Type 67 machine gun

The Type 67 machine gun was developed as a lightweight replacement for the Type 53 (SG43) and Type 57 (SGM) medium 7.62 mm machine guns in 1959.^[4] The first tests for the Type 67 started in 1963.^[4] Research on the weapon was led by Dr. Duo Ying Jian from the Beijing Industrial Technology Academy.^[5] After Soviet-Chinese relations began to break down, there were concerns that further technological assistance would not be rendered, including supplying them with Soviet-made PKMs.^[5]

The first combat use of the Type 67 was with Mujahideen forces fighting in Afghanistan fighting against pro-Soviet forces in 1980.^[4] These found their way through smuggling in Pakistani soil.^[4] In the Syrian Civil War, the Type 67 is found in use with Syrian opposition forces fighting against government forces from 2015.^[3] It is suggested these were likely captured from Syrian troops.^[3] It has also been used in the Yemeni Civil War against the Houthis.^[3]

According to a United States Army Materiel Command analysis, the Type 67 uses the DP trigger mechanism, the quick-change barrel of the SG-43, a gas regulator similar to the RPD, the ZB vz. 30 bolt mechanism, and a modified Maxim-type feed mechanism.^[6]

The furniture was made in wood with the integral non-detachable bipod attached to a gas tube.^[7] For using the Type 67 at long range, a tripod can be used when needed.^[7] The Type 67 was initially supposed to be used as a medium machine gun (exclusively with a tripod), but Chinese engineers studied a captured M60 GPMG from American-led military forces in the Vietnam War.^[5] Further design revisions were made where the bipod was made standard to be used.^[5]

Since 1967, the Type 67 has gone through two model modifications and improvements, with the newer models designated Type 67-1 and Type 67-2.^[1]

• Type 67-1: This has a non-fluted barrel with the bipod clamped to the barrel below the front. This can be removed.^[7] Furniture is made from plastic.^[7]
• Type 67-2: Uses the same barrel, but lighter.^[7] Tripod is used instead of a bipod, made from stamped steel instead of steel tubing.^[7] The gunner can attach a telescopic or night sight.^[7] On late production models, the AA sight base is removed.^[7]

•   Bangladesh^[1]
•   Cambodia^[8]
•   Central African Republic^[9]
•   Equatorial Guinea^[9]
•   North Korea^[1]
•   Palestine: Palestine Liberation Organization^{[citation needed]}
•   Syria: Used by the SAA and by Free Syrian Army^[1]
•   Tanzania^[10]
•   Yemen^[1]

•   People's Republic of China^[1]
•   Vietnam: Vietcong and the North Vietnamese Army.^[11]

•   Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant^[12]