Heckler & Koch HK G11 assault rifle. The USP pistol is a triumph of innovators from Germany. Options and packaging

The popular weapons manufacturer introduced the new HK433 assault rifle in a press release published to the general public in early February 2017. Now Heckler & Koch has presented a modern modular rifle at the ENFORCE Tac exhibition in Nuremberg to a professional audience.

We were also able to experience new model HK433 on ENFORCE Tac. Employees law enforcement and the military became acquainted with this assault rifle with enthusiasm, and there were a lot of people who wanted to get to know it better. Especially the focus on the weapons of the future and the number of shots, which makes it easier Maintenance and troubleshooting this assault rifle.

The Heckler & Koch company from Swabian Oberndorf with its worldwide known weapons, such as the MP 5 or G36, confirms the brand's reputation as “Made in Germany”. The assault rifles, pistols and submachine guns of this company are known all over the world and are popular among police and military personnel.

In addition to the rifles of the G36, HK416 and HK417 families that have already undergone baptism of fire, the company’s product portfolio has now been expanded with a fourth modular family of assault rifles: the HK433. In NATO countries, France (HK416AIF), Germany (G36), USA (US Marine Corps M27/HK416), UK (SA80), Norway (HK416), Spain (G36) and Lithuania (G36), assault rifles from Heckler & Koch are already standard-issue models of the armed forces or their branches.

Many armies Western countries– including, for example, US special forces, command special operations Bundeswehr (KSK) and police forces special purpose(such as GSG9) - opted for assault rifles from Oberndorf.

Modular assault rifle HK433 from Heckler & Koch

The newest HK433 is a modular assault rifle with a base caliber of 5.56 x 45 mm NATO, combining strengths and the best features of the G36 and HK416 assault rifles. The concept also includes other calibers, such as 7.62 x 51 mm NATO (HK231), .300 Blackout and 7.62 x 39 mm Kalaschnikow (HK123), thereby forming the basis of a whole family of weapons.

The HK433 is a gas-operated weapon with a gas piston made separately from the bolt carrier and locked with an optimized rotating bolt. Monolithic top receiver made of high-strength aluminum is equipped with a high-precision rail along the entire length of the box for mounting sights according to the NATO-STANAG 4694 standard. It allows the installation of all sights and night attachments available on the market with maximum length dimensions and a low aiming line.

A shot number sensor is built into the receiver, which does not require maintenance and does not allow manipulation. With an eye to the future, weapon data can be transmitted and archived wirelessly - either via WLAN or Bluetooth, which was a real surprise for us.

The integrated bolt carrier guide in the upper part of the receiver, made according to the G36 type, ensures consistently high functional reliability of the weapon. The bolt design is similar to the G36, but is equipped with a firing pin safety and self-lubricating sliding elements.

The action of the new HK433 assault rifle is based on the Heckler & Koch G36 design, which has received worldwide recognition.

The reloading lever, which does not protrude to the side and does not move when firing, can be adjusted without the help of a tool and can thus be operated from any side. In addition, it has a built-in locking feature to silently chamber a round.

When firing, the reload lever remains motionless. This, on the one hand, increases the shooter’s safety in stressful situation and, on the other hand, does not limit the shooter in choosing a rest or position when firing a weapon. Thanks to the ergonomic location of the reloading lever, the weapon remains pointed at the target during reloading, and also in a prone position does not lead to the need to raise the body, which unmasks the shooter and increases the affected area.

Heckler & Koch HK433 assault rifle barrel

The HK433 rifle gives the shooter a choice of six barrels of varying lengths, so the weapon can be adapted to any application scenario. For this purpose, Heckler & Koch offers barrel lengths of 11, 12.5, 14.5, 16.5, 18.9 and 20 inches. All barrels can be replaced by the shooter himself or in a field workshop.

