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NORINCO W-85 (QJC-88)


Heavy Machine Gun (HMG) / Vehicle Machine Gun [ 1985 ]



The NORINCO W-85 Heavy Machine Gun series of the Chinese Army is no doubt influenced by the many decades of use regarding Soviet-era heavy guns.



Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 05/08/2022 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

GO TO SPECIFICATIONS [+]
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The W85 is a Heavy Machine Gun (HMG) design originating out of China and undoubtedly influenced by many decades of Soviet hardware use and doctrine. Chambered in the proven 12.7x108mm Soviet cartridge, the weapon is designed to defeat light-armored elements at-range and can also counter the threat posed by low-flying aircraft such as helicopters. The gun is a common sight on Chinese military vehicles, where it sits atop a trainable mounting, and the system can also be affixed to a tripod assembly to serve as a static air defense system - its inherent weight precludes it being man-portable.

The gun alone (unloaded) tips the scales at 41lb and this balloons to 86lb with the tripod assembly attached. Internally, the weapon relies on a gas-operated action with a long-stroke gas piston and open-bolt design, feeding 12.7x108mm cartridges from a linked belt. The gas cylinder resides under the long-running barrel which is capped by an oversized brake to help contend with the recoil action of firing such a large-caliber round. A front iron sight is positioned just aft of the brake and ahead of the gas cylinder though optics are typically assigned to the weapon for increased accuracy at-range. Muzzle velocity of the outgoing bullet is rated at 2,788 feet-per-second and rate-of-fire reaches up to 600 rounds-per-minute.

The W86 HMG is found on the Type 99, Type 96, and Type 15 combat tanks as well as the Type 05, Type 08, PLL-05, and Type 89 armored vehicles. It is in active service with the nations of Algeria (where it is produced under local license), Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Mali, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, and Syria as well as elements of the Free Syrian Army, Islamic State (ISIL), and the Tamil "Tigers".

With its wide export base, this heavy machine gun has seen combat service in modern clashes including the War in Darfur, the Northern Mali Conflict, the Syrian Civil War, the Libyan Civil War, the Iraqi Civil War, and the Yemeni Civil War.©MilitaryFactory.com
Note: The above text is EXCLUSIVE to the site www.MilitaryFactory.com. It is the product of many hours of research and work made possible with the help of contributors, veterans, insiders, and topic specialists. If you happen upon this text anywhere else on the internet or in print, please let us know at MilitaryFactory AT gmail DOT com so that we may take appropriate action against the offender / offending site and continue to protect this original work.
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Specifications



Service Year
1985

Origin
China national flag graphic
China

Classification


Heavy Machine Gun (HMG) / Vehicle Machine Gun


China NORth INdustries COrporation (NORINCO) - China
(View other Arms-Related Manufacturers)
National flag of Afghanistan National flag of Algeria National flag of Bangladesh National flag of China National flag of Iraq National flag of Libya National flag of Rwanda National flag of Sri Lanka National flag of Sudan National flag of Syria Algeria; Afghanistan; Bangladesh; Cambodia; China; Iraq; Iraq; Libya; Mali; Rwanda; South Sudan; Sri Lanka; Sudan; Syria
(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
Fire Support
Capable of suppressing enemy elements at range through direct or in-direct fire.


TARGET / AREA SUPPRESSION
Inherent ability to provide suppression capabilities against target / target area.
FULL-AUTO FIRE
Internal action allows release of multiple rounds with a trigger pull in quick succession.
REPEAT-FIRE CAPABLE
An automatic, or pseudo-automatic, function is built into the system, allowing for repeat firing to be achieved.
ANTI-ARMOR
Inherent ability to engage / defeat armored targets at range.
VEHICLE MOUNTING
Versatility is such that it can be mounted to vehicles as an anti-infantry / area suppression solution.
SCOPE-CAPABLE / SIGHTING ASSIST
Supports mounting of optics (scopes) to aid in accuracy for ranged fire.
IRON SIGHTS
Supports 'iron sights' allowing for inherent accuracy in ranged fire.
TRIPOD ASSEMBLY
Can be mounted to a tripod assembly, typically of heavy-duty construction for added accuracy in ranged fire.
PINTLE MOUNTING
Can be mounted atop a trainable pintle assembly for additional support.


Empty Wgt
40.79 lb
18.50 kg
Sights


Iron.


Action


Gas-Operated; Belt-Fed; Air-Cooled; Full-Automatic Fire Only

Full-Automatic
Rounds are automatically ejected from the breech, a new cartridge stripped from the feed and set in the chamber, and rounds are continuously fired so long as the trigger is pulled and an ammunition supply exists.
Gas-Operated
Gas-operated system is featured, typically involving a gas cylinder and rear-driven piston directing energy to the bolt component.
(Material presented above is for historical and entertainment value and should not be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation - always consult official manufacturer sources for such information)


Caliber(s)*


12.7x108mm Soviet

Sample Visuals**


Graphical image of a 12.7mm / .50BMG machine gun / rifle round
Rounds / Feed


Belt-Fed
Cartridge relative size chart
*May not represent an exhuastive list; calibers are model-specific dependent, always consult official manufacturer sources.
**Graphics not to actual size; not all cartridges may be represented visually; graphics intended for general reference only.
Rate-of-Fire
600
rds/min
Muzzle Velocity
2,788 ft/sec
(850 m/sec)


W-85 - Base Series Designation.
QJC-88 - Alternative local designation.


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Images Gallery



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Image of the NORINCO W-85 (QJC-88)
Image from the Chinese Ministry of Defense; Public Release.


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