The Heckler & Koch MG4 (also known as the HK123 ) is a belt-fed 5.56 mm light machine gun designed and developed by German firearm manufacturer Heckler & Koch . It was developed in the late 1990s and first seen publicly in September 2001. It has been selected to replace the 7.62 mm MG3 general-purpose machine gun in the Bundeswehr at the squad support level; it will complement the MG3 in other roles. It will also be the secondary armament of the new Puma infantry fighting vehicle. Overall, it is designed to be light, provide maximum safety to the user and function reliably under adverse conditions using a wide range of ammunition from different manufacturers, without the need to adjust the gas system. It was known as the MG43 prior to its adoption by the Bundeswehr.
29-417: MG4 may refer to: MG4 , Heckler & Koch firearm MG4 , British NVC community category MG4 (album) MG4 EV , an electric car [REDACTED] Topics referred to by the same term This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the same title formed as a letter–number combination. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change
58-454: A long-stroke gas piston to cycle the conventional rotary bolt action. The design employs a number of concepts that have proven successful in other firearms. The locking mechanism, feed and trigger mechanisms are derived from the MG4 light machine gun. The MG5 fires from an open bolt . The MG5 is gas-operated and chambered in 7.62×51mm NATO. The weapon's operation is almost identical to that of
87-646: A deployable bipod inside the handle, can be mounted to increase mobility. In a stationary, heavy machine gun role the MG5 can also be mounted on the MG3 Feldlafette buffered field tripod by using additional adapters. The Bundeswehr use a RAL 8000 green brown surface finish on their MG5s and has chosen to use a 550 mm (21.7 in) barrel instead of a 663 mm (26.1 in) barrel for their mounted guns to promote parts uniformity. Various side-folding and fixed polymer buttstocks are available as well as
116-492: A heat shield and a carrying/barrel exchange handle, gas port and front sight attached. After around 300 rounds of rapid fire , the gun operator has to replace the hot barrel with a new cool(er) one. Non-observance of this technical limitation renders the barrel prematurely unusable. A hot barrel can be replaced with its carrying and barrel exchange handle without using protective gloves or other heat protection. The MG5 takes zero shifts between barrel assemblies into account by making
145-571: A maximum of 5.16 MOA/15 mrad (previously 3.44 MOA/10 mrad) after a barrel change with a barrel of the same length. Optical or night sights or laser pointers can be mounted on a length of STANAG 4694 NATO Accessory Rail located on the receiver feed tray cover. Bundeswehr models are generally equipped with Hensoldt ZO 4×30 Intermediate Range Targeting Optic combined with a red dot as optical day sights with 4× magnification to promote accuracy of fire. The ZO 4×30 Intermediate Range Targeting Optic can be augmented by night-vision attachments. With
174-574: A remote firing device and safety/fire selector lever. It can also be fitted for dismounted use. A variant of the MG4 with a shorter barrel. An export variant of the MG4K. A German Army modernized variant is under test that introduces Heckler & Koch MG5 elements such as being fitted with the Hensoldt ZO 4×30 Intermediate Range Targeting Optic combined with a red dot as optical day sights with 4× magnification to promote accuracy of fire. Like
203-413: A visible and tactile loaded chamber indicator to alert its operator that there is a round present in line with the chamber. Three-position adjustment of the gas port allows selecting the cyclic rate of fire (640, 720 or 800 rounds per minute) and subsidiary can adjust the gas system for various types of cartridge loadings or use in the presence of heavy fouling. The gas port can be field adjusted by sliding
232-486: Is an air-cooled, belt-fed gas-operated light machine gun with a positively locked rotary bolt and is somewhat similar in concept to the Belgian Minimi light machine gun. Safety mechanisms on the machine gun includes a manual safety incorporated into the fire mode selector toggle; setting the fire selector lever on the "safe" position blocks the trigger mechanically and locks the bolt in the cocked position. When
