HK MP5 Submachine Gun Specification and Review – The German Heckler & Koch HK MP5 submachine gun has proven to be very popular due to its compact and reliable approach to close combat.
HK MP5 Submachine Gun Specification and Review
MilitaryEzyInfo.com – One of the most popular submachine guns ever manufactured, the Heckler & Koch HK MP5 (“Maschinenpistole 5”) became a common sight during the last years of the Cold War.
Because of its sleek design and excellent reliability in close combat, the type was adopted by many special forces and security groups and proved a major market success for German interests.
Despite its age (it was developed in the 1960s), the MP5 is still widely used today (2013), but it has long since been replaced by a more modern product by Heckler & Koch – HK UMP (Universale Maschinenpistole), which An inexpensive, fully modular weapon that includes a lightweight platform and rail-mounted accessory design.
Design work on the original MP5 began in 1964 and continued until 1966, officially linking it to the brain trust of Thilo Moller, Manfred Goring, Georg Seidl, and Helmut Bauer. The initial working model became known as the “HK54” and eventually became the “MP5A1” brand.
Production began in 1966 under the Heckler & Koch brand and, surprisingly, continues to this day (2013). The success of this series can be attributed to the fact that HK used existing and field-proven components of automatic rifles to achieve great success with the company’s earlier munitions.
The basic design of the MP5 uses steel and plastic to provide a lightweight and compact end product, a critical quality for any submachine gun. The base model offered simple single-shot and full-auto firing modes, but the family introduced a three-shot feature. Later, a military version (“SD” – for the “Silenced” line release) was introduced with a suppressor built in over the desert to reduce the noise level, and this variant was later used with great success, producing six base sub-models under the “SD” name.
A variety of optics and accessories can be equipped along with the standard MP5 receiver or front end as needed, greatly enhancing the tactical capabilities of the field operator. Standard front and rear sights include standard iron sights.
While the 9x19mm Parabellum pistol cartridge is the primary chamber, HK has finally released the MP5 with 10mm Auto and .40 S&W. The standard 9mm is fed from detachable 15, 30, or 40 round box magazines, while other variants may use Beta C Mag 100 round drums.
The HK sniper rifle uses a roller delayed blowback action similar to that used in some HK automatic rifles. The rate of fire, loading, and unloading weight and range vary from cartridge model to cartridge model and from manufacturer to manufacturer.
The MP5A2 rifle, the definitive first generation, has a fixed, solid stock with single-shot ammunition and a full-auto mode with a clearly labeled selector switch located on the side of the receiver. the MP5SFA2 is similar, albeit with a single-shot, semi-auto action. The MP5SFA2 is similar, albeit with a single-shot, semi-automatic action.
The MP5A3 has a folding shoulder stock that supports single-shot or full-auto firing; the MP5SFA3 is a carbine version of the MP5A3 with a folding stock and semi-automatic single-shot firing.
The MP5A4 has a fixed stock with a three-shot burst function, while the MP5A5 has a folding stock with a burst function.
The MP5N is a U.S. Navy-only variant equipped with a navy trigger group (bullet symbol instead of the usual “SEF” to indicate fire selection), a broken stock, and a threaded silencer. The French Army received a special variant of the MP5 as the “MP5F”, featuring a shattered stock and internal modifications for special ammunition requirements.
One of the most common production models of the MP5 is the MP5K (K=Kurz for “Short”), which uses the already compact weapon and shortens and enlarges the barrel and fore-end.
The fire mode selector switch allows for single-shot and full-auto only fire, and the front end of the weapon is fitted with a rubber-coated vertical grip that mounts just forward of the magazine; all other features of the MP5 are the same.
Finally, the MP5KA1 gets a cleaner barrel with single/full auto capability and more compact iron sight. The MP5KA4 can fire three shots, while the MP5KA5 can fire three shots.
The MP5K-N is the U.S. Navy model with a trigger guard and threaded support for suppressed fire; the MP5K-PDW (“Personal Defense Weapon”) is the MP5K-N with a triple burst guard, front vertical grip, and hinged folding buttstock; the MP 5 / 10 is for 10mm cartridges, and the MP5 / 40 fires the .40 S&W cartridge.
The MP5 cartridge was imported into the U.S. under the civilian designation HK94 and also under the civilian designation SP89, designed for sport shooting and in compliance with the 1989 ban on semi-automatic firearms. European civilians have access to the T-94 ZSG (Zivile Sportgewehr) model.
One of the most recognized production models of the MP5 is the Silenced Form, or “SD”, which produces its own subset of variants, like the HKMP5K: the MP5SD1 is an early model, and despite having single-stage/full-automatic fire capability, the stock does not have the
The MP5SD2 has a full-stage stock with built-in dampers for single/full-auto capability; the MP5SD3 gets a crushed stock and has a built-in suppressor; the MP5SD4 stock is short-lived, but retains the suppressor and has a three-shot burst mode. The MP5SD5 has a suppressor.
The MP5SD5 is a fixed stock version with a suppressor and a three-shot burst function; the MP5SD6 uses a stock with a three-shot suppressor; the MP5SD-N1 is the U.S. Navy version, with a folding stock and a stainless steel suppressor; and the MP5SD-2 is the U.S. Navy version, with a folding stock and a stainless steel suppressor. The latter was designed by Knight’s Armament Company. However, the MP5SD-N2 is similar, albeit with full stock.
In the end, the HK MP5 became the logical weapon for most North American and European special forces and police teams. It was very successful as a melee stopper and was used by the US Navy SEALs, including the German GSG9 and the British SAS.
The HK53 rifle is sold under the HK MP5 name, but uses US-made 5.56x45mm ammunition and is sold as a variation of the full-size HK33 assault rifle.
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