Chinese Marine Corps and its small arms
The Chinese Marine Corps is a branch of the PLA Navy, and its strength exceeds 40 people. In this case, we are talking about specialized units, the personnel of which have special landing and sabotage and reconnaissance training, equipped with amphibious equipment adapted for landing from the sea.
The personnel and equipment of six brigades of the Chinese Army Ground Forces have also been prepared to participate in large-scale amphibious operations. For this purpose, there is a necessary number of landing craft and ships of various classes.
Structure of the Chinese Marine Corps
The People's Liberation Army Marine Corps was officially established in April 1953 and was intended to conduct amphibious operations against islands held by the Republic of China (Taiwan). By the end of the Korean War, the PLA Marine Corps had eight divisions and 110 personnel. However, in October 000, the PRC leadership decided to abandon plans for a military solution to the Taiwan issue, and the Marine Corps was officially disbanded. At the same time, the naval command managed to maintain forces consisting of several infantry and amphibious tank regiments. Some of the personnel of these units took part in the capture of part of the Paracel Islands, which were under the control of South Vietnam, in April 1974.
Naval landing exercises in 1962
In 1979, the Marine Corps was re-established and the 1980st Marine Brigade was formed on Hainan Island in 1. In March 1988, Chinese marines took part in the operation to take control of Johnson Reef.
In the second half of the 1990s, after the aggravation of relations with Taiwan, the corps began to be rearmed and its numbers increased. For this purpose, in addition to the formation of units on the basis of the PLA Navy Coastal Defense Forces, units from the Ground Forces were transferred to the CMP. Thus, in July 1998, the 164th Motorized Infantry Division of the 41st Group of the PLA Ground Forces was reassigned to the South Command fleet, after which it became the 1st Marine Brigade, based in Zhanjiang, Guangdong Province. The most recent such transfer occurred in February 2017, when the 77th Mechanized Infantry Brigade of the 26th Group Army was transferred to the navy.
There are currently seven marine brigades under the fleet commanders. The 1st and 2nd Marine Brigades, part of the Southern Fleet, are based in Zhanjiang, Guangdong Province, while the 3rd Marine Brigade, part of the Eastern Fleet, is based in Jinjiang, Fujian Province. The 4th Brigade of the Eastern Fleet has its headquarters and most of its personnel in Jieyang, Guangdong Province. The 5th Brigade, part of the Northern Fleet, is based in Laoshan, Shandong Province. The 6th Brigade of the Northern Fleet is based in Haiyang, Shandong Province. The 7th Brigade, based near Sanya on Hainan Island, specializes in sabotage and reconnaissance and is structured differently from other PLA Marine brigades. The corps command also includes the Separate Airborne Brigade, formed in 2017 and stationed in Mingguan, Anhui Province.
The KMP brigades are distributed unevenly between the fleets. Thus, the number of marines in the Southern Fleet command, which is directly subordinate to the command, is 18 people. The Northern Fleet command has 000 marines, and the Eastern Fleet has 12 marines. More than 000 people serve in special forces units, which are directly subordinate to the PLA Navy central command.
Marines with their standard heavy weapons and helicopters are permanently stationed at the overseas naval base in Djibouti. The total number of Chinese troops there reaches 2000.
A standard Marine brigade consists of an amphibious tank battalion, an infantry fighting vehicle battalion, a light infantry battalion, and an airborne assault battalion.
The brigade includes: a separate reconnaissance company, whose fighters have diving training, artillery division and division DefenseThe brigade is also provided with units for logistics, equipment and weapons repair.
Small arms of the Chinese Marines
The command staff of the PLA Marine Corps are armed with QSZ-92 (Type 92) pistols. This weapon, developed by Norinco, was officially introduced into service in 1998.
This pistol, unusual in many ways, has an automatic mechanism with a coupled breech, which is opened by a rotating barrel. Another feature of the QSZ-92 is the use of a specific 5,8x21 mm cartridge, developed in China. The weight of the bullet with a steel core is 3 g, the initial velocity is 480 m/s. This ammunition is capable of effectively penetrating light body armor.
