Type 80 machine gun

{{Infobox weapon

| name = Type 80 general-purpose machine gun

| image = Chinese pkms.png

| caption = Type 80 GPMG in tripod mount

| origin = China

| type = General-purpose machine gun

| is_ranged = yes

| service = 1983–present

| used_by = See Users

| wars = Lebanese Civil War
Second Sudanese Civil War
War in Darfur
Sri Lankan Civil War
Somali civil war (2009–present)
South Sudanese ethnic violence
Sudanese conflict
Syrian Civil War
Boko Haram insurgency
Islamic State insurgency in Iraq (2017–present){{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/war_noir/status/1747716616996171977}}{{better source needed|date=June 2024}}

| designer = Mikhail KalashnikovThis is due to the Type 80's basis from the PK general-purpose machine gun.

| design_date = 1980

| manufacturer = * Norinco

Changfeng Machinery (For CS/LM4 variant)
Military Industry Corporation

| unit_cost =

| production_date = 1983–present{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302121723/http://mil.news.sina.com.cn/p/2007-09-03/0843462409.html|url=http://mil.news.sina.com.cn/p/2007-09-03/0843462409.html|script-title=zh:中国80式7.62毫米通用机枪至今仍大量出口(图)|access-date=2010-05-04|archive-date=2012-03-02|language=zh|publisher=Sina}}

| number =

| variants = See Variants

| spec_label =

| weight = {{convert|12.6|kg|lb|2|abbr=on}}

| length = {{convert|1192|mm|in|abbr=on}}

| part_length = {{convert|658|mm|abbr=on|1}}

| width =

| height =

| diameter =

| crew =

| passengers =

| cartridge =

7.62×54mmR
7.62×51 NATO (For CF 06 version)

| cartridge_weight =

| caliber =

| barrels =

| action = Gas-operated, open bolt

| rate = 700–800 round/min

| velocity = 840 m/s (2,776 ft/s)

| range = 1,640 yd (100—1,500 m sight adjustments)

| max_range =

| feed = Belts in 100/200/250 round boxes

| sights = Open sights. Optical/Night vision scope can be outfitted.

}}

The Type 80 ({{zh|c=80式通用机枪|p=|l=}}) is a general-purpose machine gun (GPMG) manufactured by Norinco in China, based on the Soviet PKM. The machine gun was certified for design finalisation in 1980 and entered the PLA service in the mid-1980s, specifically in 1983. The Type 80 was intended as a successor to the Chinese independently developed Type 67, doing well in tests conducted in the Chengdu Military Region before it was dropped and instead, opted to keep the Type 67 GPMG in use.

Only a few Type 80s were used in the People's Liberation Army Marine Corps and airborne units, and a modified Type 80, named as Type 86, was then accepted by PLA armor units.{{cite web|url=https://mil.sina.cn/sd/2016-05-10/detail-ifxryhhh1856077.d.html?oid=3802150910430086&vt=4&cid=65898|title=深度：俄抱怨中国山寨太强这么好的机枪都抄袭到手|website=mil.sina.cn|date=10 May 2016|language=zh}}

History

The development of the GPMG started when Chinese firearms engineers studied PKMs that were captured from Vietnamese forces during the Sino-Vietnamese War.

Changfeng Machinery was subcontracted to create the CS/LM4 in order to have it chambered to 7.62 NATO caliber.{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151115211129/http://www.firearmsworld.net/china/mg/type80/type80.htm|url=http://www.firearmsworld.net/china/mg/type80/type80.htm|access-date=2020-04-13|script-title=zh:80式通用机枪|archive-date=2015-11-15|language=zh|title=Firearmsworld.net}} The CS/LM4 has been marketed to countries that have used Soviet/East European/Chinese-made small arms, but have oriented to use NATO-based ammo.

Design

The Type 80 uses the 7.62×54mmR round. It is a gas-operated, air-cooled, belt-fed, fully automatic firearm. It can fire on both the tripod and the foldable bipod on the gas tube below the barrel.{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071016150656/http://sinodefence.com/army/crewserved/type80gpmg.asp|url=http://sinodefence.com/army/crewserved/type80gpmg.asp|title=Type 80 7.62mm General Purpose Machine Gun|date=2007-08-13|access-date=2013-04-29|archive-date=2007-10-16}}

Belts are used from 100-round boxes in the light machine gun configurations, and from 200- or 250-round boxes in tripod-mounted applications. The machine gun uses an open iron sight, but can also be fitted with an optical or night-vision sight.

