T86 assault rifle
Encyclopedia
The T86 assault rifle is a gas-operated
Gas-operated reloading
Gas-operation is a system of operation used to provide energy to operate autoloading firearms. In gas-operation, a portion of high pressure gas from the cartridge being fired is used to power a mechanism to extract the spent case and chamber a new cartridge. Energy from the gas is harnessed...

, magazine-fed, air-cooled assault rifle
Assault rifle
An assault rifle is a selective fire rifle that uses an intermediate cartridge and a detachable magazine. Assault rifles are the standard infantry weapons in most modern armies...

. It is the second original rifle design conducted by the 205th Armory of Combined Service Forces, Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...

 (Taiwan). Though it saw limited production and service after a protracted development process, it became the basis of the T91 Combat Rifle currently in volume production for the ROC armed forces.

History

Development of the T86 started in 1992, with the stated objective of replacing the venerable T65 series. Several radical concepts, such as caseless ammunition, were explored but ultimately rejected due to high risk. Still, the XT86 prototype revealed to the public in 1996 demonstrated several innovative features and significant departure from US influence in firearms design.

However, the ROC military was more confident in the tried-and-true T65 design, and instructed the 205th Armory to redesign the rifle. The XT86 pre-production model rolled out in 1997 showed a return to the T65's features, especially the T65K3 carbine.

The T86 design was finalized in 1998 and officially named the 5.56 mm T86 Combat Rifle (5.56公厘T86戰鬥步槍).

Design

The finalized T86 design is an evolution of the T65
Type 65 Assault Rifle
The T65 is an assault rifle developed and manufactured by the Combined Service Forces of ROC Army in Taiwan. Originally patterned after the Armalite AR-18 that has the short-stroke gas system, prototype unveiled in 1975 showed a rifle that is externally very-heavily influenced by the M4/M16,...

 series. It inherits the short-stroke gas piston operated system from the T65
Type 65 Assault Rifle
The T65 is an assault rifle developed and manufactured by the Combined Service Forces of ROC Army in Taiwan. Originally patterned after the Armalite AR-18 that has the short-stroke gas system, prototype unveiled in 1975 showed a rifle that is externally very-heavily influenced by the M4/M16,...

 as well as the rotating bolt design. Upper and lower receiver are made with aircraft-grade aluminum. The side-folding metal stock on the prototype was replaced with an M4 carbine
M4 carbine
The M4 carbine is a family of firearms tracing its lineage back to earlier carbine versions of the M16, all based on the original AR-15 designed by Eugene Stoner and made by ArmaLite. It is a shorter and lighter variant of the M16A2 assault rifle, with 80% parts commonality.It is a gas-operated,...

 style polymer telescopic stock and buffer mechanism. The polymer handguard from the prototype was retained.

The controls of the T86 are similar to the T65
Type 65 Assault Rifle
The T65 is an assault rifle developed and manufactured by the Combined Service Forces of ROC Army in Taiwan. Originally patterned after the Armalite AR-18 that has the short-stroke gas system, prototype unveiled in 1975 showed a rifle that is externally very-heavily influenced by the M4/M16,...

 and M16
M16 rifle
The M16 is the United States military designation for the AR-15 rifle adapted for both semi-automatic and full-automatic fire. Colt purchased the rights to the AR-15 from ArmaLite, and currently uses that designation only for semi-automatic versions of the rifle. The M16 fires the 5.56×45mm NATO...

. The T86 has a 4-position selector with safe, semiautomatic, three-round burst, and automatic settings. Like the T65K2, T86 utilizes an M16A2-style front post/rear peephole sight. The rear sight is adjustable for windage and elevation. One notable difference is that the T86 does not have a forward assist
Forward assist
The forward assist on a rifle is a button found commonly on M16 and AR-15 styled rifles, usually located near the bolt closure, that when hit will push the bolt carrier forward, ensuring that the bolt is locked. In order to ensure that the extractor is clipped around the rim of the shell, the...

, and the brass deflector is shaped differently.

The T86 has a 375 mm (14.8 in) barrel with flash suppressor. The rate of rifling twist is one twist in 178 mm (7 in). The bore is chrome-lined and the T86 can fire all 5.56x45mm NATO
5.56x45mm NATO
5.56×45mm NATO is a rifle cartridge developed in the United States and originally chambered in the M16 rifle. Under STANAG 4172, it is a standard cartridge for NATO forces as well as many non-NATO countries. It is derived from, but not identical to, the .223 Remington cartridge...

 standard ammunition. Magazines used by the ROC military feature two protrusions on each side to avoid over-insertion, but standard STANAG magazine
STANAG magazine
A STANAG magazine is a type of detachable firearm magazine proposed by NATO in October 1980. Shortly after NATO's acceptance of the 5.56x45mm NATO rifle cartridge, Draft Standardization Agreement 4179 was proposed in order to allow the military services of member nations easily to share rifle...

s are compatible.

The T86 is modular and can be field-stripped without using special tools. The gas piston system and the trigger assembly can be removed as complete assemblies for maintenance, reducing the risk of losing small parts.

Accessories

An attachment point is provided on the carrying handle for an optional scope mount.

The T85 40 mm grenade launcher, standard issue of the ROC Army
Republic of China Army
The ROC Army's current operational strength includes 3 armies, 5 corps. As of 2005, the Army's 35 brigades include 25 infantry brigades, 5 armoured brigades and 3 mechanized infantry brigades...

, may be mounted on the T86 carbine.

Production and Usage

Contrary to initial expectation, ROC Army
Republic of China Army
The ROC Army's current operational strength includes 3 armies, 5 corps. As of 2005, the Army's 35 brigades include 25 infantry brigades, 5 armoured brigades and 3 mechanized infantry brigades...

 and Marine Corps
Republic of China Marine Corps
Republic of China Marine CorpsPersonnel15,000 The Republic of China Marine Corps is the amphibious arm of the Republic of China Navy responsible for amphibious combat, counter-landing and reinforcement of the main island of Taiwan, remote islands, defense of ROCN facilities, and also functions as...

 did not order T86 carbines in large quantities. Defense budget priorities during the late 1990s forced ROC military to delay the replacement of T65K1
Type 65 Assault Rifle
The T65 is an assault rifle developed and manufactured by the Combined Service Forces of ROC Army in Taiwan. Originally patterned after the Armalite AR-18 that has the short-stroke gas system, prototype unveiled in 1975 showed a rifle that is externally very-heavily influenced by the M4/M16,...

 and T65K2
Type 65 Assault Rifle
The T65 is an assault rifle developed and manufactured by the Combined Service Forces of ROC Army in Taiwan. Originally patterned after the Armalite AR-18 that has the short-stroke gas system, prototype unveiled in 1975 showed a rifle that is externally very-heavily influenced by the M4/M16,...

 assault rifles. A small quantity of T86 did enter service with the ROC Navy
Republic of China Navy
The Republic of China Navy is the maritime branch of the Armed forces of the Republic of China . The ROC Navy's primary mission is to defend ROC territories and the sea lanes that surround Taiwan against a blockade, attack, or possible invasion by forces of the People's Republic of China...

 Underwater Demolition Team and underwent rigorous trials in widely varied environmental conditions.

Officially, the largest customer of T86 carbines is the ROC Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Photographs posted at www.militaryphotos.net in 2005 showed Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...

ian royal guards and special operations troops being armed with T86 carbines. This particular sale was later confirmed by the ROC government.
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