Type 88 (QJY 88) general purpose machine gun (China)
Type 88 (QJY 88) GPMG on tripod, with belt box attached
Type 88 (QJY 88) GPMG on integral bipod, in light machine gun role
Type 88 (QJY 88) GPMG with attached belt box and telescope sight
Caliber: 5.8x42mm Weight: 11,8 kg with bipod + 4.2 kg infantry tripod Length: 1151 mm Length of barrel: 600 mm Feeding: belt, 200 rounds Rate of fire: rounds/min
The Type 88 general purpose machine gun
(Chinese designation QJY 88) is intended to replace obsolete Type
67 machine guns in service with PLA. New weapon uses recently adopted 5.8mm
ammunition of Chinese origin, although it is believed that a special loading
with heavier bullet is used for this weapon, as opposed to QBZ-95 assault rifle
and QBB-95 light machine gun. Despite the
"type 88" designation the gun is relatively young, as it is believed
to enter the service during first years of 21st century.
It must be noted that according to available information Type 88 machine gun is
not so popular among its users in PLA. While it is somewhat lighter than
previous Type
67 GPMG, it also lacks its range and lethality; compared to western 5.56mm
LMGs such as FN Minimi, Type 88 is significantly
heavier,
while having almost same combat effectiveness.
QJY 88 is gas
operated, air cooled, belt fed machine gun with quick-detachable barrel. Design
is rather conventional, with long-stroke gas piston, located below the barrel,
which operates bolt group with rotary locking. Feed is from disintegrating steel
belts, from left side only. Special plastic container can be attached to the
left side of receiver to hold the belt on the move. Gun is fitted with
skeletonized shoulder stock, made of polymer, and integral folding bipod,
attached to the gas block. For sustained fire missions QJY 88 machine gun can be
installed on a special lightweight tripod. Strandard sights are of open type,
but a telescope or IR sight can be attached to the weapon if required.