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The T65 (聯勤 Type 65) is an assault rifle developed and manufactured by the Combined Logistics Command of the Republic of China (Taiwan) Armed Forces in Taiwan.[1] Originally patterned after the Armalite AR-18 that has a short-stroke gas system, the prototype unveiled in 1975 showed a rifle that is heavily influenced by the AR-15 family of rifles, albeit with modified iron sights, a reshaped stock, and redesigned handguards. The designated number '65' refers to the Year 65 of the Republic of China (Taiwan) (1976), the year the rifle's design was finalized.
| T65 assault rifle | |
|---|---|
 The CSF Type 65 rifle | |
| Type | Assault rifle |
| Place of origin |  Republic of China (Taiwan) |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1976-present |
| Used by | See Users |
| Wars | Salvadoran Civil War United States invasion of Panama First Liberian Civil War Second Liberian Civil War Iraq War 2011 Libyan Civil War[citation needed] |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Combined Logistics Command |
| Manufacturer | 205th Arsenal |
| Produced | 1976 |
| Variants | See Variants |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 3.31 kg |
| Length | 990 mm |
| Barrel length | 508 mm |
| Cartridge | 5.56×45mm NATO |
| Caliber | 5.56mm (.223 in) |
| Action | Gas-operated, rotating bolt |
| Rate of fire | 700-800 RPM |
| Feed system | Various STANAG Magazines. |
| Sights | Iron sights |
The T65 series served as the standard issue weapon for front-line usage of the Republic of China (Taiwan) Army and the Republic of China (Taiwan) Marine Corps until being replaced by the more technologically advanced T91 in the early 2000s. T65 rifles are currently used by Taiwan’s Army Reserves, Army Basic Training Centers, Air Force and the Taiwan National Police Agency.
History
editThe T65 assault rifle was developed to replace M14 rifles imported from the United States.[2] Reports on the original T65 rifle suggested that it performed poorly, but was later improved and became the T65K2.
Experience in the T65 later led to the development of the T86 carbine, followed by the T91 carbine.[3]
Design
editThe T65 assault rifle is a gas operated, select fire rifle. It uses an AR-15 style two-part aluminum receiver and similar rotating bolt action, although the gas system is a short-stroke gas piston, compared with the AR-15's direct gas impingement system. The piston is located above the barrel and concealed within the handguards. The T65 design replaced the carrying handle of M16 pattern rifles with a rear sight block. The carrying handle returned with the T65K2 (but was removable on the T91 carbine). The T65 uses magazines compatible with AR-15 pattern rifles.
The T65 assault rifle is the first 5.56×45mm NATO rifle adopted by the Taiwanese military, with the project starting in 1968. The design sought to improve the AR-15 design by replacing the direct impingement system with a short stroke gas piston, improving the reliability of the rifle.
The T65 has a fire selector with three positions: safe, semiautomatic and fully automatic. It takes standard STANAG magazines, and the piston has its own spring recovery. After firing the gas following the bullet pushes the piston towards the receiver, it connects with the front of the bolt carrier, and the bolt carrier is driven back by inertia. The bolt itself is near identical to an AR-15.
It can be equipped with a bayonet, which is a clone of the M7 bayonet.[2]
Variants
editUsers
edit
Costa Rica: Used by Costa Rican security forces.[1]
Guatemala[8]
Dominican Republic
El Salvador: Used by El Salvadoran military and police.[9][1]
Haiti: Used by Haitian police.[10]
Honduras: Used by Honduran Police.[1]
Liberia: Reported to be used in the country.[2]
Libya[11]
Nicaragua
Panama: Former rifle of the defunct Panama Defense Forces.[12] Acquired 10,000 before the PDF started to use AK-based assault rifles.[1]
Paraguay[13]
Taiwan[14]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e https://sadefensejournal.com/the-history-of-taiwans-military-assistance-to-central-america/ Archived February 29, 2024, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b c http://pewpewpew.work/china/tw/t65/t65.htm Archived January 10, 2024, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ https://modernfirearms.net/en/assault-rifles/taiwan-assault-rifles/t65-t86-t91-eng/ Archived April 18, 2024, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "聯勤 T65 突擊步槍". Archived from the original on October 27, 2009. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
- ^ "聯勤 T65K2 突擊步槍". Archived from the original on October 27, 2009. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
- ^ "T65K2Carbine". Archived from the original on October 27, 2009. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
- ^ "聯勤 T65K3 卡賓槍". Archived from the original on October 27, 2009. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
- ^ https://sadefensejournal.com/police-small-arms-arsenals-in-the-northern-central-american-triangle/ Archived February 25, 2024, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Montes, Julio A. (12 January 2012). "El Salvador: Standing Talls". Small Arms Defense Journal. Vol. 3, no. 4. Archived from the original on April 8, 2023.
- ^ "Haitian Police Spotted with Galil ACE, T65 Rifles - The Firearm Blog". The Firearm Blog. 30 April 2014. Archived from the original on April 25, 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
- ^ "T65 (Type 65)". www.militaryfactory.com. Archived from the original on December 1, 2022. Retrieved 2022-10-07.
- ^ Gordon L. Rottman (1991). Panama 1989–90. Osprey Publishing. pp. 14, 16, 63. ISBN 1855321564.
- ^ Núñez, Elton. "Bicentenario Paraguayo: Desfile Militar". yluux.com. Archived from the original on February 20, 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
- ^ "The Gun Zone -- A 5.56 X 45mm "Timeline" 1974-1979". Archived from the original on 25 September 2012. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
