T74 machine gun
| T74 Platoon Machine Gun | |
|---|---|
 T74 Machine Gun | |
| Type | General Purpose Machine Gun |
| Place of origin | Taiwan |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1988-present |
| Used by | Taiwan, Jordan |
| Production history | |
| Designer | 205th Armory |
| Designed | 1985 |
| Manufacturer | 205th Armory |
| Produced | 1988- |
| Variants | T74V Coaxial MG |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 12.06 kg |
| Length | 1260 mm |
| Barrel length | 546 mm |
| Cartridge | 7.62 × 51 mm NATO |
| Caliber | 7.62 mm (.308 in) |
| Action | gas-operated long piston |
| Rate of fire | 400-800 rounds/min |
| Muzzle velocity | 810 m/s (TC74), 850 m/s (M80) |
| Effective firing range | 1200 m |
| Maximum firing range | 3700 m |
| Feed system | disintegrating belt |
Introduction
The 7.62mm T74 Platoon Machine Gun (7.62公厘T74排用機槍) is a gas operated, belt fed, air cooled general purpose machine gun designed and manufactured by the 205th Armory, Ministry of Defense, Republic of China (Taiwan). It is based on the Fabrique Nationale de Herstal (FN) MAG with extensive modifications to meet the requirements of the ROC Armed Forces.
History
The T74 project was authorized by the ROC Army as the replacement of T57/M60 machine guns. The design was completed in 1985, and volume production commenced in 1988 after extensive testing.
Design
T74 machine gun is based on the FN MAG, and shares the latter's external appearance. Several areas have been redesigned in consideration of manufacturability and user requirements, particularly ergonomic measurements of the average Taiwanese soldier. Certain design flaws discovered after the FN MAG was introduced in 1958 were also corrected on the T74. The most obvious differences between the two are the M60-style bipod and enlarge trigger guard on the T74. Windage adjustment is also added to the rear sight.
The T74 barrel features spiral cooling fin similar to early MAG models, with the same quick change system. It is fed using disintegrating steel belts of arbitrary length. Rate of fire, deliberately lowered from the MAG to improve reliability, is controllable between 400 and 800 rounds per minute in 3 steps.
Variants
T74V was developed as the co-axial machine gun for the M41D light tank upgrade. It did not enter production since the said project was canceled.
Production and Usage
ROC Army, Marine Corps, and Military Police ordered large quantities of T74 machine guns. In its basic bipod configuration, T74 serves as the primary armament of machine gun sections in infantry platoons. Fixed fortifications are also equipped with tripod-mounted T74s. Some ROC Army tanks and armored vehicles are also mounted with T74 machine guns.
According to news reports, Jordan also procured an unknown quantity of T74 machine guns.
