ASH-78

ASh-78
File:Ash-78.jpg A Tip-1 rifle with bayonet folded
Type	Assault rifle
Place of origin	Albania
Service history
In service	1978−present
Used by	See users
Wars	Yugoslav Wars Bosnian War Kosovo War 1997 Albanian civil unrest
Production history
Manufacturer	Gramsh state arsenal
Produced	1978−1997
Variants	See variants
Specifications (ASh-78 Tip-1)
Mass	4.2 kg (9.3 lb)
Length	880 mm (35 in)
Barrel length	414 mm (16.3 in)
Cartridge	7.62×39mm
Action	Gas, select fire
Feed system	30-round box magazine
References

The ASh-78 (Albanian: Automatiku Shqiptar 78) is an Albanian assault rifle developed in the 1970s as a licensed variant of the Type 56 assault rifle, itself modeled after the Soviet AKM.

History

Albania started a domestic small arms production program in 1962, by starting the construction of a state arsenal at the town of Gramsh. This was done with Chinese assistance. Prior to this, the country relied entirely on imported weapons (mostly from the Soviet Union before the Albanian–Soviet split). The Albanians first produced copies of the Type 56 carbine in 1966, and in 1974 the Um Gramsh arsenal obtained a license from Norinco to produce a copy of the Type 56 assault rifle, which was accepted into service in 1978 as the Automatiku Shqiptar 78 (ASh-78).

According to Albanian sources, as many as 26,000 rifles were produced annually, but by mid-1990s only a few weapons were produced; In 2004, the United Nations Department for Disarmament Affairs stated that there was no longer any effective state-run military production facilities in Albania. According to Jones and Ness, the Um Gramsh arsenal kept production of these rifles running until 1997.

Design

Chambered in 7.62×39mm, the Albanian ASH-78 is a variant of the AK family of rifles, specifically modeled after the Type 56 assault rifle. The design was heavily influenced by the Chinese AK models because Albania had close ties with China during the Cold War, particularly after its split from the Soviet Union.

The ASH-78 does not have a magazine guide depression on either side of the stamped receiver. There are markings for “Auto” (A) and “Single” (1) select-fire capabilities.

The ASH-78 is considered to have moderate accuracy, in line with similar AK-pattern rifles. It is capable of effective fire at ranges of 300 to 400 meters.

Variants

• ASh-78 Tip-1 − A direct copy of the Type 56 assault rifle, complete with folding bayonet. The rear sight is calibrated to 800 m (870 yd)
• ASh-78 Tip-2 − A rifle grenade launcher variant fitted with a longer barrel, a spigot-type grenade launcher, and a gas cut-off lever on the right side of the gas port. The rear sight is calibrated to 1,000 m (1,100 yd). It also lacks a bayonet
• ASh-78 Tip-3 − A modified Tip-2 rifle, it has a provision for gas cut-off during grenade firing and can be fitted with a bipod. According to Jones and Ness, it was possibly intended to be deployed as a squad automatic weapon

Users

Current

• Afghanistan − A total of 30,600 rifles were exported in 2002 and 2010.
•  Albania

Former

• Bosnia and Herzegovina: Bosnian Muslims received weapons from Sali Berisha during the Bosnian war

Non-state actors

• File:Emblema e UÇK-së.svg Kosovo Liberation Army

Gallery

• Albanian soldier on military exercise.
  Albanian soldier on military exercise.
• Albanian soldier with ASH-78.
  Albanian soldier with ASH-78.
• Albanian People's Army soldier holding ASH-78.
  Albanian People's Army soldier holding ASH-78.