Type 64 submachine gun

This article is about the Chinese silenced submachine gun. For other uses, see Type 64 (disambiguation).

The Type 64 (Chinese: 1964年式衝鋒槍; pinyin: 1964 Niánshì Chōngfēng Qiāng; lit. '1964Year Type Submachine Gun')^[3] is a submachine gun of Chinese origin. Designed for silent operations, the Type 64 has an integral suppressor making the weapon considerably quieter.^[4] The weapon is a magazine-fed selective-fire submachine gun using a open-bolt, blowback action,^[5] chambered for 7.62×25mm Type 64 (A special subsonic version of the Chinese 7.62x25 Type-51 7.62×25mm Tokarev round).

Type 64 submachine gun
Type	Submachine gun
Place of origin	China
Service history
Used by	See Operators
Wars	Sino-Vietnamese War
Production history
Manufacturer	State factory 66
Specifications
Mass	3.4kg, with empty 20-rounds magazine
Length	630mm Stock folded 860mm Stock open
Barrel length	245mm
Cartridge	7.62×25mm Type 64
Caliber	7.62mm
Action	Blowback, open bolt
Rate of fire	1,000rpm (with subsonic cartridge)[1] 1,300rpm (with non-dedicated cartridges)[2]
Muzzle velocity	290～305 m/s
Maximum firing range	150-200m
Feed system	20/30-round box magazine
Sights	Iron

This was one of the few Chinese-made Cold War small arms that were not based on any existing Soviet small arms.^[6]

History

While the Type 64 has been used in the PLA, it was eventually replaced in service by the Type 85 submachine gun.^[7] The weapon was developed together with the Type 64 suppressed pistol for special forces missions.^[8][9]

Some Type 64s were exported for the North Vietnamese military during the Vietnam War.^[10] It was used in the Sino-Vietnamese War in 1979 by Chinese troops.^[8]

The Type 64 was replaced in the PLA with the Type 85 submachine gun.^[11]

Development

The Type 64 was designed from the beginning to be a suppressed weapon, unlike many other suppressed firearms that are simply modified versions of standard production guns. An amalgam of many designs, the gun features the bolt of a PPS submachine gun and the trigger group of a ZB vz. 26, both of which are grafted onto the receiver of an AKS-47.^[4] The rate of fire is at 1,000.^[1] to 1,300 RPM.^[11] This was reported in 1971 by the Small Arms Systems Lab of the US Army Weapons Command Research and Engineering Directorate.^[11]

The safety/fire selector lever is based on the Type 56 assault rifle.^[12] An additional trigger safety is present, which is used to prevent the user from accidentally firing the weapon.^[11] While standard 7.62mm Tokarev ammo can be used, it will increase the rate of having the integrated suppressor wear off.^[12] It is best used with 7.62×25mm Type 64 ammo since they are subsonic.^[13] The Type 64 can use 20 or 30-round magazines.^[8]

A flip-up rear sight is available, set for ranges from 100 to 200 meters.^[14]

Chinese sources reported that the Type 64's noise level is at 84 decibels when using subsonic ammo.^[11] The tests conducted by the Small Arms Systems in 1971 reported a claim of 150 decibels.^[11]

Operators

• China: Formerly used by the PLA during the Sino-Vietnamese War.^[11]
• North Vietnam: Formerly used by the North Vietnamese military.^[10]