War and Military Atlas

How Battles Were Fought
Sign In
Text size
100%
Theme

Switch Atlas

Weapons System

Type 56 Assault Rifle

Small Arms And Sidearms

The Type 56 is a Chinese assault rifle chambered in 7.62 by 39 millimeter and a variant of the Kalashnikov design. China began adopting it in 1956 after the Soviet Union supplied the country with information and production equipment for the AK in 1955. It was manufactured by State Factory 66, Norinco and PolyTech, with more than ten million units built. The earliest Type 56 rifles were licensed copies of the AK-47 with milled receivers, and later production shifted to stamped receivers similar to the Soviet AKM. A fully enclosed hooded front sight distinguishes the Type 56 from other AK variants. The rifle has been exported widely and used in numerous conflicts around the world, and it remains in service today. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

Facts
Classification
Caliber
7.62x39mm 1
Service Status
In Service 1
Weapon Class
Assault rifle 2
Introduced Year
1956 2
Weapon Class
Weapon Class (category)
Rifle 2
FAQs

Is the Type 56 simply a Chinese AK-47?

It began as a licensed AK copy with a milled receiver and later moved to a stamped receiver like the AKM.

Not exactly, though it began as one. The Soviet Union gave China information and production equipment for the AK and the SKS in 1955, and the Type 56 started out as a direct licensed copy of the AK's final iteration with a milled receiver. From the mid-1960s it was built with a stamped receiver, much like the then new Soviet AKM. Most versions can also be told apart from the AK-47 and AKM by a fully enclosed hooded front sight.
Connections

Operated By

Hezbollah, Armed Forces and Units
Source Wikipedia: Type 56 assault rifle

Used In

Cambodian Civil War, Wars
Source Wikipedia: Type 56 assault rifle
Gulf War, Wars
Source Wikipedia: Type 56 assault rifle
Iran-Iraq War, Wars
Source Wikipedia: Type 56 assault rifle
Iraq War, Wars
Source Wikipedia: Type 56 assault rifle
Kosovo War, Wars
Source Wikipedia: Type 56 assault rifle
Laotian Civil War, Wars
Source Wikipedia: Type 56 assault rifle
Russo-Ukrainian War, Wars
Source Wikipedia: Type 56 assault rifle
Soviet-Afghan War, Wars
Source Wikipedia: Type 56 assault rifle
Sri Lankan Civil War, Wars
Source Wikipedia: Type 56 assault rifle
Vietnam War, Wars
Source Wikipedia: Type 56 assault rifle
War in Afghanistan (2001-2021), Wars
Source Wikipedia: Type 56 assault rifle
In the Other Atlases

Manufactured By

China North Industries Group Corporation Limited

Also in Business Atlas: the manufacturer of this subject.

