Haenel / Schmeiiser MKb.42(H) machine carbine / assault rifle (Germany)

Caliber:7.92x 33 (7.92 mm Kurz)

Action: Gas operated, tilting bolt

Overalllength: 940 mm

Barrel length: 364 mm

Weigth: 4.9 kg empty

Rate of fire: 500 rounds per minute

Magazine capacity: 30 rounds

In 1939 HWaA (Hitler's army Weapons command) issued a contract for the development of a "Maschinen karabiner", or machine carbine (MKb forshort), chambered for the new 7.92x33 Kurz cartridge, to the company C.G. Haenel Waffen und Fahrradfabrik. Initial development took placeunder the designation of MKb.42 - Maschinen karabiner, 1942. The newweapon was intended as a replacement for submachine guns, bolt actionrifles and, partly, light machine guns for front troops and was intended to have an effective range of 600 meters or so.

The famous designer Hugo Schmeisser led the Haenel development team, which produced the first working prototypes of new weapon by 1942. In accordance with the specification, the new weapon inherited several features from MP-40 submachine gun, such as the left-side charginghandle with slot safety and magazine housing with button release.Because the new weapon had to be made with the maximum usage ofstamping and welding, Haenel was joined by the Merz Werke, a company with no knowledge in firearms but a great deal of experience in steelstamping and forming. The first weapons were issued to front line unitson the Eastern front by the mid-1942, and the low-rate mass productionbegan in late 1942. A total of about 10,000 MKb.42(H) were produced forthe German Army before its production was ceased in favour of an improved design, the MP-43 / Stg.44.

TheMKb.42(H) is a gas operated, selective-fire weapon. It uses along-stroke gas piston, located above the barrel in a long gas tube.The barrel locking is achieved by tipping the rear part of the boltdown into the locking recess, cut in the machined steel insert in thestamped steel receiver. The gun fires from an open bolt at all times,and the only safety is the MP-40-type slot, cut at the rear of the charging handle slot, in which the charging handle can be hooked whenthe bolt is open. The cross-bolt type fire mode selector is located above the trigger guard. The MKb.42(H) could be fitted with standardbayonet, and has a wooden butt.

Walther MKb.42(W) machine carbine / assault rifle (Germany)

Caliber: In 1939 HWaA (Hitler's army Weapons command) issued a contract for the development of a "Maschinen karabiner", or machine carbine (MKb for short), chambered for the new 7.92x33 Kurz cartridge, to the company C.G. Haenel Waffen und Fahrradfabrik. In 1940 another company joined in the development of this new type of small arm; the famous German arms manufacturing company Carl Walther, known for its fine and popular pistols. Walther had already been engaged in the development of intermediate-cartridge firearms since 1936, when it produced self-loading carbines for an experimental 7 x 39 cartridge. Later,Walther developed several automatic designs in "full-size" 7.92 x 57,and one of these experimental prototypes, the 7.92 mm A-115, served as a starting point for its 7.92 mm Kurz rifle. Walther began to developits own Maschinenkarabiner as a private venture, but in 1941 receivedofficial approval from HWaA for further development in competition with Haenel, the first MKb.42(W) rifles being delivered to the army in thesecond half of 1942.

In late 1942, the first small batches of both Haenel and Walther weapons, designated MKb.42(H) and MKb.42(W) respectively, were sent to the Eastern front, for trials against Soviet troops. Initial results were promising, with the Haenelrifles being generally preferred due to their better reliability. TheWalther design, which showed better single-shot accuracy, was rejected as unsuitable on the grounds of its questionable annular gas pistonsystem. No further development in this field was apparently taken by the Walther organization, which was already very busy delivering itsP.38 pistols to the German army.

The MKb.42(W) is a gas-operated, magazine fed weapon. The gas system has an annular gaspiston, located around the barrel, inside the stamped annular handguards. A rotating bolt of somewhat complicated design locks to the barrel via two lugs. The hammer-fired trigger unit allows single shotsor fully automatic fire, and the MKb.42(W) is fed using the same 30-round magazines as its rival, the MKb.42(H).The MKb.42(W) fires from a closed bolt.

Schmeisser MP 43MP 44 Stg.44

MP 43 assault rifle, the first production variant of the Sturmgewehr, left side

MP 43 assault rifle, the first production variant of the Sturmgewehr, right side

MP 43 assault rifle partially disassembled

Stg.44 assault rifle with the Krummlauf Vorsatz J (curvedbarrel) attachment, which was designed to be fired "around the corner"or from inside the armored vehicle

Caliber:7.92x33 mm (7.92mm Kurz)

Action: Gas operated, tilting bolt

Overalllength: 940 mm

Barrel length: 419 mm

Weigth: 5.22 kg

Rate of fire: 500 rounds per minute

Magazine capacity: 30 rounds

Hitler’s Germany was the leading country in the development of the assault rifle. Even the term "assault rifle", is no more than a translation of the German term Sturmgewehr,devised for propaganda reasons by no less than Hitler himself (or at least so the legend goes).

