T91 assault rifle

The T91 assault rifle (Chinese: 聯勤5.56公釐T91戰鬥步槍) is produced by the 205th Armory of the Republic of China ministry of defense. It is based on the proven T86 assault rifle incorporating features from the M16 and AR-18 rifles with more modern features. The T91 is lighter and shorter than the T65 it replaces and has a 3-position telescopic stock to allow adjustment based on individual requirements.

"T91" redirects here. For the netbook manufactured by Asus, see Asus Eee T91.
T91
The T91CQC carbine. Note the forend with integrated rails and the shorter barrel compared to the standard variant.
TypeAssault rifle
Place of originRepublic of China (Taiwan)
Service history
In service2003–present
Used bySee Users
Production history
Designed2002
Manufacturer205th Arsenal
Produced2003–present
No. built300,000+
Specifications
Mass3.17 kg
Length880 mm (stock extended)
800 mm (stock retracted)
Barrel length406 mm
Cartridge5.56×45mm NATO
ActionGas-operated, rotating bolt
Rate of fire800-850 rpm
Muzzle velocity975 m/s
Effective firing range400m
600m (with optics)
Feed systemVarious STANAG magazines.
SightsM16A2-style sights with windage and elevation adjustments
Picatinny rail can be used for mounting various optical sights

History
T91 30-round magazine with ammo capacity indicator, STANAG compatible.
Receiver left side closeup
T91 on display

T91 was a further development of the T86 assault rifle which had been intended to replace the T65 assault rifle series in Taiwan military service. Experience on the previous design and feedback from various users were incorporated into the T91. Development was completed in 2002, and volume production commenced in 2003.

There are rumors that arms dealers had secretly inquired about the possibility of sales to certain militant groups in Southeast Asia, but were reportedly rejected by the Republic of China defense ministry (MND). The MND neither confirmed nor denied such rumors.[1]

Design

T91 is a gas-operated short-stroke, air-cooled, rotating bolt, magazine- or drum-fed, select-fire, modularized military rifle compatible with various tactical accessories. Similar to its predecessor, T91 is a shorter version of the T65K2 assault rifle, giving the operator higher mobility and ease of aiming in a confined space.

T91 has a 4-position selector switch: S – safe, 1 – semi-automatic, 3 – three-round burst, and A – automatic. Like the T65K2, T91 utilizes an M16A2-style front post, rear peephole sight. The rear sight, mounted on the detachable handle, is adjustable for windage and elevation. Operation of the charging handle, magazine release, and bolt release are the same as the M16. One notable difference is that the T91 does not have a forward assist, and the brass deflector is not as pronounced.

The action of the T91 is based on the T65 series. However, parts are not interchangeable because the bolt lug on the T91 is shorter by 1 mm. T91 also inherits the modularized gas piston system from the T86, allowing easy removal for maintenance without the risk of losing small parts.

The telescopic stock on the T91 was designed based on the experience of military and police personnel with the M4 Carbine. The resulting product has improved recoil transfer and handling qualities. A rubber recoil pad is also added for comfort. The handguards are triangular in shape.

T91 has a 416 mm (16.4 in) barrel with flash suppressor. Rate of rifling twist is 178 mm (7.0 in). Due to the use of a shorter barrel, the T91 has 20% more recoil than the T65K2. Average group size at 175 m (191.4 yd) also increased by 10 mm (0.39 in). The chamber and bore are chrome-lined and can fire 5.56×45mm NATO ammunition. Standard-issue 30-round magazines for the T91 feature indicator holes for the top 2-15 rounds as well as two protrusions on each side to avoid over-insertion. However, standard STANAG magazines may also be used.

Accessories

T91 has a MIL-STD-1913 rail on the top of the receiver, handguard, and the front-sight block. The standard-issue detachable handle may be removed to accommodate a variety of optical sights and scopes. T91 can also be equipped with the T85 40mm grenade launcher to serve in a squad-level fire support role.

The Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology developed a T91 indoor shooting simulator for infantry marksmanship training. This equipment is capable of simulating various weather conditions, shooting distances, and wind states.

For training purposes, a paintball conversion kit is also provided.

Other attachments include red dot sights or holographic weapon sights similar to EOTech models.

Variants

The T91K3 features polygonal rifling which increases barrel life and improves accuracy.[2] The 205th Arsenal and the National Defense University are jointly developing a nickel-boron finish for the bolt carriers which would allow the weapon to fire about 10,500 rounds without any lubrication whatsoever.[2]

List of variants
  • T91 assault rifle
  • T91 CQC
  • T91S
  • T91K1
  • T91K3

Production and usage
A Taiwanese military policeman on duty at the Taipei Songshan Airport.

In 2003, the Taiwanese army ordered 101,162 T91 combat rifles as force-wide replacements of all service rifles, with a delivery schedule from 2004 to 2008. The total budget amount was NT$1,803 million (US$54.6 million), placing the unit price at about NT$17,800 (US$539). As of April 2006, nine Taiwanese army armored, mechanized infantry, and infantry brigades have fully converted to the T91.

In 2005, the Taiwanese military police ordered 12,069 T91 combat rifles to equip garrison units in the Taipei capital region. Delivery would span over the next three years.

Export sales of the T91 to Jordan and Kuwait have been officially confirmed. The Jordanian Defense Forces reportedly conducted comparison tests between several service rifles in a desert environment. The T91 was found to have reliability comparable to the AK-47, scoring better than the M16, thereby making it very dependable for desert conditions.

Indonesia procured as many as 10,000 T91 combat rifles from Taiwan to equip police and border patrol units.

The UAE acquired T91 rifles after Sheikh Hamid bin Zayed Al Nahyan made a visit to Taiwan, and soon quantities of T91 were supplied to the UAE.

T91 uppers have also been exported to the United States through Wolf Performance Ammunition.[3] When it was first released Wolf is reported to have sold more than a thousand uppers in one day.[4]

Users

References
  1. 東南亞某國叛軍欲買T91戰鬥步槍被拒絕(A rebel army in Southeast Asia desired to buy T91 but rejected by Republic of China army) (in Chinese)
  2. Lo Tien-pin and Jonathan Chin, Aaron Tu. "University's polygonal rifling improves weaponry". taipeitimes.com. Taipei Times. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  3. "[Big 3 East] Wolf Ammo Is Bringing Us A Type 91 Upper -". 13 October 2016.
  4. Chin, Johnathan. "Thousands of T91 rifles sold in US in one day: report". taipeitimes.com. Taipei Times. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  5. 波士尼亞特種部隊採購T91戰鬥步槍(Bosnia special forces purchases T91 assault rifle) (in Chinese)
  6. 許紹軒 (2008-02-16). "波士尼亞特種部隊採購T91戰鬥步槍". 自由時報. Archived from the original on 2009-04-13.
  7. 蘇仲泓 (2019-07-18). "蔡英文訪海地受軍禮歡迎 安全部隊各式軍品、步槍皆台灣贈予". 風傳媒.
  8. 林銘翰 (2019-07-18). "贈海地軍警戰鬥個裝槍械　國防部：展現我國防自主實力". ETtoday.
  10. 中華民國軍方證實國造T86步槍及T91步槍銷往約旦(T86 & T91 sold to Jordan confirmed by ROC army) (in Chinese)
  11. https://sites.google.com/site/worldinventory/wiw_me_kuwait
  12. "UAE 'given guns' for Chen visit". Taipei Times. Taiwan. 2005.
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