Kohler Koch rifle. Heckler & Koch HK433: new modular assault rifle. Technical characteristics of the Heckler&Koch USP Expert pistol

Anyone interested in arming and equipping the "forces" special operations", drew attention to how much "special forces" value personal weapons. Regardless of the presence of an individual (submachine gun, rifle, machine gun, carbine) or group (light machine gun, grenade launcher) weapon, almost every fighter carries a pistol as an auxiliary weapon. According to - Apparently not satisfied with the “defensive” nature of modern pistols, the US Special Operations Command (US SOCOM) in the late 80s announced a program to create an “offensive handgun”.

It must be said that the idea of ​​​​turning a pistol into the main “weapon of the last resort” is not new. Even during the First World War, the Germans armed assault teams with powerful long-barreled pistols such as the Parabellum Artillery or Parabellum Carbine. The famous military theorist A. Neznamov wrote in the book “Infantry” (1923): “In the future... for a “strike”, it may be more profitable to replace a weapon with a bayonet with a pistol with a dagger (a pistol with 20 rounds in the magazine and a range of up to 200 m)". However, in the military and even in the police field, this task was solved at that time by submachine guns. In the 1980s, the idea of ​​a powerful "assault" pistol was revived again, but this time it was linked to the needs of the troops. special purpose. Bulky models like GA-9, R-95, etc. hit the market. Their appearance, accompanied by noisy advertising, was not accidental.

According to a number of American experts, the 9-mm M9 pistol (Beretta 92, SB-F), adopted for service in 1985 to replace the 11.43-mm M1911A1 Colt, does not fully meet the requirements of close combat in terms of accuracy and effective firing range. With a silencer, the effectiveness of the pistol is noticeably reduced. SOCOM wanted to get a compact melee weapon (up to 25-30 m) that could be carried in a holster. He was supported by the US Army Command. Since combat swimmer teams (SEALS) were to be among the “consumers” of weapons, the basic requirements of the program were presented in October 1990 by the Navy Special Warfare Center. It was planned to receive the first 30 prototypes by March 1992, to test full-scale samples in January 1993, and in December 1993 to receive a batch of 9,000 pieces. In military periodicals, the new project was immediately dubbed “Supergun”.

The main applications considered were: combat on the street and inside buildings, covert entry into a facility with the removal of sentries, the release of hostages, or vice versa - kidnappings of military or political figures.

The “supergun” was considered as a complex that included not only a “family” of cartridges and a self-loading pistol, but also a silent and flameless firing device, plus an “aiming unit”. The modular design allowed for the assembly of two main options: “assault” (pistol + aiming unit) and “stalking” with the addition of a silencer. The weight of the latter was limited to 2.5 kg, length - 400 mm.

The basic requirements for the pistol were as follows: large caliber, magazine capacity of at least 10 rounds, reloading speed, length no more than 250 mm, height no more than 150, width -35 mm, weight without cartridges - up to 1.3 kg, ease of shooting with one or two hands, high reliability in any conditions. A series of 10 bullets should fit into a circle with a diameter of 2.5 inches (63.5 mm) at 25 m. Accuracy had to be ensured by the balance of the weapon, the muzzle device - a compensator and ease of holding. The latter, in the opinion of many, implied a large slope and an almost sporty design of the handle, a bend in the trigger guard to accommodate the finger of the second hand. Two-way controls (safety, slide stop lever, magazine release) accessible to the hand holding the weapon were considered necessary. The trigger mechanism had to allow adjustment of the trigger force: 3.6-6.4 kg with self-cocking and 1.3-2.27 kg with a pre-cocked trigger. Setting the safety both when the hammer is released and when it is cocked. A safety release lever was desirable in case the shot was not needed. Sights would include a replaceable front sight and a rear sight adjustable for height and lateral displacement. For shooting at dusk, the front and rear sights would have luminous dots - a device that has become common in personal weapons.

For the “supergun” they chose the good old 11.43 mm cartridge “.45 ACP”. The reason is the requirement to specifically hit a living target in a minimum time at a maximum distance. The stopping effect of the 9x19 NATO cartridge bullet caused a number of discontent among the military. With a conventional shell bullet, a large caliber, of course, provides more guarantees of defeat with one hit. Even with body armor, the target will be disabled by the dynamic impact of an 11.43 mm bullet. The strong and sharp recoil of such cartridges was not considered significant for physically strong guys from the “special forces”. Three main types of cartridges were called:

With a jacketed bullet of an “improved” type - in terms of improved ballistics and increased penetration, with a bullet of increased lethality - for anti-terrorist operations, a training bullet with an easily destroyed bullet and power sufficient only for automatic operation. In addition, it was considered possible to create a bullet with increased penetration, guaranteed to hit a target protected according to the 3rd (in NATO classification) class at 25 m.

