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Heckler & Koch MP5

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MP5
File:MP5A4.JPG
An MP5A4 (fixed stock and 3-round burst trigger group)
TypeSubmachine gun
Specifications
Mass2.54 kg (5.6 lb) (MP5A2)
LengthFixed stock:
680 mm (26.8 in)

Retractable stock:

490 mm (19.3 in), retracted;
660 mm (26 in), extended

The Heckler & Koch MP5 is a submachine gun, developed by German weapons manufacturer Heckler & Koch (HK) in the 1960s. A typical MP5 fires 9 mm Luger ammunition from a curved detachable box-type magazine. The MP5's accuracy, reliability, and wide range of accessories and variants have made it the submachine gun of choice for military and law enforcement agencies worldwide.

As with most HK weapons, the trigger assembly is completely replaceable, and includes fully-automatic, 4-, 3- and 2-round burst, single fire, and safe positions in various combinations. MP5s were long chambered for the 9 mm Luger cartridge, commonly used in pistols. In the late 1990s, more powerful 10 mm Auto and .40 S&W versions were introduced, but soon phased out in favor of the new UMP submachine gun. The MP5 has a roller-delayed blowback mechanism tracing back to a mid-1940s German prototype known as the StG45(M) and further developed in the CETME rifle. The design was developed by Mauser from the roller-locking system patented by Edward Stecke in the 1930s and used in the MG42.

Variants

The original MP5 was available with a fixed (MP5A2) or collapsible (MP5A3) stock. Some variants did not have a 3-round burst capacity, or had only a 3-round burst mode. HK has made many general improvements to the MP5 over the years since its introduction.

The next major development was the MP5SD series (SD1–SD6), introduced in 1974. This model had an integrated suppressor and a specially-made barrel which reduced the muzzle velocity of its ammunition to just below the speed of sound. The result was that the MP5SD series is almost inaudible at distances of more than 15 meters. By its remarkable sound and almost invisible muzzle flash, it is chosen as a stealthy operating weapon in many police and military forces.

The MP5K (the K stands for kurz, meaning "short"), which is only 325 mm long, was introduced in 1976 at the request of a South American arms dealer who saw the potential for its sale to bodyguards as a concealable, but fully-automatic weapon. It has a vertical foregrip to reduce muzzle rise and aid in automatic firing and it can also be fired from inside a special briefcase. Additionally, a version without the diopter sights but a smooth upper surface and small pistol sights was developed to reduce the likelihood that the weapon would snag during the draw. A further development of the model by the U.S. division of HK was the MP5K-PDW (Personal Defense Weapon), in 1991. This model was built for United States Air Force pilots who needed a compact weapon. Unlike the original, the PDW adds a folding stock and can accept a suppressor and laser sight. All variants of the MP5K are available in the similar configurations as the original weapon. A semiautomatic civilian version known as the SP89 was briefly offered before the 1994 assault weapons ban.

Under a special contract from the United States Navy, HK developed the MP5N or "MP5 Navy" variant for the Navy's elite special operations units (including the U.S. Navy SEALs). The MP5N features a fully-ambidextrous trigger group, a retractable stock, and a threaded barrel for mounting suppressors. In addition, HK replaced many of the metal parts on the MP5N with lighter and corrosion-resistant plastics.

The MP5/10, an MP5 chambered in the 10 mm Auto cartridge, was HK's first attempt to increase the power of the MP5 series. In 1994, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation adopted the MP5/10 as their standard submachine gun. Despite the discontinuance of MP5/10 production and the agency's adoption of the .40 S&W cartridge for pistols, the FBI recently solicited HK for the purchase of an additional fifty MP5/10. The name MP10 has been incorrectly used by some to indicate the MP5/10. This error was popularized by Tom Clancy's book Rainbow Six.

File:Mp5k.jpg
MP5KA4 9 x 19 mm Luger with 3-round burst trigger group
File:Mp5k brief.jpg
MP5K 9 x 19 mm Luger with standard "S-E-F" trigger group in briefcase

MP5 models

Unless noted otherwise, all MP5s are chambered for the 9 mm Luger cartridge.