The barrel is made by cold forging, heat-treated and chrome-plated inside. Thanks to additional optimization measures, the already high survivability of Heckler & Koch barrels has increased even further. Production barrels are equipped with an improved, tool-free adjustable gas vent into the device for quiet and flameless shooting, as well as a mounting point for 40 mm underbarrel grenade launchers HK269 and GLM/GLMA1. The front sight base and bayonet mount can be installed optionally.

Receiver of the new HK433 assault rifle from Heckler & Koch

The replaceable lower receiver makes it possible to define the control concept and thereby reduces the cost of training the shooter. Depending on the level shooting training The shooter can choose either G36 or HK416/AR-15 style controls. All controls are made double-sided, arranged symmetrically and can be configured to suit the user's taste.

"Drop-in" solutions in the lower part of the receiver expand the functionality of the weapon through individual configuration of match trigger mechanisms or combination of modular triggers.

The Slim Line handguard developed by Heckler & Koch is connected to the lower part of the receiver with a kinematic closure and without backlash. It detaches without tools and features sling swivel mounting locations, a modular HKey interface at 3 and 9 o'clock, and a solid MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rail on the underside of the handguard.

Other design features of the HK433 assault rifle

The magazine shaft according to the NATO-STANAG 4179 (Draft) standard allows replacement with interchangeable magazine shafts from rifles of the G36, HK416 families, as well as models available on the market on the AR-15 platform.

The pistol grips are similar to the HK416 family of pistol grips. Thanks to the grips with interchangeable pads and backrests, similar to the P30 and SFP series pistols, the rifle can be optimally adjusted to different hand sizes.

The new HK433 assault rifle, unlike the HK416, does not have a side-folding stock, but is equipped with a folding retractable stock.

An ergonomic folding and length-adjustable shoulder rest with a height-adjustable cheekpiece is connected to the receiver without play. The length adjustment has five fixed positions and thus allows you to quickly adapt to the shooter’s personal equipment. A straight, convex or curved butt plate provides the necessary comfort when making weapons. The shoulder rest can be folded to the right in any fixed position. Due to this, exceptionally small dimensions in the stowed position are achieved.

In this case, access to the trigger is not blocked. The window for ejecting cartridges remains open, so that in case of emergency the weapon remains operational and in the transport position.

The HK433's look is completed by a special combination of materials and surface treatments used. They provide minimal care for weapons in extreme conditions while maintaining their high service life.

Optionally, the new Heckler & Koch assault rifle is available in camouflage patterns and with an infrared-absorbing coating.

The empty weight of the HK433 rifle with a 16.5-inch barrel is 3.5 kg.

Conclusions about the new Heckler & Koch HK433 rifle

Heckler & Koch developed the HK433 to meet the increasingly complex requirements for infantry and special forces weapons. At the same time, the HK433 guarantees the highest performance and functional reliability. This applies to all possible combat situations and all climatic conditions. The Heckler & Koch HK433 offers intuitive operation combined with modularity, accuracy and safety in handling.

With it, Heckler & Koch, among other things, also aimed at the German market. The new HK433 is regarded as one of the participants in the competition for the new “Bundeswehr assault rifle system”. The German armed forces intend to replace the previous standard rifle, the G36 standard rifle, with a more modern system from 2019.

We will keep an eye on all the current information about the new HK433 assault rifle from Heckler & Koch in the future.

On April 7, the RIA Novosti news agency reported that the parliamentary opposition of the Bundestag announced its intention to investigate the activities of the German Ministry of Defense in the field of arms procurement. The reason for this decision was the recent statement by German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen about the presence of technical shortcomings in the G36 rifle, which is in service with the Bundeswehr.

German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen
news19.ru

The G36 assault rifle, 5.56 caliber, produced by the German arms company Heckler & Koch, has been in service with the German army since 1996 and is available in basic, shortened, compact and export versions. In addition, the G36 design was used as the basis for the production of the HK MG36 machine gun and SL-18 self-loading rifles for the civilian market. Since the start of production of the G36 rifle, the Bundeswehr has purchased almost 180 thousand units of this weapon from the manufacturer.