The sighting unit was conceived as a combination of two illuminators - conventional and laser. The usual one, creating a stream of light with a narrow but bright beam, was used to search and identify a target at night or in an enclosed space. The laser operated in two ranges - visible and IR (for working with night goggles like AN/PVS-7 A/B) - and could be used for quick aiming both at night and during the day. Its “spot” should have been clearly projected within the silhouette of a person at a distance of 25 m. The block could be turned on with the index finger of the hand holding the weapon.

The PBS was required to quickly (up to 15 s) attach and remove, and maintain balance. In any case, the installation of the PBS should not displace the STP by more than 50 mm at 25 m. If the pistol has an automatic weapon with a movable barrel, the muffler should not interfere with its operation.

In general, the requirements for “offensive personal weapons” did not imply anything fundamentally new and were based on already achieved parameters. This made it possible to count on the implementation of the program within three years.

At the beginning of 1993, SOCOM actually presented thirty “demonstration” samples. At the same time, the clear leaders were the two largest arms companies, Colt Industries and Heckler und Koch. Over the course of a year, their samples were carefully studied, trying to determine ways for further development.

The Colt Industries sample was generally designed in the style of the M1911 A1 Colt pistols of the Mk-IV - 80 and 90 series with modernized retention elements and a number of improvements in the trigger mechanism and automatic operation. The controls are concentrated at the handle. For use by combat swimmers (on land, of course), all elements of the mechanism are made “waterproof.” The muffler and sighting unit also looked quite traditional.

The Heckler und Koch pistol was based on a new USP model (universal self-loading pistol). The USP was originally designed in nine and ten millimeter versions, but was chambered for the .45 ACP cartridge for the Offensive Handgun program.

USP in the version of “offensive personal weapon” with a silencer from Reda Naytos was presented in October 1993 at an exhibition organized by the Association of the American Army (AUSA). You can note the total weight of the system has been compressed to 2.2 kg, the laconic and convenient design, and the sighting unit literally integrated into the contours of the frame. Its switch is located within the trigger guard. Note that the “demonstration” samples of “Colt” and “Heckler und Koch” had a constant sight, more typical of pistols. The angle of inclination of the handle for both was less than expected. Another significant feature of the samples is the ability to release them to the market for other purposes if the Offensive Handgun program fails.

The selection of the SOCOM sample was expected in 1995. But even then the Offensive Handgun program was causing criticism. A June 1994 editorial in Modern Gun magazine simply called the idea of ​​a large-caliber "offensive" pistol "dumb." Said with passion, but the idea is really controversial.

In fact, is it really necessary to hold on to the 45 caliber and endure the knocking effect of the recoil (the recoil force of the ".45 ACP" is 0.54 kg) and the increase in the weight of the pistol to the level of a submachine gun? The biggest stopping effect is worth nothing if the bullet misses. Maybe it’s better to put two or three bullets into the target with slightly less lethality, but better accuracy? With a total weapon length of 250 mm, the barrel length should not exceed 152 mm or 13.1 caliber, which threatens to reduce the ballistic data. Reducing the caliber would make it possible to increase the relative length of the barrel and improve accuracy. A small submachine gun with a variable firing mode remains a serious competitor to self-loading “offensive personal weapons.” This type of weapon is more versatile and, moreover, has already occupied its niche among close combat weapons.

However, in the fall of 1995, SOCOM still chose the 11.43 mm USP to implement the “third phase of the contract.” The third phase involves the production of Heckler und Koch 1950 pistols and 10,140 magazines for them with the start of deliveries by May 1, 1996. The pistol has already received the official designation Mk 23 “Mod O US SOCOM Pistol”. In total, about 7,500 pistols, 52,500 magazines and 1,950 silencers can be ordered.

Let's take a closer look at the USP device. The pistol barrel is made by cold forging on a mandrel. In combination with polygonal cutting, this gives it high accuracy and survivability. Chamber cutting allows the use of the same type of cartridges from different manufacturers and with different types bullets The installation of a muffler allows for an extended barrel.

Experts expected that Heckler und Koch would use a fixed-barrel design similar to its P-7. However, the USP automatic operates according to the recoil pattern of the barrel with a short stroke and locking with a skewed barrel. Unlike classical schemes, for example, "Browning High Power", here the barrel is lowered not by a rigid pin of the frame, but by a buffer spring installed with a hook at the rear end of the return spring rod placed under the barrel. The presence of a buffer is designed to make the automation work smoother.