  • MP5A1 — MP5 with buttcap/receiver cap (no stock); "SEF" trigger group
  • MP5A2 — fixed stock, "SEF" trigger group
  • MP5A3 — retractable stock, "SEF" trigger group. The most used MP5 version
  • MP5A4 — fixed buttstock, 3-round burst trigger group
  • MP5A5 — retractable buttstock, 3-round burst trigger group
  • MP5SFA2 — SF denotes "single fire", with full auto removed, making it an ideal police weapon; fixed stock
  • MP5SFA3 — MP5SF with retractable stock
  • MP5N — model developed especially for U.S. Navy
  • MP5K — the very short version of the MP5
  • MP5KA1 — MP5K w/ smooth upper surface and small iron sights
  • MP5KA4 — MP5K w/ 3-round burst trigger group
  • MP5KA5 — MP5KA1 w/ 3-round burst trigger group
  • MP5KN — MP5K w/ "Navy" trigger group
  • MP5K-PDW — Personal Defense Weapon; MP5K with added folding stock and ability to add suppressor
  • MP5SD1 — integrated suppressor (Schalldämpfer), A1-type buttcap w/ sling loop; "Navy"/"SEF" trigger group
  • MP5SD2 — integrated suppressor (Schalldämpfer), fixed stock; "Navy"/"SEF" trigger group
  • MP5SD3 — integrated suppressor (Schalldämpfer), retractable stock; "Navy"/"SEF" trigger group
  • MP5SD4 — MP5SD1 w/ 3-round burst trigger group
  • MP5SD5 — MP5SD2 w/ 3-round burst trigger group
  • MP5SD6 — MP5SD3 w/ 3-round burst trigger group
  • MP5/10 — chambered in 10 mm Auto, available in various stock/trigger group configurations
  • MP5/40 — chambered in .40 S&W, available in various stock/trigger group configurations
  • HK94A2 — MP5SF with fixed stock, 16" barrel and special trigger group, designed for civilian market
  • HK94A3 — same as HK94A2, but with retractable stock
  • SP89 - semiautomatic only version of the MP5K with altered foregrip and laser sight, designed for civilian market

History

The MP5 was first introduced by HK in 1966 under the name HK54. This name comes from HK's old numbering system. The "5" designates the model as a submachine gun, while the "4 identifies it as taking 9 x 19 mm ammunition. The current name dates from when it was officially adopted by the West German government for use by its Police and Border Guard as the Maschinenpistole 5, or MP5 in mid-1966. The GSG 9, the counter-terrorist part of the Border Guard, then introduced the MP5 to other Western counter-terrorist units.

With the increased use of body armor, the future of the MP5 is uncertain. Several new trends in gun design have begun to eclipse the submachine gun; small caliber PDW like HK's new MP7 and compact carbines such as the M4, AKS-74, the G36C variant of HK's G36, and the XM8 rifle based on the G36. The only major criticism of the MP5 has been its high cost — approximately 900 USD for an MP5N, or the same price as an assault rifle. HK has started to complement the MP5 series with the more powerful and cheaper UMP, which is available in .45 ACP, .40 S&W and 9 mm Parabellum calibers. However, since the UMP uses a simple blowback action, it may not necessarily be a rival for the MP5 among the most discriminating users.

One famous counter-terrorist operation involving this gun is Operation Nimrod on April 30, 1980 in the UK, where the Special Air Service (SAS), armed with MP5s, was deployed to assault the terrorists who had taken over the Iranian embassy in London.

The MP5 was also used by Crown Prince Dipendra of Nepal to massacre the royal family (including King Birendra and Queen Aiswarya), in a shooting spree in 2001.

Operation

Keep the finger off of the trigger until target has been selected and you are ready to fire. Always point the weapon in a safe direction. Always treat the weapon as if it were loaded.

