BrandWikiReturn

Type 67 machine gun

The Type 67 is a general-purpose machine gun, chambered in 7.62×54mmR formerly used by the People's Liberation Army.[2]

History

The Type 67 machine gun was developed as a lightweight replacement for the Type 53 (SG43) and Type 57 (SGM) medium 7.62 mm machine guns in 1959.[3] The first tests for the Type 67 started in 1963.[3] Research on the weapon was led by Dr. Duo Ying Jian from the Beijing Industrial Technology Academy.[4] After Soviet-Chinese relations began to break down, there were concerns that further technological assistance would not be rendered, including supplying them with Soviet-made PKMs.[4]

The first combat use of the Type 67 was with Mujahideen forces fighting in Afghanistan fighting against pro-Soviet forces in 1980.[3] These found their way through smuggling in Pakistani soil.[3] In the Syrian Civil War, the Type 67 is found in use with Syrian opposition forces fighting against government forces from 2015.[2] It is suggested these were likely captured from Syrian troops.[2] It has also been used in the Yemeni Civil War against the Houthis.[2]

Design history

According to a United States Army Materiel Command analysis, the Type 67 uses the DP trigger mechanism, the quick-change barrel of the SG-43, a gas regulator similar to the RPD, the ZB vz. 30 bolt mechanism, and a modified Maxim-type feed mechanism.[5]

The furniture was made in wood with the integral non-detachable bipod attached to a gas tube.[6] For using the Type 67 at long range, a tripod can be used when needed.[6] The Type 67 was initially supposed to be used as a medium machine gun (exclusively with a tripod), but Chinese engineers studied a captured M60 GPMG from American-led military forces in the Vietnam War.[4] Further design revisions were made where the bipod was made standard to be used.[4]

Since 1967, the Type 67 has gone through two model modifications and improvements, with the newer models designated Type 67-1 and Type 67-2.

Variants

  • Type 67-1: This has a non-fluted barrel with the bipod clamped to the barrel below the front. This can be removed.[6] Furniture is made from plastic.[6]
  • Type 67-2: Uses the same barrel, but lighter.[6] Tripod is used instead of a bipod, made from stamped steel instead of steel tubing.[6] The gunner can attach a telescopic or night sight.[6] On late production models, the AA sight base is removed.[6]

Users

  • 🇧🇩 Bangladesh
  • 🇰🇭 Cambodia[7]
  • 🇨🇫 Central African Republic
  • 🇬🇶 Equatorial Guinea[8]
  • 🇰🇵 North Korea
  • Palestine: Palestine Liberation Organization
  • Syria: Used by the SAA and by Free Syrian Army
  • 🇹🇿 Tanzania[9]
  • 🇹🇷 Turkey[10]
  • 🇾🇪 Yemen[11]

Former

  • 🇨🇳 China[11]
  • Vietnam: Vietcong and the North Vietnamese Army.[12]

Non-state actors

  • Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant[13]

References

  1. Chinese Type 67 GPMGS in Syria and Yemen – Small Arms Defense Journal^
  2. Chinese Type 67 GPMGS in Syria & Yemen - Armament Research Services (ARES) 17 March 2016^
  3. Type 67 GPMG 10 November 2010^
  4. 中国67式7.62毫米通用机枪_Type 67 7.62mm General Purpose Machinegun_GlobalMil-环球防务网 retrieved 2021-02-23^
  5. , Defense Intelligence Agency/United States Army Materiel Command ST-HB-07-03-74, p. 264^
  6. Indigenous Machine Guns of China – Small Arms Defense Journal^
  7. {{YouTube|6xcwY_482ho |ទាហានខ្មែរ ដោះនិងរៀបដាក់កាំភ្លេីង PKMS K57 K67 {{!}} Army Institute Cambodia}}^
  8. Laurent Touchard. Centrafrique : le Soudan a-t-il armé les ex-Séléka ? Jeune Afrique, 17 December 2013^
  9. Google Sites^
  10. Namluya karanfil koydu www.ntv.com.tr, retrieved 19 October 2025^
  11. Jonathan Ferguson, N.R. Jenzen-Jones. Chinese Type 67 GPMGs in Syria & Yemen armamentresearch.com, 17 March 2016^
  12. James H. Willbanks. Machine Guns: An Illustrated History of Their Impact ABC-CLIO, 2004^
  13. WEAPONS OF THE ISLAMIC STATE www.conflictarm.com, retrieved 2020-12-22^