Germany began to develop intermediate cartridges during the mid-1930s. There were some developments in 7 mm and 7.75 mm calibre, but Heereswaffenamt (HWaA, ordepartment of armaments), decided to retain the existing rifle calibreof 7.92 mm, to save money on new machinery that would otherwise be required to produce bullets and barrels of a non-standard calibre. The new 7.92 mm "short infantry cartridge" (Infanterie patrone Kurz),developed by the Polte Werke in 1938, was officially designated the 7.92 mm PP Kurz. It had metric dimensions of 7.92 x 33, considerably shorter and less powerful than the standard 7.92 x 57 rifle / MG cartridge, and propelled a 8.1 g (125 grain) bullet to roughly 680 meters per second.

In 1939 HWaA issued a contract for the development of a "Maschinenkarabiner", or machine carbine (MKb forshort), chambered for the new Kurz cartridge, to the company C. G.Haenel Waffen und Fahrradfabrik. Initial development took place underthe designation of MKb.42 - Maschinenkarabiner, 1942. The new weapon was intended as a replacement for submachine guns, bolt action riflesand, partly, light machineguns for front troops and was intended to have an effective range of 600 meters or so.

The famous designer Hugo Schmeisser led the Haenel development team, whichproduced the first working prototypes of new weapon by 1942, known as MKb.42(H). After extensive combat tests of the MKb.42(H), HWaA asked Haenel for several significant improvements over theirinitial design. Most notable was the request to replace the submachine-gun like open-bolt firing system with more convenientclosed-bolt system, to improve single-shot accuracy. Schmeisserre designed the weapon accordingly, and by 1943 submitted the improvedversion to the HWaA. But by this time Hitler had ordered that only existing types should be developed and manufactured, and theMaschinenkarabiner was not on this list. To avoid this nuisance, theGermans decided simply to rename the MKb to the MP, or Machinen pistole(submachine gun), which was on the “approved” list. So, the new andimproved weapon received the designation MP-43, and went into limited production and field trials at the front. During the following year,the MP-43 experienced several minor modifications, leading to MP-43/1and MP-43/2 designations, but these differed only in details such asfront sight bases and grenade launcher interfaces.

In April1944 the designation of all MP-43s was changed to MP-44, with no actual changes made to the design. At this time there were plenty ofglowing reports from the German troops fighting with MP-43s and MP-44sat the Eastern front. Seeing these reports, Hitler finally approved themass production and issue of the new “wunderwaffe”, andin December 1944 officially christened it the Sturmgewehr, or Assault Rifle, 1944 (StG.44) This was a pure act of propaganda, but thename stuck not only to that gun, but also to the whole new class of automatic weapons designed to fire intermediate cartridges.

Thetotal number of MP-43s, MP-44s and StG.44s produced was about 450,000,and these guns proved very effective, but not without some flaws. Afterthe end of the war the direct development of the Stg.44 was stopped,but the East German police used some remaining guns. Another major post-war user of Stg.44 was Yugoslavia; their paratroopers used it under the designation "Automat, padobranski, 7.9 mm M44, nemacki" untilthe early 1980s, when the Kalashnikov-type M64 and M70 rifles finally replaced it. Yugoslavia also produced 7.92 x 33 Kurz ammunition untilthe late 1970s.

The StG.44 (like its earlierversions MP.43 and MP.44) is a gas operated, selective fire weapon. Thereceiver and trigger housing with pistol grip are made from steelstampings, with machined steel inserts. The trigger housing with pistolgrip is hinged to the receiver and folds down for disassembly. The gasdrive utilizes a long-stroke piston, and the bolt is tipped down tolock into the receiver. The gun is fired from a closed bolt. The MP-43and subsequent versions all were hammer-fired, while the MKb.42(H) was striker-fired. The safety lever is located at the left side of the pistol grip unit, and a separate cross-bolt type of fire mode selector allows for single-shot and full auto fire. The charging handle is attached to the gas piston rod, and the ejection port has a dust cover.The recoil spring is located inside the wooden butt. At the top of the butt there is container for a cleaning kit, closed by the spring-loaded steel cover. The Stg.44 was provided with open, leaf-type sights, and could be fitted with telescope sights or a specially developed active infrared sighting unit, called “Vampir” (vampire).

