In the jungle during the rainy season, the drizzle is silky, and the air is filled with the smell of earth and the smell of gunpowder smoke to come. In 1987, in the dense forests of the Vietnamese border, a battle that was not known to most people was quietly unfolding. Here, Fu Binh Son, a scout of the 114th Division of the 38th Army, is holding a Type 67 whispering pistol in one hand and engaging in a seemingly impossible confrontation with a large Vietnamese army.
At a certain coordinate that had not been marked on the map, Fu Pingshan's figure moved quickly among the trees, and his every step was extremely cautious. The Type 67 pistol is loaded and ready for a sudden crisis. Designed to perform covert operations, this pistol emits a sound so low that it is difficult to detect even in the dead of night. At this moment, he faces a more immediate and deadly threat.
Technical characteristics of the Type 64 microsound pistol
In the 60s of the 20th century, as the Cold War continued to intensify, the continental special forces faced a significant shortage of equipment when performing reconnaissance and other special tasks. Especially when conducting covert operations, the sound of ordinary firearms can easily attract the attention of the enemy, which significantly increases the risks of the operation. Therefore, as tactical needs changed, the demand for whispered pistols rose rapidly and became an urgent need for special forces.
In order to solve this problem, the military-industrial department of our army quickly responded and launched an intensive project aimed at developing a micro-sound pistol. The goal of the project was clear – to develop a pistol that would dramatically reduce the sound of a shot without compromising performance. Due to the urgency and importance of the task, this project has received great attention and support from the top level.
The project team first conducted extensive research on the existing micro-acoustic firearm technology, and analyzed the design of various types of micro-acoustic firearms at home and abroad. Through comparative analysis, they determined that the inertial latching design could effectively use the energy generated when the firearm was fired, reduce the friction between the parts and the sound of impact, and thus reduce the actuation sound of the firearm.
In terms of sound attenuation technology, the design team adopted the composite design concept of resistive noise reduction and shielded sound reduction. Resistive silencing mainly absorbs and disperses the sound of the air flow during the muzzle explosion through the complex sound insulation material inside the silencer, while the shielded silencer controls the direction and speed of the air flow through a special structural design to further reduce the propagation of sound. After trial and error, the new silencer finally succeeded in controlling the firing sound of the Type 64 micro-acoustic pistol to within 75 decibels.
This noise level control means that when firing, even at quiet nights or in wooded areas, the sound of gunfire is difficult to detect from up to 30 metres away. This significant increase in performance provides strong technical support for special forces to carry out covert operations. The successful development of firearms not only increased the safety of operations, but also greatly expanded the combat capabilities and tactical options of special forces.
Improvements and equipment of the Type 67 Silent Pistol
In 1967, with the continuous progress of military science and technology and the change of tactical needs, the Continental Army R&D team made a new breakthrough again and successfully launched the Type 67 micro-sound pistol. The new pistol is more compact in design and more suitable for use by special reconnaissance forces when performing covert missions. The most distinctive feature of the Type 67 is its significantly improved silence effect, which is mainly due to its new single-chamber silencer design.
Compared with the previous generation of Type 64, the Type 67 silencer has been simplified and optimized in structure. The core of the single-chamber design is that it is simpler to construct and easier to maintain. This new type of silencer reduces the pressure of the gas generated when firing through a large expansion chamber, effectively reducing the sound when firing. In addition, the silencer is also equipped with a special soundproof material to further absorb the noise during shooting, making the Type 67 less noisy when firing, achieving the ultimate concealment effect.
In terms of size and weight, the Type 67 Silent Pistol has also been significantly reduced, making the pistol more portable and concealed. The reduction in its overall length and weight allows special forces members to carry multiple equipment on missions at the same time with more flexibility without being burdened by the weight and size of the weapon. Especially when conducting long trekking reconnaissance or covert infiltration, the lightness of the Type 67 is particularly important.
However, although the Type 67 silent pistol has improved in terms of portability and sound attenuation, it also has certain limitations, mainly reflected in its power. The muzzle kinetic energy of this pistol is only 122 joules, which means that its lethality and penetration are relatively low. The effective firing range is about 30 meters, which in real combat requires the shooter to be closer to the target to ensure a hit. Therefore, the Type 67 micro-sound pistol is mainly used for precision strikes at close range, especially in complex terrain such as urban environments or forests, and its low noise and short range are able to exert maximum effect.
In order to give full play to the tactical advantages of the Type 67 silent pistol, the special forces conducted special shooting training for the soldiers, emphasizing the skills of concealing the target and shooting accurately. During the training, the shooters need to shoot live ammunition in a simulated complex environment, practicing how to quickly and accurately subdue the target while remaining hidden.
Practical combat application of reconnaissance units
During the two-mountain round battle, our army's reconnaissance units faced severe battlefield challenges and needed to carry out reconnaissance and sabotage missions deep behind enemy lines in complex terrain. In this highly sensitive and dangerous environment, the Type 67 Silent Pistol became a core component of the Scout's equipment due to its excellent concealment and portability.
With the widespread armament of the Type 67 pistol, the operational tactics of the reconnaissance units were adjusted accordingly. When carrying out reconnaissance missions behind enemy lines, troops often need to lurk for long periods of time, waiting for the best moment to gather intelligence or carry out sabotage missions. The small size and light weight of the Type 67 pistol made it easier for the Scout to carry other necessary equipment such as communication equipment, navigation tools, and personal survival equipment, while maintaining the ability to maneuver quickly.
Scouts often need to react within a very short period of time when they are operating behind enemy lines, whether they encounter an enemy patrol or a sudden security threat. The Type 67 pistol played a key role in these situations. While not as powerful as a standard military pistol, its low-noise nature can greatly reduce the risk of being detected by other enemy units in close-range engagements, thus reducing the chance of exposure to the entire operation.
