Norinco QJC88
Overview
W85
Chinese soldiers with W85 on low profile tripod.
Source: www.forcesdz.forumactif.com -
© copyright lies with original owner
CS/LM3 (recent export designation)
Description
Introduction
The QJC88 is a heavy machine gun of Chinese origin. Development was started as the W85. It was developed alongside an improved version of the indigenious Type 77 heavy machine gun. The lightweight Type 77 with its rather unconventional design did not perform as well as expected. As an infantry weapon the W85 lost out to the Type 85, the improved version of the Type 77. However, several years later it was adopted under the designation QJC88 as the standard anti-aircraft machine gun for use on all new Chinese armored vehicles.
Design
The W85 was originally designed for infantry use and was to be as light as possible. This is reflected in the small receiver and thin quick change barrel. The W85 is a conventional gas operated weapon and cycles by means of a gas piston mounted under the barrel. Iron sights are fitted as well as rails for day and night optics or special anti-aircraft sights. For infantry use the W85 is mounted on a low profile tripod, which can be put in an elevated position for anti-aircraft use. The QJC88 variant for vehicle use is solenoid fired.
Firepower
The W85 fires the 12.7x108mm Soviet round from 50 round belts. It is able to fire the standard Chinese Type 54 round as well as more modern armor piercing ammunition. The cyclic rate of fire is 540 to 600 rounds per minute. The W85 proved to be more accurate than the Type 54 (DShK), but the thinner barrel heats up faster. A model firing the 12.7x99mm NATO round was developed for export and has a somewhat higher rate of fire.
Users
The W85 lost out to the Type 85 as a heavy machine gun for infantry use and it is not in Chinese use as a tripod mounted weapon. On the other hand the QJC88 variant is the standard anti-aircraft machine gun on all newer Chinese armored vehicles and thus very common in Chinese service. The W85 is offered for export in 12.7mm NATO as the CS/LM3.
Variants
W85 and CS/LM3
The W85 is the orignal model that was designed for infantry use. As a gas piston operated weapon it can be distinguished from the Type 77 by the long gas piston below the barrel. It uses the same low profile tripod as the Type 85. For export sales a variant chambered in 12.7x99mm NATO was developed. This was briefly known as the W95A, but this changed to the CS/LM3 designation.
QJC88
The vehicle mounted version of the W85 is designated QJC88 in the Chinese army. It is the new standard heavy machine gun that is fitted onto armored vehicles for self-defense. As a vehicle mounted weapon it is solenoid fired and fitted in a special cradle for pintle mounting that allows for an elevation of -5 to +65°.
Details
Media
W85
Pakistani soldier with W85 heavy machine gun.
Source: Chinese internet
Copyright: copyright lies with original owner
QJC88
Rear view of QJC88 mounted on a vehicle.
Source: Chinese internet
Copyright: copyright lies with original owner
QJC88
Several PLZ89 self-propelled howitzers with QJC88 heavy machine guns on turret roof.
Source: www.topwar.ru
Copyright: copyright lies with original owner
W85
Tamil rebels with W85 heavy machine gun with tripod in high profile position.
Source: www.sinodefenceforum.com
Copyright: copyright lies with original owner
CS/LM3
12.7mm CS/LM3 heavy machine gun in use with Venezuela.
Source: Unknown author
Copyright: Copyright lies with original owner
Application
List of vehicles armed with QJC88 (note: incomplete list)
PTZ89
The PTZ89 tank destroyer was one of the first vehicles to use the QJC88 as secondary armament.
PLZ05
QJC88 is used on the PLZ05 self-propelled howitzer as secondary armament.
PLZ89
QJC88 is used on the PLZ89 self-propelled howitzer as secondary armament.
ZSL92A
Various weapons can be fitted onto the small one man turret of the ZSL92A armored personnel carrier. The QJC88 is the most common type.
ZTD05
The ZTD05 amphibious light tank has a pintle mounted QJC88 for self-defense.
Related articles
Type 54
The QJC88 was adopted as a more modern weapon to replace the Type 54 (Chinese DShK) as a vehicle mounted weapon.
Type 77
The Type 77 and Type 85 overlap with the QJC88 development effort. These heavy machine guns were developed as lightweight alternatives to the Type 54 for infantry use.