Heckler & Koch HK21
| HK21 | |
|---|---|
HK21A1 general-purpose machine gun | |
| Type | General-purpose machine gun Light machine gun |
| Place of origin | West Germany |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1961–present |
| Used by | See Users |
| Wars | |
| 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".