Heckler & Koch G3

G3

The Heckler & Koch G3A4 (top) and G3A3 (bottom)
Type Battle rifle
Place of origin West Germany
Service history
In service 1959–present
Used by See Users
Wars See Conflicts
Production history
Designer Mauser
CETME
Heckler & Koch
Manufacturer Heckler & Koch
Rheinmetall
MIC
SEDENA
Defense Industries Organization
Fábrica de Braço de Prata
Bofors Carl Gustaf
Husqvarna Vapenfabriks Aktiebolag
Elliniki Biomihania Oplon
Kongsberg Våpenfabrikk
MAS, Military Industry Corporation
MKEK
Pakistan Ordnance Factories
Royal Ordnance
Bangladesh Ordnance Factories
Produced 1958–present
Number built 7,000,000[1]
Variants See Variants
Specifications
Weight 4.1 kg (9.04 lb) (G3A3)
4.7 kg (10 lb) (G3A4)
5.54 kg (12.2 lb) with optic (G3SG/1)
4.1 kg (9.0 lb) (G3K)
Length 1,025 mm (40.4 in) (G3A3)
1,025 mm (40.4 in) stock extended / 840 mm (33.1 in) stock collapsed (G3A4)
1,025 mm (40.4 in) (G3SG/1)
895 mm (35.2 in) stock extended / 711 mm (28.0 in) stock collapsed (G3K)
Barrel length 450 mm (17.7 in)
315 mm (12.4 in) (G3K)
Cartridge 7.62×51mm NATO
Action Roller-delayed blowback
Rate of fire 500–600 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity 800 m/s (2,625 ft/s)
Effective firing range 500 metres (550 yd), 100–400 m sight adjustments
Feed system 20-round detachable box 30-round detachable box and 50-round drum magazine
Sights Rear: rotary diopter; front: hooded post

The G3 is a 7.62×51mm NATO battle rifle developed in the 1950s by the German armament manufacturer Heckler & Koch GmbH (H&K) in collaboration with the Spanish state-owned design and development agency CETME (Centro de Estudios Técnicos de Materiales Especiales).[2]

History

The early Mauser Gerät 06H prototype assault rifle and The CEAM Modèle 1950, a French effort to put the StG 45(M) concept into mass production. Chambered in .30 Carbine.

The origin of this rifle can be traced back to the final years of World War II when Mauser engineers at the Light Weapon Development Group (Abteilung 37) at Oberndorf am Neckar designed the MKb Gerät 06 (Maschinenkarabiner Gerät 06 or "machine carbine device 06") prototype assault rifle chambered for the intermediate 7.92×33mm Kurz cartridge, first with the Gerät 06 model using a roller-locked short recoil mechanism originally adapted from the MG 42 machine gun but with a fixed barrel and conventional gas-actuated piston rod.[3] It was realized that with careful attention to the mechanical ratios, the gas system could be omitted.[4] The resultant weapon, the Gerät 06H (the "H" suffix is an abbreviation for halbverriegelt or "half-locked") was assigned the designation StG 45(M) (Sturmgewehr 45(M) or assault rifle) but was not produced in any significant numbers and the war ended before the first production rifles were completed.[5]

The German technicians involved in developing the StG 45(M) were taken to work in France at CEAM (Centre d'Etudes et d'Armement de Mulhouse). The StG 45(M) mechanism was modified by Ludwig Vorgrimler and Theodor Löffler at the Mulhouse facility between 1946 and 1949. Three versions were made, chambered in .30 Carbine, 7.92×33 mm Kurz as well as the experimental 7.65×35 mm French short cartridge developed by Cartoucherie de Valence in 1948. A 7.5×38 mm cartridge using a partial aluminium bullet was abandoned in 1947. Löffler's design, designated the Carabine Mitrailleuse Modèle 1950, was retained for trials among 12 different prototypes designed by CEAM, MAC, and MAS. Engaged in the Indochina War and being the second NATO contributor, France canceled the adoption of these new weapons for financial reasons.