261-404: Is mounted on the barrel assembly and is adjustable mechanically for both windage and elevation. The sight line radius is 602 millimeters (23.7 in). The MG5 was expressly designed to use various types of receiver mounted optical sights as its primary sighting option. Therefore achieving a negligible zero change in practical use between barrel assembly changes was a major design requirement that
290-432: Is mounted on the barrel assembly and is adjustable mechanically for both windage and elevation. The sight line radius is 602 millimeters (23.7 in). Optical or night sights or laser pointers can be mounted on a length of MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rail located on the receiver feed tray cover. Bundeswehr models are equipped with telescopic sights with 3× magnification. A folding bipod weighing 0.70 kg (1.54 lb)
319-478: Is provided. Supporting interfaces are integrated into the receiver to allow the MG4 to be mounted on the standard American M122A1 tripod for increased accuracy and stability. The Heckler & Koch MG4 (HK123) light machine gun is chambered in 5.56×45mm NATO cartridge and has been adopted by the Bundeswehr. An export variant of the MG4 that has been slightly modified and is slightly lighter. The letter "E" in
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#1732781154409348-685: The Bundeswehr during 2014–2017, in a deal that over time could grow to 12,733 MG5s. The MG5 is designed to be modular, was intended to replace the MG3 machine gun that had been in German service since 1959, and started doing so in 2015. According to the Bundeswehr , the MG5 is more accurate than the MG3. The effective range on bipod is therefore greater. The MG5 reduced cyclic rate uses less ammunition and
377-457: The MG 42 family of machine guns, the belt is expelled to the right and spent cases are ejected downwards, although sideways ejection to the right is an option. The MG4 has a hammer-forged quick-change barrel that can be safely exchanged when hot without the need for protective gloves; the carrying handle serves as the barrel change grip. The barrel assembly weighs 1.80 kg (3.97 lb). To reduce
406-476: The MG4 light machine gun . Unlike the stamped sheet metal receiver of MG4 light machine gun the receiver of the MG5 is made out of two steel receiver shell castings and a connection block that are connected by a patented process. The safety is ambidextrous, the butt stock is field adjustable for length of pull and features a user height adjustable cheek-piece and can be folded depending on the variant. It also features
435-731: The MG4 light machine gun that Heckler & Koch initially presented as the HK MG43 at the MILIPOL 2001 trade show in Paris. A prototype of the HK121 was presented to a larger public by Heckler & Koch on the 14th day of the infantry in July 2010 in Hammelburg. In June 2013, it was announced that Germany was testing and evaluating 65 samples and planned to buy at least 7,114 of the machine guns for
464-415: The MG5 can be fed with 80-round cloth ammunition pouches or a Gurtkasten (belt box) containing 120 rounds and fitted to the left side of the receiver or from stand-alone ammunition boxes. The feeding system is based on the direct push-through of the cartridge out of the belt link into the gun's chamber. Feed is performed in two steps by a pawl-type feeding mechanism that continues to move the belt during both
493-551: The MG5 the MG4 A3 uses a RAL 8000 green brown surface finish. The Heckler & Koch MG5 (HK121) general-purpose machine gun is chambered in 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge. It has been adopted by the Bundeswehr as their standard general-purpose machine gun. The MG5 is heavily based on the MG4, however there are only few parts that are interchangeable due to the machine guns having different calibers and their size differences. Heckler %26 Koch MG5 The Heckler & Koch MG5 (in
522-432: The ambidextrous lever-type safety placed in the safe setting, the firing mechanism is disabled regardless of the position of the bolt and the arm can be cocked by the non-reciprocal T-shaped cocking handle with the safety engaged. The MG5 can be loaded with the bolt forward or cocked as the cam roller is spring-loaded, pushing down when the feed cover is closed and then automatically snapping up to properly engage and operate
551-462: The base of a 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge into machined slots to select one of the three possible settings. The MG5 features STANAG 4694 NATO Accessory Rails that are backwards-compatible with the STANAG 2324/MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rails allowing installation of optical sights and other accessories. The quick-change cold hammered chrome-lined barrel is an integral part of the barrel assembly and has
