In service since 2015 – the MG5 medium machine gun from Heckler & Koch
For several years now, the German armed forces have been gradually replacing the MG3, which was previously used as a general purpose or standard machine gun, with the MG5. The actual roots even go back to the turn of the year 2008/2009. At that time, the Bundeswehr launched a machine gun program. This called for a light, a medium and a heavy machine gun as well as a medium machine gun with a high rate of fire. The new medium machine gun in 7.62x51mm was designed as the MG5. The HK MG4 in 5.56x45mm caliber already served as a light machine gun. As a heavy machine gun, the Bundeswehr currently uses the FN Browning M2 for vehicle armament and the FN Browning M3M for helicopter use. Under the catalog number MG6, the Bundeswehr procured a Germanized version of the Dillon-Aero M134-D externally powered multi-barrel gun in 7.62 NATO as a "high rate medium MG " for special forces.
At the time, Heckler & Koch had submitted the newly developed HK121 machine gun as the MG5. The HK121 underwent trials at the Wehrtechnische Dienststelle 91 (Technical Center 91) in Meppen, starting in 2010. A few more modifications were made at the customer's request. In April 2012, the Bundeswehr validated the weapon's functional and operational safety.
With the entry into service, designations also changed. The standard HK121 U version – U for “universal” - now goes by the designation MG5 in the Bundeswehr. The variant called Einbauwaffe (EBW, vehicle mounted) carries the designation MG5A1, while the infantry version (I) with the shorter barrel is called MG5A2. The HK121 special forces version with double spade grip is not currently cataloged.
Technology of the Heckler & Koch MG5 machine gun
The MG5 is a gas-operated, rotating bolt machine gun with a long-stroke gas piston system. The cold-hammered, four-groove rifled and specially coated quick-change barrels come in several lengths: Standard (21.6”/550 mm), Infantry (I, 18.1”/460 mm) and vehicle mounted (EBW, 26.1”/663 mm). In the Bundeswehr's standard version with a 21.6”/550-mm barrel, the MG5 weighs around 25.5 lb/11.6 kilograms and has an operational firing range of 1000 meters. The muzzle velocity is 820 meters per second. The rate of fire can be set to 640, 720 and 800 rounds per minute.
Although externally similar to the MG4, the MG5 differs technically from its "smaller sister". The patented weapon receiver does not consist of stamped sheet metal parts, but of two receiver shells made of cast steel as well as a connection block, which are joined together in a process that is also patented.
Tactical advantages provided by the Heckler & Koch MG5 with Hensoldt 4x30i
In a short film released in late summer 2019, the Bundeswehr gives four reasons for replacing the MG3 – which is still very popular among troops – with the MG5:
- Accuracy, as the MG5 has a greater combat range thanks to its Hensoldt 4x30i Intermediate Range Targeting Optic – namely 1000 meters instead of 600 meters.
- Economy, as the new weapon's rate of fire is no longer 1200 rounds per minute, but an adjustable 800, 720 or 640 rounds per minute.
- Flexibility, as the weapon can be individually adapted to the shooter's mission, equipment and stature by means of adjustable stock and bipod, as well as an assault grip.
- And finally, safety, since the barrel can be changed without a glove using a grip and the barrel change interval has also been increased from 150 to 300 rounds.
Watch the German Army video about the MG5 below. It's in German, but you can understand what they say by simply turning on the English subtitles.
The MG5 also has other noteworthy features: It is much more modular than the MG3: as mentioned, there are three different barrel lengths, and the weapon can also accept optics and attachments using Mil-Std 1913 rails. This is a very decisive advantage, especially with regard to night combat capability. In addition to improved ergonomics, the MG5 also offers several safety features. As the first weapon of its kind in the world, the safety can be put on and off in any loading condition. This is done via a fire selection lever on the pistol grip that can be operated from both sides. In addition, even when firing the DM151 hard-core cartridge, the HK121 withstands barrel obstruction in accordance with NATO standard AC225/D14: if one projectile gets stuck in the barrel, the next one is propelled out without the barrel bursting.
The MG5 can be operated almost identically to the MG4 in 5.56x45mm already introduced with the "Infantryman of the Future" soldier system and – except for barrel change and safety – relatively identically to the MG3. Likewise, the MG5 can be used from mounts. The Bundeswehr plans to harmonize MG5 and MG4 into one MG family in the next few years.
A digression: the concept of the standardized machine gun
A successful concept in infantry combat is: "No movement without fire cover". In almost all armed forces, therefore, machine guns serve as the infantry group's main weapon. Following the concept of the general purpose, or “universal” machine gun, they can be used in many ways and every soldier trained on them masters them almost blindly. Field mounts turn the MGs into veritable crew-served weapons. In this way, their effective range can be roughly doubled, from about 600 to 800 meters to as much as 1500 meters. Of course, the universal machine gun underwent a number of improvements. This was due to further developments in tactics, technology and personal equipment. Optics must also be increasingly integrated. It is not a matter of turning area firearms into precision rifles. But in terms of collateral damage, greater accuracy seems desirable, especially at night and with limited visibility. This also gives rise to numerous approaches to retrofit machine guns, i.e., combat upgrades of older weaponry.
The Western armed forces essentially employ two weapons as such general purpose machine guns: the MG42, or the MG3 further developed from it and introduced in 1969, and the FN MAG, both chambered for the 7.62x51mm. And this concept was also accepted in the former Warsaw Pact. As early as 1961, the Pulemyot Kalshnikova, i.e. Kalashnikov Machine Gun, designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov, was introduced to the troops as a medium general purpose MG. It fires belted 7.62x54R ammo, i.e. the classic Russian rifle cartridge. Poland procured its UKM-2000, a modernized version of the Eastern Bloc general purpose MG, converted to 7.62 NATO.
More information on the MG5 and other weapons can be found on the Heckler & Koch website.