The G36 assault rifle is in service in more than forty countries around the world
seal-team-pro.livejournal.com

The weight of the rifle in its various modifications ranges from 3.3 to 3.8 kilograms (for compact version G36C - less than 3 kilograms), and its length without stock ranges from 500 to 760 millimeters. Structurally, the G36 model is an improved version of the AR-18 rifle, created in the USA in the early 60s and which served as a model for small arms many countries of the world. The German rifle has an automatic system similar to the American prototype (the principle of operation of which is based on the removal of powder gases from the barrel), but at the same time it has some design differences.

American rifle AR-18,
served as a prototype for the G36
onopi.at.webry.info

While the American manufacturer, striving for ease of production and cheaper products, used non-scarce materials in the design, distinctive feature German rifle was used large number polymer materials. In particular, its magazine is made of transparent plastic, which in combat conditions allows you to visually control the amount of remaining ammunition. For the manufacture of metal parts of the rifle they used modern methods metalworking, including shaped steel and powder metallurgy technologies. The use of plastics in the design of the G36 did not lead to a reduction in the weight of the weapon; moreover, german rifle 10–15% heavier than its American prototype.

G36 assault rifle variants
forum.nationstates.net

The design features of the G36 rifle also include the absence of a mechanical sighting bar and front sight, traditional for small arms (instead, a permanent optical sight with laser pointer). The sight has a three-fold magnification and is designed for shooting at distances from 200 to 800 meters. For firing at distances less than 200 meters, an additional red dot sight. The design of the rifle is made in such a way that it is equally convenient for both right-handers and left-handers to shoot from it, since the cocking handle can be moved to both the right and left sides of the upper part of the receiver. The magazines are designed to hold 30 rounds of NATO standard 5.56x45mm caliber and are easily mounted in pairs or threes. In combat and peacekeeping operations in Afghanistan, Mali and the Balkans, the rifle proved itself to be a reliable weapon with good accuracy of fire and a long durability life.

Signals that the G36 assault rifle has serious technical flaws began to arrive several years ago. Thus, in 2012, Der Spiegel magazine was the first to publish a note that during tests of this weapon carried out by the Bundeswehr, evidence of overheating of the barrel was revealed, as a result of which the accuracy of fire was noticeably reduced. This theme was picked up by other media mass media. In particular, the daily newspaper Bild published data internal audit technical center of the Bundeswehr, which confirmed the presence of problems with targeted shooting due to overheating of the barrel. In defending its product, Heckler&Koch entered into a real information war, explaining the appearance of critical materials in the press solely by the machinations of competitors. As a counter-argument to the gunsmiths, positive results of tests carried out earlier by the Federal Bureau of Defense Technology and Procurement were presented when processing arms supplies to the Bundeswehr. The manufacturing company also pointed to the fact that over the more than ten-year service life of the rifle in “hot spots” it had received no complaints from active military units.

The G36 rifle does not tolerate overheating well
weathermed.com

However, inspections of the G36 rifle, initiated by the media and interested organizations, confirmed the facts of its overheating during intense shooting, as well as a noticeable deterioration in accuracy. Complaints have also been made public about plastic magazines, which are not strong enough and often break, causing cartridges to misalign. Neither the manufacturer's attempts to shift the blame to subcontractors and component suppliers, nor the federal government's decision to suspend purchases of G36 rifles for the Bundeswehr reduced the severity of the criticism. German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen, speaking in the Bundestag, acknowledged the problem, and this may mean the beginning of the search for another main model of small arms for the German army. In this case, Heckler&Koch will have to demonstrate its new developments and try to prove their superiority over products from other manufacturers.

