Heckler & Koch G36

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Heckler & Koch G36

G36
Type Assault rifle
Place of origin Flag of Germany Germany
Service history
In service 1995-present
Used by See Users
Wars Kosovo War, Afghan War, Iraq War
Production history
Designed 1990-1995
Manufacturer Heckler & Koch
Produced 1995-present
Variants See Variants
Specifications
Weight 3.63 kg (8 lb) (G36)
3.33 kg (7.3 lb) (G36V)
3.30 kg (7.3 lb) (G36K)
3.0 kg (6.6 lb) (G36KV)
2.82 kg (6.2 lb) (G36C)
3.83 kg (8.4 lb) (MG36)
3.50 kg (7.7 lb) (MG36E)
Length 999 mm (39.3 in) stock extracted / 758 mm (29.8 in) stock folded (G36, G36V, MG36, MG36E)
860 mm (33.9 in) stock extended / 615 mm (24.2 in) stock folded (G36K, G36KV)
720 mm (28.3 in) stock extended / 500 mm (19.7 in) stock folded (G36C)
Barrel length 480 mm (18.9 in) (G36, G36V, MG36, MG36E)
318 mm (12.5 in) (G36K, G36KV)
228 mm (9.0 in) (G36C)
Width 64 mm (2.5 in)
Height 320 mm (12.6 in) (G36, G36K, MG36)
285 mm (11.2 in) (G36V, G36KV, MG36E)
278 mm (10.9 in) (G36C)
Cartridge 5.56x45mm NATO
Action Gas-operated, rotating bolt
Rate of fire 750 rounds/min cyclic
Muzzle velocity 920 m/s (3,018 ft/s) (G36, G36V, MG36, MG36E)
850 m/s (2,788.7 ft/s) (G36K, G36KV)
Effective range 200 to 800 m sight marks
Feed system 30-round detachable box magazine or 100-round C-Mag drum magazine
Sights Reflex sight with 1x magnification and telescopic sight with 3x magnification (export version has a 1.5x magnified sight)

The G36 is a German 5.56 mm assault rifle, designed in the early 1990s by Heckler & Koch GmbH (HK) and accepted into service with the German Armed Forces in 1995, replacing the 7.62 mm G3 automatic rifle.[1]

Contents

[edit] Development

German Army soldiers deployed with G36s.
German Army soldiers deployed with G36s.

Work on a replacement for the venerable G3 rifle had been ongoing in Germany since the latter half of the 1970s. These efforts resulted in the innovative 4.73 mm G11 assault rifle (developed by a group of companies led by HK), that used caseless ammunition (designed by the Dynamit Nobel company). It had been predicted that this weapon would eventually replace the G3, therefore further development of HK's platform of weapons chambered for the 5.56x45mm NATO cartridge had been halted. Heckler & Koch had no incentive to pursue a new 5.56 mm weapon design, content with the export-oriented 5.56 mm HK33 and G41 assault rifles. However, the G11 program came to an abrupt end when the Bundeswehr rejected the design and HK had been acquired in 1991 by British Aerospace's Royal Ordnance division (known today as BAE Systems).

Increasing interest in Germany for a modern 5.56 mm weapon platform led HK to offer the German armed forces the G41 rifle, which too was rejected. Design work was then initiated on a modern 5.56 mm assault rifle, designated “Project 50” or HK50.[1] The prototype was then trialled, where it was rated higher than the Austrian Steyr AUG system.[1] Shortly thereafter, the HK50 was introduced as the new Bundeswehr service rifle known as the Gewehr G36, and deliveries were first made to the Quick Reaction Force in the autumn of 1995. The Spanish Armed Forces also chose to adopt the G36 export version in 1998, replacing the 5.56 mm CETME Model L and LC rifles.

The G36 is manufactured in three primary versions: the G36 standard rifle, the G36K carbine (K – Kurz) and the MG36 light machine gun (M – Maschinengewehr). An export version of the series is also produced (these weapons have a simplified sighting system, as well as a NATO standard bayonet mount) parallel to the standard line-up, called the G36E, G36KE and MG36E respectively. Heckler & Koch has since then changed the export model suffix from “E” to “V” resulting in the identical G36V and G36KV models (the MG36 and MG36E are no longer offered by HK).

[edit] Design details

The G36 has a conventional layout and a modular component design. Common to all variants of the G36 family are: the receiver and buttstock assembly, bolt carrier group with bolt and the return mechanism and guide rod. The receiver contains the barrel, carry handle with integrated sights, trigger group with pistol grip, handguard and magazine socket.