The frame of the pistol is made of molded plastic, similar to the Glock and Sigma pistols. The four slide-casing guides are reinforced with steel strips to reduce wear. The magazine latch, trigger, trigger mechanism flag, cover and magazine feeder are also made of reinforced plastic. On the pistol frame itself there are guides for attaching a flashlight or laser pointer. The shutter-casing is manufactured as a single piece, milled from chrome-molybdenum steel. Its surfaces are subjected to nitro gas treatment and blued. Added to all this is a special "NOT" ("aggressive environment") treatment, which allows the gun to withstand immersion in sea water.

The main USP feature is its firing mechanism. At first glance, this is an ordinary hammer-type mechanism with a semi-hidden trigger and a flag placed on the frame in two positions. However, by replacing a special retaining plate, it is possible to switch it to five different operating options. The first is a double-action mechanism: when the flag is in the upper position, it is possible to fire with pre-cocking of the hammer; when in the lower position, only self-cocking is possible, and lowering the flag safely releases the trigger. The second option: when the flag is moved to the top position - “safety”, to the bottom - “double action”, this is exactly the most typical for service weapons. In the third option, it is possible to fire only with preliminary cocking of the hammer, there is no safety, and the flag is used as a lever for safely releasing the hammer. The fourth option is somewhat similar to the third, but shooting is possible only by self-cocking. The fifth and final option specifies the “self-cocking” and “fuse” modes. I would like to add that in each mode the checkbox is located at your discretion - on the right or left. The first and second options best meet the requirements of the American program. Selection can only be made by a qualified technician. The trigger pull with pre-cocking is 2.5 kg, with self-cocking - 5 kg, that is, typical for a service pistol. There is also an automatic safety lock that locks the firing pin until the trigger is fully pressed. There is no magazine safety, so it is possible that a shot will be fired after it is removed; the drawback is small but still unpleasant.

The double-sided magazine release lever is located behind the trigger guard and is protected from accidental pressure. The magazine holds 12 rounds, staggered. In the upper part, the two-row magazine smoothly transitions into a single-row one, which gives it a convenient shape for equipment and improves the operation of the feeding mechanism. A step and recess at the bottom of the handle make magazine changes easy. At the end of shooting, the pistol places the bolt carrier on the bolt stop. Its extended lever is located on the left side of the frame.

The handle and frame are the same. The front side of the handle is covered with checkerboard, and the back side is covered with longitudinal corrugation, the side surfaces are rough. In combination with a thoughtful balance and an angle of inclination of the handle to the axis of the bore of 107 degrees, which makes holding the pistol very comfortable. The trigger guard of the pistol is quite large, which makes it possible to shoot while wearing thick gloves. However, due to this, the front bend on the brace is practically not used - for a rare shooter, when shooting with two hands, the index finger of the second hand will stretch that far.

The 11.43mm USP weighs around 850g and is 200mm long. Accuracy of fire allows you to place five bullets at a distance of 45 m in a circle with a diameter of up to 80 mm. The execution and finishing of each detail corresponds to the degree of its importance. According to Heckler und Koch, the survivability of the barrel is 40,000 shots.
On the bolt carrier fastening " swallowtail"A replaceable rear sight with a rectangular slot and a front sight with a rectangular cross-section are installed. The sights are marked with white plastic inserts or tritium dots.

Heckler und Koch also produces a “universal tactical illuminator” UTL for USP. It operates in the visible light range, has an adjustable beam angle and two switches. The first is a lever protruding inside the trigger guard so that it can be operated with the index finger. The second one, in the form of a pad, is attached with Velcro to the handle and turns on when the palm of your hand tightly grips it. UTL power supply is from two 3-volt batteries.

There is also a new version of a removable muffler. It is still based on an expansion scheme. Expanded and cooled gases are discharged through openings. However, it is now clear that this weapon will undergo more than one modification and will serve the American army for many years.

The fame and popularity of a particular type of weapon is sometimes brought not so much by its outstanding performance characteristics, how much is the degree of “overexposure” in various Hollywood blockbusters. In this regard, the German Heckler Koch MP5 submachine gun is very lucky - it can be seen in many world famous films. These are “Die Hard”, “Predator”, “Resident Evil”, “Mr. and Mrs. Smith”, “The Matrix”, “Mission Impossible” - the list goes on for a very long time. Whether the MP5 lives up to its “light image” is a rather controversial question, but in any case it is clear that even without the help of filmmakers it looks good compared to other submachine guns. This is not so little, considering his considerable age - about fifty-three years.

History of the creation and development of Heckler&Koch MP5 weapons

After the end of World War II, it might seem that the “golden age” of submachine guns was becoming a thing of the past. Armies began to switch to more powerful and long-range weapons - automatic and assault rifles. In the USSR it was the famous AK, in the USA it was the M14, which is not often mentioned today, and the Bundeswehr received the Heckler&Koch G3 at its disposal. This rifle was notable primarily for the fact that its designers did not use the already familiar gas-operated principle of automatic operation, preferring a semi-blowback mechanism.