In 1950, Vorgrimler moved to Spain where he created the LV-50 rifle chambered for the Kurz cartridge and later, the proprietary 7.92×40mm CETME M53 round.[6] At this point, the rifle was renamed the Modelo 2. The Modelo 2 drew the attention of the West German Border Guards (Bundesgrenzschutz), who sought to re-equip the newly formed national defense forces. Not willing to accept a cartridge outside of the NATO specification, the Germans asked CETME to develop a 7.62×51mm version of the rifle. The resulting CETME Model A was chambered for the 7.62×51mm CETME cartridge which was identical in chamber dimensions but had a reduced-power load compared to the 7.62×51mm NATO round. Further development of the rifle with input from H&K produced the CETME Model B which received several modifications, including the ability to fire from a closed bolt in both semi-automatic and automatic firing modes, a new perforated sheet metal handguard (the folding bipod had been the foregrip in previous models), improved ergonomics and a slightly longer barrel with a 22 mm rifle grenade launcher guide. In 1958, this rifle was accepted into service with the Spanish Army as the Modelo 58, using the 7.62×51mm CETME round.

In 1956, the Bundesgrenzschutz canceled their planned procurement of the CETME rifles, adopting the Belgian-made FN FAL (G1) instead. However, the newly formed West German Army (Bundeswehr) now showed interest and soon purchased a number of CETME rifles (7.62×51mm NATO chambering) for further testing. The CETME, known as the Automatisches Gewehr G3 according to German nomenclature, competed successfully against the Swiss SIG SG 510 (G2) and the American AR-10 (G4) to replace the previously favored G1 rifle. In January 1959, the Bundeswehr officially adopted the CETME proposal. The West German government wanted the G3 rifle to be produced under license in Germany; purchase of the G1 had previously fallen through over FN's refusal to grant such a license. In the case of the G3, the Dutch firm Nederlandse Wapen en Munitiefabriek (NWM) held production and sales rights to the CETME design outside of Spain. To acquire production rights, the West German government offered NWM contracts to supply the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) with 20mm ammunition. Production of the G3 was then assigned to Rheinmetall and H&K. The latter company already had ties to CETME, and had worked to further optimize the CETME rifle for use with the full-power 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge (as opposed to the downgraded CETME variant). In 1969, Rheinmetall gave up production rights to the G3 in exchange for H&K's promise not to bid on MG 3 production. Later in 1977, the West German government ceded ownership of G3 production and sales rights exclusively to H&K.

Initial production G3 rifles differed substantially from more recent models; early rifles featured closed-type mechanical flip-up sights (with two apertures), a lightweight folding bipod, a stamped sheet steel handguard, a wooden buttstock (in fixed stock models) or a telescopic metal stock.[6] The weapon was modernized during its service life (among other minor modifications it received new sights, a different flash suppressor, and a synthetic handguard and shoulder stock), resulting in the most recent production models, the G3A3 (with a fixed polymer stock) and the G3A4 (telescoping metal stock). The rifle proved successful in the export market, being adopted by the armed forces of over 40 countries.[6] The G3 was and in some cases continues to be produced under license in: France (MAS), Greece (Hellenic Arms Industry), Iran (Defense Industries Organization), Luxembourg (Luxemburg Defense Technologie), Mexico, Myanmar, Norway (Kongsberg Våpenfabrikk), Pakistan (Pakistan Ordnance Factories), Portugal (FBP), Saudi Arabia, Sweden (FFV), Thailand, Turkey (MKEK) and the United Kingdom (Royal Ordnance).[6]

Design details

Disassembled G3A3 rifle showing its modular design
A schematic of the G3 roller-delayed blowback mechanism