In specific operations, scouts are trained to use Type 67 pistols for accurate fire, especially at night or in environments with poor line of sight. Due to its effective range of about 30 meters, scouts often need to get close to the target using various cover and concealment techniques to ensure the accuracy and effectiveness of their shots. This kind of close-up stealth approach, although risky, also greatly increases the success rate of the mission.
In some special operations, the reconnaissance unit also carried out a series of precise assassination missions with the Type 67 pistol, effectively eliminating the enemy's key commander or destroying the enemy's important facilities. These operations were usually carried out late at night, and the scouts took advantage of the whispering characteristics of the Type 67 pistol, reducing the likelihood of a post-action pursuit.
In addition, the Type 67 silent pistol is often used for sudden self-defense missions. Deep behind enemy lines, even the slightest noise can attract unwanted attention. In this case, the scout may need to use a pistol for self-defense when there are no other options. The use of the Type 67 pistol, in many cases, helped the scouts to safely withdraw from complex situations.
The inheritance significance of Fu Pingshan's heroic deeds
In 1987, in the tense situation of the war against Vietnam, Fu Pingshan of the 114th Division of the 38th Army participated in a high-risk capture mission. The goal of this mission is to infiltrate the depths of the enemy, capture important intel and potentially capture enemy soldiers. However, during the implementation of the mission, the situation quickly changed. Fu Pingshan and his reconnaissance team penetrated deep into Vietnamese territory, but unfortunately were discovered by a large force of the enemy and quickly surrounded.
The Vietnamese army outnumbered our group in large numbers, and the planned evacuation route was quickly cut off. Faced with a huge disparity in the strength of the enemy and the enemy, the reconnaissance unit managed to open a breakthrough route in the fierce exchange of fire. Some scouts managed to break through the enemy's encirclement under the cover of woodland and night, but some of their comrades were still unable to break through the encirclement, and the situation was extremely critical.
After completing the main task, Fu Pingshan could have chosen to evacuate, but he learned that there were still his comrades trapped and decided to give up the opportunity to retreat safely. He picked up the Type 67 whispering pistol in his hand and returned to the battlefield alone. Although this light and efficient weapon is not very powerful, it has a great advantage of concealment in night battles and close-range firefights, and is suitable for Fu Pingshan's mission at the moment.
Fu Pingshan's decision to return to the line of fire was fraught with risk, but it was also to buy time and create an opportunity for other trapped comrades to break through the encirclement. He took advantage of the darkness and the terrain to quietly approach the Vietnamese position. At an extremely short distance, he took advantage of the Type 67 micro-sound pistol and managed to interfere with the deployment of the Vietnamese army, knocking out several enemy troops.
In order to attract the enemy's attention more effectively, Fu Pingshan began to move to a denser area of the Vietnamese army, and chose the most imperceptible moment of the enemy army at the moment of shooting. With each shift and shot, he carefully calculated to ensure that he was not directly detected by the enemy, while at the same time dispersing the enemy forces to the maximum.
Through his efforts, Fu Pingshan successfully attracted the main force of the Vietnamese army and created conditions for the breakthrough of the trapped comrades. In the process, he constantly changed his position and used the Type 67 micro-sound pistol in his hand to carry out multi-point disturbance. Despite his desperate situation, his actions effectively slowed down the oppression of the Vietnamese army on their besieged comrades.
At this time, the encircled comrades-in-arms began to look for opportunities to break through under the cover of Fu Pingshan. Although the Vietnamese army was numerous, under the interference of Fu Pingshan, its position was exposed in many holes. The trapped comrades took advantage of these loopholes and began to advance step by step towards the safe area.
On the first day of the battle, Fu Binh Son began to lay out mines, small but dangerous explosive devices that were carefully placed on possible Vietnamese offensive routes. As the Vietnamese forces approached, these mines were triggered one after another, causing confusion and casualties, effectively slowing down the enemy's attack. This tactic not only demonstrated Fu Pingshan's accurate prediction of the enemy's actions, but also won himself more time and space for tactical deployment.
Over time, the Vietnamese army gradually increased its efforts in an attempt to suppress Fu Pingshan's resistance through numerical superiority. Hundreds of Vietnamese soldiers marched in batches to the area where Fu Pingshan was located, trying to capture the enemy who was a headache for them by means of encirclement. Relying on his rich battlefield experience and terrain advantages, Fu Pingshan moved flexibly, using every available cover and terrain obstruction to make it difficult for the enemy to capture his exact location.
In the fierce battle of six days and five nights, Fu Pingshan had almost no rest, he constantly looked for loopholes in the enemy's encirclement network, and harassed and attacked the enemy through the cover of night and dense forests. His movements are highly mobile, each sortie is precise and effective, and he continues to fight despite the constant depletion of his stamina and ammunition.
Until the end, when the Vietnamese army took advantage of the numerical advantage to form an airtight encirclement, Fu Pingshan's situation became more and more dangerous. In the process of trying to persuade the Vietnamese army to surrender, he did not choose to surrender, but chose the last resistance. During an attempt to capture him by enemy troops, Fu Pingshan used his whispering pistol to kill two enemy soldiers at close range and seriously wound two others. This act once again proved his resoluteness and bravery.
Unfortunately, as time went on, Fu Pingshan's ammunition was almost depleted, and the Vietnamese army seemed to have seen through his tactical patterns. During a concentrated offensive, Vietnamese troops threw a large number of grenades at the location where Fu Binh Son was hiding. In the sound of the explosion, this heroic warrior finally died a heroic death, ending his last fight on the battlefield.
Big Bird.The secret weapon of the Chinese scout——China Type 67 7.62mm micro-sound pistol[J].World Aerospace Expo(B Edition),2003(04B):40-43