COIC Type 56-1
COIC (NORINCO) TYPE 56 WEAPONS SYSTEM The Type 56 Weapons System, released as its name clearly states in the second half of the 1950s, represents the first improved AK systems to ever enter service with the PLA (People's Liberation Army, the Armed Forces of PRC), after the small parentesys of the TYPE 22 and TYPE 22-1 (first ever Chinese copies of the AK designs, the 22-1 features a downfolding stock). Those guns were made by COIC (China Ordnance Industries Consortium, now known as NORINCO), and, by now, most of them aren't any longer in service. Many of those were modified to retain them on active duty, others made their way to the strangest places in the world, many were de-militarized by a Chinese privately-owned company, POLY-TECHNOLOGIES, and sold on the civilian markets troughout the world, although NORINCO still makes a semi-auto version of the TYPE 56 for civilian exports. The TYPE 56 weapons system is however commonly known to be the most widespread and reliable military AK system ever in the world. Millions of exemplars were manufactured until its production ceased in the early '80s. The TYPE 56 Weapons System consists in FOUR Weapons: #1: The TYPE 56 Assault Rifle: its the classic AK-style rifle. it features the normal fixed stock, and, being this the main distinctive characteristic of the TYPE 56 Weapons System, a spike-folding bayonet under the barrel. #2: The TYPE 56-1 Automatic Carbine, for paratroopers. It features a downfolding stock. Due to this, and according to the necessities of the moment, as an option the spike-folding bayonet can be removed. #3: The TYPE 56-3 Automatic Carbine. Released by NORINCO in the 1980s as a modernization of the TYPE 56 Weapons System to enlarge its service life, this is a modified TYPE 56 or 56-1 featuring a side-folding plastic stock that can be equipped with cheekpiece. It has found its service way through the hands of many PAP (People's Armed Police, PRC police service) units, and military also. Again, this rifle can have the spike-folding bayonet removed. #4: The TYPE 56-C Shorty Carbine. Released by NORINCO in 1991, it was born as a response to the request of many Chinese Special Units (including Navy Raiders) for a compact automatic weapon more powerful than the usual .7'62x25mm-Tokarev submachineguns available at the time. Many TYPE 56 System weapons still kept in stocks were so re-arsenaled, equipping them with a shorter barrel and handguard in plastic, a side-folding stock, and no bayonet, resulting in a Chinese version of the AKSU that is in service with the Chinese Navy Raiders and certain police units. --- TECHNICAL SPECS: CALIBER: 7'62x39mm CAPACITY: 15 or 30-rounds magazines, 90-rounds drums TOTAL LENGHT: (Type 56): 1100 Millimeters (Type 56-1 and 56-1, stock unfolded): 1110 Millimeters (Type 56-1 and 56-2, stock folded): 874 Millimeters (Type 56-C, stock unfolded): 764 Millimeters (Type 56-C, stock folded): 557 Millimeters BARREL LENGHT: 415 Millimeters (Type 56, 56-1 and 56-2) TOTAL WEIGHT: (Type 56 and 56-1): 4,03 Kilograms (Type 56-C): 2,85 Kilograms EFFECTIVE RANGE: (Type 56, 56-1 and 56-2): 400 Meters (Type 56-C): 300 Meters RATE OF FIRE: 600 Rounds Per Minute MUZZLE VELOCITY: (Type 56, 56-1 and 56-2): from 710 to 730 Meters per Second (Type 56-C): 600 Meters Per Second
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