◆ Firearms Section

In the People's Party's early days of weakness, weapons and equipment came primarily from capture and purchase. After WWI, Germany and China jointly developed the Type 19 rifle, marking the beginning of China's domestically produced armaments. The later improved Type 19-2 rifle was brought back to Germany and became known as the 98k. The Type 19 and Type 19-2 served in the PLA until 1940, when they were finally replaced by the QBZ40 assault rifle.

The N30 semi-automatic rifle was China's first fully independently developed rifle, created by the Nanyang Light Weapons Research Institute using domestic experience from the Type 19 combined with excellent features from advanced foreign rifles. Rigorously designed and performing superbly, its improved variant — the N36 semi-automatic rifle — earned universal praise from foreign users after export. However, the N30 lost the competition to the QBZ-1 within the military and was never adopted for service.

The QBZ40 assault rifle was the first domestically produced firearm to be universally issued in China (the N30 and N36 were never widely deployed) and the world's first assault rifle to enter service. Incorporating the excellent results from the Nanyang institute's N-series research, the QBZ-1 (forerunner of the QBZ40) appeared in 1935 and began entering service in 1937. In 1940, after resolving issues with barrel material and muzzle rise, the QBZ-1 was officially designated the QBZ40.

For the QBZ40 weapon family, see Post #66.

After WWII, Western nations began a growing interest in bullpup rifle research. By the 1970s, bullpup rifles had gained international acceptance. Chinese small-arms researchers studied such weapons and concluded that development was worthwhile. Research on a domestic bullpup rifle began in 1968. By 1970, the first prototype — the QWZ-2 — was completed. But because the bullpup design's inherent shortcomings had not been resolved, it failed to gain military approval. Not until 1975, after solving the risks of barrel burst and ejection issues, was it accepted by the military. Designated the QWZ-75, it began equipping special forces and armored units.

The Personal Defense Weapon was a concept proposed by General Armament Department weapons researchers after observing and questioning rear-echelon personnel on WWII battlefields. These rear-area personnel rarely had reason to go to the front, but battlefield conditions changed rapidly. Evolving military concepts and equipment were making the notion of "rear area" increasingly blurred. These undertrained rear-echelon personnel increasingly needed a weapon suited to their capabilities — one that was lightweight, easy to carry, and simple to aim and operate. In 1955, a personal defense weapon project was formally established. In 1958, the first prototype — the QCD-1 — was tested and passed evaluation. The Army subsequently equipped headquarters staff, armored troops, engineers, logistics maintenance personnel, and motor transport troops with the QCD-59 submachine gun. The Navy and Air Force later adopted it as well.

In 1970, the improved QCW-1 replaced the QCD-59 submachine gun, but the final designation retained its predecessor's number, becoming the QCW-59.

◆ Aircraft Carrier Section

The aircraft carrier is the ultimate weapon of human warfare, second only to nuclear weapons. In the 21st century, the two nations with the most powerful navies — China and America — possess carrier battle groups individually capable of blockading an entire small to medium-sized coastal nation.

The first Asian nation to develop aircraft carriers was the predecessor of the Japanese Socialist Republic — the Empire of Japan (forum members, please don't blame me for using this title; it was indeed Japan's official designation at the time — you can't expect me to add the word "Great" in front of it). Japan began constructing its own aircraft carrier in 1920, but ultimately canceled the project due to the Sino-Japanese conflict at the time. Later, Kita Ikki — the founder of modern Japan who had been in China — returned home to launch a revolution. The old Japanese Empire transitioned to the Japanese Socialist Republic with minimal bloodshed. Japan subsequently emulated China and, with Chinese assistance, began developing its own industry while gradually and systematically reducing its bloated military, which had exceeded the nation's capacity. Japanese military strength was thereafter maintained at approximately 200,000 personnel (including all logistics staff) — a self-defense force under China's wing. The sole exception was the navy. As an island nation, the Japanese Socialist Republic was the second Asian country to possess a carrier fleet. During the Cold War's final two decades, the Chinese and Japanese navies regularly conducted joint naval exercises in the western Pacific.

Although China was not the first to build a carrier, the Chinese carrier construction proposal was put forward as early as 1916 — the year the Workers' and Peasants' Revolutionary Army took the Northeast. As Chairman Chen Ke said at the time, "China's industrial development has entered the fast lane." Indeed, with the future Northeast heavy industrial base in hand, many previously impossible projects could begin. The aircraft carrier construction plan was proposed at this point.

Proposed was one thing; formal project approval was another. Since the future heavy industrial base had not yet materialized, approving a project that could not commence would only waste resources. So it was not until 1922, after the Northeast heavy industrial base took initial shape, that the carrier construction plan received formal approval.

Before that, China — besides frantically building enough warships to defend its immense coastline — was also frantically constructing the other vessel types needed for a carrier battle group. A carrier group could not fight with the carrier alone. Only the carrier, its aircraft, and accompanying warships operating together could form maximum deterrence.

