Type 79 Submachine Gun
China North Industries Corporation (Norinco) · Submachine Gun · In Service · 1981
Also known as: Type 79, 1979 Year Type Submachine Gun, Norinco Type 79
Overview
The Type 79 is China's first indigenously-designed submachine gun, certified in 1979 and entering mass production in 1981. Designed by Liu Zhitong, it is highly unusual among SMGs in using a gas-operated short-stroke piston with a rotating closed bolt - a system more typical of assault rifles - rather than the simple blowback action that nearly all other 1970s-era SMGs employed. It fires the 7.62x25mm Tokarev cartridge (Chinese Type 51) from a 20-round detachable box magazine, with a side-folding stamped steel skeleton stock.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 1750 g (61.7 oz) |
| Weight (loaded) | 2100 g (74.1 oz) |
| Overall Length | 740 mm (29.13") |
| Folded Length | 470 mm (18.50") |
| Barrel Length | 250 mm (9.84") |
| Action Type | Gas Operated Short Stroke |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Magazine Capacity | 20 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 515 m/s (1690 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 729 J (538 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 200 m (219 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 1000 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Number of Grooves | 4 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Steel |
| Finish | Phosphate |
Calibers
- 7.62x25mm Tokarev · primary — also known as 7.62 Tokarev, 7.62x25mm Type 51
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic, Full Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety, Fire Selector Safety
- Features: Rotating Closed Bolt, Short Stroke Gas Piston, Side Folding Stock, Select Fire, Stamped Steel Receiver
Variants
- Type 85 Submachine Gun — Successor Simplified
Service history
Operators
- People's Liberation Army · adopted 1981 · as Type 79
- People's Armed Police
- People's Police (Public Security)
Conflicts
- Sino-Vietnamese War (1979)
- Sino-Vietnamese border conflicts (1979-1991)
Production
Estimated total produced: 290,000 · Production years: 1981-present
Approximately 290,000 units produced through 2012; later replaced by Type 85 in main PLA issue
Origin
Country of origin: China
Designer: Liu Zhitong
Notes
Originally developed for jungle warfare during the Sino-Vietnamese conflicts but found greater success with Chinese police and Armed Police units, where its accuracy in semi-auto is well-suited to urban hostage-rescue work. Replaced in PLA service by the simpler blowback Type 85 from 1985.
Background
The Type 79 is one of the only submachine guns ever fielded that uses a gas-piston rotating-bolt action - a system designed for high-pressure rifle rounds. Engineers borrowed it directly from the Type 56 (Chinese AK-47) in the misguided belief that more parts commonality with the standard rifle would simplify training and supply, but the resulting SMG was complicated, expensive, and ironically replaced four years later by the dirt-simple blowback Type 85.