The muzzle of the Stg.44 was threaded to accept a cup-like grenade launcher; a special muzzle nut usually covered the threads. The Stg.44 also couldbe fitted with a special curved barrel attachment (“Krummlauf”), which allowed the gun to be fired “around the corner” or from inside a tank,without exposing the shooter to the enemy fire. Several types of these attachments were developed, but only one type, the 30-degree “KrummlaufVorsatz J”, was apparently manufactured in any significant numbers.This device had a special mirror sighting adapter and reduced the bullet velocity down to mere 300 meters per second due to the highfriction in the curved barrel extension. This apparently did not bother the German Army, since these curved barrel adapters were intended for short-range encounters only.

Mauser Gerat 06 / Stg.45 assault rifle (Germany)

Mauser Gerät 06, an early roller-locked, gas-operated prototype dated to cicra 1943

Mauser StG.45(M), one of the veryfew pre-production rifles

Caliber: 7.92x33mm (7,92mmKurz)

Action: delayed blowback

Overalllength: 893 mm

Barrel length: 400 mm

Weight: 3.7 kg

Rate of fire: 400 rounds per minute

Magazine capacity: 10 or 30 rounds

German development of assault rifles did not stop with the adoption of the Haenel / Schmeisser "Sturmgewehr"Stg.44 rifle. The Stg.44 was far too heavy and,while being made mostly of stampings, still required plenty of raw materials. So, several German companies continued to produce 7.92 mm Kurz rifles of various designs. Most interesting among these was the Mauser design, usually credited to Wilhelm Stähle and Ludwig Vorgrimler. By 1943 Mauser Werke had developed a gas-operated weapon, which featured rigid roller locking broadly derived fromMG42 machine gun. This experimental weapon had a factory designation of “Gerät 06” (Device 06). This system(copied several times during the post-war period with equally unspectacular results) proved itself too complicated, but then the head of the analytical department at Mauser devised a version of theretarded (sometimes also called delayed) blowback system. In this system, there was no gas system and piston, and no rigid locking. Instead, rollers were used to retard theopening of the breech until the chamber pressure dropped down to safe levels. This system was factory designated as “Gerät 06H”, and by early1945 was officially type-classified as Stg.45. It is believed that, no more than 30 specimens of these new weapons were made before Alliedforces captured the Mauser Werke in Oberndorf, so it made no impact on the war. But, instead, it made significant impact on the post-wardevelopments, since one of its designers, Ludwig Vorgrimler, went to France, where he continued to develop this design for several years.During the early 1950s he moved to Spain, where he participated in development of theCETME assault rifles, which led directly tothe famous Heckler & Koch family of small arms, including the G3 and other assault rifles, submachine and machine guns, all featuring the sameroller-delayed blowback system.

The famous MauserWerke began to develop its own assault rifle by the 1943. It wasdecided to produce the cheapest possible deign, with as much stampingand welding used as possible. The original design, called “Gerät 06”,had a short-stroke gas piston and a locking system with two rollers,located in the bolt, which was forced out to the barrel extension to lock the bolt. When the gun was fired, the gas piston forced the boltcarrier back, and this withdrew the rollers from the cuts in the barrel extension, unlocking the bolt, and then pulling it back to eject the spent case and load a fresh round on its way back. This system was later found too complicated, and experiments proved that the locking system could be done away with since the rollers by themselves were able to retard the initial bolt movement, until the pressure in the chamber dropped down to a safe level. This improved system greatlysimplified the design. This version was designated “Gerät 06H”. Becausethere was no primary extraction, a fluted chamber was devised to avoidsticking cases and subsequent torn rims and resulting jams. The receiver, as well as the round hand guards, was made from two stampedparts, left and right, connected by simple welding. The gun was built with a straight-line layout to reduce muzzle climb during automaticfire, so the sights were placed well above the barrel. This alsoresulted in the development of a shorter magazine with capacity of only10 rounds, requested by the troops. The retarded-blowback Stg.45(M)were easily distinguishable from the original gas-operated “Gerät 06”rifles by the ribbed handguards of circular cross-section on theformer, as opposed to the slab-sided handguards on the latter gun.

TheStg.45(M) was a good deal lighter than the Stg.44, and required about 50%less raw materials to make.

