T65
Summary
| Country | 🇹🇼 Taiwan |
| Category | Assault rifle |
| Manufacturer | 205th Armory |
Technical specifications
| T65 | |
|---|---|
| Fire Rate | 700 - 800 rounds/min. |
| Caliber | 5.56 x 45 mm OTAN |
| Magazine | 30 rounds |
| Length | 990 mm (39.0 in) |
| Weight | 3.31 kg (7.3 lb) |
| Range | 300 m (984 ft) |
Description
The T65 assault rifle was developed and manufactured by the Combined Logistics Command of the Republic of China (Taiwan) Armed Forces, with the goal of replacing the M14 rifles imported from the United States. The project for the first 5.56×45mm NATO rifle adopted by the Taiwanese military started in 1968, seeking to improve the AR-15 design by replacing the direct impingement system with a short stroke gas piston for improved reliability.
Originally patterned after the Armalite AR-18, the prototype unveiled in 1975 was heavily influenced by the AR-15 family of rifles. The designation '65' refers to the Year 65 of the Republic of China (Taiwan), 1976, the year the rifle's design was finalized. Reports on the original T65 suggested poor performance, which was later improved in the T65K2 variant.
The T65 is a gas operated, select fire rifle utilizing an AR-15 style two-part aluminum receiver and a similar rotating bolt action. Unlike the AR-15's direct gas impingement, it employs a short-stroke gas piston system located above the barrel and concealed within the handguards. The fire selector offers three positions: safe, semiautomatic, and fully automatic. The rifle replaced the carrying handle found on M16 pattern rifles with a rear sight block, though the carrying handle returned on the T65K2. The T65 uses magazines compatible with AR-15 pattern rifles, specifically taking standard STANAG magazines. It can be equipped with a clone of the M7 bayonet.
Variants developed include:
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T65
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T65K1
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T65K2
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T65K2 Carbine
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T65K3
Experience with the T65 series later led to the development of the T86 carbine, followed by the T91 carbine.
The T65 series served as the standard issue weapon for front-line usage of the Republic of China (Taiwan) Army and the Republic of China (Taiwan) Marine Corps until being replaced by the T91 in the early 2000s. T65 rifles are currently used by Taiwan’s Army Reserves, Army Basic Training Centers, Air Force, and the Taiwan National Police Agency.
The T65 has been reported as used by the military and police forces of Costa Rica, Guatemala, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Liberia, Libya, Nicaragua, Paraguay, and Taiwan. Panama formerly used the rifle with the now-defunct Panama Defense Forces, acquiring 10,000 units before adopting AK-based assault rifles.