The G3A3 (A4) is a selective-fire automatic weapon that employs a roller-delayed blowback operating system. The two-piece bolt assembly consists of a breech (bolt head) and bolt carrier. The bolt is held in battery by two sliding cylindrical rollers that engage locking recesses in the barrel extension (popularly called a "trunnion"; BATF calls this a "mounting block"). The breech is opened when both rollers are compressed inward against camming surfaces driven by the rearward pressure of the expanding gases upon the bolt head. As the rollers move inward, recoil energy is transferred to the locking piece and bolt carrier which begin to withdraw while the bolt head slowly moves rearward in relation to the bolt carrier. As the bolt carrier clears the rollers, pressure in the bore drops to a safe level, the bolt head is caught by the bolt carrier and moves to the rear as one unit, continuing the operating cycle. The bolt also features an anti-bounce mechanism that prevents the bolt from bouncing off the barrel's breech surface. The spring-powered claw extractor is also contained inside the bolt while the lever ejector is located inside the trigger housing (actuated by the recoiling bolt).[6]

The rifle is hammer fired and has a trigger mechanism with a 3-position fire selector switch that is also the manual safety toggle that secures the weapon from accidentally discharging (fire selector in the "E" or "1" position – single fire mode ("Einzelfeuer"), "F" or "20" – automatic fire ("Feuerstoß"), "S" or "0" – weapon is safe ("Sicher"), trigger disabled mechanically). The weapon can be fitted with an optional 4-position safety/fire selector group illustrated with pictograms with an ambidextrous selector lever. The additional, fourth selector setting enables a 3-round burst mode of fire.[6]

The firearm is equipped with iron sights that consist of a rotary rear drum and hooded front post. The rear sight, mechanically adjustable for both windage and elevation, has an open notch used to fire up to 100 m and three apertures used for: 200, 300 and 400 m.[6] The receiver housing has recesses that work with HK clamp adapters used to mount day or night optics.

The rifled barrel (contains 4 right-hand grooves with a 305 mm twist rate) terminates with a slotted flash suppressor which can also be used to attach a bayonet or serve as an adapter for launching rifle grenades. From the G3A3 the barrel had polygonal rifling.[7] The barrel chamber is fluted, which assists in the initial extraction of a spent cartridge casing (since the breech is opened under very high barrel pressure).[6]

The G3A3 (A4) uses either steel (260 g) or aluminium (140 g) 20-round double-stacked straight box magazines, or a 50-round drum magazine. H&K developed a prototype plastic disposable magazine in the early 1960s, but it was not adopted as aluminum magazines were just as light and proved more durable, as well as easier to produce.

Standard accessories supplied with the rifle include: a detachable bipod (not included with rifles that have a perforated plastic handguard), sling, cleaning kit and a speed-loading device. Several types of bayonet are available for the G3, but with few exceptions they require an adapter to be inserted into the end of the cocking tube. The most common type features a 63⁄4 inch spear-point blade nearly identical with the M7 bayonet, but with a different grip because of its mounting above the barrel. The weapon can also mount a 40 mm HK79 under-barrel grenade launcher, blank firing adapter a straight blowback bolt (called a "PT" bolt, lacks rollers) used for firing 7.62×51mm ammunition with plastic bullets, a conversion kit used for training with .22 Long Rifle ammunition and a sound suppressor (that uses standard ammunition).

The G3 is a modular weapon system. Its butt-stock, fore-stock and pistol-grip/fire-control assembly may be changed at will in a variety of configurations (listed below). Simple push-pins hold the components in place and removing them will allow the user to remove and replace parts rapidly.

Variants

Original G3 variant with older style sights and wooden furniture
G3A4 and G3A3

Apart from the G3A3 and G3A4 HK also built: the G3A3ZF (essentially a G3A3 with a Hensoldt 4×24 optical sight), the accurized G3SG/1 rifle (hand-selected G3A3s, equipped with an improved trigger, Zeiss telescopic sight with a variable 1.5–6× magnification and a cheek riser) and the G3K carbine which uses an HK33 handguard and a short barrel (reduced in length to the base of the front sight post), that is too short for use with a bayonet or rifle grenades.[6]

The G3 served as a basis for many other weapons, among them: the PSG1 and MSG90 precision rifles, the HK11 and HK21 family of light machine guns, a semi-automatic version known as the HK41, a "sporterized" model called the SR9 (designed for the civilian market in countries where the HK91 would not qualify, primarily the US after the 1989 importation restrictions) and the MC51 carbine.