The QSZ-92 pistol has a polymer frame with a steel insert, on which the slide guides are made and the double-action trigger mechanism with an open hammer is attached. The two-sided safety is located on the weapon frame. Under the barrel on the frame there is a guide for attaching a flashlight or laser sight. The pistol is fed from detachable magazines with a capacity of 20 rounds of 5,8 mm caliber. Without cartridges, the standard army pistol weighs 760 g.
QSZ92 pistols for 5,8x21 and 9x19 mm cartridges
There is also a variant chambered for 9x19 mm, but there are few weapons of this caliber in the troops. In order to visually distinguish pistols chambered for different cartridges, there is a star on the handle of the 9-mm modification.
Soldiers of sabotage and reconnaissance units use QSW06 silent pistols with a removable silencer.
The QSW06 pistol is based on the QSZ92, but is primarily designed for the subsonic DCV05 5,8x21mm ammunition (muzzle velocity 320 m/s), which creates less noise. At the same time, it is possible to fire standard pistol cartridges of the same size.
The Chinese reconnaissance and sabotage units, which have diving training, are armed with the 4,5 mm QSS-05 pistol, which is a copy of the Soviet SPP-1M.
Loading the QSS-05 underwater pistol
The four-shot pistol fires arrow-shaped bullets, each cartridge is loaded into its own barrel. When loaded, the weapon weighs 980 g. Length – 244 mm.
The QCW05 submachine gun is designed for scouts and saboteurs, as well as technical specialists, drivers and heavy weapons crews who are not directly involved in direct combat with the enemy, and is chambered for 5,8x21 mm ammunition. When using a silencer, it is recommended to fire "silent" subsonic cartridges with a heavier bullet. There is also a police version chambered for 9x19 mm ammunition.
QCW05
The submachine gun, developed according to the bullpup scheme, has a free-bolt action. The receiver is made of aluminum alloy, the stock elements are made of super-strong polymer. Ammunition is fed from a four-row box magazine for 50 rounds. The 9-mm version uses magazines from the Heckler & Koch MP5 submachine gun. Without cartridges and a silencer, the 5,8-mm QCW05 weighs 2,2 kg. Length without a silencer is 500 mm. Rate of fire is 900 rounds per minute. The effective range with a standard cartridge is 250 m.
The standard weapon of the Chinese Marines is currently the QBZ95 (Type 95) assault rifle chambered for 5,8×42mm ammunition. The rifle has been manufactured by Norinco since the late 1990s.
QBZ95
Thanks to the bullpup design, the length of the weapon is only 745 mm. Weight without cartridges and accessories - 3,25 kg. Automatics operate by removing part of the gases from the barrel. Feed is from a 30-round magazine or a 75-round drum. The effective firing range at a full-length target is 400 m. Aiming range at a group target - up to 800 m. Rate of fire - 650 rounds/min.
Although the QBZ95 design contains a large proportion of polymer materials, the weapon is considered to be quite durable. The latest serial modifications have the ability to install collimator and optical sights, tactical flashlights and under-barrel grenade launchers.
The barrel and stock of the QBZ95 rifle are almost in line, which increases stability when shooting.
The rifle barrel can be fitted with a Type 87 bayonet, which is based on the American M9 bayonet.
To fire rifle grenades using a blank cartridge at a distance of up to 100 m, a mortar can be installed on the barrel.
The 35mm QLG-10 underbarrel grenade launcher has a longer range and is capable of firing fragmentation, cumulative fragmentation and smoke grenades at a range of up to 400 m.
The upgraded QBZ95-1 rifles are currently being shipped. This modification features a modified stock, trigger guard, and a thumb selector above the pistol grip.
QBZ95-1
The spent cartridges are ejected forward, which allows shooting from the left shoulder. A bolt release button has appeared behind the magazine catch. The QBZ95-1 uses a longer and heavier barrel, which increased the weight of the weapon by 160 g.
