T65 assault rifle

T65 assault rifle
T65 assault rifle
	The CSF Type 65 rifle
Type	Assault rifle
Place of origin	Taiwan (Republic of China)
Service history
In service	1976-present
Used by	See Users
Wars	Salvadoran Civil War; Second Liberian Civil War; Operation Just Cause; Iraq War; 2011 Libyan Civil War[citation needed]
Production history
Designer	Combined Logistics Command
Manufacturer	205th Armory
Produced	1976
Variants	See Variants
Specifications
Mass	3.31 kg
Length	990 mm
Barrel length	508 mm
Cartridge	5.56×45mm NATO
Caliber	5.56mm (.223 in)
Action	Gas-operated, rotating bolt
Rate of fire	700-800 RPM
Feed system	Various STANAG Magazines.
Sights	Iron sights

The T65 (聯勤 Type 65) is a rifle developed and manufactured by the Combined Logistics Command of the Republic of China Armed Forces in Taiwan. Originally patterned after the Armalite AR-18 that has a short-stroke gas system, the prototype unveiled in 1975 showed a rifle that is heavily influenced by the AR-15 family of rifles, albeit with modified iron sights, a reshaped stock, and redesigned handguards. The designated number '65' refers to the Year 65 of Republic of China (1976), which is the year the rifle's design was finalized. Upgraded versions were designated the Type 65K2 and Type 65K3.

The T65 rifle was the standard issue weapon for the army and the marine corps, the T65K2 model quickly supplanting all previous variant in frontline usage. Although the military did not replace the T65s with the T86 in 1997, the military police is already being issued with the follow-on T91 in 2002.

History

T65 assault rifle was developed at Taiwan state arsenal to replace obsolete 7,62mm M14 rifles of US origin. The T65 rifle closely resembles US-made M16A1 rifle. Taiwanese rifle has some differences in design and appearance. Reports on original T65 rifle suggested that it performed with room for improvement. It was later improved and became T65K2 (also sometimes referred to as T68). Later on, a T86 carbine was developed - it is very similar externally to US-made M4 carbine although it has piston-type gas action of T65.The last weapon in this line-up is T91 carbine, which can be described as T86 with carrying handle replaced by Picatinny-type accessory rail.

T65 assault rifle is gas operated, selective fired weapon. It uses M16-type two-part aluminum receiver and similar rotating bolt action, although gas system is different - it has short-stroke gas piston, located above the barrel and concealed within handguards. The T65 rifles replaced carrying handle of M16 pattern with rear sight block; otherwise it was similar to M16A1. Starting from T65K2 Taiwanese designers returned the carrying handle (removable on T91 carbine). T65 uses magazines compatible with M16 rifles.

The T65 assault rifle is the first 5.56×45mm NATO rifle adopted by the Taiwanese military, with project started in 1968 based on the assault rifle AR- 15 and AR- 18. Basically an AR- 15 with operating system Short Stroke Gas Piston AR -18.

Unlike the AR -15 assault rifle the T65 is gas operated with Short Stroke Gas Piston operating system, has a fire selector with three positions : safe, semiautomatic and fully automatic fire. It is powered by charger STANAG 30 shots. The piston has its own spring recovery. After firing the gas pushes the piston makes a quick tap of the bolt carrier, the rest of the operation is given merely by inertia. The system utilizes a locking bolt head which is rotatable locking bolt directly into the barrel extension.