For the Chinese SKS variant of the same designation, see
SKS § Variants.
The Type 56 (Chinese: 56式突击步枪; literally; "Assault Rifle, Model of 1956") [10] is a Chinese 7.62×39mm rifle, a variant of the Soviet-designed AK-47 (specifically Type 3) and later a modified copy of the AKM rifle.[11] It is the most produced and prolific version of Mikhail Kalashnikov's AK rifle design.
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Quick Facts Place of origin, Service history ...
Type 56 |
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The Type 56 with a folded spike bayonet and milled receiver |
Type | Assault rifle |
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Place of origin | China |
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In service | 1956–present |
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Used by | See Users |
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Wars | Vietnam War Laotian Civil War Sino-Indian War Rhodesian Bush War Lebanese Civil War Angolan Civil War Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir Cambodian Civil War Sino-Soviet Border War Guatemalan Civil War Bangladesh Liberation War Chittagong Hill Tracts conflict Cambodian–Vietnamese War Sino-Vietnamese War 1987–1989 JVP insurrection Salvadoran Civil War Communist insurgency in Thailand Soviet–Afghan War[1] Nicaraguan Revolution Iran–Iraq War Sri Lankan Civil War Lord's Resistance Army insurgency Somali Civil War[3] Tuareg rebellion (1990–1995)[4] Persian Gulf War Barin uprising Croatian War of Independence Bosnian War Nepalese Civil War Burundian Civil War Kosovo War Liberian Civil Wars 2001 Afghanistan War Iraq War Mexican Drug War Insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Cambodian–Thai border dispute Kivu Conflict[5] War in Darfur Militias-Comando Vermelho conflict First Libyan Civil War Syrian Civil War Iraqi insurgency (2011–13) Northern Mali conflict Boko Haram insurgency Militias-Comando Vermelho conflict South Sudanese Civil War Central African Civil War (2012–present) War in Iraq (2013–2017)[6] Tigray War
Anglophone Crisis Russian invasion of Ukraine[7][8] War in Sudan (2023) 2023 Israel–Hamas war |
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Designed | 1956 |
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Manufacturer | State Factory 66 Norinco PolyTech |
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Produced | 1956–present |
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No. built | 10,000,000+[9] |
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Variants | Type 56 Type 56-1 Type 56-2 |
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Mass | Type 56: 3.8 kg (8.38 lb) Type 56-1: 3.7 kg (8.16 lb) Type 56-2/56-4: 3.9 kg (8.60 lb) QBZ-56C: 2.85 kg (6.28 lb) |
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Length | Type 56: 882 mm (34.7 in) Type 56-1/56-2: 874 mm (34.4 in) w/ stock extended,654 mm (25.7 in) w/ stock folded. QBZ-56C: 764 mm (30.1 in) w/ stock extended,557 mm (21.9 in) w/ stock folded. |
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Barrel length | Type 56, Type 56-I, Type 56-II: 414 mm (16.3 in) QBZ-56C: 280 mm (11.0 in) |
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Cartridge | Type 56 variants -7.62×39mm
Type 84S – 5.56×45mm |
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Caliber | 7.62mm |
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Action | Gas-operated, rotating bolt |
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Rate of fire | 650 rounds/min |
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Muzzle velocity | Type 56, Type 56-I, Type 56-II: 735 m/s (2,411 ft/s) QBZ-56C: 665 m/s (2182 ft/s) |
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Effective firing range | 100–800 m sight adjustments. Effective range 300–400 meters |
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Feed system | 20, 30, or 40-round detachable box magazine |
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Sights | Adjustable Iron sights |
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Close
The Type 56 rifle was adopted by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) designated as the "Type 1956 Submachine Gun", because the Type 56 took the role of SMG rather than infantry service rifle in the PLA in the rifle's early service years.[12] Production started in 1956 at State Factory 66 but was eventually handed over to Norinco and PolyTech, who continue to manufacture the rifle primarily for export.