Models made under license

Other military variants and derivatives

A Norwegian soldier with the license-built AG-3F2 model fitted with a Brügger & Thomet railed forend, vertical grip and Aimpoint red dot sight.
A Latvian soldier with a Swedish-made Ak4 in Iraq, 2006.
German sniper with G3A3ZF-DMR in Afghanistan
PSG-1.
HK41.
SR9.

Denmark

East Germany

Norway

Sweden

Iran

Pakistan

United Kingdom

Specialized G3 types

Law enforcement and civilian models

G3s made in Pakistan under license.

Other manufacturers

Conflicts

The Heckler & Koch G3 has been used in the following conflicts:

Users

Danish soldiers carrying the G3A5 variant.
Pakistani soldier carrying the G3A4 variant after successful Swat Operation at the highest point in the Swat valley on May 12, 2009.
A Bundeswehr G3 fitted with a FERO-Z51 night vision optic
A Turkish Land Forces officer using G3A7 with Engerek 3+ and T-40 grenade launcher in Northern Iraq
Greek soldiers in NBC gear with Greek-made G3s.
Soldiers from the Portuguese Army, 2nd Mechanical Battalion in Bosnia-Herzegovina with INDEP-made G3s
Mexican army troops armed with G3 rifles
Guyanese soldiers on exercise with various Caribbean countries, as well as American and British forces. The soldier on the right is carrying a G3A3 with a blank-firing attachment on the muzzle
A Saudi infantryman with the G3A4 rifle