Heckler & Koch G3 rifle (Germany)

Earliest variant of G3 rifle with flip-up rear sight and metallic ventilated handguards

G3A3 with drum type rearsight, plastic ventilated handguards and fixed stock

G3A3 with attached bayonet and plain plastic handguards of more modern appearance

G3A4 - retractable butt version of the G3

G3KA4 - the shortest G3 variant with retractable buttstockand most modern integral pistol grip / trigger unit made entirely of plastic

Click here to see exploded view of the G3 (50 Kb JPEG)

Click here to see cut-out view of the G3 (50 Kb JPEG)

Click here to see cut-out view of the G3 blowbackaction (35 Kb JPEG)

Caliber: 7.62mm NATO (.308 win)

Action: Roller-delayed blowback

Weight: 4.5kg

Overall length: 1023 mm

Barrel length: 450 mm (315 mm on G3KA4 model)

Magazine capacity: 20 rounds

During the early- to mid-1950s West Germany, like the other NATO countries, faced the need for rearming its army for the newest common7.62x51mm NATO caliber small arms. Initially Germans preferred the Belgian FNFAL rifle, and adopted it circa 1956 under the designation of G1. Due toobvious reasons Germany wanted to manufacture its military rifles, and attempted to buy a manufacturing license for FAL, but Belgium rejected the deal. So, Germany turned to the another design, available from Spanish company CETME, and known as the CETME mod. A rifle. Germany bought the manufacturing license for CETME rifle and transferred it to the Heckler und Koch(HK) company, located in Oberndorf. HK slightly modified the CETME design, and in 1959 the Bundeswehr (W.Germany Army) finally adopted the CETME / Heckler -Koch rifle as G3 (Gewehr 3 - Rifle, [model] 3). Since that time and until the 1995 the G3 in various modifications served as a general issue shoulder weapon not only for German Armed forces, but also for many other countries. Those include Greece, Iran, Mexico, Norway, Pakistan, Portugal, Sweden, Turkey and many other countries. Total of more than 50 countries during the last 40 years issued the G3 to its forces. The G3 was or still is manufactured in countries like the Greece, Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Portugal and others. The key reason of high popularity of the G3 is that it is much simpler and cheaper to manufacture,than its major contemporary rivals - Belgian FN FAL and US M14. To the best of my knowledge, the HK itself continued to produce and offer the G3 until the year 2000 or 2001, when it finally disappeared from HK catalogs and web-sites. However, the HK still manufactures a wide variety of firearms, based on the G3 design but of differentpurposes and calibers, like 9mm MP-5 submachine guns, 5.56mm HK 33 assault rifles, 5.56mm and 7.62mm HK23 and HK 21 machine guns, PSG1sniperrifles etc. In general, the HK G3 rifle can be described as one of the best7.62mm NATO battle / assault rifles - reliable, versatile, controllable,non-expensive and, finally, very popular. For the civilian markets, HK producedthe semi-automatic only versions of the G3, initially known as HK 41 and later -as HK 91.

The G3 rifle is a selective fire, magazine fed rifle, built using delayed blowback action, developed by German engineers at Mauser Werke late inthe 2nd World War and refined in Spain, at the CETME company. Initial models of the G3 rifle were quite similar to CETME rifles, andeven had "CETME" markings on the receivers (until 1961 or so). The roller-delayed blowback action is described under the CETME Rifles, so I will not repeat it here. The G3 is built using as many stamped parts as possible. The receiver is stamped from sheet steel. The trigger unithousing along with pistol handle frame, also are stamped from steel and hingedto the receiver using the cross-pin in the front of the trigger unit, just behindthe magazine housing. Earliest G3 rifles also featured stamped handguards and CETME-type flip-up rear diopter sights. In the mid-1960s the initial design wasupgraded to the G3A3 and G3A4 configurations. These rifles had ventilated plastic handguards and a drum-type rear diopter sights, marked from 100 to 400meters. The G3A3 was a fixed butt version, with buttstock made from plastic, and the G3A4 was a telescope butt version, with retractable metallic buttstock withrubber buttplate. Late German production G3A3 and G3A4 models were built using new trigger units, integral with restyled pistol grip and triggerguard, madefrom plastic. The shortest version of the G3 was the G3KA4, similar to G3A4 but with shortened barrel. Every G3 rifle can be equipped with detachable bipods,claw-type detachable scope mounts. Long-barreled versions can be fitted with bayonet or used to launch rifle grenades from the barrel. Folding cocking handleis located on the special tube above the barrel, at the left side, and does notreciprocate when gun is fired. The safety / fire selector is located above the triggerguard on the left side of the trigger group housing and usually is marked"S - E - F" (Safe - Single shots - Full auto). Latest models could have selectors marked with colored icons.

Heckler&Koch HK 33 and HK 53 (Germany)

HK33A2

HK53A2

HK53A3 with retractable buttstock

HK33 had been developed by the German company Heckler und Koch in mid- to late 1960s as a scaled-down version of their G3 battle rifle, and entered production in 1968. HK33 was developed for then-new cartridge, 5.56x45mm (.223 Remington), and while it had not been adopted by German military, it saw significant use by some West Germany police and security units, and also widely exported, and used by Malaysia, Chile and Thailand armed forces. Since 1999, HK33 also manufactured under license in Turkey. HK33 is still in production in Germany by HK, and also served as a platform for further developments, such as G-41 assault rifle and HK53 compact assault rifle (known by the HK as submachine gun).

