Type 67
Summary
| Country | 🇨🇳 China |
| Category | Light machine gun |
| Manufacturer | Norinco |
Technical specifications
| Type 67 | |
|---|---|
| Fire Rate | rounds/min. |
| Caliber | 7.62 x 54 mm |
| Magazine | belt of 100 - 250 rounds |
| Length | 1250 mm (49.2 in) |
| Weight | 11.0 kg (24.3 lb) |
| Range | 1000 m (3281 ft) |
Description
The Type 67 general-purpose machine gun was developed in 1959 to replace the Type 53 and Type 57 medium 7.62 mm machine guns. Testing began in 1963, under the direction of Dr. Duo Ying Jian from the Beijing Industrial Technology Academy. The development occurred during a period of strained Soviet-Chinese relations, with concerns about the continued supply of Soviet PKM machine guns. Initially conceived as a medium machine gun primarily for tripod use, revisions were made after Chinese engineers studied a captured M60 GPMG from the Vietnam War, resulting in the bipod becoming a standard feature. Since its introduction in 1967, the Type 67 has undergone two series of modifications.
According to an analysis by the United States Army Materiel Command, the Type 67 design incorporates elements from various firearms, including:
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the trigger mechanism of the DP machine gun,
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the quick-change barrel feature from the SG-43,
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a gas regulator design similar to the RPD,
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the bolt mechanism derived from the ZB vz. 30,
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a modified Maxim-type feed mechanism.
The weapon's furniture was constructed from wood and featured an integral, non-detachable bipod attached to the gas tube. A tripod can be used for long-range applications.
Two main modified versions of the Type 67 exist: the Type 67-1 and the Type 67-2. The Type 67-1 features a non-fluted barrel with a removable bipod clamped to the barrel below the front. The furniture on this variant is made from plastic. The Type 67-2 employs the same barrel type as the 67-1 but with reduced weight. It uses a tripod made from stamped steel instead of steel tubing, and allows for the attachment of telescopic or night sights. Late production models of the Type 67-2 have the AA sight base removed.
The Type 67 first saw combat deployment with Mujahideen forces in Afghanistan in 1980, who acquired them through smuggling from Pakistan. More recently, the weapon has appeared in the Syrian Civil War starting in 2015, used by Syrian opposition forces, and reportedly against Houthi forces in the Yemeni Civil War.
Current users include Bangladesh, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, North Korea, Palestine (Palestine Liberation Organization), Syria (Syrian Arab Army and Free Syrian Army), Tanzania, and Yemen. Former users include China and Vietnam (Vietcong and the North Vietnamese Army). The weapon has also been used by non-state actors such as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.