Type 79 submachine gun

The People's Liberation Army (PLA) General Staff Department issued a requirement for a weapon that can be used by Chinese military and police forces who handle public security, communications and other rear guard duties.[1] The 208th Research Institute of China Ordnance Industry was directed to head the design.[1]

The Type 79 was supposed to enter service with the PLA after initial production was made from 1981 to 1982.[4] During the war with Vietnam, Chinese soldiers on recon operations used the Type 79 as their main weapon, together with the Type 64.[1]

It became notorious in Chinese history since it was widely used by factions working for Lin Biao and the Gang of Four.[5]

The weapon found immediate acceptance within the People's Armed Police and Public Security Police forces after the PLA phased them out of service.[6] The excessive rate of fire, limited magazine capacity and reliability issues, including problems of jamming were the reasons why the PLA decided to drop them as the main submachine gun.[7][5]

From 1981 to 1992, more than 200,000 Type 79s were made.[8]

In the early 2000s, Type 79s still in service were retrofitted with railed fore-ends to equip them with tactical accessories like gunsights and new muzzle brake devices.[9] This was first seen with the Guangzhou Public Security Police.[9]

Other police forces that adopted the modernized Type 79s included the Shenzhen, Dongguan and Panyu Public Security Police forces.[10]

There are plans to replace the Type 79 in service with Chinese law enforcement agencies with the JH16-1, which was introduced in 2017 and chambered in 9x19mm.[11][12] In PLA service, it was replaced by the QCW-05 in 2001.[13]

From the 1981 pilot production, the total production of the Type 79 was nearly 200,000 until 1992 under Liu Zhitong.[1] The highest years of production were between 1988 and 1991. During that period the Type 79 was produced at a rate of more than 30,000 per year. The developmental period of Type 79 was 15 years with a staff of over 70 people.[1]

From 1971 to 1975, the prototypes failed twice in various torture tests, forcing the design committee to redesign it.[14][15] This was mainly because the design of the chamber could not handle the pressure of 7.62x25 Tokarev ammunition.[15]

The design was made for use with the PLA, keeping its weight light for jungle warfare operations.[7]

The Type 79 fires 7.62 millimeter caliber steel-cored pistol bullets in either the automatic or semiautomatic mode. The gun is gas-operated, with a foldable butt stock.[4] The fire selector is made after the design of the Type 56 assault rifle with the stock made from stamped steel.[4] Setting it to "1" makes the weapon fire on single shot while setting it to "2" makes the weapon fire in bursts.[5] Sights can be used to fire up to 100 and 200 meters.[14]

The extended magazine housing serves as the de facto forward grip.[7]