Hk g3

At the end of World War II , Mauser designed the StG45 (M) machine, based on a new way to slow the shutter, but due to the defeat of Germany, work on the new weapon was not completely completed. After World War II, a group of German designers working at Mauser on the StG45 (M) assault rifle transferred to the Madrid company CETME , where they participated in the creation of an automatic rifle that uses automation based on a half-free shutter (Ludwig Forggrimler’s scheme) ^[2] .

After the adoption of the American cartridge of 7.62 × 51 mm as the standard NATO ammunition by the mid -1950s , the Federal Republic of Germany, like other countries of the alliance, faced the problem of rearmament. Since West Germany wanted to produce weapons for itself, they had to turn to other available developments. In particular, they were interested in the latest Spanish automatic rifle company CETME, developed under the guidance of German engineer Ludwig Forgrimler. In 1957, the Federal Republic of Germany acquired a license for the SETME rifle and, according to the results of the tender, the right to manufacture new weapons received the new company Heckler & Koch ^[2] .

The German version of the rifle received the designation G3 and was adopted by the Bundeswehr in 1959, along with a variant with a telescopic butt (G3A1). In 1995, the Bundeswehr switched to a new machine - HK G36 , but the production of G3 by Heckler & Koch itself continued until 2001 ^[2] .

The design of the G3 is reflected in the HK MP5 submachine gun , 5.56 mm HK 33 submachine gun , single machine guns HK21 and HK 23 , sniper rifles HK PSG1 and HK MSG90 ^[2] .

Trigger mechanism

The trigger mechanism is the same as the FN FAL . The sear has an elongated neckline that includes the protrusions of the trigger . The spring seeks to push the sear forward over the trigger. At this time, another spring holds the whisper of war. You can’t fire a shot until the bolt frame is in its most forward position. Only after that the safety whisper releases the trigger ^[2] .

On earlier models, the trigger mechanism case was stamped from steel sheet, later a plastic case began to be used, made integrally with a pistol grip and a trigger guard. The housing is attached to the receiver with a pin and, when incompletely disassembled, leans back and forth after separating the butt with the butt plate of the receiver. If necessary, the case can be easily separated from the weapon for repair or replacement by removing the pin located behind the magazine slot. The trigger itself, a fire mode translator, serves as a fuse, located on the left side of the case. Regularly has 3 positions - "fuse" - "single" - "turn", however, there are options with an additional fire mode with a cut-off line of 3 rounds ^[2] .

When conducting a single fire, the trigger is held by the trigger sear. When you press the trigger, the sear turns down and disengages from the trigger. When the trigger is fired forward, the sear also moves forward, and its shank jumps down from the fixed support. The trigger remains pressed and disconnected from the trigger sear. The trigger pivots back under the action of the bolt frame and engages with the whisper combat ledge. The trigger spring overcomes the spring resistance of the whisper and pushes the whisper back. The trigger is held by the self-timer whisper until the shutter returns to its forward position. Since the trigger is already pressed, another shot will not follow. After the trigger is released, the shank of the sear rises, under the action of the spring moves back and is mounted on a fixed support. For the next shot, you need to press the trigger ^[2] .

When the fire mode translator is set to continuous fire, the sear shank does not mesh with the trigger, and the trigger is held only by the self-timer whisper. As soon as the shutter frame is in its frontmost position, a self-timer whisper releases the trigger. When the fire mode translator is in the “fuse” position, it is impossible to whisper upward, and thus the combat ledge will not be able to disengage from the trigger ^[2] .

Automation

When the cartridge is in the chamber, the combat larva of the bolt rests on the sleeve of the sleeve, and the rollers are pulled apart and held in the grooves of the receiver using a locking part. In this case, the cock is cocked and held by the trigger sear. When you press the trigger, the sear falls and exits the cutout on the trigger, the trigger quickly moves forward and hits the hammer, which, in turn, passes through the hole of the locking part and breaks the cartridge capsule. The pressure of the powder gases in the chamber pushes the sleeve back and affects the shutter mirror. Before the combat larva can move back, the rollers must exit the grooves on the receiver and return to their original position. In an effort to converge, the rollers make the locking part move back with the frame. The angle of the inclined surface of the locking part is such that the ratio of the speed of movement of the frame and the speed of movement of the combat larva is 4: 1. Thus, while the rollers return to their original position, the frame travels a distance 4 times larger than the shutter mirror, taking on most of the recoil energy ^[2] .