Source Wikidata: Type 56 Assault Rifle
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Type 56 assault rifle
  • Infobox: cartridge
    Type 56 variants -7.62×39mm Type 84S - 5.56×45mm
  • Infobox: service
    1956-present
  • Lead section
    The Type 56 (Chinese: 56式自動步槍, lit. 'Type 56 automatic rifle') is a Chinese 7.62×39mm assault rifle and Kalashnikov rifle variant.
  • Used In: Vietnam War, Infobox: wars
    Vietnam War Rhodesian Bush War Cambodian Civil War Laotian Civil War Sino-Vietnamese War Soviet-Afghan War Iran-Iraq War Sri Lankan Civil War Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir Somali Civil War Tuareg rebellion (1990-1995) Persian Gulf War Kosovo War War in Afghanistan (2001-2021) Iraq War Kivu conflict Iraqi insurgency (2011-2013) War in Iraq (2013-2017) OLA insurgency Russo-Ukrainian war 2025 Cambodia-Thailand conflict
  • Used In: Cambodian Civil War, Infobox: wars
    Vietnam War Rhodesian Bush War Cambodian Civil War Laotian Civil War Sino-Vietnamese War Soviet-Afghan War Iran-Iraq War Sri Lankan Civil War Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir Somali Civil War Tuareg rebellion (1990-1995) Persian Gulf War Kosovo War War in Afghanistan (2001-2021) Iraq War Kivu conflict Iraqi insurgency (2011-2013) War in Iraq (2013-2017) OLA insurgency Russo-Ukrainian war 2025 Cambodia-Thailand conflict
  • Used In: Laotian Civil War, Infobox: wars
    Vietnam War Rhodesian Bush War Cambodian Civil War Laotian Civil War Sino-Vietnamese War Soviet-Afghan War Iran-Iraq War Sri Lankan Civil War Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir Somali Civil War Tuareg rebellion (1990-1995) Persian Gulf War Kosovo War War in Afghanistan (2001-2021) Iraq War Kivu conflict Iraqi insurgency (2011-2013) War in Iraq (2013-2017) OLA insurgency Russo-Ukrainian war 2025 Cambodia-Thailand conflict
  • Used In: Soviet-Afghan War, Infobox: wars
    Vietnam War Rhodesian Bush War Cambodian Civil War Laotian Civil War Sino-Vietnamese War Soviet-Afghan War Iran-Iraq War Sri Lankan Civil War Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir Somali Civil War Tuareg rebellion (1990-1995) Persian Gulf War Kosovo War War in Afghanistan (2001-2021) Iraq War Kivu conflict Iraqi insurgency (2011-2013) War in Iraq (2013-2017) OLA insurgency Russo-Ukrainian war 2025 Cambodia-Thailand conflict
  • Used In: Iran-Iraq War, Infobox: wars
    Vietnam War Rhodesian Bush War Cambodian Civil War Laotian Civil War Sino-Vietnamese War Soviet-Afghan War Iran-Iraq War Sri Lankan Civil War Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir Somali Civil War Tuareg rebellion (1990-1995) Persian Gulf War Kosovo War War in Afghanistan (2001-2021) Iraq War Kivu conflict Iraqi insurgency (2011-2013) War in Iraq (2013-2017) OLA insurgency Russo-Ukrainian war 2025 Cambodia-Thailand conflict
  • Used In: Sri Lankan Civil War, Infobox: wars
    Vietnam War Rhodesian Bush War Cambodian Civil War Laotian Civil War Sino-Vietnamese War Soviet-Afghan War Iran-Iraq War Sri Lankan Civil War Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir Somali Civil War Tuareg rebellion (1990-1995) Persian Gulf War Kosovo War War in Afghanistan (2001-2021) Iraq War Kivu conflict Iraqi insurgency (2011-2013) War in Iraq (2013-2017) OLA insurgency Russo-Ukrainian war 2025 Cambodia-Thailand conflict
  • Used In: Gulf War, Infobox: wars
    Vietnam War Rhodesian Bush War Cambodian Civil War Laotian Civil War Sino-Vietnamese War Soviet-Afghan War Iran-Iraq War Sri Lankan Civil War Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir Somali Civil War Tuareg rebellion (1990-1995) Persian Gulf War Kosovo War War in Afghanistan (2001-2021) Iraq War Kivu conflict Iraqi insurgency (2011-2013) War in Iraq (2013-2017) OLA insurgency Russo-Ukrainian war 2025 Cambodia-Thailand conflict
  • Used In: Kosovo War, Infobox: wars
    Vietnam War Rhodesian Bush War Cambodian Civil War Laotian Civil War Sino-Vietnamese War Soviet-Afghan War Iran-Iraq War Sri Lankan Civil War Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir Somali Civil War Tuareg rebellion (1990-1995) Persian Gulf War Kosovo War War in Afghanistan (2001-2021) Iraq War Kivu conflict Iraqi insurgency (2011-2013) War in Iraq (2013-2017) OLA insurgency Russo-Ukrainian war 2025 Cambodia-Thailand conflict
  • Used In: War in Afghanistan (2001-2021), Infobox: wars
    Vietnam War Rhodesian Bush War Cambodian Civil War Laotian Civil War Sino-Vietnamese War Soviet-Afghan War Iran-Iraq War Sri Lankan Civil War Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir Somali Civil War Tuareg rebellion (1990-1995) Persian Gulf War Kosovo War War in Afghanistan (2001-2021) Iraq War Kivu conflict Iraqi insurgency (2011-2013) War in Iraq (2013-2017) OLA insurgency Russo-Ukrainian war 2025 Cambodia-Thailand conflict
  • Used In: Iraq War, Infobox: wars
    Vietnam War Rhodesian Bush War Cambodian Civil War Laotian Civil War Sino-Vietnamese War Soviet-Afghan War Iran-Iraq War Sri Lankan Civil War Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir Somali Civil War Tuareg rebellion (1990-1995) Persian Gulf War Kosovo War War in Afghanistan (2001-2021) Iraq War Kivu conflict Iraqi insurgency (2011-2013) War in Iraq (2013-2017) OLA insurgency Russo-Ukrainian war 2025 Cambodia-Thailand conflict
  • Used In: Russo-Ukrainian War, Infobox: wars
    Vietnam War Rhodesian Bush War Cambodian Civil War Laotian Civil War Sino-Vietnamese War Soviet-Afghan War Iran-Iraq War Sri Lankan Civil War Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir Somali Civil War Tuareg rebellion (1990-1995) Persian Gulf War Kosovo War War in Afghanistan (2001-2021) Iraq War Kivu conflict Iraqi insurgency (2011-2013) War in Iraq (2013-2017) OLA insurgency Russo-Ukrainian war 2025 Cambodia-Thailand conflict
  • Operated By: Hezbollah, Operators
    Hezbollah
View the Source
2. Wikipedia: Type 56 assault rifle
  • Lead, first sentence
    is a Chinese 7.62×39mm assault rifle
  • Infobox: service
    1956-present
View the Source
Wikidata: Type 56 Assault Rifle
Wikidata Q1142312, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share a thought.
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.