580-404: The bolt is not pulled back completely, accidental firing is prevented by an integral, automatic mechanism that prevents the bolt from traveling forward. In addition, the firing pin cannot reach the cartridge primer until the cartridge has been fully chambered. The machine gun is fed from a disintegrating belt and is carried out in two stages from the top left using an enhanced pawl mechanism. As on
609-524: The designation stands for "Export". It has a different gas assembly that reduces the cyclic rate of fire. In 2007, the Spanish Army adopted this variant as their standard light machine gun. The Spanish Military of Defence ordered 1,800–2,000 of these light machine guns. A variant of the MG4 configured for use as a vehicle or coaxial machine gun. It lacks a buttstock, rear sight, cartridge case deflector, handguard, and bipod mount. It can be fitted with
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#1732781154409638-454: The development phase also known as the HK121 ) is a belt-fed 7.62×51mm NATO general-purpose machine gun manufactured by German firearm manufacturer Heckler & Koch . The MG5 resembles the 5.56×45mm NATO Heckler & Koch MG4 light machine gun, which was adopted into German military service in 2015. Work on the MG5 began, under the HK121 designation, shortly after the development of
667-405: The feed camming track. When a cartridge is in line with the feedway and the cover is closed, an indicator tab is pushed upward on the cover, providing visual as well as tactile warning in low light conditions. For the light machine gun role a quick-detachable user adjustable folding bipod weighing 0.70 kg (1.54 lb) is provided. Alternatively a "Grip Pod" , a type of vertical grip that has
696-480: The front sight of the assemblies mechanically adjustable. The MG5 uses M13 (designated DM60 by Germany) disintegrating belts for feeding ammunition from the left side. It can be fed with a Gurttrommel (belt drum) which contains a 50-round disintegrating belt and is fitted to the receiver on the left side. The Gurttrommel is not a true magazine but holds a curled 50-round belt preventing it from snagging, twisting and getting stuck during mobile assaults. Alternatively,
725-399: The link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=MG4&oldid=1096455942 " Category : Letter–number combination disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Heckler %26 Koch MG4 The MG4
754-559: The overall length of the weapon for transport, the butt stock can be folded to the left side of the receiver. With the buttstock folded the MG4 remains fully operable. A field cleaning kit is housed within the stock. The MG4 takes zero shifts between barrel assemblies into account by making the front sight of the assemblies mechanically adjustable. In its standard form, the MG4 is equipped with closed type iron sights with range settings up to 1,000 m (1,094 yd ) in 100 m (109 yd ) increments. The folding front sight element
783-531: The rearward and forward cycles of the reciprocating bolt, producing a smooth belt flow. The ejection of empty M13 links is to the right side, and spent cartridge cases are ejected downwards through an ejection port located at the base of the receiver. In its standard form, the MG5 is equipped with closed type iron sights with range settings on the receiver mounted compact rear sight element up to 1,000 m (1,094 yd ) in 100 m (109 yd ) increments. The folding self-illuminating front sight element
812-507: The user can adjust the stock to individual ergonomic preferences. By 2022 the MG5 should replace the MG3 in Bundeswehr service. For the development and use of a special bolt for training cartridges the German Federal Government has allocated a budget of 7.3 million Euro. The costs to integrate the MG5 in various tripod and weapon stations mountings in German use are estimated around 60 million Euro. The MG5 uses
841-400: Was not easily met. The originally agreed Bundeswehr zero change requirements were relaxed by the German government for which a corresponding price reduction was agreed upon. In single fire the mean point of impact may shift by a maximum of 3.44 MOA /10 mrad (previously 1.72 MOA/5 mrad) after a barrel change with a barrel of the same length. In burst fire the mean point of impact may shift by
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