When the frame moves back, the clamping lever releases the combat larva. When the shutter mirror moves back a little more than 1 mm, the rollers completely come out of the grooves of the receiver. After that, the entire shutter is thrown back by the force of the residual pressure, while the combat larva and the bolt frame retain an offset of 5 mm relative to each other. The slide frame cockes and compresses the return spring. The sleeve held by the ejector is hit by the edge of the cap on the reflector and thrown to the right side through the receiver window. The bolt frame with its end part reaches the shock absorber, and then under the action of the return spring comes back forward. The combat larva extracts a cartridge from the magazine and sends it to the chamber ^[2] .

The ejector hooks the cartridge for the annular recess of the sleeve and the combat larva stops. An offset of 5 mm between the locking part and the bolt frame is reduced to zero, while the rollers enter the grooves of the receiver. The clamping lever fixes the combat larva. The weapon is ready for the next shot ^[2] .

Trunk

A screw thread is applied to the muzzle of the barrel and a sleeve is installed to fix the retainer spring of the flame arrester or the device for firing blank cartridges. The barrel has grooves of the usual configuration. For a smoother and more reliable extraction of the spent cartridge case, the chamber is made with 12 longitudinal grooves on the walls. The shutter is L-shaped. In its hollow elongated end, a return spring is placed. The combat larva along with the frame are mounted on the axis of the barrel channel. Long bearing surfaces on both sides of the frame slide along the grooves of the receiver. Two rollers mounted on both sides of the combat larva are held by the inclined front surface of the shutter stem, which plays the role of the so-called “locking part”. The rollers are in the grooves of the receiver. In order to avoid a “jump” during the delivery of the cartridge to the chamber, the combat larva together with the locking part are fixed on the frame using the clamping lever ^[2] .

Sights

Sights on the first options G3 and G3A1 were a front sight in the annular head and flip open rear sight, on later versions (G3A2, G3A3, G3A4) the rear sight became diopter, including a front sight with a ring guard and a sight mounted at the rear edge of the receiver. The latter is an inclined hollow rotary drum with a triangular slot for firing at ranges of up to 100 m and three diopter holes at ranges of 200, 300 and 400 m. The length of the sighting line is 556 mm. An optical or night sight with a bracket that can be mounted on two racks on the receiver can also be used. The sight is used for firing at ranges up to 600 m ^[2] .

The device for firing blank cartridges can be screwed onto the muzzle of the barrel instead of a flame arrester. It has a snap ring lock for secure installation. The device consists of an open cylinder with a transverse bolt that completely covers the hole. There is a cutout on the surface of the bolt. By turning it, the amount of expelling powder gases can be adjusted to ensure the operation of the automation. Matt chrome coating of this device helps to distinguish it from the arrester ^[2] .

Basic

• G3 - The basic model with a fixed butt.
• G3A1 - G3 variant with telescopic telescopic butt.
• G3A2 is a model with a fixed plastic butt and a diopter sight.
• G3A3 - a model with a fixed butt, diopter sight and two forend options (solid and perforated).
• G3A3 ZF ( German: Zielfernrohr - sight) - an option with an optical sight.
• G3A4 is a model with a telescopic butt and a diopter sight.
• G3KA4 - version G3A4 with a barrel shortened to 315 mm.

Licensed

• G3P3 is the name G3A3 for Pakistan.
  • G3S - G3P3 version with a short barrel.
• G3P4 is the name G3A4 for Pakistan.
• G3M-Tactical - Pakistani version of the G3 with a polymer form and a short barrel.
• G3A5 is the name G3A3 for Denmark. It differs in that it has a silent device for locking the shutter. The Danish army is known as the Gv M / 66 . Gv M / 66 was originally intended along with a telescopic sight for snipers, while most units had M1 Garand .
• G3A6 is the name G3A3 for Iran. It differs in that it has a darker green fore-end.
• G3A7 is the name G3A3 for Turkey.
• G3A7A1 - name G3A4 for Turkey.
• HSG1 is the name G3A3 for Luxembourg.
• DIO G3-A3 Bullpup - Iranian version of G3 in the bullpup system.

Specialized

• G3TGS - G3 variant with HK79 grenade launcher. TGS stands for Tragbares Granat System (portable grenade system).
• HK 41 and HK 91 are G3 self-loading variants for the civilian market.
• SAR-8 is a self-loading version of the G3 with a modified stock and stores for 10 rounds, manufactured by the American company Springfield Armory.
• G3SG / 1 is a sniper version for the civilian and police sectors, in some models it has: a butt with an adjustable cheek, folding bipods and a trigger with the ability to adjust traction. ^[3]
• HK11 and HK21 are machine guns based on the G3.

