Infantry weapons / Grenade launchers / QLZ87
QLZ87
General Facts
- TYPE
Grenade launcher - ORIGIN
China - NICKNAMES
Type 87 - DESIGNED
Mid to late 1980's - DESIGNER
Norinco - PRODUCTION
Early 1990's - present - PRODUCERS
China - Norinco - QUANTITY
Unknown - UNIT COST
Unknown - CHARACTERISTICS
Very light and man portable
Small magazine size for support applications
No dual purpose ammunition available
Introduction
The QLZ-87 is grenade launcher of Chinese origin. It was developed in the 1980's and derived from the experimental W-87. The combination of a personal weapon and high velocity grenades is unique. This indicates that portability was favored over firepower.
Design
The QLZ-87 is blowback operated weapon with the barrel and receiver together forming a long cylinder. A drum magazine is inserted below, the pistol grip is located on the right, a rubber butt pad is fitted and an optical sight is fitted. The 35mm high velocity grenades were specifically developed for this weapon. The crew served version adds a lightweight tripod.
Firepower
The QLZ-87 fires 35mm grenades from 6, 9 or 15 round drum magazines. From the shoulder it is used semi-automatically since the 500 rpm automatic fire only makes sense when tripod mounted. The maximum range is 600 m from the shoulder and 1.75 km on a tripod. Unlike most Western high velocity grenade The AP round penetrates up to 80mm steel and the HE round has a fragmentation range of 9 meters. These figures are better than the US 40mm dual purpose grenades individually, but they are not dual purpose.
Users
The QLZ-87 has been adopted by Chinese forces and has been exported to several nations. The QLZ-87 has been supplemented by the belt fed QLZ-04 grenade launcher which is a more capable alternative in the crew served and vehicle mounted role.
QLZ-87
QLZ-87 'light': Standard version of the QLZ-87. Man portable and normally fired from the bipod or alternatively from the shoulder. Usually fitted with 6 round magazine and fired semi-automatic only.
QLZ-87 'crew served': Crew served version of QLZ-87 which mounts the standard version on a light tripod. Usually fitted with 15 round magazine and fired fully automatic.
- Specifications:
- QLZ-87
Type | Grenade launcher |
---|---|
Caliber | 37x32mm Chinese |
Magazine | 6, 9, 12, 15 round drum magazine |
Operation | Gas operated, blowback |
Fire selector | 0-1-F |
Rate of fire | 480 rpm |
Barrel length | ? |
---|---|
Rifling | ? |
Muzzle velocity | 190 - 200 m/s |
Stock | Fixed |
Length | 970 mm |
Width | ? |
Height | ? |
---|---|
Weight | 12 kg empty with sight, 20 kg with tripod |
Sights | Optical sight |
Remarks | Fixed bipod, optional tripod |
W-87
The Type W87 was an experimental weapon that led to the design of the QLZ-87. Was produced in small numbers. The W87 is easily identified by its fixed wooden stock, carrying handle, large slotted muzzle brake and rear and low mounted pistol grip. Also a larger tripod is fitted when used as a crew served weapon. Due to the lower muzzle velocity the maximum range is 1.5 km.
- Specifications:
- W87
Type | Grenade launcher |
---|---|
Caliber | 37x32mm Chinese |
Magazine | 6 or 9 round box magazine, 12 round drum magazine |
Operation | Gas operated, blowback |
Fire selector | 0-1-F |
Rate of fire | 400 rpm |
Barrel length | ? |
---|---|
Rifling | ? |
Muzzle velocity | 170 m/s |
Stock | Fixed |
Length | ? |
Width | ? |
Height | ? |
---|---|
Weight | 12 kg empty, 20 kg with optional tripod |
Sights | Optical sight |
Remarks | Fixed bipod, optional tripod |