Loading

  1. On models with "SEF" trigger group, place selector (found on the left side of weapon, above pistol grip) to "S" position. On models with "Pictogram" trigger group rotate rear of selector all the way up, so that front of selector points to depiction of bullet with X through it (will be only depiction outlined in white). Weapon is now safed.
  2. Holding the weapon by the pistol grip with the right hand, grasp charging handle located on front left side of weapon with the left hand and pull all the way to rear, lock into place by maneuvering handle clockwise into slot found near top of weapon.
  3. Insert loaded magazine into magazine well located directly behind rear of foregrip.
  4. Grasp charging handle with left hand, maneuver handle down back into travel slot. Release handle, allowing it to slam forwards. Hitting the top of the gun hard enough with the palm of the hand will also allow the bolt to slam closed by itself.

The weapon is now loaded.

Firing

  1. While holding the weapon by the pistol grip with the right hand, and having the left hand supporting front of weapon by grasping the foregrip (reverse hand positions if left-handed), place buttstock of weapon firmly against shoulder.
  2. Depending on model*, rotate selector down one position to "E" or to image of single red bullet. Weapon will now fire one bullet each time trigger is pulled. If fully-automaic fire is desired, rotate selector to "F", or depiction of 7 red bullets in a row.
  3. Close left eye and look through sights with right eye (reverse eye positions if left handed). Select target and place top of post sticking up from front site over target. Center top of post inside aperture of rear sight (see [1] for more in depth sighting procedures), gently squeeze trigger.

*Some models will have burst options (2 or 3 red bullets in a row), or will be labeled numerically (0 for safe, 1 for semi-automatic, 20 or 25 for fully-automatic)

Unloading

  1. Holding weapon by the pistol grip with the right hand, use right thumb to rotate selector to safe position.
  2. With left hand, grasp magazine. Place left thumb between magazine release (~4mm-thick piece of metal sticking down from bottom of gun) and front of trigger guard. While grasping the magazine with the left hand, use the left thumb to push the magazine release towards the magazine, and while holding the release in this position, pull the magazine out of the magazine well.
  3. Pull back charging handle and lock to rear via slot mentioned in step two of loading procedure, if weapon is "condition 1" (meaning cocked with round chambered) prepare for round to be ejected from right side of weapon when charging handle is brought to rear. Collect round and temporarily store in a place where it will not be lost.
  4. After charging handle has been locked in the rearward position, visually inspect weapon to be sure no round remains in the chamber. This is done by rotating the weapon so that the right side faces up, and looking forwards into the ejection port. Chambered round should be fairly easy to spot by its golden-brass color. If any doubt remains as to status of weapon, inspect chamber physically by inserting finger through ejection port and feeling around chamber.
WARNING: Be sure charging handle is securely positioned to the rear; the handle going forwards when a finger is inside the weapon will cause injury to the user.

After the weapon has been visually/physically inspected it can be declared as "Condition 3" (unloaded). When the weapon is unloaded, the charging handle should remain in the rearward position, with no magazine inserted in order to signify its condition to any others who may be around, or handling the weapon.

File:Elián González Breaking News Photography.GIF
Elián González taken by INS agent armed with MP5

The MP5 is a very popular image in popular culture. It is a very common movie and TV prop.

It is notable that up until the 1990s, the MP5 and Uzi were the only non-American (designed abroad) weapons that were as widespread in Hollywood productions as the US-produced Colt M1911 pistols, M16 assault rifles, Tommy Guns and revolvers.

  • In Die Hard, Bruce Willis dangles in an elevator shaft suspended from the sling of his evidently sturdy MP5.
  • In The Matrix, the first gun Neo (Keanu Reeves) uses in the lobby scene is a HK MP5K, a variant of the MP5.
  • The MP5 is the main weapon of Mizoguchi's mercenaries in the film Returner. They are dressed and equipped exactly like S.W.A.T. officers, but without any markings.
  • Sami's sprite in Advance Wars 2 depicts her holding what looks like a gray, slightly cartoonish MP5.
RAF logo with red star and MP5 (with straight magazine)

The MP5 is ubiquitous in video games. It appears in name or similarity in many first-person shooters and other types of games, most famously Half-Life, Max Payne 2, Counter-Strike, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six series, Grand Theft Auto series, SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs series, Battlefield 2 and Far Cry, among many others.

The MP5 is also pictured in the logo of the former German radical leftist terrorist group the Red Army Faction (right picture).

See also

Manual

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