HK53 is a ultra-compact version of HK33, which advertised by HK as "submachine gun" and, by common sense, falls in the same category as soviet AKS-74U or Colt "Commando". All these guns can be classified as "compact (or short) assault rifles" by the fact, that they are used the intermediate rifle round. Hk53 was developed in mid-1970s and is still in production and offered for export.

HK33 is a delayed blowback operated, selective fire rifle, that utilized two pieces bolt with two rollers that used to delay bolt blowback. The receiver is made from stamped steel, and HK33 is available with either a polymer fixed buttstock (HK33A2) or retractable metallic buttstock (HK33A3). Carbine version of the HK33 also available and featured shorter barrels and similar fixed or retractable stocks (HK33KA2 and HK33KA3, respectively).

All HK33 variants available with different trigger units, with or without 3-rounds burst mode. HK's proprietary claw-type mounts allow telescopic sights to be mounted on any version of HK33. Full-length HK33s can be equipped with bayonet or underbarrel 40mm grenade launchers, HK79A1, also made by Heckler & Koch. Full-length HK33 rifles also can launch rifle grenades from combined muzzle compensator/flash hider. All HK33 and HK53 guns are equipped with drum-type rear sights.

HK53 is internally similar to the HK33 but cannot fire rifle grenades nor mount underbarrel 40mm grenade launcher.HK53 also cannot be equipped with bayonet, and featured long, four-prong flash hider.

Both HK33 and HK53 can use 25, 30 and 40 round box magazines, but latter are out of production by HK for some time.

Heckler und Koch G41 (Germany)

HK G41

close-up view to the G41 receiver with dust cover, forward assist button and STANAG magazine veil

images courtesy of www.HKpro.com

Caliber: 5.56x45 mm NATO

Action: Delayed blowback

Overall length: 997 mm (fixed butt) or 996/806 mm (folding butt)

Barrel length: 450 mm

Weigth: 4.1 kg

Magazine capacity: 20, 30 or 40 rds

The G-41 assault rifle had been developed in early 1980s from HK-33E assault rifle as a companion to the G-11.While the caseless G11 had to be issued to the front line troops, the G-41 had to be issued to second line troops. When G-11 programme collapsed due to financial and political reasons in early 1990s, the G-41 had been offered for many customers but found no sales, being of high quality, but too expensive.

Basically, the G-41 is a further development of the early G-3 rifle, having the same roller delayed blowback action, but chambered for 5.56mm NATO ammunition. The G-41 also featured the 0-1-3-30 trigger group, STANAG compatible magazines and scope mountings, silent bolt closure device (similar to the "forward assist device" on the M16A1 and M16A2), integral dust cover on the ejection port, and integral side-folding carrying handle. The G-41 could be issued with fixed plastic butt or with telesopic (folding) butt.

Heckler-Koch HK G36 assault rifle (Germany)

HK G36 assault rifle (standard German army version with dual sight system) with 40mm AG36 underbarrel grenade launcher

Image: Heckler-Koch

HK G36 assault rifle with optional accessory kit which includes forearm with four Picatinny rails and a low-profile scope rail on the receiver

Image: Heckler-Koch

HK G36C 'Compact' or 'Commando' assault rifle, with optional Picatinny rails on forend

Image: Heckler-Koch

HK G36E rifle (Export version) with single 1.5X telescope sight and spare magazine clamped to the left side of the inserted one.

Image: Heckler-Koch

HK G36K "short" (Kurz) assault rifle, with buttstock folded; standard version with iron sights and Picatinny rail

Image: Heckler-Koch

HK G36KE short assault rifle, export version, with 'E' type telescope sight / carrying handle setup

Image: Heckler-Koch

The Heckler und Koch G-36 assault rifle had been born as HK-50 project in early 1990s. The reason behind that project was that the Bundeswehr (the German army), after the cancellation of the G11 and G41 projects, was left with outdated G3 rifle and no modern rifle, compatible with the current NATO standards at hands. Therefore the famous company Heckler & Koch was set to develop a new assault rifle for both German army and the export. The new 5.56mm assault rifle has been adopted by the Bundeswehr in the 1995, and in the 1999 the Spain adopted its slightly different, export version, G36E as its standard infantry rifle. The G36 also found its way into the hands of various law enforcement agencies worldwide, including British police and some US police departments. So far I've heard very few complaints about this rifle, and a lot of good revives and opinions. In fact, the only complaints about G36 that I know are the overheating of the handguards during the sustained fire, and the loose of zero of built in scope on some G36KE rifles, used by US police. Some German soldiers also complained about position of dual optical sights and those sights being easily fogged in bad weather (rain or snow). Otherwise it is a good rifle, accurate, reliable, simple in operations and maintenance, and available in a wide variety of versions - from the short-barreled Commando (some even said that it's a submachine gun) G36C and up to a standard G36 rifle. The MG36 squad automatic weapon (light machine gun), which was initially designed as a heavy-barreled version of the G36, was in fact a short-lived proposition that never went into mass production.

