Heckler & Koch MP7

Heckler & Koch MP7
An MP7A1 with a suppressor, extended magazine, and an Elcan reflex sight
Type	Personal defense weapon Submachine gun Machine pistol
Place of origin	Germany
Service history
In service	2001–present
Used by	20+ countries (see Users)
Wars	War in Afghanistan (2001–14) 2013 Lahad Datu standoff
Production history
Manufacturer	Heckler & Koch
Produced	1999–present
Specifications
Weight	1.90 kg (4.2 lb) with 20-round empty magazine (PDW)[1] 2.10 kg (4.63 lb) with magazine (MP7A1)[2]
Length	638 mm (25.1 in) stock extended / 415 mm (16.3 in) stock collapsed[3]
Barrel length	180 mm (7.1 in)[4]
Width	51 mm (2.0 in)[3]
Height	169.5 mm (6.7 in)[3]
Cartridge	4.6×30mm
Action	Gas-operated, short stroke piston, rotating bolt
Rate of fire	950 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity	735 m/s (2,411 ft/s) (Fiocchi CPS Black Tip ammunition)
Effective firing range	200 m (656 ft)[5][6][7]
Feed system	20-, 30- or 40-round detachable box magazine
Sights	Tritium-illuminated flip-up night sights; handgun and rifle sights (adjustable)

The MP7 is a German Personal Defence Weapon (PDW) manufactured by Heckler & Koch (H&K) and chambered for the HK 4.6×30mm cartridge. It was designed with the new cartridge to meet NATO requirements published in 1989, as these requirements call for a personal defense weapon (PDW) class firearm, with a greater ability to defeat body armor than current weapons limited to conventional pistol cartridges. The MP7 went into production in 2001. It is a direct rival to the FN P90, also developed in response to NATO's requirement. The weapon has been revised since its introduction and the current production versions are the MP7A1 and newest MP7A2.^[8][9][10] The proliferation of high-quality body armour has begun to make guns that fire pistol ammunition (such as Heckler & Koch's earlier MP5 submachine gun or USP pistol) ineffective. In response to this trend, Heckler & Koch designed the MP7 (along with the now cancelled UCP pistol, which uses the same ammunition) to penetrate body armor, but small enough to be used in place of either a pistol or a submachine gun.^[8][9][11]

Design details

The MP7 uses a short-stroke piston gas system as used on H&K's G36 and HK416 assault rifles, in place of a blowback system traditionally seen on sub-machine guns including those by H&K.^[12] The 4.6×30mm ammunition is virtually exclusive to the gun (save for the now-cancelled Heckler & Koch UCP and a planned variant of the Brügger & Thomet MP9) and also offers low recoil.^[8][9] This ammunition is unique among submachine guns in that the bullet is made almost entirely of a hardened steel penetrator instead of softer copper or lead.

The weapon allows a conventional 20-round, 30-round, or 40-round box magazine to be fitted within the pistol grip (the 20-round magazine being comparable in size to a 15-round 9×19mm magazine, while the 40-round magazine compares to a 30-round 9×19mm magazine). The weapon features an ambidextrous fire selector, bolt catch lever and magazine release. It has an extendable stock and a folding front grip; it can be fired either one-handed or two-handed.^[8][9] It is compact and light, due to the use of polymers in its construction.

Ammunition

A German Army soldier demonstrates the MP7A1 of the IdZ program.