Besides every shipyard in the nation building at full capacity, the Ma'anshan Airfield (Ma Fei), which possessed the most aircraft design experience, received a daunting task: design China's first carrier-based aircraft. Taking on this critical mission, Ma Fei's party committee members even pledged a military oath to Chairman Chen Ke: succeed or die trying. Three years, thirty of the factory's most experienced designers, eight crashed prototypes, six test pilots killed, and two permanently disabled — and Ma Fei finally designed a short takeoff and landing carrier-based aircraft.

On September 25, 1927, China's first aircraft carrier was formally launched. A series of supporting surface warships completed earlier had already assembled at Dalian. Five submarines from the North Sea Fleet also began operating alongside the carrier. China's first carrier battle group was taking shape.

On October 1, 1927, the carrier battle group commenced its official sea trial. Comrade Chen Ke — then Chairman of the Chinese People's Party, President of the People's Republic of China, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission — attended the maiden voyage ceremony. Standing Committee member of the Politburo and State Council Premier Shang Yuan co-attended and read the congratulatory message from the Party Central Committee, the State Council, and the Central Military Commission. The full text follows:

"To all comrades at the General Armament Department, the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense, the Navy, the Dalian Shipbuilding Plant, the Ma'anshan Aircraft Manufacturing Plant, and all participants in the aircraft carrier engineering project:

On the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the founding of New China, our nation's first aircraft carrier has been successfully completed, delivered to the Navy on schedule, and prepared for sea trials. The CPC Central Committee, the State Council, and the Central Military Commission extend warm congratulations and cordial regards to all scientists, technical workers, cadres, staff, and PLA servicemen and women who participated in the carrier engineering project!

The development of our aircraft carrier represents a major strategic decision made by the Party Central Committee, the State Council, and the Central Military Commission with a view to national security and the overall development situation. The smooth commissioning of the first aircraft carrier is an important milestone in our military's history. It marks major achievements in our carrier development program, important progress in our military's weapons and equipment construction, and remarkable accomplishments in national defense and military modernization. This is of profound and far-reaching significance for raising the modernization level of our armed forces, promoting the technological progress and capacity building of national defense science and technology industries, strengthening national defense and comprehensive national power, inspiring national spirit, kindling patriotic enthusiasm, and encouraging the whole Party, entire military, and all peoples of every ethnic group to strive for new victories in fully building a socialist society and opening new horizons in socialism with Chinese characteristics. The historic contributions made by all aircraft carrier engineering builders will be recorded in the annals of history forever. The motherland and the people thank you!

The mission of aircraft carrier development is glorious, the responsibility heavy, and the road long. We hope you will closely unite around the Party Central Committee with Comrade Chen Ke as Chairman, hold high the great banner of Chinese socialism, take Marxism-Engelsism as your guide, thoroughly implement the Scientific Outlook on Development, vigorously promote the patriotic spirit of loyalty to mission and serving the nation through strengthening the military, the innovative spirit of scaling heights and pursuing excellence, the scientific spirit of following laws and seeking truth from facts, the fighting spirit of meeting challenges head-on and selfless dedication, and the collaborative spirit of united struggle and sharing the same boat. Build on your achievements, forge ahead with vigor, and strive to drive the leaping development of our military's weapons and equipment construction — for the defense of national sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity, and for making new and greater contributions to realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation!

CPC Central Committee

State Council

Central Military Commission

September 25, 1927"

China's aircraft carrier classification and naming system is quite interesting. Classes are named after powerful Central Plains dynasties in Chinese history, while individual ships are named after historical figures associated with naval affairs.

"Qin" class — *Ying Zheng* — the first aircraft carrier, experimental in nature

"Qin" class — *Xu Fu* — the second carrier, built to bolster naval defense

"Han" class — *Yang Pu* — carrier for testing ski-jump deck configuration

"Han" class — *Fubo* — same as above

"Tang" class — *Liu Rengui* — carrier for testing steam catapults; only one built

"Ming" class — *Zheng He* — the first large carrier with mature steam catapults officially installed; became South Sea Fleet flagship upon commissioning; later participated in the Sino-Dutch War; subsequently became Indian Ocean Fleet flagship and participated in WWII North Africa and European operations

"Ming" class — *Qi Jiguang*

"Ming" class — *Zheng Chenggong*

"Ming" class — *Deng Zilong*

"Ming" class — *Yu Dayou*

"Ming" class — *Nan Juyi*

"Ming" class — *Liaoluo Bay* — the only carrier not named after a person

"Ming" class — *Zhu Wenzheng* — naming broke the naval-figures-only rule

"Ming" class — *Chen Lin*

"Ming" class — *Liu Ting*

"Ming" class — *Chen Youliang* — the last Ming-class carrier and the last conventionally powered carrier

Postwar carrier construction entered an era of slower building. As propulsion and materials evolved, carriers began transitioning to nuclear power. Chinese Navy carriers were no longer named after individuals and were designated by hull numbers only.