The G36, in severely modified form, was used as a "kinetic energy" part of the now-cancelled US XM-29 OICW weapon and it also served as a base for XM8 assault rifle (also cancelled).

Technical description.

From the technical point of view, the G36 is a radical departure from all the previous HK rifles, based on the proven G3 roller-delayed system. The G36 is a conventional gas operated, selective fire rifle, made from most modern materials and using most modern technologies.

The receiver and most of the others external parts of the G36 are made from reinforced polymers, with steel inserts where appropriate. The operating system appears to be a modification of the older American Armalite AR-18 rifle, with short stroke gas piston, located above the barrel, square-shaped bolt carrier and the typical rotating bolt with 7 locking lugs. Of cause, there also are many differences from the AR-18. The bolt carrier rides on a single guide rod, with the return spring around it. The charging handle is attached to the top of the bolt carrier and can be rotated to the left or to the right. When not in use, the charging handle aligns itself with the axis of the weapon under the pressure of its own spring, and reciprocates with the bolt group at the top of the receiver. The gas block is fitted with the self-adjustable gas valve that expels all the used gases forward, away from the shooter. The ejection window is located at the right side of the receiver and features a spent cases deflector to propel the ejected cases away from the face of the left-handed shooter.

All the major parts are assembled on the receiver using the cross- pins, so rifle can be disassembled and reassembled back without any tools.

The typical HK trigger unit is assembled in a separate plastic housing, integral with the pistol grip and the triggerguard. Thanks to this feature, a wide variety of firing mode combinations can be used on any rifle, simply by installing the appropriate trigger unit. Standard options are single shots, full automatic fire, 2 or 3 round bursts in any reasonable combinations. The default version is the single shots + 2 rounds burst + full auto. The ambidextrous fire selector lever also serves as a safety switch.

G36 is fed from the proprietary 30-rounds box magazines, made from translucent plastic. All magazines have special studs on its sides, so two or three magazines can be clipped together for faster reloading. The magazine housings of the G36 are made as a separate parts, so G36 can be easily adjusted to the various magazine interfaces. By the standard, the magazine release catch is located just behind the magazine, in the G3 or AK-47 style, rather than on the side of the magazine housing (M16-style). A 100-round Beta-C dual drum magazines of US origins also can be used (these magazines are standard for the MG36 squad automatic versions of the G36).

The side-folding skeletonized buttstock is standard on all G36 rifles. It folds to the right side and does not interfere with rifle operation when folded.

The standard sighting equipment of the G36 consists of the TWO scopes - one 3.5X telescope sight below, with the second 1X red-dot sight above it. The sights are completely independent, with the former suitable for long range accurate shooting, and the latter suitable for the fast target acquisition at the short ranges. Both sights are built into the plastic carrying handle. The export versions of the G36 are available with the single 1.5X telescope sight, with the emergency open sights molded into the top of the carrying handle. The subcompact G36K Commando version is available with the integral Picatinny-type scope and accessory rail instead of the carrying handle and standard sights.

The standard G36 rifles can be fitted with the HK AG36 40mm underbarrel grenade launcher. It also can be fitted with the bayonets. Interestingly enough, G36 uses an AK-74-type bayonets, which are left from the now non-existent NVA (East Germany Army) stocks.

Heckler und Koch G11 (Germany)

HK G11 rifle

HK G11K2 pre-productional rifle

HK G11 rifle with the optional optical scope installed

Second prototype of the G11 (HKpro.com)

13th prototype of the G11 (HKpro.com)

Caseless ammunition - early variant at the left, latest variant DM11 (cutout view) - at the right

Schematic drawing of the G11 bolt & feeding system

Caliber: 4.7 mm caseless

Action: Gas operated, rotating breech

Overall length: 750 mm

Barrel length: 540 mm

Weigth: 3.6 kg empty

Magazine capacity: 50 or 45 rds

The development of the G11 rifle was started in the late 1960's, when West German government decided to replace existing G3 rifle with lighter weapon with much better hit probability.

The initial studies lead to the idea of the small-caliber, rapid-fire rifle that fires caseless ammunition. To ensure sufficient stopping/killing power for small-caliber bullets used, the rifle should had have the three-round bursts capability and high capacity magazine.