From the very beginning it was clear that the HK G3 would be too long and bulky for tank and armored vehicle drivers. Therefore, the question arose about creating a submachine gun designed specifically for this category of military personnel. The rifle was put into service in 1959, and in the same year German designers began creating a compact weapon, which received the initial designation HK 54. The number “5” meant that we're talking about about a submachine gun, and “4” indicated that it was intended to use a 9x19 mm cartridge.

The HK54 was based on the G3, which is easy to see when looking at the two weapons. This decision was logical in its own way: it simplified both the training of soldiers and repair work. In addition, it was not difficult to guess that since the automation can handle powerful 7.62x51 rifle cartridges, switching to weaker pistol ammunition would not be difficult.

Heckler Koch's initial plans were not destined to come true - the army did not want to adopt the HK54. But the submachine gun did not go unclaimed - the German government considered that it would be perfect for the police. In addition, this weapon, officially designated HK MP5 (Maschinenpistole 5), was handed over to border guards.

One of the first known examples of the use of the new submachine gun was the attempt to free Israeli athletes captured by Arab terrorists during the Munich Olympics in 1972. Unfortunately, the operation has ended a complete failure- all the hostages were killed. This tragedy prompted the German government to create a special unit, GSG 9, whose employees were armed with MP-5s. It was these fighters who became a kind of “advertising agents” who were the first to introduce their colleagues from other Western countries to the capabilities of German compact weapons.

In 1977, the GSG-9 squad, using MP5, neutralized the terrorists who hijacked a Lufthansa airliner. The success was obvious, however, the real finest hour for the submachine gun came on May 5, 1980, when the soldiers of the British special unit The SAS have freed hostages held by Arab terrorists at the Iranian Embassy in London. For a variety of reasons, this operation, codenamed “Nimrod,” was widely covered by television and the press, and, as they say, “in real time.” The shocked public learned for the first time about the very existence of SAS. Considering that all participants in the operation were armed with an MP5, the worldwide fame of this submachine gun was ensured from that moment on.

Of course, Heckler Koch's designers didn't sit idle either: throughout the 70s they developed several new modifications of the MP5, the most significant of which were the MP5SD and MP5K. Nevertheless, it is precisely thanks to the means mass media the submachine gun became known all over the world. The results were immediate: over the years since then, the MP5 submachine gun has appeared in service in more than 50 different countries around the world. It is interesting that Britain officially acquired the first batch of German submachine guns only in 1984.

MP5 is still produced and used today, and no fundamental changes have appeared in its design. This submachine gun is still holding its position, although it can hardly be called perfect weapon, rather “ordinary”.

Description of design

When creating the MP5, a modular principle was applied. This means that the submachine gun is something like a simple construction kit that can be assembled in different variations. For example, you can separate the permanent stock and install a metal sliding stock in its place, and this whole operation will not take even half a minute.

The receiver of the weapon is made of steel by stamping - cheap and practical. The trigger mechanism (trigger) housed in it is made integral with the trigger guard and pistol grip. It is easy to fold it down and remove it.

MP5 uses several variants of this node:

1. The trigger has two positions – “safe” and “single fire”. Installed on civilian and police versions;
2. USM for three positions - added continuous fire mode;
3. USM for four positions - the ability to fire a burst of a fixed length (two or three rounds) has been introduced.

Replacing one trigger mechanism with another, thanks to the modular principle, is not difficult. The firing mode translator is double-sided and can be easily controlled with one finger.

The reload lever is located at the top of the submachine gun, its handle is turned to the left. It is possible to lock the bolt in the open position - this is sometimes necessary in order to cool the parts after intense shooting.

The MP5 sight is diopter and consists of a front sight protected by a steel ring and a set of “holes” of different diameters placed in a drum rear sight.

Operating principle of a submachine gun

Position A – just before the shot, B – start of recoil, C – recoil completed, cartridge case ejected, spring ready to return bolt group to position A

The MP 5 mechanisms work when firing this weapon something like this:

1. The shooter pulls back the reloading handle. At the same time, the chamber opens, and a cartridge is supplied from the magazine;
2. Moving in the opposite direction under the influence of a spring, the bolt group “picks up” the cartridge. Dispatch is in progress. Special rollers located between the bolt body and the combat cylinder are at this moment forced into the grooves provided for them, located in the barrel coupling;
3. After pressing the trigger, a shot occurs, and the resulting powder gases begin to exert pressure on the bottom of the cartridge case;
4. The combat larva is pushed back. The rollers slow down this movement, while at the same time somewhat accelerating the rollback of the shutter body;
5. The pressure in the barrel decreases. At this point, the rollers are completely recessed into the bolt body, and the cartridge case is rolled back and ejected. At the same time, the return spring is compressed;
6. The cycle, starting from point 2, is repeated, only the descent is performed automatically until the trigger is released.