A recent production MP7A1 (note the safety trigger) with a Zeiss RSA reflex red dot sight on display as part of Germany's IdZ program.^[13]

The MP7's specially designed armour piercing (AP) high velocity rounds consist of either copper plated solid steel (DM11), alloy plated steel jacket (DM21) or copper-alloy-jacketed lead core projectiles (Fiocchi FMJ ZP). Standard AP high velocity DM11 (Ultimate Combat) round with a 2.0 g (31 gr) projectile has a muzzle velocity of 720 m/s (2,362 ft/s) and has a muzzle energy of 506 J (373 ft-lbf).^[14] The DM11 round penetrates the NATO CRISAT target (20 layers of kevlar with 1.6 mm titanium backing) even at 200 m.^[15] The round has a small diameter, allowing for redoubling penetration capability and high capacity in a very small magazine.^[16]

VBR of Belgium produces a 4.6×30mm 2-part controlled fragmenting projectile that is claimed to increase the content of the permanent wound cavity and double the chance to hit a vital organ.^[8][9][17] Heckler & Koch claims that the CPS Black Tip ammunition made by Fiocchi has a muzzle energy of approximately 525 J, which would be comparable to 9×19mm Parabellum rounds.^[18][19]

Variants

• PDW: The first prototype shown in 1999 was designated the 'PDW' (Personal Defense Weapon). It had a short Picatinny rail on the top and a smooth pistol grip surface.
• MP7: In 2001 it was named the 'MP7' and went into production. It included a full length Picatinny rail, a thick curved stock and an anti-slide surface on the pistol grip much like the HK USP. It also featured folding iron sights mounted on the Picatinny rail and the button to fold the foregrip was made larger for easier operation.
• MP7A1: In 2003 its designation was changed to 'MP7A1' and featured a redesigned pistol grip with a different surface and curved shape, a smaller stock with a straight buttpad, side mounted picatinny rails as standard and the folding iron sights were made more compact. The weapon was made slightly longer, but because the stock was shortened, the overall length did not change. The stock is also able to be locked into 3 positions. Recent MP7A1 models have a trigger safety similar to a Glock pistol; the middle section of the trigger must be pulled first before the outer part will move. This helps to stop accidental discharges if the trigger is bumped.^[8][9]
• MP7-SF: Semi-automatic only variant of MP7. Currently used by Ministry of Defence Police in United Kingdom.
• MP7A2: Without folding front grip and added fourth rail STANAG 2324

Accessories

The weapon features a full-length, top-mounted Picatinny rail that comes as standard with folding fore and rear iron sights attached. When the sights are folded flat, they resemble Partridge style open sights. Folded up, they feature aperture sights. The sights can easily be removed by loosening a single screw and lifting them off. It can fit additional rails on the sides of the barrel, which allow it to mount commercial optical sights (telescopic and red dot sights), laser aiming modules (LAM), and tactical flashlights. The MP7 can also accept a suppressor. The tailor-made suppressor for the MP7 does not interfere with its accuracy or rate of fire.

Users

Country	Organization name	Model	Quantity	Date	Reference
Albania	Special Operations Battalion (Albania)	−	−	−	[9][20]
Australia	Western Australia Department of Corrective Services Emergency Support Group	−	−	−	[9][21]
Austria	Einsatzkommando Cobra (EKO Cobra) of the Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior	−	−	−	[9][22]
Croatia	Special Operations Battalion (Croatia)	−	25	2004	[9][23]
Czech Republic	Police of the Czech Republic - PDW of ordinary police officers - guns are locked in a special compartment of ordinary police cars' front doors	MP7A1	−	2012	[24]
France	French special forces, DGSE SA, GIGN	MP7A1	−	−	[25][26]
Germany	German Army		−	−	[8][9][27]
	Grenzschutzgruppe 9 (GSG 9) counter-terrorism group of the German Federal Police		−	−	[9][28]
	SEK SWAT police unit (state police) of several German states	−	−	−	[9][29]
Georgia	Ministry of Internal Affairs	−	−	−	[30][31]
Indonesia	Special Forces Command (KOPASSUS) special forces of the Indonesian Army	−	−	−	[32]
Ireland	Garda; Special Detective Unit, Emergency Response Unit, Regional Support Unit, National Bureau of Criminal Investigation	MP7A1	−	2006	[8][33][34] [9][35]
Italy	9th Parachute Assault Regiment	−	−	−	[9]
	N.O.C.S. of Polizia di Stato	−	−	−	[9]
Japan	Japanese Special Forces Group	−	−	−	[36]
Jordan	−	−	−	−	[9][37]
Malaysia	Pasukan Khas Laut (PASKAL) counter-terrorism group of the Royal Malaysian Navy	MP7A1	−	2010	[9][38]
	Pasukan Gerakan Khas (PGK) counter-terrorism divisions of the Royal Malaysia Police		−	2007	[8][9]
Norway	Norwegian Armed Forces		6,500		[8][9][39]
Oman	−	−	−	−	[9][37]
Republic of Korea	Republic of Korea Army 707th Special Mission Battalion	−	−	−	[9][16]
	Republic of Korea National Police Agency SWAT	−	−	−	[8][9]
	Presidential Security Service	−	−	−	[40]
Romania	SRI Brigada Antitero	MP7A1	−	−	[41]
Russia	Spetsnaz special forces unit of the Russian Army	MP7A1	-	-	[42]
United Kingdom	Ministry of Defence Police	MP7-SF	−	−	[8][9][43]
United States	United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group	−	−	−	[9][44]
	Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety in California	MP7A1	−	−	[9][45][46]
Vatican City	Pontifical Swiss Guard		−	−	[47]

