Type 77 heavy machine gun
{{About|the Type 85 (Type 77) heavy machine gun|another PLA machine gun with a similar name|W85 heavy machine gun}}
{{Infobox weapon
| name = Type 77 Heavy Machine Gun
QJG-85
| image = M23 soldier Bunagana Hill.jpg
| caption = A Type 85 (improved Type 77) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo during the M23 rebellion
| origin = China
| type = Heavy machine gun
| is_ranged = yes
| service = 1977—present
| used_by =
| wars = Syrian Civil War
Mali War
M23 rebellion
Tigray War
War in Sudan (2023)
| designer =
| design_date =
| manufacturer = Norinco
| unit_cost =
| production_date = 1977-
| number =
| variants =
| weight = {{convert|28|kg|lb|2|abbr=on}} (gun only)
{{convert|28.3|kg|lb|2|abbr=on}} (tripod)
| length = {{convert|2150|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}
| part_length = {{convert|1016|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}
| crew =
| cartridge = 12.7×108mm
| action = hybrid short-recoil and direct gas impingement
| rate = 650-700 rounds/min
| velocity = 825 m/s
| range =
| max_range =
| feed = 60-round belt
| sights = Iron/Optical
}}
The Type 77 heavy machine gun or Type 85 is a Chinese 12.7×108mm heavy machine gun.[http://world.guns.ru/machine/mg45-e.htm Type 77 heavy machine gun (PR China)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100914221635/http://world.guns.ru/machine/mg45-e.htm |date=2010-09-14 }}
History
During the mid-1970s, China decided to develop a lighter 12.7 mm machine gun to replace the Type 54 (indigenous DShK) that was more suited for mobile anti-aircraft applications. The weapon was adopted in 1977 and mass production commenced in 1980. To save weight the Type 77 used a hybrid short-recoil and direct gas impingement operated action,{{cite web|url=https://old.weaponsystems.net/weaponsystem/BB03%20-%20Type%2077.html |title=Type 77 |website=Weapon System}} somewhat unusual for a machine gun, resulting in few moving parts and a long and slim, tubular receiver. Overall weight of the gun and tripod comes to about 56 kg (120 lb), less than half that of a mounted Type 54/DShK, though it retains the same locking system and belt feed.
The barrel is also thinner as light weight was favored over volume of fire, which causes it to overheat faster, with a prominent "pepperpot" muzzle brake. It has iron sights and a mount for a low-magnification optical sight suitable for engaging ground and air targets. The gun also has a large charging handle below the receiver, shoulder stock, and fires from an open bolt.[http://www.sadefensejournal.com/wp/?p=2685 Indigenous Machine Guns of China: Part Two – Heavy Machine Guns] Small Arms Defense Journal. 25 May 2014.[http://weaponsystems.net/weaponsystem/BB03%20-%20Type%2077.html Type 77] Weapon Systems.
Variants
=Type 85 heavy machine gun=
Military designation QJG-85. Five years after the Type 77 entered service, it was replaced in production by the updated Type 85 heavy machine gun. An evolution on the Type 77, it used a more conventional muzzle brake and replaced the spade grips and separate cocking handle with horizontal grips and a sliding trigger unit, the entirety of which is moved forward and back to cock the gun. The gun and tripod were also lighter, weighing {{convert|24|kg|abbr=on}} and {{convert|17.5|kg|abbr=on}} respectively. Both weapons can be mounted on vehicles.
