PLA Small arms

[sabiothailand]

Returning to the topic. People might not care about this fact, but I see from government tv and several telegram videos with bolivarian militias training with the qbz-97b alongside AKs. The guns have no optics, of course.

These probably aren't representative and maybe they get more spotlight for show, but the militias aren't depicted with other weapons. Either Venezuela bought a decent number of them, or other branches don't like it and decided to give those surpluses to the militia.

Interesting.
Have you ever contacted these militia on their experiences with the QBZ-97B?

I have seen videos of people shooting the gun itself and it seems to recoil a lot for a 5.56. Not sure if it would work well in Venezuelan terrain in case an invasion happened.

 

[Saru]

At least not hanging heavy objects from the suspended barrel like many years ago

They still do it, but people are acting like they will be hanging things from the barrel during conflicts.

While it is not very practical, considering this is China I have no doubt those are not even guns just parade replicas roughly the same weight like the guns used in parades due to the strict gun control.

 

[againwithfeeling]

why was the 95 replaced with the 191?

 

[Clango]

why was the 95 replaced with the 191?

because the 95 is an obsolete rifle made for a time when the PLA needed something that just works, it has extremely poor modularity do retrofitting accessories is a pain in the ass, the 191 is a piston AR based platform with an upper and lower split design, so in case there's going to be upgrades it's far easier to yank the uppers off and then replace them directly with upgraded uppers rather than the entire gun being out of commission because upgrading the QBZ95 involves taking the whole gun apart.

 

[Aniah]

why was the 95 replaced with the 191?

Also, bullpups are no longer the fad. Most people find the conventional layout a lot more comfortable than bullpups. Some specific niches get bullpups these days.

 

[AZaz09dude]

because the 95 is an obsolete rifle made for a time when the PLA needed something that just works, it has extremely poor modularity do retrofitting accessories is a pain in the ass, the 191 is a piston AR based platform with an upper and lower split design, so in case there's going to be upgrades it's far easier to yank the uppers off and then replace them directly with upgraded uppers rather than the entire gun being out of commission because upgrading the QBZ95 involves taking the whole gun apart.

Not to mention some of the much needed ergonomic improvements not arriving until ~2010(!) with the 95-1, and still offering almost no modularity improvements. Combined with the DBP10 fiasco, looking back the whole thing was a bit of an avoidable shitshow.

 

[Clango]

Not to mention some of the much needed ergonomic improvements not arriving until ~2010(!) with the 95-1, and still offering almost no modularity improvements. Combined with the DBP10 fiasco, looking back the whole thing was a bit of an avoidable shitshow.

NGL it's comical how poor the army is compared to both of the other branches, by 2016 the PLAAF already had proper world class jets but it took until the mid 2020s for the PLAGF to finally look like a proper modern army, and they still don't issue ear pro as much as they should be.

 

[ITS.HAVOC]

NGL it's comical how poor the army is compared to both of the other branches, by 2016 the PLAAF already had proper world class jets but it took until the mid 2020s for the PLAGF to finally look like a proper modern army, and they still don't issue ear pro as much as they should be.

I wouldn't say they're entirely poorly equipped, their vehicles are adequate.

 

[Alkyone]

NGL it's comical how poor the army is compared to both of the other branches, by 2016 the PLAAF already had proper world class jets but it took until the mid 2020s for the PLAGF to finally look like a proper modern army, and they still don't issue ear pro as much as they should be.

from my experience, earpro isn't standard issued in the US military either. All those comtac headsets are personal purchases. Army will issue you those 1$ earplugs at best lol

 

[Heliox]

NGL it's comical how poor the army is compared to both of the other branches, by 2016 the PLAAF already had proper world class jets but it took until the mid 2020s for the PLAGF to finally look like a proper modern army, and they still don't issue ear pro as much as they should be.

If you think they are comical, dig a bit deeper (not specifically PLA) and look at what constitute standard issue for 2nd line and rear echelon units.

Within the tri-services, the Air Force is always going to eat up the biggest share of the tech dollar budget. If you are a maritime nation, your Navy will likewise have heavy(ier) weightage. What remains then for Land forces?

For Land forces, if you believe you are going to fight a conventional war, your multipliers will take priority - artillery, AFVs, etc - not your infantry. The Mark I Trooper, generic infantry, grunt is almost always gonna be low on the priority list. Not because the queen of the battlefield isn't important but more because the infantryman in itself doesn't really form the tip of the spear (outside of a few niche scenarios). It's only if you restructure your land forces for asymmetric warfare that the lowly grunt will start to see a bigger share of the budget pie.

Stop comparing them to other militaries. It's a fraught comparison because different tiers of troops have different gearing levels. Oversea deployed units, flashy joint exercise troops can be quite over-kitted compared to even regular line troops, let alone rear area troops. As mentioned by others, more liberal cultures within an armed force can allow personal supplementation of gear which allows a GI to kit up over and above standard issue - a pitfall for like-for-like comparison if you think that everything that hangs off a marine is standard issue.

It's always silly to compare items from different militaries as if they are all meant to perform the same role/function. Focus more instead of whether the equipment fits the role within the CONOPS for that particular platform in the PLA.

If you can point out how the PLA infantryman is unable to perform their role with the budget constrained equipment level they have, then we have a discussion. If not, then all anyone has is a wishlist.