Heckler & Koch MG4
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.
| Heckler & Koch MG4 | |
|---|---|
A left-side view of the Heckler & Koch MG4 | |
| Type | Light machine gun |
| Place of origin | Germany |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2005–present |
| Used by | See Users |
| Wars | Yemeni Civil War (2014–present) Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen Saudi–Yemeni border conflict (2015–present) |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Heckler & Koch |
| Designed | 1990s |
| Manufacturer | Heckler & Koch |
| Produced | 2001–present |
| Variants | See Variants |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 8.15 kg (17.97 lb) |
| Length | 1,030 mm (40.6 in) stock extended / 830 mm (32.7 in) stock folded |
| Barrel length | 450 mm (17.7 in) |
| Width | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Height | 250 mm (9.8 in) |
| Cartridge | 5.56×45mm NATO |
| Action | Gas-operated, rotating bolt |
| Rate of fire | 890 (± 60) rounds/min |
| Muzzle velocity | 920 m/s (3,018 ft/s) |
| Effective firing range | Approx. 1,000 m |
| Feed system | M27 linked disintegrating belt |
| Sights | Iron sights; MIL-STD-1913 rail provided for optics, German Army models are equipped with telescopic sights with 3× magnification. |