripod)
Length1,640 mm (64.6 in) (gun only)
2,119 mm (83.4 in) (with tripod)
Barrel length1,003 mm (39.5 in)
Cartridge12.7×108mm
Caliber12.7mm
Barrels1
Actionhybrid short-recoil and direct gas impingement
Rate of fire450-600 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity850 m/s (2,788 ft/s)
Effective firing range1,500 m (4,921.3 ft)
Feed systembelt-feed with 50 rounds container box
SightsIron sight
Optical
Night vision sight
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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

Non-State Actors

See also

References

  1. ^ "QJZ-89". Guns' World (in Chinese).
  2. ^ "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.
  3. ^ "INDIGENOUS MACHINE GUNS OF CHINA: PART TWO – HEAVY MACHINE GUNS". Small Arms Defense Journal. 25 May 2014.
  4. ^ "QJZ89". Weapon Systems.
  5. ^ "Type 89 HMG". Modern Firearms. 27 October 2010.
  6. ^ Indigenous Machine Guns of China: Part Two – Heavy Machine Guns Small Arms Defense Journal. 25 May 2014.
  7. ^ "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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