By slowing down the action and firing from the front sear, the MP5 provides fairly high accuracy when shooting from stable positions, especially with single fire.

Ammunition for MP5

The machine is fed from standard magazines. Their capacity can be 10 (for civilian versions of the weapon), 15 (for the MP5K modification), 30 and 40 rounds. The main type of ammunition for this submachine gun is 9x19 Parabellum.

This is a widely used cartridge throughout the world that enjoys an excellent reputation and is used in many other models of submachine guns.

There are also modifications of the MP5, created under special foreign orders for other types of ammunition. These are, in particular, .40S&W and “10 mm AUTO” cartridges.

Specifications

The performance characteristics of the MP-5 submachine gun are quite similar for all its modifications, changing noticeably only for versions with an integrated silencer:

The rear sight on all models is marked up to 100 meters, in increments of 25 m. The maximum weight of some submodifications reaches (without cartridges) 3.4 kg.

Pros and cons of a submachine gun

Over the years of practical operation, numerous owners of the Heckler and Koch MP 5 have repeatedly noted, first of all, the excellent ergonomics and ease of use of this weapon.

In addition, the following important advantages of the submachine gun should be mentioned:

1. Ease and speed of conversion from one sub-modification to another, including replacement of the trigger;
2. High quality manufacturing of all parts and their reliability, structural strength as a whole;
3. Good accuracy and accuracy of fire from stable positions;
4. The weapon is easily controlled when firing in bursts; it can be returned to the original aiming line without effort;
5. The ability to install additional equipment on the MP5 - a tactical flashlight, an improved sight and other useful devices;
6. An excellent bullet energy value for this class of weapon has been achieved.

Of course, it was not without its drawbacks. One of the most obvious is the excessively large mass of some modifications. MP5SD3, for example, weighs 3.4 kg without ammunition, that is, the same as an equipped automatic carbine, but this is a weapon of a completely different class, much more powerful and long-range.

There are other shortcomings:

1. Increased manufacturing complexity and cost of MP This is due to the selected operating principle of the automation;
2. Sensitivity to pollution and high maintenance requirements;
3. Difficulty in replacing an incompletely used magazine;
4. Poor compatibility with some types of 9x19 cartridges.

When testing the submachine gun by Russian special forces soldiers, frequent delays in firing were also noted. It is possible that this was caused by the use of inappropriate ammunition.

Main modifications of MP5

Experts count about a hundred different variants of the submachine gun. Most of them have only minor differences. Initially, this weapon was produced in the MP5A1 and MP5A2 modifications. The first option was equipped with a telescopic sliding butt, and the second - with a permanent plastic one. Then modifications appeared with an improved four-position trigger.

More significant changes were required for the appearance of a submachine gun with an integrated silencer, designated MP5SD. The designers of Heckler and Koch, when creating this weapon, did not develop a special “subsonic” cartridge. Instead, they artificially reduced the bullet's speed by making special holes in the barrel connected to the silencer chamber. This made it possible to reduce the volume of the shot so much that it became difficult to distinguish it at distances of more than 30 meters.

In 1976, another notable modification appeared in the Heckler and Koch MP5 line - MP5K. It was the most reduced and shortened version of the submachine gun. Such weapons are perfect for intelligence officers in civilian clothes and can be carried concealed.

Separately, mention can be made of the MP5SF, intended to arm the British police and American FBI employees. The main difference between this modification is the absence of a burst firing mode.

Another variant, the MP5N (N stands for "Navy"), was produced for the needs of the American navy. The only noticeable difference is that the barrel of the submachine gun has a thread for installing a silencer.

Despite the fact that the MP5 hardly has a noticeable advantage over its numerous analogues, it will remain in service in various countries of the world for a long time. This is facilitated by both its “cinematic” fame and the excellent reputation of German gunsmiths. At the same time, the potential for modernizing the submachine gun has apparently been exhausted. It can be assumed that they will try to adapt it for more powerful ammunition, since the standard 9x19 cartridge often turns out to be powerless when firing at an enemy protected by body armor.