Variants

Type 80 - The copy of the PKM GPMG, chambered in 7.62×54mmR. The modernized version is copy of PKP "Pecheneg"
Type 86 - A machine gun only used for tanks as a secondary weapon.
CF06 - An export-only version of the Type 80, which is chambered for 7.62 NATO ammunition.{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302121813/http://mil.news.sina.com.cn/p/2007-10-16/0820467739.html|url=http://mil.news.sina.com.cn/p/2007-10-16/0820467739.html|title=中国研制成功新型CF06式7.62毫米通用机枪(图)|access-date=2013-04-29|publisher=Sina|date=2007-10-16|archive-date=2012-03-02|language=zh}}{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302123802/http://mil.news.sina.com.cn/p/2007-10-16/0820467740.html|url=http://mil.news.sina.com.cn/p/2007-10-16/0820467740.html|title=图文：国产CF06式7.62毫米通用机枪结构示意图|access-date=2013-04-29|publisher=Sina|date=2007-10-16|archive-date=2012-03-02|language=zh}} A study on creating the CF06 started with an evaluation from July to December 2006 with a prototype review in February 2007. Production started from April to May 2007 before the CF06 was officially formalized in January 2008. It's equipped with polymer furniture instead of the wooden furniture used in the original Type 80.{{cite web|url=http://www.zgjunshi.com/Article/Class38/Class88/Class120/200903/20090302110159_2.html|title=中国CF06式7.62毫米通用机枪|date=18 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170618220532/http://www.zgjunshi.com/Article/Class38/Class88/Class120/200903/20090302110159_2.html|archive-date=2017-06-18}} The barrel life consist of 25,000 rounds, with 12,500 rounds for each one of two barrels supplied.{{cite web|url=http://www.zgjunshi.com/Article/Class38/Class88/Class120/200903/20090302110159.html|title=中国CF06式7.62毫米通用机枪|date=25 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170725012453/http://www.zgjunshi.com/Article/Class38/Class88/Class120/200903/20090302110159.html|archive-date=2017-07-25|language=zh}} It's also known as the CS/LM4 GPMG ({{zh|c=CS/LM 4型通用机枪 |p=|l=}}) in 2008.

= Foreign variants =

Mokhtar - A variant of the Type 80 made by the Sudanese Military Industry Corporation{{sfn|Small Arms Survey 2014|p=241}} in 7.62x54R caliber.{{Cite web |url=http://www.smallarmssurveysudan.org/fileadmin/docs/facts-figures/sudan/HSBA-IDEX-2015.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2020-06-13 |archive-date=2017-05-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170520032850/http://www.smallarmssurveysudan.org/fileadmin/docs/facts-figures/sudan/HSBA-IDEX-2015.pdf |url-status=dead }}

Users

File:Damascus Checkpoint.jpeg

{{flag|Cameroon}}{{citation needed|date=June 2024}}
{{flag|China}}: Currently in service in small numbers with Chinese special forces.
{{flag|Croatia}}: In service with Croatian police units during the country's war of independence.{{cite web|url=https://www.mup.hr/main.aspx?id=148928|title=Vojničke puške - mup.hr|date=16 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140316182158/https://www.mup.hr/main.aspx?id=148928|archive-date=2014-03-16}}
{{Flag|India}}: Captured from various insurgents in the Kashmir valley and used by Indian troops.{{Cite web|title=Type 56 Assault Rifle: A Curious Case of Indian Army using Chinese Weapon|url=https://newsbuzzindia.com/india/type-56-assault-rifle-a-curious-case-of-indian-army-using-chinese-weapon/|last=Admin -|website=News Buzz India|language=en-US|access-date=2020-06-01|archive-date=2020-08-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813022243/https://newsbuzzindia.com/india/type-56-assault-rifle-a-curious-case-of-indian-army-using-chinese-weapon/|url-status=dead}}
{{flag|Malta}}: Armed Forces of Malta{{cite news|title=Personnel reveal shortcomings inside Maltese armed forces|url=https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/88089/personnel_reveal_shortcomings_inside_maltese_armed_forces|newspaper=Malta Today|date=14 July 2018 |first=Matthew |last=Agius }}
{{flag|Niger}}{{sfn|de Tessières 2018 (Small Arms Survey)|p=58}}
{{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}}