A shorter version of the QBZ95 is the QBZ95B carbine. This weapon is better suited for operations in cramped conditions, but the carbine has an effective range of up to 300 m and cannot be equipped with an underbarrel grenade launcher.
The QJB-95 automatic rifle (light machine gun) is used to provide fire support to the infantry squad.
The use of a bipod makes the QJB-95 more stable when firing from a prone position, and the longer and heavier barrel allows for reliable engagement of single targets at distances of up to 500 m.
Apparently, the PLA Marine Corps command is not too happy with the ergonomics of the QBZ95 family of assault rifles, and therefore plans to purchase a large batch of QBZ191 assault rifles.
QBZ191
This gas-operated weapon chambered for 5,8×42 mm has a classic layout. The rifle is designed in three versions: a standard version with a 368 mm barrel, a carbine with a 266 mm barrel, and a version with a heavy 551 mm barrel.
The modification with a standard barrel without cartridges weighs 3,4 kg and has a full length of 950 mm, with a folded butt - 710 mm. Magazines with a capacity of 30 and 75 rounds can be used. The rate of fire is 750 rounds/min.
The assault rifle, designed to arm combat swimmers, is designated QBS06. The Soviet APS was used as a model for the design of the QBS06. The weapon, developed by China North Industries Group Corporation, entered service in 2006.
Underwater shooting machine gun QBS06
With a loaded magazine, the Chinese underwater assault rifle weighs 3,2 kg, the length with the folded buttstock is 680 mm, with the unfolded buttstock - 820 mm. The magazine capacity is 25 rounds. For shooting, cartridges with arrow-shaped bullets of 5,8 mm caliber are used.
In addition to assault rifles and light machine guns, the 5,8x42mm ammunition is used for shooting from the QBU88 (Type 88) semi-automatic rifle. But for maximum shooting accuracy, it is recommended to use special "sniper" cartridges with longer and heavier bullets.
QBU88
However, this rifle cannot be called a "sniper" rifle. It is rather a designated marksman weapon, designed for aimed shooting at ranges beyond the capabilities of standard infantry assault rifles.
The unloaded rifle weighs 4,1 kg. Length – 920 mm. It is fed from a 10-round magazine. The effective firing range is up to 700 m.
The PLA is armed with a locally adapted copy of the SVD, known as the Type 85, which is manufactured by China North Industries Corporation.
Type 85
The classic CS sniper rifle fires a 7,62×54 mm cartridge and is manually reloaded using a longitudinally sliding bolt. It is fed from a built-in 5-round magazine. The JS rifle has been manufactured since 2005 by China Ordnance Equipment Group. The 7,62×51 mm version is called the NSG-1, and the 8,6×70 mm version is the QBU-202.
A shooter with an NSG-1 rifle
Depending on the cartridge used, the weight of an unloaded rifle without optics ranges from 6 to 6,7 kg. Length – from 1100 to 1200 mm. Effective range – 800-1200 m.
Chinese Marine Corps snipers also have the QBU12,7 (Type 10) 10mm gas-operated semi-automatic rifle chambered for the 12,7×108mm cartridge. The weapon was developed by Norinco and has been in production since 2010.
Sniper with a 12,7mm QBU10 rifle
The rifle weighs about 11 kg without optics and ammunition. Length - 1380 mm. Feed from a detachable box magazine for 5 rounds. Effective firing range - up to 1500 m. Maximum - 2000 m. The rifle can be disassembled for transportation into several main components, including the barrel, receiver, buttstock and handle with trigger mechanism.
For the paratroops and marines, Norinco has created the QJS5,8 161 mm belt-fed light machine gun, which is a functional analogue of the 5,56 mm FN Minimi light machine gun. In addition to the belt, 30-round magazines from the QBZ95 assault rifle can be used. The weight of the machine gun without cartridges is about 5 kg.