The G36 is selective fire gas-operated weapon that uses burnt powder gases from the barrel, bled through a port near the muzzle to provide automation to the moving assembly; it fires from a closed bolt. The weapon uses a self-regulating short-stroke gas piston system (without a gas valve).[1] The rotary bolt features 7 locking lugs and its rotation is controlled by a cam pin guided inside a camming guide cut-out in the bolt carrier. The bolt also houses a spring-loaded casing extractor and an ejector. Spent cartridge casings are ejected through a port located on the right side of the receiver. A brass deflector keeps cases from striking left-handed operators in the face. There is no ejection port cover as the bolt closes the ejection port to particulates when it is forward. The weapon features a hammer-type striking mechanism and a trigger with a fire control selector and an integrated, manual safety mechanism that prevents accidental firing (this is an improved trigger group from the G3 rifle). The fire and safety selector is ambidextrous and has controls on both sides of the receiver; the selector settings are described with letters: “S” – safe, “E” – semi-automatic fire and “F” – continuous fire.[1] The weapon safety disables the trigger when engaged. HK also offers several other trigger options, including the so-called “Navy” trigger group, with settings analogous to the standard trigger, but the selector positions have been illustrated with pictograms. A semi-automatic only trigger unit (lacks the “F” setting) is also available.

A German infantryman stands at the ready with his G36 during a practice exercise in 2004. US troops watch in the background. All rifles in photo are equipped with blank firing adapters. (Photo: US Navy)
A German infantryman stands at the ready with his G36 during a practice exercise in 2004. US troops watch in the background. All rifles in photo are equipped with blank firing adapters. (Photo: US Navy)

The G36 feeds from proprietary 30-round curved magazines with cartridges loaded in a double-column pattern. The magazines are molded from a high-strength translucent polymer and can be clipped together using built-in studs into 2 or 3-magazine packs. The magazines are not compatible with other NATO-standard M16-type magazines. However, the G36 can be used with Beta C-MAG drum magazines (produced by Beta Company), that have a 100-round cartridge capacity and are intended to be used primarily with the MG36 light support weapon. The bolt is automatically locked to the rear when the last round is expended, but the bolt catch can be deactivated. The bolt catch button is located at the forward end of the trigger guard. The folding cocking handle extends forward in line with the barrel of the rifle (it is located on top of the receiver, beneath the carry handle). It automatically rotates left or right, depending on whether the user is right or left-handed and is locked when pressed inward. When locked at a perpendicular angle to the receiver, the handle can be used as a forward assist to force the bolt into battery, or to extract a stuck cartridge case (the cocking handle's design is protected in the US by patent number 5821445, by Manfred Guhring).[2][3]

3x optical sight topped with an electronic red-dot sight.
3x optical sight topped with an electronic red-dot sight.
Optical sight reticle pattern, G36 and G36K (click for description)
Optical sight reticle pattern, G36 and G36K
(click for description)

Standard versions of the G36 are equipped with a dual optical sight that combines a 3x magnified telescopic sight (with the main reticule designed for firing at 300 m, a bullet drop compensator with: 200, 400, 600 and 800 m crosshairs and a range-finding scale) and an unmagnified reflex red-dot sight (calibrated for firing at 200 m) mounted on top of the telescopic sight.[1] The red dot sight is activated by ambient light during the day and requires battery power in a zero light environment. The export versions have a single optical sight with a 1.5x magnification and an aiming reticule fixed at 300 m. All rifles are adapted to use the Hensoldt NSA 80 II third-generation night sight, which clamps into the G36 carry handle adapter in front of the optical sight housing and mates with the rifle's standard optical sight. The sighting bridge also functions as a carrying handle and features auxiliary open sights molded on top of the handle that consist of a forward blade and rear notch, but these can only be used with the red dot sight removed, as in the G36V. The optical sight system is produced by Hensoldt AG (currently Carl Zeiss AG).

The G36 employs a free-floating barrel (the barrel does not contact the handguard), which can be changed-out. The barrel is fastened to the receiver with a barrel nut, which can be removed with a torque wrench. The barrel is produced using a cold hammer forging process and features a chrome-lined bore with 6 right-hand grooves at 178 mm (1:7 in) twist rate. The barrel assembly consists of the gas block, a collar with a bayonet lug that is also used to launch rifle grenades and a slotted flash suppressor.

The weapon is equipped with a side-folding skeletonized stock and a detachable folding bipod, which folds into recesses in the handguard. The G36 can be fired with the stock collapsed.[1]

The G36 employs a large number of lightweight, corrosion-resistant synthetic materials in its design; the receiver housing, stock, trigger group (including the fire control selector and firing mechanism parts), magazine well, handguard and carry handle are all made of a carbon fiber-reinforced polyamide. The receiver has an integrated steel barrel trunnion (with locking recesses) and the reciprocating parts move on steel rails molded into the receiver (this feature was issued a US patent, number 5513461, authored by Helmut Weldle).

