Heckler & Koch G41
The Heckler & Koch G41 is a German 5.56×45mm NATO assault rifle introduced in 1981 and produced in limited quantities by Heckler & Koch. It was designed to replace the 7.62×51mm NATO chambered Heckler & Koch G3 and the G3 based .223 Remington/5.56×45mm and later 5.56×45mm NATO chambered Heckler & Koch HK33 service rifles providing a more modern weapon compatible with then recently introduced NATO standards. It can use both the then new STANAG 4172 compliant 5.56×45mm NATO SS109, SS110, and SS111 ammunition and older .223 Remington/5.56×45mm M193 ammunition and was the last Heckler & Koch service rifle designed around the roller-delayed blowback mechanism.
| Heckler & Koch G41 | |
|---|---|
Brazilian Commandoes firing the HK G41(background) and the HK MP5SD(foreground) | |
| Type | Assault rifle Carbine (H&K G41K) |
| Place of origin | West Germany |
| Service history | |
| Used by | See Users |
| Wars | Lebanese Civil War 2007 Lebanon conflict |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Heckler & Koch |
| Designed | late 1970s to early 1980s |
| Manufacturer | Heckler & Koch |
| Produced | 1984–1996 |
| Variants | See Variants |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | G41/A1: 4.1 kg (9.04 lb) G41A2/A3: 4.4 kg (9.7 lb) G41K: 4.3 kg (9.5 lb) |
| Length | G41/A1: 997 mm (39.3 in) G41A2/A3: 985 mm (38.8 in) stock extended / 800 mm (31.5 in) stock folded G41K: 930 mm (36.6 in) stock extended / 740 mm (29.1 in) stock retracted |
| Barrel length | G41: 450 mm (17.7 in) G41K: 380 mm (15.0 in) |
| Width | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| Height | 214 mm (8.4 in) |
| Cartridge | 5.56×45mm NATO |
| Caliber | 5.56mm |
| Action | Roller delayed blowback |
| Rate of fire | 850 rounds/min |
| Muzzle velocity | G41 using SS109: 920 m/s (3,018 ft/s) G41K using SS109: 880 m/s (2,887.1 ft/s) G41 using M193: 950 m/s (3,116.8 ft/s) G41K using M193: 910 m/s (2,985.6 ft/s) |
| Effective firing range | 200–400 m (219–437 yd) sight adjustments 600 metres (656 yd) with Fero Z24-G telescopic sight |
| Feed system | Various STANAG magazines |
| Sights | Rotary rear diopter drum, hooded front post |
Commercially the G41 was not as successful as the preceding Heckler & Koch service rifle designs with a similar operating mechanism. It was rejected by various military trial programmes and it never won a major military production contract. Assembly of the G41 has been discontinued by Heckler & Koch; however, production rights to the rifle were acquired by the Italian arms manufacturer Luigi Franchi.