Type 56 assault rifle

Type 56
Type 56
	Type 56 rifle with its distinct spike bayonet
Type	Assault rifle
Place of origin	China
Service history
In service	1956–present
Used by	See Users
Wars	Vietnam War; Cambodian Civil War; Soviet–Afghan War; Iran–Iraq War; Somali Civil War; Tuareg rebellion (1990–1995); Persian Gulf War; Kosovo War; 2001 Afghanistan War; Iraq War; Kivu Conflict; Iraqi insurgency (2011–13) and War in Iraq (2013–2017); Russian invasion of Ukraine
Production history
Designed	1956
Manufacturer	State Factory 66; Norinco; PolyTech
Produced	1956–present
No. built	10,000,000+
Variants	Type 56; Type 56-1; Type 56-2
Specifications
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)
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.
Barrel length	Type 56, Type 56-I, Type 56-II: 414 mm (16.3 in); QBZ-56C: 280 mm (11.0 in)
Cartridge	Type 56 variants -7.62×39mm Type 84S – 5.56×45mm
Caliber	7.62mm
Action	Gas-operated, rotating bolt
Rate of fire	650 rounds/min
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)
Effective firing range	100–800 m sight adjustments. Effective range 300–400 meters
Feed system	20, 30, or 40-round detachable box magazine
Sights	Adjustable Iron sights

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 reverse-engineered copy of the AKM rifle.^[11] It is the most produced and prolific copy of Mikhail Kalashnikov's AK rifle design.

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.

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "Rifle - Chinese Type 56 Assault, circa 1960s". Archived from the original on May 19, 2023.
^ ^a ^b Brayley 2013, p. 160.
^ Small Arms Survey (2012). "Surveying the Battlefield: Illicit Arms In Afghanistan, Iraq, and Somalia". Small Arms Survey 2012: Moving Targets. Cambridge University Press. p. 338. ISBN 978-0-521-19714-4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-08-31. Retrieved 2018-08-30.
^ Small Arms Survey (2005). "Sourcing the Tools of War: Small Arms Supplies to Conflict Zones". Small Arms Survey 2005: Weapons at War. Oxford University Press. p. 166. ISBN 978-0-19-928085-8. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-08-30. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
^ Small Arms Survey (2015). "Waning Cohesion: The Rise and Fall of the FDLR–FOCA" (PDF). Small Arms Survey 2015: weapons and the world (PDF). Cambridge University Press. p. 201. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-01-28. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
^ Iraq: Turning a blind eye: The arming of the Popular Mobilization Units (PDF) (Report). Amnesty International. 5 January 2017. p. 26. MDE 14/5386/2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 March 2017. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
^ "The Involuntary Ally: Iranian Arms in Ukraine". www.oryxspioenkop.com. Oryx. September 3, 2022. Archived from the original on October 14, 2022.
^ "UK Providing Ukrainian Troops with Chinese Type 56 AKs". youtube.com. The Armourer's Bench. September 4, 2022. Archived from the original on September 21, 2022.
^ "Chinese Type 56 Milled AK". 23 September 2016.
^ "Why General Kalashnikov couldn't sell the AK in India". India Today. Retrieved 2021-03-12.
^ Miller, David (2001). The Illustrated Directory of 20th Century Guns. Salamander Books Ltd. ISBN 1-84065-245-4.
^ "1956年式突击步枪". 枪炮世界.

[Victoria-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "Rifle - Chinese Type 56 Assault, circa 1960s". Archived from the original on May 19, 2023.

[FOOTNOTEBrayley2013160-2] Brayley 2013, p. 160.

[SAS_2012_10-3] Small Arms Survey (2012). "Surveying the Battlefield: Illicit Arms In Afghanistan, Iraq, and Somalia". Small Arms Survey 2012: Moving Targets. Cambridge University Press. p. 338. ISBN 978-0-521-19714-4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-08-31. Retrieved 2018-08-30.

[SAS_2005-4] Small Arms Survey (2005). "Sourcing the Tools of War: Small Arms Supplies to Conflict Zones". Small Arms Survey 2005: Weapons at War. Oxford University Press. p. 166. ISBN 978-0-19-928085-8. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-08-30. Retrieved 2018-08-29.

[5] Small Arms Survey (2015). "Waning Cohesion: The Rise and Fall of the FDLR–FOCA" (PDF). Small Arms Survey 2015: weapons and the world (PDF). Cambridge University Press. p. 201. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-01-28. Retrieved 2018-08-29.

[PMU-6] Iraq: Turning a blind eye: The arming of the Popular Mobilization Units (PDF) (Report). Amnesty International. 5 January 2017. p. 26. MDE 14/5386/2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 March 2017. Retrieved 26 October 2018.

[:11-7] "The Involuntary Ally: Iranian Arms in Ukraine". www.oryxspioenkop.com. Oryx. September 3, 2022. Archived from the original on October 14, 2022.

[8] "UK Providing Ukrainian Troops with Chinese Type 56 AKs". youtube.com. The Armourer's Bench. September 4, 2022. Archived from the original on September 21, 2022.

[9] "Chinese Type 56 Milled AK". 23 September 2016.

[10] "Why General Kalashnikov couldn't sell the AK in India". India Today. Retrieved 2021-03-12.

[miller2001-11] Miller, David (2001). The Illustrated Directory of 20th Century Guns. Salamander Books Ltd. ISBN 1-84065-245-4.

[12] "1956年式突击步枪". 枪炮世界.

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