T65 assault rifle
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| 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
The T65 assault rifle was developed at the Taiwan State Arsenal to replace the obsolete 7,62mm M14 rifles imported from the United States. Reports on the original T65 rifle suggested that it performed poorly, but was later improved and became the T65K2 (also referred to as the T68). Later on, a T86 carbine was developed - it is very similar in appearance to the US-made M4 carbine, although it uses the piston-type gas action of T65. The last weapon in the series is the T91 carbine, which can be described as a T86 with the carrying handle replaced by a Picatinny-type accessory rail.
The T65 assault rifle is a gas operated, select fire rifle. It uses an AR-15 style two-part aluminum receiver and similar rotating bolt action, although the gas system is a short-stroke gas piston, compared with the AR-15's direct gas impingement system. The piston is located above the barrel and concealed within the handguards. The T65 design replaced the carrying handle of M16 pattern rifles with a rear sight block. The carrying handle returned with the T65K2 (but was removable on the T91 carbine). The T65 uses magazines compatible with AR-15 pattern rifles.
The T65 assault rifle is the first 5.56×45mm NATO rifle adopted by the Taiwanese military, with the project starting in 1968. The design sought to improve the AR-15 design by replacing the Direct Impingement system with a Short Stroke gas piston, improving the reliability of the rifle.
The T65 has a fire selector with three positions : safe, semiautomatic and fully automatic. It takes standard STANAG magazines, and the piston has its own spring recovery. After firing the gas following the bullet pushes the piston towards the receiver, it connects with the front of the bolt carrier, and the bolt carrier is driven back by inertia. The bolt itself is near identical to an AR-15.
Variants
Users
Republic of China (Taiwan)[5]
El Salvador - Used in the Salvadoran Armed forces and the National Civilian Police NCP (Policia Nacional Civil PNC).[citation needed]
Guatemala[citation needed]
Haiti:Used by Haitian police.[6]
Jordan[citation needed]
Libya[citation needed]
Liberia[citation needed]
Panama: Was the main assault rifle of the Panama Defense Forces during Operation Just Cause and currently in service
Paraguay Main assault rifle of the Paraguayan Army.
Nicaragua[citation needed]
Honduras[citation needed] National Honduran Police normal T65 version and T65 Carabine version (1976 first version)
See also
- Assault rifle/Carbine
- T65 assault rifle (5.56mm NATO)
- T86 carbine assault rifle (5.56mm NATO)
- T91 carbine assault rifle (5.56mm NATO)
- XT-97 carbine assault rifle (5.56mm NATO)
References
- ^ "聯勤 T65 突擊步槍". Archived from the original on October 27, 2009. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "聯勤 T65K2 突擊步槍". Archived from the original on October 27, 2009. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "T65K2Carbine". Archived from the original on October 27, 2009. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "聯勤 T65K3 卡賓槍". Archived from the original on October 27, 2009. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "The Gun Zone -- A 5.56 X 45mm "Timeline" 1974-1979". Retrieved 15 November 2014.
- ^ "Haitian Police Spotted with Galil ACE, T65 Rifles - The Firearm Blog". The Firearm Blog. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
External links
- Modern Firearms - T65, T86 and T91 assault rifle (Taiwan)
- The Assault Rifles Of The Near Future - Monitoring the 21st Century Asian Arms Race