Gallery

• 

  An MP7A1 with Zeiss RSA reflex red dot sight and LLM01 laser light module.

• 

  British MoD police on patrol in London with a MP7-SF.

• 

  MP7A1.

• 

  MoD Police Conducting Search Drills on a Warship.

• 

  MOD Police Officer on range with an MP7-SF in CBRN Suit.

• 

  MP7A1 (note the safety trigger) with a Zeiss RSA reflex red dot sight

• 

  Royal Malaysian Navy PASKAL frogman on standby in Kuala Lumpur with an MP7A1.

See also

• Brügger & Thomet MP9
• FN P90
• PP-2000
• SR-2 Veresk
• ST Kinetics CPW
• Steyr TMP

References

1. "HKPro, PDW article". Hkpro.com. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
2. "Heckler-Koch, Products, MP7A1". Hk-usa.com. Retrieved 2015-09-29.
3. "Heckler-Koch, Products, MP7A1". Heckler-koch.com. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
4. "Famous Guns, Heckler and Koch MP7: the Replacement for HK MP5". Famous-guns.com. 2007-09-09. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
5. "HKPro". HKPro. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
6. "Heckler and Koch MP7: the Replacement for HK MP5". Famous-guns.com. 2007-09-09. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
7. EnemyForces.com. "Enemy Forces, Heckler & Koch MP7". Enemyforces.net. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
8. "HK MP7A1". Guns Lot. December 13, 2007. Retrieved 2011-08-22.
9. "Heckler & Koch HK MP7 Submachine Gun / Machine Pistol (2001)". Military Factory. July 30, 2012. Retrieved 2014-04-18.
10. "MP7 | Compact, lightweight and 4.6 times more effective". Heckler and Koch. Retrieved 2015-11-18.
11. "Heckler & Koch – Group Website". Heckler-koch.de. Retrieved 2010-08-16.
12. Cutshaw, Charles Q. (2003). "Heckler & Koch's cutting-edge compacts G36C and MP7 PDW: when less really is more". Guns Magazine.
13. "Zeiss RSA-S Reflex Sight". Zeiss.com. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
14. "HK MP7A1 Ammunition". Retrieved 1 February 2012.
15. "Heckler-Koch, Products, MP7A1". Heckler-koch.com. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
16. "Modern Firearms – Heckler – Koch HK MP7 personal defense weapon (PDW)". World.guns.ru. Retrieved 2010-08-16.
17. "The 4.6x30 mm B2F cartridge". Fsdip.com. Retrieved 2010-08-16.
18. "Heckler & Koch – Group Website". Heckler-koch.de. Retrieved 2010-08-16.
19. "Modern Firearms – ammunition for submachine guns and handguns: semi-automatic and automatic pistols". World.guns.ru. Retrieved 2010-08-16.
20. "Youtube, the video "hk in albania"". Youtube.com. 2007-12-26. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
21. "WAtoday, Armour-piercing bullets ordered for WA prisons". Watoday.com.au. 2009-09-07. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
22. "COBRA: Austria's Special Police Commandos" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-02-12.
23. "Heckler & Koch: Tvornica od koje Hrvatska vojska i policija kupuju puške i bacače". Retrieved 2006-11-13.
