Type 81 assault rifle

Type 81
Type 81-1 (top) and Type 81 (bottom)
Type Assault rifle
Battle rifle (CS/LR14 export model)
Place of origin China
Service history
In service 1983–present
Used by See Users
Wars Sino-Vietnamese conflicts
Cambodian–Vietnamese War
Soviet War in Afghanistan
Sri Lankan Civil War
Lord's Resistance Army insurgency
Kargil war
Boko Haram insurgency
Persian Gulf War
Baren Township riot
Croatian War of Independence
Bosnian War
Kosovo War
War in Afghanistan
Internal conflict in Burma
Iraq War
Syrian Civil War
Internal conflict in Myanmar
Production history
Designer Norinco
Designed 1971-1981
Manufacturer Norinco
Produced 1983
No. built 50000+
Variants Type 81-1
Type 81 light machine gun
Type-81S
Type 87
Type 87-1
BD-08
BD-08mk2
BD-08LMG
Specifications
Weight 3.4 kg (7.50 lb) (empty)
4.5 kg (9.92 lb) (loaded) (CS/LR14)[1]
Length 955 mm (37.6 in)
785 mm (30.9 in) (butt folded) (CS/LR14)[1]
1,010 mm (40 in) (butt extended) (CS/LR14)[1]
Barrel length 445 mm (17.5 in)
Cartridge 7.62×39mm (Type 81)
5.8×42mm DBP87 (Type 87)
7.62×51mm (CS/LR14)
Action Short stroke gas piston, rotating bolt
Rate of fire Approx. 700–720 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity 750 m/s (2,461 ft/s)
760 metres per second (2,493 feet per second) (CS/LR14)[1]
Effective firing range 300+ meter
400-500 meter (CS/LR14)
Maximum firing range 550 meter
Feed system 30-round detachable box magazine (20 rounds for CS/LR14), 75-round detachable drum magazine
Sights Adjustable iron sights

The Type 81 (Chinese: 81式自动步枪; literally; "Type 81 Automatic Rifle") is a Chinese-designed Kalashnikov and SKS based, second-generation, selective-fire, gas-operated 7.62×39mm assault rifle adopted by the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) since the mid-1980s.

History

The weapon was introduced into PLA service in 1981 but did not become widely distributed until the late 1980s. It replaced the SKS[2] and the Type 56 rifle (a Chinese license produced AK-47). Its first combat use came during the Sino-Vietnamese border conflicts of the mid-1980s. The PLA has replaced most of its Type-81s with the Type 95 or Type 03 series of weapons, though it is still in service in the reserves and armed police. An improved version is also used by the Bangladesh Army under the designation BD-08.

Design

Type 81 light machine gun

The Type 81 incorporates elements of the Dragunov, SKS, and AK-47 series rifles. The design criteria it met included accuracy of 1.78 inch R50, that is 50% of the hits within a 1.78 inch diameter at 100 meters; improved controllability in full-automatic; the same reliability of the AK but a longer service life to approximately 20,000 rounds; and able to use existing AK and SKS production tooling at the time.[3]

The rifle retains the general layout of the Chinese Type 56 assault rifle (a license produced AK-47), but it has a SKS-like short-stroke gas-piston design and other improvements to reduce recoil and muzzle jump, giving better firing accuracy. Notable physical differences from the Type 56 assault rifle include the stock of the rifle, the length of the action, bayonet, and the positioning of the front sight.[4]

The most easily distinguishable feature of the Type 81 is the more exposed muzzle part of the barrel. The front sight has been moved back as a modification to be able to fire 22mm rifle grenades, which are slid over the unobstructed barrel muzzle now formed into a spigot-type rifle grenade launcher.[4]

There is a significant gap between the trigger guard and the magazine on Type 81 rifles, while on the Type 56 rifle series the magazine is adjacent to the front of the trigger guard.

The non-detachable swing-out spike-shaped bayonet of the Type 56 rifle was also replaced on Type 81 rifles with the detachable Type 81 knife-bayonet.[5]

Like its predecessors, the Type 81 is a series of weapons. The Type 81 (fixed stock) and Type 81-1 (folding stock) are 7.62×39mm caliber assault rifles with 30-round magazines, and the heavier Type 81 light machine gun (LMG) fitted with a 75-round drum magazine is used in the squad automatic weapon (SAW) role.[4] Its sight remains at the front of the LMG barrel.