:* South Sudan Democratic Movement: Mokhtar{{sfn|Small Arms Survey 2014|p=233}}

:* South Sudan Defence Forces: Type 80{{sfn|Small Arms Survey 2014|p=226}}

{{flag|Sudan}}: Manufactured locally as Mokhtar.{{cite book|url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/A-Yearbook/2014/en/Small-Arms-Survey-2014-Highlights-EN.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140805164422/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/A-Yearbook/2014/en/Small-Arms-Survey-2014-Highlights-EN.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 5, 2014|chapter-url= http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/A-Yearbook/2014/en/Small-Arms-Survey-2014-Chapter-7-EN.pdf|chapter=Weapons tracing in Sudan and South Sudan|title=Small Arms Survey 2014: Women and guns|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2014|author=Small Arms Survey|author-link=Small Arms Survey|pages=241|ref={{harvid|Small Arms Survey 2014}}}} Also Chinese-made Type 80s.{{sfn|Small Arms Survey 2014|p=226}}
{{flag|Somalia}}{{cite tweet |last1=Noir |first1=War |user=war_noir |number=1813754788053676067 |title=#Somalia 🇸🇴: Al-Shabaab (part of #AlQaeda) ambushed Somali Forces in El Dher, #Galgaduud. Militants captured #Chinese 🇨🇳 Type 56-2 rifles, rare LG2 grenade launcher, Type 69 RPG Launcher, Type 69-3 HEAT rounds, Type 80 MGs. The weapons were obtained by Somali Army in 2024/2023.|via=Twitter}}
{{flag|Sri Lanka}}: In service with the Sri Lanka Army. Around 200 Type 80 GPMGs were supplied by Norinco as part of several defense agreements between China and Sri Lanka.{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120614142402/http://www.lankanewspapers.com/news/2007/6/15568.html|url=http://www.lankanewspapers.com/news/2007/6/15568.html|title=Chinese arms, radar for Sri Lanka military|access-date=2010-05-04|archive-date=2012-06-14 |date=2007-06-05}}
{{flag|Syria}}{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}
{{flag|Turkey}}: Purchased 2800 Type 80s for Border guards and Infantry Commando Brigades.{{cite web |last1=Kula |first1=Mehmet Ali |title=Türkiye, Çin'den 3 binden fazla makineli tüfek aldı! |url=https://www.defenceturk.net/turkiye-cinden-3-binden-fazla-makineli-tufek-aldi |website=DefenceTurk |access-date=24 September 2023 |language=tr |date=13 September 2022}}

=Non-State Actors=

{{flagicon image|AQMI Flag asymmetric.svg}} Boko Haram{{Cite report|language=en|title=At the Crossroads of Sahelian Conflicts: Insecurity, Terrorism, and Arms Trafficking in Niger|author= Savannah de Tessières|isbn = 978-2-940548-48-4|publisher= Small Arms Survey|url = http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/U-Reports/SAS-SANA-Report-Niger.pdf|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180612184751/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/U-Reports/SAS-SANA-Report-Niger.pdf|url-status = dead|archive-date = June 12, 2018|date = January 2018|page = 55|ref = {{harvid|de Tessières 2018 (Small Arms Survey)}}}}
{{flagicon|Hamas}} Hamas{{Cite web |title=Hamas fights with a patchwork of weapons built by Iran, China, Russia and North Korea |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/hamas-fights-patchwork-weapons-built-iran-china-russia-106381152 |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=ABC News|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119053008/https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/hamas-fights-patchwork-weapons-built-iran-china-russia-106381152|archivedate=2024-01-19}}
{{flag|Islamic State}}{{cite book|title=Islamic State Weapons in Iraq and Syria: Analysis of weapons and ammunition captured from Islamic State forces in Iraq and Syria|url=http://conflictarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Dispatch_IS_Iraq_Syria_Weapons.pdf|date=September 2014|author=Conflict Armament Research|author-link=Conflict Armament Research|pages=6, 9|ref={{harvid|Conflict Armament Research 2014}}}}
{{flagicon|Libya}} Libyan National Army{{cite web |last1=Mitzer |first1=Stijn |last2=Oliemans |first2=Joost |title=Tracking Arms Transfers By The UAE, Russia, Jordan And Egypt To The Libyan National Army Since 2014 |url=https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2020/06/types-of-arms-and-equipment-supplied-to.html |website=Oryx Blog |date=23 March 2021}}
{{flagicon|South Sudan}} South Sudan Democratic Movement
{{flagicon image|Flag of SSLM.svg}} South Sudan Liberation Movement{{cite journal|journal=Sudan Issue Brief|issue=19 April 2011|pages=6–9|title=Reaching for the gun: Arms flows and holdings in South Sudan|date=7 January 2024 |url=http://www.smallarmssurveysudan.org/fileadmin/docs/issue-briefs/HSBA-IB-19-Arms-flows-and-holdings-South-Sudan.pdf|publisher=Small Arms Survey}}
Nuer militias in South Sudan