In addition to Germany, the G3 was or is in service in the armies of more than 77 countries.

NATO countries

•   Germany : replaced by HK G36 , but still found in large quantities.
•   Greece : produced under license from the Ellinika Amyntika Systimata (EAS), replacing the multi-caliber "echo of war" in the late 1970s. It is still in service with the Greek army.
•   Denmark : G3A5 under the name Gevær Model 1966 (Gv M / 66). Another option, called the Gevær Model 1975 ( Gv M / 75 ), was leased from the German government. Almost all G3 of the Danish army were replaced in the late 1990s with Diemaco C7 rifles.
•   Iceland : Used by the Coast Guard and the Rapid Response Unit.
•   Italy
•   Latvia used Swedish version Ak 4
•   Lithuania
•   Netherlands
•   Norway : AG-3, modified G3A5. Replaced by HK 416 .
•   Portugal : manufactured under the INDEP license under the names m / 961 (G3) and m / 963 (G3A3).
•   Turkey : manufactured under license for MKEK under the name G3A7 ^[4] .
•   Great Britain
•   France : Manufactured under license for GIAT Industries for export.
•   Croatia : some used in the war of independence .
•   Estonia : Swedish version of Ak 4 used

Other countries

•   Austria : about 40 thousand units from 1965 to 2000.
•   Angola
•   Argentina
•   Azerbaijan
•   Bahrain
•   Bangladesh : manufactured under license from the Bangladesh Ordnance Factory. ^[five]
•   Butane
•   Bolivia
•   Bosnia and Herzegovina
•   Brazil : used by special forces.
•   Burkina Faso
•   Burundi
•   Djibouti
•   Dominican Republic
•   Gabon
•   Haiti
•   Guyana
•   Georgia - 1500 pcs. G3A3 obtained from Turkey ^[6]
•   Jordan
•   Iran : produced at the Defense Industries Organization in two versions - G3-A4 and G3-A3 (version with bullpup layout) ^[7]
•   Yemen
•   Cambodia : used by the Khmer Republic during the civil war, as well as the royal army of Cambodia.
•   Colombia : replaced by IMI Galil in 1993.
•   Cote d'Ivoire
•   Cyprus

•   Chad
•   Indonesia : used in the Air Force and Special Forces since the 1960s. Currently used by reservists and undergoing training in training camps.
•   Kenya
•   Kuwait
•   Lebanon : in limited quantities used in the Lebanese army and gendarmerie.
•   Libya
•   Malawi
•   Malaysia : G3SG / 1 has been used by special forces since the 1970s, and in 1990 was replaced by MSG-90 and PSG-1 rifles.
•   Mauritania
•   Mexico : produced under license for DIM ( Departamento de la Industriá Militar ) and DGFD ( Dirección General de Fábricas de la Defensa ). Used by the army and police.
•   Morocco
•   Myanmar : Under the names BA-63 (G3A3), BA-72 (G3K) and BA-100 (G3A3ZF), it was produced in the state-owned factories of Ka Pa Sa.
•   Niger
•   Nigeria : Manufactured under license from Defense Industries Corporation ^[8] .

•   Pakistan : G3A3 and G3A4 are manufactured by Pakistan Ordnance Factories. ^[9]
•   Paraguay : gradually replaced by M16 .
•   Peru
•   Qatar
• Rhodesia : used during the second Chimurenga .
•   El Salvador - in the 1980s they were gradually withdrawn from the arsenal of the army and transferred to the arsenal of the National Guard
•   Saudi Arabia : produced under license from Al-Kharj Arsenal and used by all types of troops.
•   Senegal
•   Sierra leone
•   Somalia
•   South Africa : used during the Namibian War of Independence .
•   Sri Lanka : in the early 1980s, several thousand Pakistani G3A3 were purchased, they are currently being replaced by Chinese Type 56 .
•   Sudan : Licensed under the Military Industry Corporation under the name Dinar . ^[ten]
•   Sweden : manufactured under license from Förenade Fabriksverken (FFV) under the name Ak 4 ( Automatkarbin 4 ). ^[eleven]
•   Tanzania
•   Thailand
•   Togo
•   Tanzania
•   UAE
•   Zaire
•   Zambia
•   Zimbabwe
•   Philippines
•   Chile : In limited quantities, used by gunners, reservists, and trained in training camps.
•   Ecuador
•   Ethiopia