If you have any questions, leave them in the comments below the article. We or our visitors will be happy to answer them

The development of the G11 rifle was started by Heckler and Koch (Germany) at the very end of the 1960s, when the German government decided to create a new, more effective rifle to replace the 7.62 mm G3 rifles.
Based on the results of the research, it was decided that the Bundeswehr needed a light, small-caliber rifle with high shooting accuracy. To ensure reliable destruction of the enemy, it was necessary to ensure that several bullets hit the target, so the decision was made to create a rifle chambered for a caseless cartridge of 4.3 mm caliber (later switched to 4.7 mm caliber) with the ability to fire in single, long bursts and with a cut-off bursts of 3 shots. The Heckler-Koch company was supposed to create such a rifle, with the participation of the Dynamite-Nobel company, responsible for the development of a new caseless cartridge. (In parentheses, I note that the Heckler-Koch company was not the only West German company that developed weapons for a caseless cartridge - it simply achieved the greatest success in this matter.

For example, the Vollmer Maschinenfabrik company in the early 1980s also developed a number of assault rifles of a very original design chambered for a caseless cartridge, but before serial production I never finished them. Similar developments were also carried out in the USA in the 1980s by the AAI corporation in the early stages of the Advanced Combat Rifle program, as well as in France by the GIAT concern).

The main development of the layout and mechanisms of the new weapon was carried out by Heckler-Koch engineers Dieter Ketterer and Thilo Moller, with the participation of Günther Kastner and Ernst Wossner. Army testing of prototypes of the new rifle began in 1981 at the Meppen training ground. In 1983, 25 experimental rifles were tested at the Hammelburg army training ground. These tests continued for about a year.
In 1988, the first pre-production G11 samples were sent to the Bundeswehr for testing. Based on the results of these tests, a number of changes were made to the G11 design, in particular: the sight was made removable, with the possibility of replacing it with other types of sights; The magazine capacity was reduced from 50 to 45 rounds, but it became possible to mount two spare magazines on the rifle on either side of the main (working) magazine; a mount for a bayonet or bipod appeared under the barrel on the body of the weapon. A new version of the rifle, designated G11K2, in the amount of 50 copies, was provided to the German military for military tests at the end of 1989. As part of these tests, 200,000 rounds of ammunition were used - 4,000 rounds per rifle. Based on the test results, a decision was made to introduce the G11 into service with the Bundeswehr in 1990, but deliveries were limited to an initial batch of only 1,000 units, after which the program was closed by decision of the German authorities. The main reasons for the closure of this technically quite successful program are most likely, firstly, a lack of money in connection with the unification of the two Germanys, and, secondly, NATO requirements for the unification of ammunition, which resulted in the adoption of the G36 rifle by the Bundeswehr for standard 5.56 mm NATO ammunition.

In 1988–1990, the G11 was also tested in the United States as part of the ACR (Advanced Combat Rifle) program. The purpose of this program was to test new concepts (caseless ammunition, arrow-shaped sabot bullets, etc.) to identify a potential successor for the M16A2 rifle. During these tests, the G11 proved to be a reliable and easy-to-handle weapon, with good fire accuracy in all modes, but it could not achieve the 100% excess of combat characteristics over the M16A2 required by the Americans.
As part of the G11 program, not only the rifle itself was developed, but a whole range of weapons chambered for a caseless cartridge, including a magazine-fed light machine gun and a personal defense weapon (PDW) in the dimensions of a compact submachine gun. Light machine gun had a magazine located in the butt with a capacity of 300 rounds.

Such stores were supposed to be equipped only in the factory, and delivered to the troops already equipped and ready for use. Some sources also mention that the CAWS smoothbore combat shotgun, created as part of the US Army program of the same name by Heckler-Koch in collaboration with the American company Olin / Winchester, was also built on the basis of the G11, but this is not so. Despite some external similarities with the G11, the HK CAWS shotgun used cartridges with a traditional metal sleeve and had a fundamentally different automatic device (short barrel stroke combined with an auxiliary gas release mechanism).
As a final touch, it can be mentioned that the G11 rifle received the unofficial nickname “rapid-firing cuckoo clock” among its developers for its very complex mechanism, which had a large number of swinging and rotating parts.

The rifle's automation operates using the energy of powder gases removed from the barrel. The gas release mechanism is located to the left of the barrel and slightly below it. The cartridges are placed in the magazine above the barrel, bullets down, in one row. The G11 rifle has a unique rotating breech chamber into which the cartridge is fed vertically downward before firing. Then, the chamber rotates 90 degrees, and when the cartridge aligns with the barrel line, a shot occurs, but the cartridge itself is not fed into the barrel. The interface between the chamber and the barrel was one of the most weak points in the design of the rifle, having a survivability of only 3000–4000 rounds. In 1989, Heckler-Koch engineers promised to increase the resource of this unit to 6000 rounds, but it is not known whether they managed to achieve this. Since the cartridge is caseless (with a combustible primer), the automatic operation cycle is simplified by eliminating the extraction of the spent cartridge case. In the event of a misfire, the faulty cartridge is pushed down when the next cartridge is fed. The mechanism is cocked using a rotary handle on the left side of the weapon. When firing, the cocking handle remains motionless. It should be noted that on early prototypes the weapon's cocking handle was located in the front of the weapon, under the forend, and only starting with prototype No. 13 (1981) did it take the form of a rotary “key” on the left wall of the receiver.
Interestingly, the Heckler-Koch engineers made significant efforts to protect the rifle’s mechanisms from dust, dirt and moisture. The cutout for the trigger was closed with a special movable membrane; the hole for the magazine receiver was automatically closed with a spring-loaded lid when the magazine was removed.

