HK G36

The HK G36 is a model of Fusil of attack conceived by the company Heckler & Koch.

Introduction

At the time of the end of the Cold war and reunification of both Germany S, the young army was vis-a-vis a dilemma. The HK G11 and the HK G41 had been given up and the G3 remained alone then in service. It was certainly about a powerful weapon but its ammunition of 7.62mm NATO did not correspond to the standard NATO which had adopted the 5,56 Misters Moreover G3 was heavy and cumbersome. The need for a more modern weapon was essential.

The German armed had three solutions: to preserve G3 in spite of its obsolescence, to adopt the AK-74 whose late German Democratic republic left important stocks (firing a ammunition from 5,45mm, near to the 5,56 NATO but not interopérable), or to develop a completely new weapon. It is this last solution which was adopted.

The objective was to design a rifle modern but economically realistic, expensive the saga of the HK G11 having been used as lesson. In fact, G36 enormously borrows ideas employed by various originators of existing weapons: the encasable chargers are taken again those of Swiss SIG-550 and some estimate that the hand-shield curiously points out that of the ancestral Belgian FAL, which seems it took as a starting point already the G3. As for the internal mechanism, with few things near, it is that of Armalite American AR-18. Heckler & Koch however succeeded in designing a highly reliable, precise and flexible weapon.

Description

Although the current trend as regards rifle of attack is with the Bullpup, G36 preserves a classical architecture. There thus remains relatively long. On the other hand its weight of 3,6 kg remains perfectly in the current standard, in particular thanks to the use of polymers or ultrarésistant plastic. The stick is folding on the side of the weapon. The Chargeur curve contains thirty cartridges and is transparent what makes it possible to control the contents of it. The weapon also accepts a store of 100 blows to twinbatch mixing drum intended for the version light Mitrailleuse.

What dissociates G36 of other conventional rifles of attack is its system of aiming and its handle integrated on its upper part. The version intended for the German army is equipped with a double reflector view finder. The higher glasses do not offer any enlargement and allow the fast acquisition of the targets by alignment of a red point whereas the lower glasses of an enlargement of X3,0 are used for the shooting of precision to long distance. The version of export, G36E , has only one glasses of a X1,5 enlargement. A sighting device more powerful and even night or infra-red can be gone up on the weapon. The G36C does not have any glasses but is on the other hand equipped with a standard rail (Picatinny) which allows the addition of any system of aiming.

Alternatives

G36K, shortened gun;
G36C, very compact version intended for the units of intervention;
MG36, version light machine-gun with lengthened gun, bipod and charger drum of 100 blows;
SL-8, rifle of precision especially of sporting use and competition, even if the German SEK and the adopted Spanish GEO one.
G-36E version of export (see higher) with glasses of enlargement 1,5

The H&K can integrate a lance grenade of 40mm single stroke, a tactical lamp and a laser system of aiming.

Future and exports

The German army obviously adopted it but also the Spanish army ( HK G36E ). Moreover its compact versions KE and C are very appreciated groups of interventions, in particular SWAT American and the RAID, GIGN and GIPN French. The Turkish army studies the replacement of its G3 by G36 and the Nepalese army already ordered cinquante-mille exemplary to reinforce its army in the fight against the guerilla Maoist.

The only reproaches which were made hear in its opposition are the tendency of the guard to heat in the event of heavy shooting and impossibility of obtaining an aiming without enlargement with the version of export.

Characteristics

G36

Gauge: 5,56 mm NATO
Mechanism: gas loan, semi-automatic shooting , gust of 2 blows (according to version), automatic shooting
Length: 99,8 cm/75,8 cm
Length of the gun: 48 cm
Weight noncharged: 3,6kg (3,3kg G36E)
Weight charged: -
Capacity: 30 blows
Rate of shooting: 750 blows/ordinary minute
Price: approximately 770 € (source: Spanish armed forces, 75.000 bought units)

G36K

Gauge: 5,56 mm NATO
Mechanism: gas loan, semi-automatic shooting , gust of 2 blows (according to version), automatic shooting
Length: 86 cm/61,5 cm
Length of the gun: 32 cm
Weight noncharged: 3,3kg (3kg G36KE)
Weight charged: -
Capacity: 30 blows
Rate of shooting: 750 blows/minute

G36C

Gauge: 5,56 mm NATO
Mechanism: gas loan, semi-automatic shooting , gust of 2 blows (according to version), automatic shooting
Length: 75 cm/50 cm
Length of the gun: 22,8 cm
Weight noncharged: 2,8 kg
Weight charged: -
Capacity: 30 blows
Rate of shooting: 750 blows/minute

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