HK G11

The HK G11 was the Fusil of West German attack most revolutionary since the Sturmgewehr 44. But it did not exceed the experimental stage in spite of unquestionable qualities.

History

The development of the rifle G11 started in the Sixties, at the time or the German government rifle G3 of use by a more effective and lighter weapon decided to replace. The first studies led to the principle of a rifle of small gauge to fast shooting using a Munition without case. So that this weapon of small gauge has a sufficient power of stop, the weapon was to be able to draw from the short gusts and to have a charger of great capacity. This new weapon, called G11 was developed in partnership by Heckler & Koch and the company Nobel. HK was responsible for the development of the weapon while Nobel undertook the ammunition. The tests of the German army started in 1988.

During the two years of technical tests and ground, a certain number of modifications were brought as well to the weapon as with its ammunition. The end result was G11 K2, second version of G11. It comprises improvements in the operation of the parts and the general ergonomics of the weapon, inspired by the tests on the ground. The initial ammunition which tended to start all alone when the weapon was hot was amélirorée. Concerning G11 itself, the essential change relates to the hand-shield and the beam which were redrawn to make it possible to fix units three Chargeur S of 45 cartouches each one. What wants to say that for a weight lower than 5 kg, a soldier can carry 135 cartridges in the chargers already installed on the weapon. The central charger supplies the weapon and can be very quickly replaced by one of the side chargers during recharging. The Bundeswehr chose finally most traditional HK G36 in 1996 for reasons of cost and interworking with standard cartouche NATO.

Characteristics

Gauge: 4.73 X 33 mm without case
Operation: rifle with swivelling cylinder head, selector of shooting functioning by gas loan (semi-car, gust of 3 blows, car)
Weight: 3,8 kg
Length: 752 mm
Canon: 540 mm
Speed intiale: 930 m/s
Aimed: optics; Special sights, for example for the night aiming, in effective option
Carried maximum: 400 m
Capacity of the charger: 45 cartridges (3 chargers are fixed directly on the weapon)
Cadence of shooting: 600 blows/minute in continuous shooting, 2000 blows/minute in gusts of three
Manufacturer: Heckler & Koch, Germany

Evaluation

Precision

During the tests of G11 K2 to the autumn 1989, young recruits of the German army obtained 50% of blow to the goal in more with G 11 qu' with G3.

Reliability

It is undoubtedly the reason for which G11 was not retained. Indeed, G11 uses a ammunition " caseless" , i.e. without metal case. One of the disadvantages of such a system is that the heat produced at the time of the firing of the ammunition is not evacuated as effectively as when one uses the standard system of ejection of the extreme casing of the ammunition. What creates an accumulation of heat, especially in automatic shooting, and can thus cause inopportune firing of the ammunition which is in the room.

Moreover, this same system makes that the ammunition are more fragile and thus less reliable when they are in the chargers, when the weapon is used under conditions of extreme heat (desert) or strong ambient moisture (jungle).

Weight

At present, the average weight of a weapon is of approximately 3 kg. With 3,8 kg, it remains light.

Starting gleam

Weak

Retreat

The cartridge without case light and fast of 4,7mm for a mass of 3,25 grams and an initial speed from 930 to 960 meters a second present a weak Retreat. The gusts of three blows profit from a very high rate of shooting (2000 blows per minute), the retreat of the weapon is made then feel after the last ball left the gun and thus the aiming does not penalize.

Power of stop

Raised because of the rate of shooting raised, only in gust mode of three blows which supports the multiple impacts.

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