W85 heavy machine gun

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

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 Libyan Civil War Iraqi Civil War[1] Yemeni Civil War
Production history
Manufacturer	Norinco
Variants	QJC-88
Specifications
Mass	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

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.[3][4]

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°.[3][4]

Users

•  Afghanistan[5]
•  Bangladesh

MBT-2000 tank crew of Bangladesh Army with W85 heavy machine gun.

•  Cambodia[6]
•  China[6][7]
•  Iraq[1][8]
•  Iran
•  Libya: Libyan National Army[9]
•  Mali[10]
•  Rwanda: Used by Rwandan peacekeepers in Darfur.[6]
•  South Sudan: South Sudan Democratic Movement[11]
•  Sri Lanka
  • Tamil Tigers[6]
•  Sudan: Manufactured locally as Khawad.[12]
•  Syria
  • Free Syrian Army[8]
  •  Islamic State[13]

See also

• Type 77/85
• DShK
• NSV
• QJZ-89

References

1. Iraq: Turning a blind eye: The arming of the Popular Mobilization Units (PDF) (Report). Amnesty International. 5 January 2017. p. 25. MDE 14/5386/2017.
2. W85 heavy machine gun Archived September 14, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
3. Indigenous Machine Guns of China: Part Two – Heavy Machine Guns Small Arms Defense Journal. 25 May 2014.
4. QJC88 Weapon Systems.
5. "Soviet Influenced Heavy Machine Guns in Afghan Service". thefirearmblog.com. May 4, 2018.
6. "W85式/QJC88式高射机枪" (in Chinese). firearmsworld.net. 2011-02-03. Retrieved 2017-08-04.
7. World Guns Modern Firearms (2017-06-21). "W85 heavy machine gun (PR China)". modernfirearms.net. Retrieved 2017-08-04.
8. 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.
9. "The Coronavirus Could Heal Libya". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
10. 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.
11. Small Arms Survey 2014, p. 233.
12. 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.
13. "Puissante contre-offensive de l'Etat islamique dans le désert syrien". France Soir (in French). 16 October 2018.