The Type 81 can be fitted with a Picatinny rail, bipod, foregrip and flashlight.[6]

Variants

  • Type 81 7.62×39mm rifle with a fixed wooden buttstock. 400,000 were produced before it was replaced by the Type 81-1.[7]
  • Type 81-1 7.62×39mm rifle with a foldable buttstock. Originally intended for paratrooper use, the Type 81-1 replaced the Type 81 with its fixed wooden buttstock as the standard issue rifle for the PLA.[7]
  • Type 81 LMG 7.62×39mm squad machine gun[7]
  • Type 81 MGS Semi-automatic only version of the Type 81 LMG.
  • Type 81S Early semi-automatic only model intended for the U.S. market. Only 20 were imported in January 1989 before further importation was blocked by executive order.
  • EM356 5.56×45mm variant of the Type 81S, intended for the U.S. market. Only 3 Tool room prototypes were completed and imported for the 1989 SHOT show before importation was banned along with the Type 81S by executive order. No magazines were ever made for them so modified 5.56×45mm AK magazines must be used instead.
  • T81SA Semi-automatic variant in 7.62×39mm.[8]
    • T81-1SA Same as above, but with folding buttstock.
  • Type 87-1 5.8×42mm experimental rifle, used to develop and test 5.8×42mm DBP87 cartridge for the QBZ-95 rifle
  • Type 87 Served as a development platform for the next generation of PLA small arms, being used as a test-bed for the then new 5.8×42mm DBP87 ammunition. It never went into full-scale production but has been in service with PLA special forces.[7]
  • Type 81 Tactical Tactical variant used by the PAP
  • CS/LR14 7.62×51mm battle rifle. Newest tactical upgrade with modifications, such as tactical rails, foregrip, additional mountings, etc.
  • NAR-10 Tactical variant made for export.
  • NR-81S semi-automatic made primarily for the European and Canadian markets.
Canadian civilian legal version of the Type-81 rifle

Foreign variants

Bangladesh Armed Forces

 Bangladesh

 Myanmar

  • Kachin Independence Army produced Type 81 variants dubbed the M23, comes with updated polymer furniture with a Sun Motif. Not much is known about their manufacturing details due to their clandestine origins, possibly unofficially licensed built with PRC tooling as proxy military aid delivered through Bangladesh.[11]
  • Kachin K09: Comes with black/plum polymer furniture.
  • Kachin K010: Comes with green polymer furniture.
  • Kachin K011: Dedicated indigenous 45mm rifle grenade launcher variant.