24. "HK MP7A1 u Policie ČR" (PDF). June 2014. Retrieved 2015-04-18.
25. "Somalia — Dead french elite soldier". Retrieved 2013-01-14.
26. "Al-Shabab militants in Somalia post alleged photo of French commando killed in botched raid". CBS News. 14 October 2012. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
27. Gourley, S.; Kemp, I (November 26, 2003). "The Duellists". Jane's Defence Weekly (ISSN: 02653818), Volume 40 Issue 21, pp 26–28.
28. "АРСЕНАЛ: ОРУЖИЕ НЕМЕЦКОГО СПЕЦНАЗА (Arsenal: Weapons of the German Special Forces)" (in Russian). Bratishka. Retrieved 2010-03-18.
29. "photo of the SEK of Lower Saxony" (in German). ?. Retrieved 2011-12-11.
30. "Account Suspended". geo-army.ge.
31. "Exhibition of military equipment in Tbilisi". Geo Army. 2014-05-26. Retrieved 2015-11-18.
32. Ditulis Oleh Penkopassus (2012-10-08). "Wamenhan RI Berkunjung ke Stand Kopassus". Archived from the original on 2013-09-22. Retrieved 2015-11-18.
33. Ferry, Declan (17 April 2013). "Garda crack squad that will protect Obama". Irish Mirror. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
34. Tom Brady (2008-09-04). "Quick-change armed gardai hit the streets — National News, Frontpage". Independent.ie. Retrieved 2009-09-14.
35. "Garda College Yearbook listing weapons training on page 66" (PDF).
36. 陸上自衛隊唯一の特殊部隊 特殊作戦群の解説 (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2012-11-28. Retrieved 2012-11-28.
37. Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (January 27, 2009). ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5.
38. "From the picture is Royal Malaysian Navy PASKAL tactical diver team with G36KV, XM8 DMR, HK416, MP7, G36C in 2014 Merdeka Parade at Kuala Lumpur capital".
39. Skagemo, Leif Inge (2007-06-05). "En liten røver med trøkk i". Hæren (in Norwegian). Forsvarsnett.
40. http://www.pss.go.kr/site/program/board/videoboard/list?boardtypeid=12&menuid=001002001
41. "Parada album". Flickr. 2014-12-01. Retrieved 2015-11-18.
42. Writer, Staff (2016-02-20). "Russian SPETSNAZ Weapons". Military Factory. Retrieved 2016-02-20.
43. Steven Partridge. "A Modern Weapon for a Modern Role" (PDF). Retrieved 2009-09-22.
44. Nicholas Schmidle (2011-08-08). "Getting Bin Laden: What happened that night in Abbottabad — New Yorker". Retrieved 2011-08-01.
45. "Cupertino cement plant shooting". San Jose Mercury News. 6 October 2011. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
46. "Cupertino cement plant shooting". San Jose Mercury News. 6 October 2011. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
47. "Guns of the Swiss Guard". Retrieved 2014-07-24.

External links

• HK Defense: MP7 product page
• 2008 Heckler & Koch Military and LE brochure
• HKPRO page on HK MP7
• Modern Firearms — HK MP7
• Bundeswehr fact sheet (German)
• Gun-World.net gallery of the MP7 (Chinese)
• Nazarian's Gun's Recognition Guide (FILM) H&K MP7 PDW Presentation (.wmv)
• Video of the MP7
• Presentation of mp7 for the German Police