Gunner with QJS161 light machine gun
The PLA is armed with a significant number of Type 80 general-purpose machine guns. This weapon, chambered for 7,62×54 mm, is a copy of the PKM and was created to replace the outdated Type 67 machine gun.
Type 80 machine gun on a universal tripod
In terms of its main characteristics, the Type 80 machine gun, produced by Norinco since 1983, is no different from the PKM, but has a shorter service life.
In 2020, the general public was presented with a new Chinese general-purpose machine gun, the QJY201, which uses a mixed-type automation system: a gas-operated mechanism with gas removal is used to unlock the bolt, and recoil energy is used to drive the automation.
QJY201 machine gun at the Zhuhai Air Show in September 2021
The machine gun, developed by Norinco, makes extensive use of plastics and light alloys, resulting in a weight of 8 kg without a belt of cartridges. Other characteristics are not disclosed.
To combat unarmored vehicles, light armored vehicles and air targets, as well as to fire at manpower at distances beyond the effective range of general-purpose machine guns, the PLA Marine Corps uses 12,7-14,5 mm machine guns.
The QJZ89 heavy machine gun, also known as the Type 89, is mainly used by airborne troops and mobile rapid reaction forces. It is also used by the PLA Navy for self-defense of warships in the close area.
Compared to the Chinese versions of the DShKM Type 54 and Type 54-1, the QJZ89 machine gun has become significantly lighter, without cartridges, together with the mount it weighs 32 kg. The rate of fire is 550 rounds per minute. The combat rate of fire is about 80 rounds per minute.
12,7mm QJZ89 machine gun
The 12,7 mm QJZ89 heavy machine gun chambered for 12,7×108 mm, adopted in the mid-1990s, uses a mixed-type automation: a gas-operated mechanism with direct gas discharge from the barrel bore to the bolt through a gas tube under the barrel is used to unlock the rotary bolt, and the recoil energy of the movable block is used to drive the automation. The controls include a pistol grip with a trigger and a butt with a buffer-shock absorber. The machine gun is mounted on a special lightweight tripod mount, allowing firing at both ground and air targets. The machine gun is equipped with a standard optical sight, although mechanical sighting devices are also provided.
Several years ago, the PLA's CPM units received 12,7mm QJZ171 machine guns, which are supposed to replace the QJZ89. The main advantage of the QJZ171 is its lower weight with the same reliability and combat characteristics.
Firing from 12,7mm QJZ171 machine guns
The QJZ171 machine gun can fire not only from the mount, but also from the bipod. The machine gun body weight is 18,5 kg, the mount weighs 6 kg. With a 50-round belt, the QJZ171 is 89 kg lighter than the QJZ9,5. This was achieved by using titanium alloys and a high-strength plastic cartridge box. A highly effective muzzle brake and spring buffers are used to soften the recoil.
The Marine Corps' air defense battalions operate the QJG14,5 02mm machine gun, which can also provide fire support to assault units and combat light armor.
Firing from 14,5mm QJG02 machine guns
The QJG 02 heavy machine gun uses a gas-operated automatic system with a gas piston located under a quick-change barrel. The barrel is locked by a rotary bolt, the fire is conducted only in automatic mode, from an open bolt.
The machine gun weighs 75 kg with the mount. The weapon can be disassembled into several parts weighing no more than 20 kg, which allows the QJG 02 machine gun and its ammunition to be carried over significant distances by an infantry squad.
In 2007, an improved machine gun QJG 02G appeared, the design of which makes extensive use of titanium alloys.
The QJG 02 machine gun can use all types of 14,5 mm ammunition, including new Chinese-developed armor-piercing cartridges with a sub-caliber bullet in a detachable sabot, having an initial velocity of 1 m/s and armor penetration of 250 mm of armor at a range of 20 meters at an angle of 1°. The capacity of the belt, divided into detachable links of 000 rounds, is 50 rounds. The rate of fire is 5 rounds/min. The combat rate of fire is up to 50 rounds/min.
To be continued ...
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