The barrel, firing mechanism (excluding safety/switch and trigger), rotating breech with mechanics and magazine are mounted on a single base made of stamped steel sheet, which can move back and forth inside the rifle body. When firing single shots or long bursts, the entire mechanism performs a full recoil-recoil cycle after each shot, which ensures a reduction in the recoil felt by the shooter (similar to artillery systems). When firing in bursts of three shots, the next cartridge is fed and fired immediately after the previous one, at a rate of up to 2000 rounds per minute. In this case, the entire mobile system comes to the extremely rear position already AFTER the third shot, so that the recoil begins to affect the weapon and the shooter again after the end of the burst, which ensures high accuracy of fire in short bursts (a similar solution was later used in the Russian Nikonov AN- 94).

Early G11 prototypes were equipped with a fixed 3.5X optical sight. The final (pre-production) version of the G11K2 had a quick-detachable 1X optical sight as the main one, with a backup open sight made on the upper surface of the optical sight. The magazines initially had a capacity of 50 rounds and could be loaded from special plastic clips for 10 (later 15) rounds. In the final version, the magazine capacity was reduced to 45 rounds, and there was a transparent window on the side of the magazine to monitor the remaining cartridges. Two spare magazines could be mounted on the body of the weapon, on the sides of the main (working) magazine, since carrying very long magazines on oneself was difficult.
In the final version of the G11K2, at the request of the military, it became possible to install a standard bayonet, and it was not mounted on a movable barrel, but on special mounts located on the body of the weapon below the muzzle and partially recessed into the body. A lightweight removable bipod could be installed on the same mounts for firing from a rest.

Description

Hunting and sports semi-automatic carbine, built on the basis of the army model HK416. A special feature of the carbine is its modular design, similar to that of the M16 automatic rifle, but differing in the automatic gas system with a short stroke of the gas piston.
The barrel is made by cold forging and has threads for installing a muzzle brake. The receiver is made of aluminum alloy. The stock is a sliding telescopic one. Single-shot shooting accuracy is on the order of one arc minute when using appropriate cartridges.
Characteristics:
1. Caliber: .223Rem
2. Length, mm: 830-930 mm
3. Barrel length, mm: 420 mm
4. Rifling: 6 right-hand rifling
5. Rifling pitch: 7" (178 mm)
6. Weight, kg: 3.7 kg
7. Operating principle: removal of powder gases, rotary bolt
8. Telescopic five-position buttstock
9. Handguard RIS
10. Magazine capacity: 10 rounds
Bought new in Kolchuga at the end of 2013. Only fired 10 shots. The optics have not been installed, the carbine has not been used at all, it is in new condition. Not even the slightest scratch. Call us and we'll negotiate a price.

The Heckler&Koch company is still a fairly young weapons manufacturer, but almost every one of its developments became widely known and spread throughout the world. The G3 automatic rifle was produced in Mexico and Iran. The MP5 submachine gun surpassed its competitors so much that it became a kind of “standard” for such weapons. But H&K pistols, despite their high quality and unusual design, could not achieve world fame for some time.

The situation changed in the 1990s. Universelle Selbstladepistole, a USP, entered the scene and proved that Heckler & Koch can achieve leadership in this area as well.

History of creation

The Heckler and Koch company was founded after the Second World War by former engineers from the Mauser plant. Using the equipment that they managed to salvage from the destroyed workshops, they opened their own workshop.

Heckler & Koch began developing and producing weapons in the 50s, and the first pistol, designated P4, appeared in 1967. It was a small pocket pistol, similar in design to the pre-war Mauser HSc. His interesting feature it was possible to easily change the caliber (to one of four) by replacing the barrel and magazine.

In the seventies, H&K released the original VP70 pistol with a polymer frame and the ability to fire automatically.

It was followed by the H&KP7, designed specifically for police and adopted in a dozen countries. But the real popularity of Heckler & Koch personal weapons came from the USP that appeared in the nineties.

It is not surprising that the “universal self-loading” weapon should become such a famous weapon. Unlike its ancestors, H&K created it specifically for the American market.