The rifle can be fitted with a 40 mm AG36 (AG – Anbau-Granatwerfer) under-barrel grenade launcher, which is a breech-loaded break-action weapon with a side-tilting barrel.

The weapon can be stripped and re-assembled without tools through a system of cross-pins similar to that used on earlier HK designs. For cleaning purposes, the G36 disassembles into the following groups: receiver housing, return mechanism, bolt carrier group and trigger group.

Standard equipment supplied with the G36 includes: spare magazines, a cleaning and maintenance kit, sling, speed-loading device and an AK-74 blade bayonet (many of which are left over in Germany from stocks of the former East German army).

[edit] Variants

The MG36 light machine gun differs from the G36, having a heavier barrel for an increased heat and cook-off capacity.[1]

The G36K (K - Kurz or short) carbine has a shorter barrel (fitted with an open-type flash suppressor) and a shorter handguard, which includes a bottom rail that can be used to attach tactical accessories, such as a UTL halogen flashlight from the USP pistol. The carbine’s barrel lacks the capability to propel rifle grenades and it cannot mount a bayonet. The weapon retained the ability to be used with the AG36 grenade launcher.

A Latvian soldier seen here with a G36KV rifle fitted with a Picatinny rail, a modified stock, and AG36 under-slung grenade launcher.
A Latvian soldier seen here with a G36KV rifle fitted with a Picatinny rail, a modified stock, and AG36 under-slung grenade launcher.

The G36C (C – Compact) is a further development of the G36K. It has a short barrel and a shorter (than the G36K), 4-prong open-type flash suppressor. The use of a reduced length 228 mm barrel forced designers to move the gas block closer to the muzzle end and a shortened gas piston was used. The handguard and stock were also reduced in length and the fixed carry handle (with optical sights) was replaced with a carry handle with an integrated MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rail. In place of the dual optical sight found on the regular G36 and G36K, the G36C was equipped with rail-mounted iron sights that consist of a hooded front post and a flip rear aperture sight.

Based on the G36, Heckler & Koch also created the semi-automatic SL8 rifle and the straight-pull, bolt-action R8, which are offered to the civilian sport shooting community. The SL8 is substantially different from the G36, it has a different receiver and a fixed thumbhole stock with a cheek rest, which is integrated with the trigger group. The SL8 has a heavy profile, extended, 510 mm barrel that does not have a flash hider or bayonet lug. The rifle uses a shortened 10-round single-stack magazine and an extended top rail used to mount a wide variety of Picatinny-standard optics. Mounted to the rail are a set of iron sights with a hooded foresight and adjustable flip rear aperture. The SL8 can also mount the G36 carry handle and integrated sight assembly, after removing the mechanical iron sights. The SL8 has an unloaded weight of 4.3 kg, overall length – 980-1030 mm and a trigger rated at 20 N.

[edit] Users

A G36 of the Bundeswehr equipped with the AG36 grenade launcher and an Oerlikon Contraves LLM01 laser light module.
A G36 of the Bundeswehr equipped with the AG36 grenade launcher and an Oerlikon Contraves LLM01 laser light module.
U. S. Army soldiers crosstrain with G36s in Kosovo.
U. S. Army soldiers crosstrain with G36s in Kosovo.
A Spanish naval boarding team member with a G36E.
A Spanish naval boarding team member with a G36E.

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Woźniak, Ryszard. Encyklopedia najnowszej broni palnej - tom 2 G-Ł. Bellona. 2001. pp17-21.
  2. ^ http://www.google.com/patents?id=knkWAAAAEBAJ&dq=Manfred+Guhring
  3. ^ http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=5821445.PN.&OS=PN/5821445&RS=PN/5821445
  4. ^ 'G36C Firearms' sold to the Australian Federal Police by HK Systems Australia
  5. ^ Folha de São Paulo. Retrieved June 23rd, 2007
  6. ^ a b Assault rifles in a 5.56 mm evolution: the fielding of new designs and the upgrade of existing weapons will ensure that 5.56 mm remains the predominant assault rifle calibre.
  7. ^ http://www.mod.gov.lv/upload/nbsfakti.anglu.gala.pdf
  8. ^ SOJ "Aitvaras".
  9. ^ FUSIL DE ASALTO 5.56 mm. (Spanish)

[edit] References

  • (Polish) Woźniak, Ryszard (2001). "p. 17-21", Encyklopedia najnowszej broni palnej - tom 2 G-Ł. Warsaw, Poland: Bellona. ISBN 83-11-09310-5. 

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: