Heckler & Koch HK21

HK21
HK21
	HK21A1 general-purpose machine gun
Type	General-purpose machine gun ; Heavy machine gun (HK25)
Place of origin	West Germany
Service history
In service	1961–present
Used by	See Users
Wars	Vietnam War; Football War; Lebanese Civil War; Portuguese Colonial War; Shaba II; South African Border War; Kurdish–Turkish conflict; Salvadoran Civil War; Operation Eagle Claw; Sri Lankan Civil War; Armed conflict for control of the favelas in Greater Rio de Janeiro; Boko Haram insurgency;
Production history
Designer	Heckler & Koch
Designed	1961
Manufacturer	Heckler & Koch; Fábrica de Braço de Prata; SEDENA
Produced	1961–present
Variants	See Variants
Specifications
Mass	HK21: 7.92 kg (17.46 lb); HK21A1: 8.30 kg (18.3 lb); HK11A1: 7.70 kg (17.0 lb); HK21E: 9.30 kg (20.5 lb); HK11E: 8.15 kg (18.0 lb); HK23E: 8.75 kg (19.3 lb); HK13E: 8.00 kg (17.64 lb); HK25: 16.30 kg (35.9 lb)
Length	HK21: 1,021 mm (40.2 in); HK21A1, HK11A1, HK11E, HK23E, HK13E: 1,030 mm (40.6 in); HK21E: 1,140 mm (44.9 in); HK25: 1,400 mm (55.1 in)
Barrel length	HK21, HK21A1, HK11A1, HK11E, HK23E, HK13E: 450 mm (17.7 in); HK21E: 560 mm (22.0 in); HK25: 900 mm (35.4 in)
Cartridge	HK21, HK21A1, HK11A1, HK21E, HK11E: 7.62×51mm NATO; HK23E, HK13E: 5.56×45mm NATO; HK25: 12.7×99mm NATO
Action	Roller-delayed blowback, closed bolt
Rate of fire	HK21, HK21A1: 900 rounds/min; HK11A1, HK21E, HK11E: 800 rounds/min; HK23E, HK13E: 750 rounds/min; HK25: 450 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity	HK21, HK21A1, HK11A1, HK11E: 800 m/s (2,625 ft/s); HK21E: 840 m/s (2,756 ft/s); HK23E, HK13E: 910 m/s (2,986 ft/s) (using the SS109 cartridge); HK25: 915 m/s (3,002 ft/s)
Effective firing range	100–1,200 m (109–1,312 yd) sight adjustments
Feed system	M13, DM6, DM1 ammunition belt, 20-round detachable box or 50-round drum magazine (from the G3). An 80-round drum magazine or even a 100-round drum magazine was also available (No longer manufactured)
Sights	Rear rotary diopter drum; hooded front post

The HK21 is a German 7.62 mm general-purpose machine gun, developed in 1961 by small arms manufacturer Heckler & Koch and based on the G3 battle rifle. The weapon is in use with the armed forces of several Asian, African and Latin American countries. It was also license-manufactured by Fábrica de Braço de Prata in Portugal as the m/968 and in Mexico by SEDENA as the MG21. In the German military (Bundeswehr) and the federal police (Bundespolizei) it is designated "G8".

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