See also

References

Notes
  1. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20090902181924/http://www.controlarms.org/en/documents%20and%20files/reports/english-reports/shattered-lives-report
  2. ↑ Woźniak, Ryszard: Encyklopedia najnowszej broni palnej—tom 2 G-Ł, p. 7. Bellona, 2001.
  3. ↑ Senich, Peter: The German Assault Rifle: 1935–1945, p. 153. Paladin Press, 1987.
  4. ↑ Senich, 158
  5. ↑ Senich, 160
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Woźniak, Ryszard. Encyklopedia najnowszej broni palnej – tom 2 G-Ł. Bellona. 2001. pp. 7–10.
  7. ↑ Walter, John (2006). "p. 164". Rifles of the World, 3rd edition. Oxford: Krause Publications, Inc. ISBN 978-0-89689-241-5.
  8. ↑ Střeleckém magazíně, Samopal NDR, 08/2002, str.20-21
  9. ↑ Walter, John (2006). The Rifle Story: An Illustrated History from 1756 to the Present Day. MBI Publishing Company. p. 253. ISBN 978-1-85367-690-1.
  10. ↑ Ground Zero: Syria (Part 7) - Snipers of Aleppo. 12 June 2013 – via YouTube.
  11. ↑ Yemen War 2015 - Heavy Clashes On The Saudi Border As Houthi Rebels Attack Saudi Military Outposts (in Arabic). Yemen. 2015. Event occurs at 5:42. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 Jones, Richard D.; Ness, Leland S., eds. (January 27, 2009). Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010 (35th ed.). Coulsdon: Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5.
  13. ↑ "url=http://fuerzasespecialesgrupohalcon.blogspot.com.ar/". Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  14. ↑ Administrator. "Bosnia Herzegovina army land ground armed defense forces military equipment armored vehicle UK - Bosnia Herzegovina army land ground forces UK - East Europe UK". armyrecognition.com.
  15. ↑ G3 Automatic Rifle. Retrieved on October 28, 2008.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Gangarosa, 2001. pp. 76–77.
  17. ↑ "Eesti Kaitsevägi – Tehnika – Automaat AK-4" (in Estonian).
  18. ↑ Hogg, Ian (2002). Jane's Guns Recognition Guide. Jane's Information Group. ISBN 0-00-712760-X.
  19. 1 2 "Personal infantry weapons: old weapons or new hardware in the coming decades?". Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  20. ↑ "eas.gr". eas.gr.
  21. ↑ ""Sóttu teppi í skotmark hryðjuverkamanna", 'Fréttablaðið', october 27, 2004, p. 12." (in Icelandic).
  22. ↑ http://www.diomil.ir/en/aig.aspx
  23. ↑ http://www.bild.de/politik/inland/isis/diese-waffen-liefert-deutschland-an-die-kurden-37478284.bild.html|Diese Waffen liefert Deutschland an die Kurden
  24. ↑ Soldier of Fortune. Omega Group, Limited. 2001. p. 46. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  25. ↑ "Lietuvos kariuomenė :: Ginkluotė ir karinė technika » Automatiniai šautuvai » Automatinis šautuvas AK-4". Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  26. ↑ Nigeria: Arms Procurement and Defense Industries. Retrieved on October 5, 2008.
  27. ↑ http://www.hkd-usa.com/HKWebNews/byItemID///13//3/15
  28. ↑ "Pakistan Army".
  29. ↑ "POF - Automatic Rifle G3A3 & G3P4".
  30. ↑ "The military rifle cartridges of Rhodesia Zimbabwe: from Cecil Rhodes to Robert Mugabe.". Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  31. ↑ McNab, Chris (2002). 20th Century Military Uniforms (2nd ed.). Kent: Grange Books. ISBN 1-84013-476-3.
  32. ↑ http://en.mic.org.sa/our-products/light-weapon/g3-automatic-rifle-cal-7-62x51mm
  33. ↑ Military Industry Corporation (MIC) Official Website
  34. ↑ http://www.mil.se/sv/Materiel-och-teknik/Vapen/Automatkarbin-4/
  35. ↑ "MKEK - Makina ve Kimya Endüstrisi Kurumu". Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  36. ↑ "Yerli Tüfek 2014'te Mehmetçik'in elinde". Haber7. 30 September 2014. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  37. ↑ "SAS - Weapons - G3 Assault Rifle". eliteukforces.info.
  38. ↑ Stoner, Bob. "Heckler and Koch Gewehr 3 (G3) 7.62mm Rifle". Retrieved 2016-01-10.
Bibliography
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  • Gangarosa, Gene Jr. (2001). Heckler & Koch—Armorers of the Free World. Maryland: Stoeger Publishing. ISBN 0-88317-229-1. 
  • Gotz, Hans Dieter, German Military Rifles and Machine Pistols, 1871–1945, Schiffer Publishing, Ltd. West Chester, Pennsylvania, 1990. OCLC 24416255
  • Senich, P. (1987). German Assault Rifle: 1935–1945. Paladin Press. ISBN 0-87364-400-X.
  • G. de Vries, B.J. Martens: The MP 43, MP 44, StG 44 assault rifles, Propaganda Photos Series, The Sturmgewehr, Volume 4, Special Interest Publicaties BV, Arnhem, The Netherlands. First Edition 2001.
  • Smith, W.H.B, Small arms of the world : the basic manual of military small arms, Harrisburg, Pa. : Stackpole Books, 1955. OCLC 3773343
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  • (German) Günter Wollert; Reiner Lidschun; Wilfried Kopenhagen, Illustrierte Enzyklopädie der Schützenwaffen aus aller Welt : Schützenwaffen heute (1945–1985), Berlin : Militärverlag der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik, 1988. OCLC 19630248
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  • Woźniak, Ryszard (2001). Encyklopedia najnowszej broni palnej—tom 2 G-Ł (in Polish). Warsaw, Poland: Bellona. ISBN 83-11-09310-5. 

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