W85 heavy machine gun

• Name — W85 heavy machine gun • Origin — China • Type — Heavy machine gun • Is Ranged — yes • Service — 1980s-present • Used By — See Users • Wars — War in Darfur Sri Lankan Civil War Northern Mali conflict Syrian Civil War Libyan Civil War Iraqi Civil War Yemeni Civil War Russo-Ukrainian War • Manufacturer — Norinco • Production Date — 1985-present • Variants — QJC-88 • Weight — 18.5 kg (gun only) 39 kg (with tripod) • Cartridge — 12.7×108mm • Action — Gas-operated, long stroke gas piston, open bolt • Rate — 550-600 rounds/min • Velocity — 850 m/s (2,788 ft/s) • Sights — Iron sights

• Illustration — Pintle-mounted QJC-88 The W85 was designed to be as light as possible for infantry use. Its small receiver is of generally rectangular cross-section, and it has a thick gas tube below the barrel containing a conventional gas piston. In addition to iron sights, it has rails for optics or anti-aircraft sights. It fires 12.7×108mm rounds from belts and is more accurate than the Type 54 heavy machine gun, but the thinner barrel overheats faster. In trials, the W85 lost out to the Type 85 as an infantry weapon and was not accepted into PLA service for this role.

The QJC-88 was introduced as a pintle mounted machine gun for tanks and armored vehicles. It weighs the same as the W85, is solenoid fired, and is mounted on a special cradle allowing for elevation angles of -5 to +65°. Mounted platforms: • Type 99 tank: as commander heavy machine gun. • Type 96 tank: as commander heavy machine gun. • Type 15 tank: as commander heavy machine gun on a remote weapon station. • Type 59 Durjoy tank: as commander heavy machine gun. • Type 05: on armored personnel carrier variant. • Type 08: on various comigrations, such as ZSL-10 APC, ZTL-11 assault vehicle, and Type 08 Artillery Reconnaissance Vehicle. • PLL-05: as commander heavy machine gun. • Type 89 AFV: on various comigrations as the self-defense weapon.

During the Syrian civil war, some Syrian Democratic Forces technicals locally known as duşkas were equipped with W85 heavy machine guns.

• Afghanistan • Cambodia • China • Iraq • Libya− Libyan National Army • Mali • Nepal - Used by Nepali Army • Rwanda − Used by Rwandan peacekeepers in Darfur. • South Sudan − South Sudan Democratic Movement • Sri Lanka • Sudan − Manufactured locally as Khawad. • Ukraine − Seen with Ukrainian forces from 2022. Theorized to be taken from intercepted arms shipments to the Houthis in 2021.

• Free Syrian Army • Islamic State • People's Protection Units Flag.svg People's Defense Units • PMC Wagner Center logo.png Wagner Group − Khawad used by mercenaries in Mali