The postwar Chinese Navy was divided into littoral and blue-water forces. The littoral navy comprised the North Sea, East Sea, and South Sea Fleets. The blue-water navy consisted of the Pacific Fleet and the Indian Ocean Fleet. The Pacific Fleet was further divided into the North Pacific Fleet (suppressing both the American Pacific Fleet and the Soviet Pacific Fleet) and the South Pacific Fleet. The Indian Ocean Fleet was initially a single fleet, but after Madagascar joined China, it was split into the East Indian Ocean Fleet and the West Indian Ocean Fleet (permanently stationed at Madagascar).

◆ Main Battle Tank Section

The Main Battle Tank (MBT) is the combat tank that bears the primary combat mission on the battlefield. Evolved during the 1960s from heavy and medium tanks into a type possessing modern advanced technological characteristics, the MBT achieves or surpasses the firepower and armor protection of previous heavy tanks while retaining the good mobility characteristic of medium tanks. It is the basic equipment of modern armored forces and the principal assault weapon for ground combat.

Common characteristics include: large-caliber tank guns with long range, high rate of fire, and great power; composite armor, reactive armor, or other special armor providing protection superior to any other tank type; advanced fire control systems and complete night-vision/night-sighting equipment for all-weather combat capability; operability under nuclear, chemical, and biological warfare conditions; high-powered engines; strong mobility; and high road speed. Key performance specifications: cross-country speeds of 30–55 km/h, maximum range of 300–650 km, maximum gradient approximately 30 degrees, trench crossing width 2.7–3.15 m, vertical wall clearance 0.9–1.2 m, fording depth 1–1.4 m, and submersion depth 4–5.5 m.

Tanks underwent tremendous development during WWII. Armor grew ever thicker, protective capability ever higher, gun calibers ever larger, and ammunition types more diverse. Powerplant, suspension, and other systems also saw great progress. Classification by tank weight yielded small, light, medium, heavy, and super-heavy categories.

As a military power with extensive experience in large-scale armored cluster operations, China's tank research far exceeded that of other nations. After the ZTZ-43 medium tank entered service, the WZ Development Group in Baotou began developing the next generation. The new tank's requirements specified mobility and dimensions (weight) comparable to a medium tank, but with armor protection matching or exceeding that of a heavy tank. This demanded a breakthrough in armor materials. Fortunately, Baotou's Bayan Obo possessed the world's most extraordinary rare-earth resources — 97% of China's total reserves, and more than five times the rest of the world's reserves combined. It was also the world's rarest polymetallic symbiotic ore deposit, giving it an enormous advantage in new alloy development.

By 1948, a prototype of the new tank was ready. Incorporating the most advanced technology of the time, the army was highly satisfied — it achieved a perfect balance of armor thickness, firepower, and mobility, and was equipped with early NBC (nuclear, biological, chemical) protection systems. The prototype, codenamed WZ-123 Project, quickly passed testing and entered mass production.

In 1949, the first production-model tanks began equipping the 38th Group Army. The new tank was designated the ZTZ-49. At the 1952 30th-anniversary military parade, the ZTZ-49 was publicly displayed for the first time. Western military observers were thrown into panic — especially after obtaining partial performance data — and wariness of China's military deepened further. Nations raced to develop their own main battle tanks to counter the Chinese tank threat.

But after the Soviet Union obtained partial documentation for the ZTZ-49 and, combining it with its own technology, produced the T-54/55, the Chinese tank threat gradually faded in Western perceptions — overshadowed by the unprecedented steel torrent of Soviet armor.

After the ZTZ-49 entered service, the WZ Group split into two sections. One focused on improving the ZTZ-49; the other began developing the next-generation MBT. The new tank's development was primarily driven by reactive armor. As Chinese anti-tank weapons constantly improved, the armored group perpetually felt they couldn't hold their heads up in front of the anti-tank rocket teams, because their painstakingly developed tanks were always "sitting ducks" — whether hit from the front or the side, one round penetrated and that was that. Inspired by ancient heavy cavalry, the WZ Group decided to dress their tanks in a layer of "heavy armor" — and thus reactive armor was born.

In 1962, the new ZTZ-62 became the first MBT to don reactive armor. In the East Africa War beginning in 1968, reactive armor and the ZTZ-62 saw their first combat, achieving impressive results.

In 1970, advances in welding technology produced yet another new MBT, which entered service in 1972. The ZTZ-72 employed a welded turret better suited for mounting reactive armor, with protective capability significantly exceeding that of any contemporary tank worldwide. At the 50th-anniversary National Day parade, the ZTZ-72's aggressive, flat, wide front hull rolling across People's Square left an indelible impression on the world's nations...