Heckler & Koch P11

HK P11
HK P11 with a test device attached
Type	Underwater Pistol
Place of origin	Germany
Production history
Designed	1970s
Produced	1976
Specifications
Weight	1,200 grams (42 oz) loaded Battery pack 700 grams (25 oz)
Length	200 millimetres (7.9 in)
Width	60 millimetres (2.4 in)

Cartridge	about 100 millimetres (3.9 in) long, miniature solid-fuelled rocket with fins
Caliber	7.62 mm x 36
Action	Electric actuated
Effective range	30 metres (98 ft) in air, 10 to 15 metres (33 to 49 ft) underwater
Feed system	5 rounds, each in a barrel
Sights	14.6 centimetres (5.7 in) between sights

The HK P11 is a Heckler & Koch pistol designed as an underwater firearm. Since ordinary-shaped rounds are inaccurate and have a very short range when used underwater, this pistol fires steel darts about 10 centimetres (3.9 in) long. It has five barrels, each of which is loaded with a cartridge, giving the gun a pepper-box appearance, and it is electrically ignited from a battery pack in the pistol grip.^[1] After firing all five cartridges, the barrel unit must be sent back to its manufacturer for reloading.^[2] It is very similar to its predecessor, the Mk 1 Underwater Defense Gun. In the past, Heckler & Koch has denied knowledge of its existence.^[3]

This firearm is somewhat bulkier than its Soviet counterpart, the SPP-1 Underwater Pistol, but it has five barrels as opposed to the Soviet firearm that has four.

1 Users
2 See also
3 Notes
4 References
5 External links

Users

Denmark^[4]
France^[4]
Germany: German commando frogmen.^[5]
Israel^[4]
Italy: Italian Navy COMSUBIN.^[4]
Netherlands^[4]
Norway^[4]
United Kingdom: British SBS.^[6]
United States: 100 units have been issued to members of U.S. Special operations forces.^[7]

Notes

^ "Heckler & Koch HK P11 Underwater Pistol". Modern Firearms. http://world.guns.ru/handguns/hg209-e.htm. Retrieved 2008-03-29.
^ "Underwater Pistol - HK P11". Special Boat Service: Information on the SBS. http://www.specialboatservice.co.uk/sbs-weapons-p11.htm. Retrieved 2008-03-28.
^ Dockery, Kevin (2004). Weapons of the Navy SEALs. New York: Berkley. p. 68. ISBN 0-425-19834-0.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Southby-Tailyour, Ewen (2005). Jane's Special Forces Recognition Guide. New York: Collins. p. 366. ISBN 0-00-718329-1.
^ "Straight Dope Staff Report: How far can bullets go when fired into water?". The Straight Dope. Archived from the original on 2008-03-27. http://web.archive.org/web/20080327052050/http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mgununderwater.htm. Retrieved 2008-03-28.
^ "SBS Weapons - HK P11 Underwater Pistol". Elite UK Forces. http://www.eliteukforces.info/special-boat-service/weapons/p11/. Retrieved 2008-03-28.
^ "HKPRO: The HK P11". HKPRO. Archived from the original on 2008-03-07. http://web.archive.org/web/20080307061323/http://www.hkpro.com/peleven.htm. Retrieved 2008-03-28.

References

Dockery, Kevin (2004). Weapons of the Navy SEALs. New York: Berkley. ISBN 0-425-19834-0.
Southby-Tailyour, Ewen (2005). Jane's Special Forces Recognition Guide. New York: Collins. ISBN 0-00-718329-1.