Anyone who is interested in the weapons and equipment of “special operations forces” has noticed how much “special forces” value personal information. Regardless of the presence of an individual (submachine gun, rifle, machine gun, carbine) or group ( light machine gun, grenade launcher) weapons, almost every fighter carries a pistol as an auxiliary weapon. Apparently not satisfied with the "defensive" character 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 throw” 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 associated with the needs of special forces. 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 new project They immediately dubbed it “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.

"Supergun" was considered as a complex, including not only a "family" of cartridges and self-loading pistol, and also a silent and flameless shooting device, plus an “aiming block”. 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 and 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 trigger guard for applying 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 minimum time at 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, gives 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.

The USP version of the “offensive personal weapon” with a silencer from Reda Naytos was presented in October 1993 at an exhibition organized by the Association 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 classic schemes, for example "Browning High Power", here the barrel is lowered not by a rigid pin of the frame, but by a hook installed with a buffer spring at the rear end of the rod return spring, 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 feature of USP 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 moving the flag to the top position - “safety”, to the bottom - “double action”, this is exactly the most typical for service weapon. 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. Requirements American program The first and second options are most suitable. 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, side surfaces- 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.
A replaceable rear sight with a rectangular slot and a front sight with a rectangular cross-section are installed on the bolt frame using a dovetail mount. 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.

Appeared and new option 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.

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

It must be said that the idea of ​​​​turning a pistol into the main “weapon of the last throw” is not new. Even during the First World War, the Germans armed assault teams with powerful long-barreled pistols of the "artillery" or "Parabellum carbine" type. The famous military theorist A. Neznamov wrote in his book “Infantry” (1923): “ In the future... for "strike" purposes, 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 associated with the needs of special forces. 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), which was put into 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 a compact melee weapon that could be carried in a holster (up to 25-30 m). 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 “sighting 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,
- speed of reloading,
— length no more than 250 mm, height no more than 150, width 35 mm,
— weight without cartridges — up to 1.3 kg,
— convenience for 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 a distance of 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 “super gun” they chose the good old 11.43 mm “.45 ACP” cartridge. The reason is the requirement to specifically hit a living target in a minimum time at a maximum distance. The stopping effect of the 9×19 NATO cartridge bullet caused a number of discontent among the military. With a conventional shell bullet, a large caliber, of course, gives 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 named:

- with an “improved” type jacket bullet— in terms of improving ballistics and increasing penetration;
- with a bullet of increased lethality— for anti-terrorist operations;
- training cartridge with an easily destroyed bullet and power only sufficient 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 muffler (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 in within three years.

In early 1993, SOCOM was actually presented with 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 series - 80 and 90 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&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 & 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 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 you to use the same type of cartridges from different manufacturers and with different types of bullets. The installation of a muffler allows for an extended barrel.

Experts expected that Heckler & Koch would use a fixed-barrel design similar to its P-7. However USP automation operates according to a barrel recoil scheme with a short stroke and locking by warping the barrel. Unlike classic schemes, for example, “Browning High Power”, here the barrel is lowered not by a rigid pin of the frame, but by a hook installed with a buffer spring 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 pistol frame 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 pistol 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.

First double action mechanism: when the flag is in the upper position, it is possible to shoot with pre-cocking of the hammer, in the lower position - only by self-cocking, and lowering the flag safely releases the trigger.

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.

Fourth option somewhat similar to the third, but shooting is possible only by self-cocking.

Fifth and final option sets 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, normal 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 a shot cannot be ruled out 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 one. 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, in this regard, 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 out that far.

The weight of the 11.43 mm Heckler&Koch USP pistol is about 850 g, length - 200 mm. 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 & Koch, the survivability of the barrel is 40,000 shots.

On the bolt carrier using a " dovetail» a replaceable rear sight with a rectangular slot and a front sight with a rectangular section are installed. The sights are marked with white plastic inserts or tritium dots.

Heckler&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 is powered by 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 the weapon will pass more than one modification and will serve the American army for many years.

A Bundeswehr soldier and is designed to defeat enemy personnel.

