Information provided by HK

Description

The Heckler and Koch MP5 Submachine gun is a lightweight, air-cooled, magazine-fed, delayed blowback operated, select-fire weapon that can be shouldered or hand fired. The H&K MP5 submachine gun is chambered for various pistol cartridges to include 9x19mm Luger, .40 S&W, and 10mm Auto. It fires from a closed-bolt position in semi-automatic, 2 or 3-round burst, and sustained fire modes. The weapon utilizes the unique H&K roller-locked bolt system used commonly throughout the H&K family of small arms.

The unique features of the H&K MP5 submachine gun include a free floating cold hammer-forged barrel, stamped sheet steel receiver, fluted chamber, straight-line stock and a pistol grip with ambidextrous safety/selector lever.

The modular design of the weapon consists of six (6) assembly groups, not including the carry sling. This design provides an unmatched degree of flexibility as these groups can be exchanged with optional groups to create various styles of weapons for numerous operational requirements. This design also allows assemblies to be repaired separately from the weapon which can be fitted with a new group and immediately returned to service.

The bare metal surfaces of the MP5 are phosphated and coated with a black lacquer paint. This dry lacquer coating is applied with a magnetic charge and then baked onto the metal in an oven. The resulting finish is highly resistant to salt water corrosion and surface wear.

History

The H&K MP5 was first produced in the mid 1960s as th HK54. H&K's internal Protocol Department established the acronym for its first 9mm submachine gun based on the following code:


First Character              Type of Weapon

     1                       Box-fed light machine gun
     2                       Belt-fed machine gun
     3                       Select-fire assault rifle
     4                       Paramilitary rifle (German)
     5                       Submachine gun
     6                       Grenade launcher, complete weapon
     7                       Grenade launcher, add-on weapon
     8                       (not used)
     9                       Semi-automatic paramilitary rifle (USA)


Second Character             Caliber

     1                       7.62 x 51 mm
     2                       7.62 x 39 mm
     3                       5.56 x 45 mm
     4                       9 x 19 mm
     5                       (not used)
     6                       4.6 x 36 mm
     7                       (not used)
     8                       (not used)
     9                       40 mm
The H&K HK54 received it's current acronym "MP5" when it was officially adopted by the West German government for use by its Police and Border Guard as the "Machine Pistol 5", or MP5.

The first MP5s were imported into the U.S. in the very early 1970s. Original HK-Oberndorf produced MP5s were imported into the U.S. and thus marked with "Harrington & Richardson", "Saco", "HK-Inc., Arlington VA", "HK-Inc., Chantilly, VA", and the present marking "HK-Inc., Sterling, VA". This stamp is located on the right side of the magazine well. All 23 or more of the officially recognized variants of the MP5 submachine gun have been imported into the U.S. The MP5 is imported into the U.S. exclusively by H&K for law enforcement and military sale.

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