The new design, called G11, was created by german company Hecler und Koch, with the Dynamit Nobel company in team. The HK was responsible for the rifle itself, while Dynamit Nobel had to develop caseless ammunition.

The basic concept of the G11 is as follows:

The rifle features unique cylinder breech/chamber system that rotates 90 degrees. The cartridges in the magazine are located above the barrel, bullets down. Prior to each shot, first cartridge is pushed down from magazine into chamber and then breech/chamber rotates 90 degrees to align the cartridge with the barrel (see pic). After that, the cartridge is fired and the breech/chamber rotates back, ready for the next cartridge to be chambered. In the case of the cartridge ignition failure, the failed cartridge is pushed down from the chamber by the next cartridge. The breech can be manually "cocked" by the rotating handle at the side of the rifle, located beyond the pistol handle. The cocking handle does not move when gun is fired. Another interesting detail is that barrel, rotating breech, feed module and magazine are mounted in the housing that can move in the rifle back and forth. When firing single shots, the housing moves back and forward after the each shot. When firing the full-auto, the housing moves back and forward during each shot, resulting in moderate rate of fire of some 600 round per minute. But, when firing the three-round bursts, second and third cartridges are feed and fired as soon as the chamber is ready for it, and third bullet leaves the barrel PRIOR to the moment when the housing becomes to its rearward position. This results in wery high rate of fire with three-shots bursts - ca. 2000 rounds per minute. Also, this results in that the actual recoil affects the rifle AFTER the last bullet in the burst is fired.

Rifle featured built-in 1X optical sight with simple circle aiming reticle. Early prototypes featured one 50 rounds polymer magazine, while latest versions featured 45 rounds magazines - one in the loaded position within the movable housing and two spare magazines on the top of the rifle, asides from the loaded magazine.

The caseless ammunition in its early appearance was designed as a block of the propellant, coated with flammable laquer, with bullet and primer "glued on" the propellant. Final ammunition design DM11, that appeared in the mid-1980s, featured "telescopic" design, when bullet was fully enclosed in the block of the propellant. The cartridge propelled the bullet that weights 3.25 gramms, to the 930-960 meters per second.

Early prototypes were prone to the ammunition cook-offs during the sustained fire, but later Dynamit Nobel solved this issue.

In the late 1980s the Bundeswehr (West German Army) began the field tests of the pre-production G11s. After the initial tests, some improvements were devised, such as removable optical sight, mounting of two spare magazines on the rifle, and bayonet/bipod mount under the muzzle.

The modified variant, called G11K2, was tested in 1989, scoring at least 50% better combat accuracy when compared to G3 rifle. Initial batch of some several dozens of G11K2s was received by Bundeswehr in 1990 or so, but due to political and financial reasons the whole programme was cancelled by German Government. Main reasons of this cancellation were, in my opinion, the lack of fundings after the re-union of the West and East Germanies, and the general NATO policy for unification of the ammunition and even magazines for the assault rifles.

The slightly modified G11 was also tested in the USA under the ACR (Advanced Cobat Rifle) programme, in 1990. The ACR programme was not intended to result in adoption of the new rifle for the US Army, just to test new technologies and designs, and the G11 proved itself as a very accurate, comfortable to handle and fire, and reliable weapon.

HK416 modular assault rifle / carbine / upper receiver assembly (Germany)

HK416 carbine with 10.5 inch (267mm) barrel

HK416 carbine with 14.5 inch (368mm) barrel

Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO

Action: Gas operated, rotating bolt

Overall length (stock collapsed/extended): 10" barrel: 686 / 785 mm;14" barrel:

Barrel lengths: 10.5" / 267mm; 14.5" / 368mm; 16.5" /419mm and 20" / 508mm

Weight: 3.31 kg w. 10.5" barrel, 3.5kg w 14.5" barrel

Rate of fire: 700-900 rounds per minute

Magazine capacity: 30 rounds

Following the revision of the OICWBlock 1 / XM8 program, the Heckler & Koch company decided to enter theUS military and law enforcement markets with the alternative design, which, in fact, looks quite promising. Based on the experience, gained during successful upgrade program of the British SA80 / L85A1 program, HK decided to cure the existing M16 rifles and M4 carbines from most of their problems, inherent to this 40-years old design.The key improvements, made by HK, are their patented short-stroke gas piston system, borrowed from HK G36 rifle. This system replaced the direct gas system of standard M16 rifle, so no powder residue will remain in the receiver even after long shooting sessions. The "new"gas system also is self-regulating and will work reliably with any barrel length. Other improvements include new buffer assembly, improved bolt, and a cold hammer forged barrel, as well as free-floating hand guard with integral Picatinny-type rails. Originally developed as a "drop-in" upper receiver assembly for any standard M16/M4 type lower receiver, HK416 is also available as a complete weapon, with HK-madelower receivers. Current (late 2005) models include carbines with 10.5" and14.5" barrels, and 16.5" barreled carbine and 20" barreled riflewill be added later.

