Heckler and Koch MP5– King of the Sub Guns

The world of counter-terrorism is often cloaked in shadows. That changed in early May of 1980. The world watched after an Arab separatist group from Iran stormed the Iranian embassy in London. Accordingly, Margaret Thatcher picked up a phone and called the SAS. The elite British counter-terror team assaulted the embassy in broad daylight in front of assembled journalists and pedestrians. They rappelled from the rooftop dressed in black, wearing gas masks and carrying submachine guns. In the following 17 minutes, the SAS succeeded in freeing all but one of the remaining hostages, killing five of the six terrorists and capturing the sixth. The image of an elite counter-terror team carrying a unique submachine gun would be forever etched into people’s minds, though. That now iconic submachine gun was the Heckler and Koch MP5.

Heckler and Koch MP5

The MP5 is the brainchild and treasure of the German gun maker Heckler & Koch. Officially, the “Maschinenpistole 5,” the MP5, is a 9mm submachine gun that began its life in 1964. Eventually designated the MP5A1, this lightweight and reliable submachine gun would see service in 40 different nations for military, law enforcement, and security applications. The MP5 began in West Germany as the HK-54 as part of Project 64. The project was based on the proven design and function of the HK G3 7.62 NATO battle rifle. The design team of Tilo Moller, Manfred Guhring, and Halmut Baureuter worked for two years to create a reliable submachine gun using the same roller-locked, fluted chamber and delayed-blowback action of the parent weapon.

Their attention to detail paid off. In a time when most submachine guns fired from an open bolt, the MP5 was designed for improved accuracy by firing from a closed bolt. No more bolt slamming forward and shifting the balance of the gun. Small submachine guns were notorious for being difficult to manage on target. The MP5 would set a new standard for sub-gun accuracy. The MP5 functions according to the proven roller-delayed blowback principle. It is tremendously reliable, easy to handle, modular, extremely accurate, and extraordinarily easy to control when firing.

100 Versions

According to Heckler & Koch, over 100 versions of the MP5 are currently in production. It can be almost dizzying to keep track. Most versions’ primary differences are stock style, overall length, and trigger pack design. While a breakdown of all of the versions could fill this entire magazine, we will look at a few that stand out. The most widely seen version is the MP5A2. This is a full-size gun with a fixed stock. It comes with the “SEF” trigger group, which includes safe, semi-auto, and full-auto. These are the versions most commonly used by law enforcement and security teams worldwide.

Next up is the MP5K. The “K” is the German word for short -“kurz.” This version of the MP5 is almost legend. It was designed for close-quarters battles used by covert operations and special services. The MP5K does not have shoulder stock, and the bolt and receiver are shortened at the rear. The resultant lighter bolt led to a higher rate of fire than the standard MP5. The barrel, cocking handle, and its cover were shortened, and a vertical foregrip was used to replace the standard handguard. The barrel ends at the base of the front sight, preventing the use of any muzzle device. This is also the MP5 that has a special briefcase designed to house and even operate it.

It is considered one of the best sub guns.

Whisper Quiet

Almost as recognizable as the “K” version is the MP5SD. This is the sound-suppressed variant of the MP5, designated the MP5SD (SD—Schalldämpfer German for “sound suppressor”), which features an integral but detachable sound suppressor. According to H&K, “Despite its integrated silencer element, it has the same length and shape as an unsilenced submachine gun. Unlike most conventional silenced submachine guns, it fires standard ammunition types with the same effect. The use of special subsonic ammunition is not necessary. The integrated silencer element suppresses the muzzle flash extremely effectively, which makes the weapon excellent for night operations using low-light amplifiers. The MP5SD is a smooth-shooting, quiet Ferrari in the sub-gun world.

H&K answered a call from the FBI in the late 80s for an MP5 chambered in their newest favorite round, the 10mm, and created the MP5/10. This gun incorporated some differences, including a bolt hold-open and a bolt catch lever. The standard trigger group for the MP5/10 had the three-round burst mode. MP5/10 muzzles were threaded for a suppressor, and a flapper magazine release located behind the mag well was installed instead of the standard release button on the HK MP5. Almost all of these guns ended up in the hands of the FBI’s elite HRT (Hostage Rescue Team). While they are no longer manufactured, H&K still provides support for the weapons.

The Heckler and Koch MP5 is used around the world.

The Heckler and Koch MP5 Lives On

H&K continues to evolve the MP5, and in 1999, they released the successor to the MP5 empire: the UMP. While it may not fit in a fundamentally non-objective summary article, the MP5 is a sexy gun. It is one of the most recognizable firearms on the planet, and it has helped H&K reach the status it enjoys today. In many cases, the AR15 now fills the space that the MP5 once held, but the classic sub gun still remains. The MP5 will always be the benchmark for high-end submachine guns.