Users
- {{AFG}}
- {{CAM}}{{citation needed|date=September 2018}}
- {{PRC}}{{citation needed|date=February 2021}}
- {{DJI}}{{citation needed|date=October 2017}}
- {{flagicon|Iraq}} Iraqi security forces: Used by Unmanned ground vehicle "Alrobot".{{cite web |url=http://www.bestchinanews.com/Military/2113.html |title=This Chinese weapons and hit play a leading role in Iraq on unmanned combat vehicles |publisher=Best China News |date=2016-08-25 |accessdate=2018-09-22}}[http://news.ifeng.com/a/20180617/58762070_0.shtml 伊拉克用中国技术造出战斗机器人 配合无人机专打狙击手] Also used by the Popular Mobilization Forces.{{cite news|title=Bataille de Mossoul: Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba, la milice chiite qui se bat en Syrie et en Irak|url=http://www.francesoir.fr/politique-france/bataille-de-mossoul-harakat-hezbollah-al-nujaba-la-milice-chiite-qui-se-bat-en|date=8 November 2016|newspaper=France Soir|language=fr}}{{cite news|title=Kataib al-Imam Ali, cette puissante milice chiite qui se bat à la fois en Irak et en Syrie|language=fr|newspaper=France Soir|first=Matteo|last=Puxton|url=http://www.francesoir.fr/politique-monde/kataib-al-imam-ali-cette-puissante-milice-chiite-qui-se-bat-la-fois-en-irak-et-en-syrie-anti-djihadistes-moqtada-al-sadr-bachar-al-assad-batailles-mossoul-alep-tal-afar-exactions-abou-azrael|date=30 August 2017}}
- {{flag|Rwanda}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.hisutton.com/Rwandan-Navy.html|title=H I Sutton - Covert Shores|website=www.hisutton.com}}
- {{flag|South Sudan}}{{cite journal|date=August 1998 |volume= 10|issue= 4|title=Sudan - Global trade, local impact: Arms Transfers to all Sides in the Civil War in Sudan|url=https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/sudan0898%20Report.pdf|page=25|journal=Human Rights Watch Report}}
- {{flag|Sudan}}
- {{YEM}}{{cite web |last1=Mitzer |first1=Stijn |last2=Oliemans |first2=Joost |title=The Oryx Handbook of Pre-war Yemeni Fighting Vehicles |url=https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2015/09/pre-war-yemeni-fighting-vehicles_20.html |website=Oryx |date=20 September 2015}}
=Non-State Actors=
- Free Syrian Army{{cite web|author=Timothy Yan |url=http://www.gunsandtech.com/reviews/tyan/these-arent-dshks-youre-looking-part-2-w85-heavy-machine-gun/ |title=These Are not the DShKs you're looking for: Part 2, the W85 Heavy Machine Gun |publisher=Guns & Tech |date=2016-06-21 |accessdate=2017-08-04}} and Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army{{cite news|title=Syrie: Liwa al-Mutasim, le groupe rebelle qui a lié son sort à la Turquie contre le régime d'Assad et les djihadistes|url=http://www.francesoir.fr/politique-monde/syrie-liwa-al-mutasim-le-groupe-rebelle-qui-lie-son-sort-la-turquie-contre-le-regime-bachar-al-assad-djihadistes-etat-islamique-front-al-nosra-stepahne-mantoux-groupe-democratique-idlib|date=25 October 2017|newspaper=France Soir|language=fr}}{{cite news|title=Conflit syrien: les rebelles de la division Sultan Mourad, fer de lance de la Turquie en Syrie|url=http://www.francesoir.fr/politique-monde/conflit-syrien-la-division-sulktan-mourad-fer-de-lance-de-la-turquie-en-syrie-turkmenes-alep-damas-ahmed-othman|date=24 March 2017|newspaper=France Soir|language=fr}}
- {{flag|Islamic State}}{{cite news|title=Bataille de Mossoul: aux abois dans la deuxième ville d'Irak, Daech appelle ses partisans à commettre des attentats en Occident|url=http://www.francesoir.fr/politique-monde/bataille-de-mossoul-combats-irak-etat-islamique-ei-appelle-partisans-attentats-occident-europe-etats-unis-terrorsime-cham-kamikazes-chars-vbied-golden-division-stephane-mantoux-kamikaze|date=1 June 2017|newspaper=France Soir|language=fr}}{{cite news|title=Etat islamique et chars d'assaut: comment les djihadistes emploient leurs blindés en Irak et en Syrie|language=fr|newspaper=France Soir|url=http://www.francesoir.fr/politique-monde/etat-islamique-et-chars-d-assaut-analyse-emploi-blindes-par-les-djihadistes-conflit-syrie-irak-terrorisme-combats-mossoul-daech-guerre-ei-tactique-strat%C3%A9gie-inedit-exclu|date=2 February 2017}}
- People's Movement for the Liberation of Azawad{{cite book|url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/publications/by-type/yearbook/small-arms-survey-2005.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101109192749/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/publications/by-type/yearbook/small-arms-survey-2005.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 9, 2010|chapter-url= http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/A-Yearbook/2005/en/Small-Arms-Survey-2005-Chapter-06-EN.pdf|chapter=Sourcing the Tools of War: Small Arms Supplies to Conflict Zones|title=Small Arms Survey 2005: Weapons at War|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2005|author=Small Arms Survey|author-link=Small Arms Survey|page=166|isbn=978-0-19-928085-8}}
- Tigray Defense Forces{{cite AV media|title="TDF in ACTION"|date=Sep 26, 2022|publisher=Assena TV|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdwPsD6MCM8}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Modern Chinese Infantry Weapons}}
{{commons category|Type 77 machine gun}}
Category:Cold War weapons of China
Category:Machine guns of the People's Republic of China