This weapon, first of all, had to satisfy the desires of the huge mass of US civilian shooters. For the same reason, options were immediately developed not only for the standard 9x19 mm cartridge for Europe, but also for the traditional American .45 ACP, and the new (and promising at that time) .40 S&W.

In the late 80s, a version of the pistol took part in a competition to create a new weapon for American special operations forces. This project eventually gave rise to the famous Mk 23 for special forces, but the experience gained was also useful in fine-tuning the USP. It went into production in .40 caliber in 1993, followed by a nine-millimeter version. Finally, in 1995, the USP 45 model went on sale.

Gun device

Previous USP Heckler & Koch pistols were distinguished by the use of various unconventional design solutions. For example, the P9 used a semi-blowback action, a system similar to that used in the design of the G3 rifle. But the “Heckler&Koch” USP is basically a fairly traditional design, almost like the Browning M1911 and Hi-Power. Automation uses the recoil of the barrel during its short stroke. The trigger mechanism is double action. And here we cannot do without innovations.

A remarkable feature of the USM is the variety of its operating modes.

In a workshop, you can change the position of the safety (or remove it altogether), add or eliminate a safe trigger release, or make the mechanism self-cocking only. The recoil spring buffer mechanism is built into the recoil spring assembly. According to the developers, it reduces perceived recoil by 30%.

At the bottom of the frame there is a device for mounting flashlights or laser designators. However, this is not a universal Picatinny rail mount, and therefore the USP cannot be equipped with every additional equipment. Thus, only InsightIndustries flashlights distributed through the Heckler & Koch dealer network are allowed. To get around this inconvenience, some companies have launched the production of adapters that allow you to install a standard Picatinny rail.

Options

A wide variety of USP models are available - from compact ones for concealed carry to long-barreled target ones:

1. CustomSport is a target modification for sports and practical shooting.
2. Compact is a variant with a smaller frame and a different recoil mitigation system. Only this pistol is available in .357 SIG caliber.
3. USP Tactical is a pistol equipped with a silencer and an adjustable sight. A kind of “poor man's Mk 23”.
4. Compact Tactical is a small-sized model of a “tactical pistol”. Unlike the full-size one, it is available in only one caliber – .45 ACP.
5. Expert is a pistol similar to a “tactical” one, but is not intended for use with a silencer. But it has an elongated frame and can use increased-capacity magazines.
6. Match is a competition version that uses a special weight to reduce barrel bounce. Currently not produced.
7. USP Elite is the “ultimate” version of the target pistol with a barrel extended to 153 mm.

Characteristics in comparison with analogues from other manufacturers

To compare the characteristics, let's take the USP 45 in standard version and European pistols of the same caliber, which appeared around the same time.

In terms of weight and dimensions, the pistol in question is generally similar to its competitors, reducing the decisive factor of choice to a matter of personal preference. For example, someone may think that the ammunition of the Swiss SIG-Sauer is insufficient. But Glock does not produce long-barreled models in .45ACP caliber. It is worth mentioning that although the production of the P220 series began in the seventies, the production of the large-caliber P227 started only in 2014.

It is interesting that American gunsmiths mainly concentrated on producing revolvers and variations on the classic M1911, rarely pampering the market with new designs.

Application and trace in popular culture

In 1994, the USP nine-millimeter pistol was adopted by the Bundeswehr (under the name P8). USP Compact (also 9mm caliber) became a weapon of the German police, receiving the designation P10. The spread was not limited to this - it was subsequently adopted by the military and police of various countries.

It can be found all over the world - in Serbia and Spain, Thailand and Singapore, Australia and South Africa.

In most cases, nine-millimeter versions were adopted, much less often - .45 caliber. Only the US Immigration Service and the US Air Marshals expressed the need to have .40 caliber weapons.

USP has gained significant popularity in the media. With its help, gamers destroyed terrorists in games of the Rainbow 6 series, survived the zombie apocalypse in Resident Evil, and shot back at mutants in STALKER. A “tactical” model with a silencer was present in the arsenal of the most popular online shooter of its time - Counter-Strike.

On the big screen, Heckler and Koch pistols were wielded by vampires from the Underworld film series, Blade played by Wesley Snipes, Jason Bourne and Lara Croft from 2001. On television, USP received a significant role in the series “24”.

Pistol USP turned out to be a successful example, combining proven traditional solutions with innovative proposals.

High reliability and a variety of options have allowed us to firmly establish ourselves in the market and earn popularity. The USP pistol can hardly be called the “best” type of weapon.

The Mk 23 weapon remains unsurpassed in its combat performance. Among the Heckler & Koch products there are also newer pistols (HK45, VP9). But the “universal self-loading” remains in production, and its popularity has no intention of decreasing. The USP model not only brought H&K pistols to the world level - it allows you to hold on to it.

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