The G11 Heckler rifle is the development of West German designers, which replaced the G3 rifle. In the mid-60s of the 20th century, the concept of armament of motorized infantry units of NATO armies began to change, incl. and units of the Bundeswehr. According to NATO analysts, the main strike “self-defense forces,” as the arms race businessmen liked to call themselves, are armed with an assault rifle that is not light enough to meet the requirements of modern times.

Development of new standard weapons

G11 - this is the name given to the new assault rifle; it was developed by the German company Heckler and Koch in the late 1960s. The German government approved this project and instructed the shortest possible time manufacture the required type of weapon.
During the design and survey work, the designers settled on easy version, a small-caliber and compact rifle in the “bullup” version with great accuracy. In this case, the clip is structurally attached above the barrel, the cartridges in it are defined in diameter to the barrel bore. The effectiveness of hitting a target was achieved by hitting it with several shots, so the designers settled on the option of using a 43 mm caseless cartridge in the new weapon (later they chose a 47 mm caliber). The updated rifle could fire single shots and fire in automatic mode, both in long and short bursts of 3 shots. According to the developed concept, the Heckler-Koch company was entrusted with the creation of the new G11, and the Dynamite-Nobel company was responsible for creating a new shot without a shell.

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Design features of G11
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The automatic circuit of the weapon operates due to the kinetic energy of the powder gases released after the shot and the short stroke of the barrel. The initial placement of cartridges in the clip above the barrel with bullets down. The G11 rifle is equipped with a special rotating breech chamber, where before the start of fire the cartridge is fed vertically downwards. After this, the breech is turned at a right angle, and when the cartridge is aligned with the line of the barrel, a shot is fired, while the cartridge is not fed directly into the barrel. Because the cartridge is without a shell (the capsule burns out when fired), then the operation of the automation is simple: there is no need for the mechanism to throw out the spent cartridge case. After the shot is fired, the breech chamber turns back to receive the next ammunition. If it misfires, the defective cartridge is thrown down under the influence of the feed force of the next ammunition. The mechanism is cocked using the rotary handle located on the left. The handle does not move when shooting.

The barrel part, the trigger (except for the safety flag and trigger), the rotating breech with mechanisms and the clip are assembled on one base, which moves translationally inside the body of the weapon. When firing single shots or automatic non-fixed shooting, the mechanism completes the entire shot cycle, and the recoil becomes less. When firing automatically in fixed bursts, after every third shot the movable system comes to the rearmost position, while the recoil force acts after the end of the shooting, thereby achieving greater accuracy of fire (by analogy with the domestic AN-94 “Abakan” assault rifle).
The first modifications of the G11 were equipped with a non-removable optical sight single magnification, also used when carrying a rifle.

Ammunition

For standard use, shellless cartridges with dimensions of 4.73x33 mm, manufactured by Dynamit Nobel AG, have been developed. The prototype ammunition for the Heckler & Koch G11 had a square-shaped powder charge, coated with a moisture-proof varnish, an igniter primer in the bottom and a bullet recessed in the powder charge. Next, they created a modified version of the ammunition for the Heckler & Koch G11, where the bullet and powder charge are completely encapsulated along with the igniter primer in the bottom part and the lid in the upper part of the capsule.

Modifications

The Bundeswehr has two types of such weapons:
-Rifle Heckler Heckler&Koch G11K2 - an updated version of the G11. The body has been shortened, a bayonet mount and a clip for 45 shots have been developed. The sight is a removable weapon handle; it is possible to install standardized ones instead sighting devices adopted by NATO troops.

Heckler Heckler&Koch LMG11 - light machine gun based on the Heckler&Koch G11

Caliber: 4.7x33 mm, unjacketed cartridge
Automation: gas-operated, with rotating breech
Length: 0.750 m
Barrel length: 0.540 m
Weight: 3.6 kg without ammunition
Clip: 50(45) shots