Users

Non-state actors

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Modern Firearms - NORINCO NAR-10 / CS/LR-14 automatic rifle (China)
  2. ↑ The SKS Is the Cockroach of Weapons-You just can’t kill Sergei Simonov’s old, reliable, semi-automatic carbine
  3. ↑ http://www.redstararms.com/type81.pdf
  4. 1 2 3 Cutshaw, Charles Q. (28 February 2011). Tactical Small Arms of the 21st Century: A Complete Guide to Small Arms From Around the World. Iola, Wisconsin: Gun Digest Books. pp. 192–193. ISBN 978-1-4402-2709-7. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  5. ↑ http://worldbayonets.com/Bayonet_Identification_Guide/China/China_2.html
  6. ↑ Johnson, Steve (2012-07-25). "Chinese People's Armed Police Tacti-cool Type 81 Upgrade". The Firearm Blog. Retrieved 2016-04-11.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Miller, David (2003). The illustrated directory of twentieth century guns. Zenith Imprint. pp. 278–279. ISBN 978-0-7603-1560-6.
  8. ↑ EMEI/7.62mm Semi-Automatic Rifle Model T81SA
  9. ↑ http://www.bof.gov.bd/history/
  10. ↑ http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htweap/articles/20090228.aspx?comments=Y
  11. ↑ http://www.wanhuajing.com/d310053
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 "Weapon". Weaponsystems.net. Retrieved 2016-04-11.
  13. ↑ 360doc (2015-09-29). "撒哈拉那畔的兄弟：中阿军事合作的今与昔". 360doc.com. Retrieved 2017-01-24.
  14. ↑ "China and Russia dominate Bangladesh arms imports in 2015/16 - Bangladesh Military Forces". BDMilitary.com. Retrieved 2016-04-11.
  15. ↑ 21st Century Asian Arms Race (2018-03-01). "Bangladeshi Soldiers Are Issued A Unique Assault Rifle". 21st Century Asian Arms Race. Retrieved 2018-06-12.
  16. ↑ Lai, Benjamin (20 Nov 2012). The Chinese People’s Liberation Army since 1949: Ground Forces. Elite 194. p. 62. ISBN 9781780960562.
  17. ↑ tiexue.net. "原创]久经考验的好枪！81式枪族在海外[已拜读 ]". tiexue.net. Retrieved 2016-10-19.
  18. ↑ Cpl. Alexander Mitchell (2016-11-24). "Gabon, U.S. train to fight illicit activity". Defande Video Imagery Distribution System. Retrieved 2017-01-27.
  19. ↑ News Ghana (2016-05-08). "Ghana Armed Forces Hold Annual Open Day". newsghana.com.gh. Retrieved 2017-06-14.
  20. 1 2 "81式枪族". firearmsworld.net. 2005-11-04. Retrieved 2016-10-19.
  21. ↑ US Army Africa (2014-02-20). "USARAF conducts training in Guinea". US Army Africa. Retrieved 2017-06-21.
  22. ↑ eastday.com (2016-04-26). "81式自动步枪的同门兄弟——1981年式7.62毫米班用机枪". eastday.com. Retrieved 2016-10-19.
  23. 1 2 3 V, Miles (2017-02-28). "Chinese Type 81 in Baghdad". The Firearm Blog. Retrieved 2018-06-12.
  24. 1 2 Bonn International Center for Conversion; Bundeswehr Verification Center. "Type 81". SALW Guide: Global distribution and visual identification. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  25. ↑ Anders, Holger (June 2014). Identifier les sources d’approvisionnement: Les munitions de petit calibre en Côte d’Ivoire (PDF) (in French). Small Arms Survey and United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire. p. 15. ISBN 978-2-940-548-05-7.
  26. ↑ "永远的81杠！ 这是中国口碑最好的步枪美军抢着用黑叔叔都说好". eastday.com. Retrieved 2016-10-19.
  27. ↑ Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35th edition (27 January 2009). ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5.
  28. ↑ Savannah de Tessières (January 2018). At the Crossroads of Sahelian Conflicts: Insecurity, Terrorism, and Arms Trafficking in Niger (PDF) (Report). Small Arms Survey. p. 55. ISBN 978-2-940548-48-4.
  29. ↑ Okoroafor, Cynthia (2015-08-27). "You probably didn't know that Nigeria already manufactures these weapons". Ventures. Retrieved 2017-01-24.
  30. ↑ "Type 81 Assault Rifle". Military-Today.com. Retrieved 2016-04-11.
  31. ↑ Moss, Matthew (2017-04-25). "China Spent Decades Trying to Build a Better AK-47". War is Boring. Retrieved 2018-06-12.
  32. ↑ Yan, Timothy G. (2014-03-24). "Sudanese Future Soldier System". The Firearm Blog. Retrieved 2016-04-11.
  33. ↑ Why Is The Tajikistan Army Using Chinese-made Weapons? | 21st Century Asian Arms Race
  34. 1 2 Small Arms Survey (2006). "Fuelling Fear: The Lord's Resistance Army and Small Arms" (PDF). Small Arms Survey 2006: Unfinished Business. Oxford University Press. p. 283. ISBN 978-0-19-929848-8.
  35. ↑ Conflict Armament Research. "Weapons of the Islamic State". conflictarm.com. Retrieved 2018-01-09.
  36. ↑ Miles V. (2018-04-19). "Chinese Type 81 LMGs Found with Amphetamine Filled Packets in Mosul". The Firearms Blog. Retrieved 2018-06-12.
  37. ↑ Miles V. (2013-01-13). "Mystery rifle grenade launcher in Burma". The Firearms Blog. Retrieved 2018-06-12.
  38. ↑ https://www.scribd.com/document/102984735/Dossier-on-LTTE-Weapons
  39. ↑ Times of India (2016-12-06). "Assam: Ulfa-I getting stronger by the day; 21 youths including a woman join in as cadres". thenortheasttoday.com. The Northeast Today. Retrieved 2018-06-06.
  40. ↑ Dhruba Jyoti Deka (2013-03-13). "Bias source, Media Ethics and the last poem of Jahnabi". timesofassam.com. Times of Assam. Retrieved 2018-06-06.
  41. ↑ "ULFA-I cadre Surrenders at Tinisukia". time8.in. Time 8. 2017-10-12. Retrieved 2018-06-06.
  42. ↑ K Anurag in Guwahati (2013-09-24). "ULFA ultra killed in encounter, huge cache of arms recovered". rediff.com. Rediff News. Retrieved 2018-06-06.
  43. ↑ security-risks.com (2015-04-27). "'United National Liberation Front of West South East Asia' Formed". kanglaonline.com. Kangla Online. Retrieved 2018-06-06.

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.