Another interesting development, which is apparently based on the upscaled HK416 design, is the HK417 - the 7.62x51 NATO rifle that combines AR-15/M16 type ergonomics, layout and handling with improved reliability of HK-made and designed gas piston system. This rifle probably will use HK G3-typemagazines. If the rumors about HK417 are true, the 5.56mm HK416 / 7.62mm HK417 combination will be a direct rival to the newest FN SCAR system.

HK416 is a gas operated, selective fired weapon of modular design. It uses short-stroke gas piston that operates the 7-lug rotating bolt. Receiver ismade from high grade aluminium alloy. Combination-type safety / fire selector allows for single shots and full automatic mode. Hk416 retains all M16-style controls, including last round bolt hold-open device, rear-based charging handle and magazine release button on the right side of the magazine well. HK416 is fitted with four Picatinny rails as standard, and may accept any type of sighting devices on STANAG-1913 compliant mounts. It also can accept modified HK AG36/AG-C 40mm grenade launcher, which is clamped directly to bottom rail. Buttstock is of typical M4 design, multi-position telescoped.

Heckler-Koch HK417 assault rifle (Germany)

2006 prototype of HK417 rifle with 20" barrel; note that it used HK G3-compatible magazines

Image: Heckler & Koch

Current (2008) version of HK417 rifle with 12" / 30cm barrel, basic version

Image: Heckler & Koch

Current (2008) version of HK417 rifle with 12" / 30cm barrel, fitted withtelescope sight with night vision adapter, folding bipod and a sound moderator(silencer)

Image: Heckler & Koch

Current (2008) version of HK417 rifle with 16" / 40cm barrel

Image: Heckler & Koch

Current (2008) version of HK417 rifle with 20" / 50cm barrel, with telescopesight and detachable bipod

Image: Heckler & Koch

Caliber: 7,62x51mm NATO

Action: Gas operated, rotating bolt

Overall length: 905 - 985 mm with 406 mm barrel / 35.6" - 38.8" with 16" barrel

Barrel length: 305 mm / 12", 406 mm / 16" or 508 mm / 20"

Weight: 4.36 kg - 4.96 kg, depending on barrel length

Rate of fire: 600 rounds per minute

Magazine capacity: 10 or 20 rounds

HK417 assault rifle was recently developed by famous German arms-making company Heckler und Koch, as a "big brother" to the 5.56mmHK416 assault rifle. Information on this weapon first surfaced in 2005, on the wave of new interest for the 7.62mm NATO caliber military rifles. This interestcame in from experience of international forces gained in Afghanistan and Iraq, where increased range and penetration of the 7.62mm NATO bullets was (and still is) quite useful. Several companies developed new or updated versions of 7.62mm weapons, with intent to sell to military, law enforcement and in certain cases - to civilian shootersas well. The HK417 is one of such weapons. It is primarily oriented toward US market, as it mimics the popular 5.56mm AR-15 / M16 rifles in external appearance, controls, and many design features.However, there are more than few new and original features in HK417,including Heckler-Koch's patented piston-operated gas system,user-changeable barrels etc. Like most other competitors, HK417 riflesare available in several barrel lengths, suitable for full scale ofmilitary operations, from close combat in urban or forest areas and upto long-range accurate shooting.

HK417rifle is a gas operated,selective fired weapon of modular design. Ituses short-stroke gas piston located above the barrel, that operatesthe 7-lug rotating bolt. Barrels are cold hammer forged, and could bereplaced by end user in several minutes using simple tools. There are four basic patterns of barrels available for HK417 as of now (2008):305mm / 12" and 406 mm / 16" standard barrels and 406 mm / 16" and 508 mm/ 20" accurized barrels. Accurized barrels provide 1 MOA accuracy (with proper ammunition). Receiver ismade from high grade aluminum alloy and consists of two parts (upperand lower), connected by two cross-pins a-la AR-15 / M16 rifles. Combination-type safety / fire selectorallows for single shots and full automatic mode. HK417 retains all M16-style controls, including last round bolt hold-open device, bolt closure device, rear-based charging handle and magazine release button on the right side of the magazine well. HK417 isfitted with four Picatinny rails on free-float handguard as standard, and will accept any type of sighting devices on STANAG-1913 compliant mounts. It also can accept modified HK AG36/AG-C 40mm grenade launcher, which is clamped directly to bottom rail. Buttstock is of modified M4design, multi-position telescoped. Production HK417 rifles useproprietary 10- or 20-round box magazines, made of translucent polymer(early prototypes used HK G3 magazines).