W85 heavy machine gun

W85
Type Heavy machine gun
Place of origin China
Service history
Used by See Users
Wars War in Darfur
Northern Mali conflict
Syrian Civil War
Production history
Manufacturer Norinco
Specifications
Weight 18.5 kg (40.79 lb) (gun only)
17.5 kg (38.58 lb) (tripod)
Cartridge 12.7×108 mm
Action gas
Rate of fire 550-600 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity 850 m/s (2,788 ft/s)
Feed system belt
Sights Iron/Optical

The W-85 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.[1] The W85 is not to be confused with the Type 85, another Chinese machine gun of the same caliber but of a different design.

Overview

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.[2][3]

QJC-88

Although the W85 was not accepted into Chinese service, years later a variant was adopted called the QJC-88. The QJC-88 was introduced as a pintle mounted machine gun for tanks and armored vehicles. It weighs the same, is solenoid fired, and is mounted on a special cradle allowing for elevation angles of -5 to +65°.[2][3]

Users

See also

References

  1. ↑ W85 heavy machine gun Archived September 14, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
  2. 1 2 Indigenous Machine Guns of China: Part Two – Heavy Machine Guns Small Arms Defense Journal. 25 May 2014.
  3. 1 2 QJC88 Weapon Systems.
  4. ↑ "Soviet Influenced Heavy Machine Guns in Afghan Service". thefirearmblog.com. May 4, 2018.
  5. 1 2 3 4 (in Chinese) "W85式/QJC88式高射机枪". firearmsworld.net. 2011-02-03. Retrieved 2017-08-04.
  6. ↑ World Guns Modern Firearms (2017-06-21). "W85 heavy machine gun (PR China)". modernfirearms.net. Retrieved 2017-08-04.
  7. 1 2 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.
  8. ↑ 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.
  9. ↑ Small Arms Survey 2014, p. 233.
  10. ↑ 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.
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