List of Bundeswehr hand weapons - Liste der Handwaffen der Bundeswehr

Explanation

• Description:
  Give the hand weapon a name
• Image:
  Here is a picture of the hand gun
• Introduction to the year:
  Name the time of dating
• Decommissioning:
  Specify the time for decommissioning.
• Caliber:
  Name the caliber of ammunition used (projectile diameter × case length)
• Use:
  Indicates intended use and unit
• User:
  Names the armed forces of the Bundeswehr (air force/army/naval) or the corresponding military organizational zone in which hand weapons were or were used.

Currently used weapons are highlighted in light green in the tables.

Bundeswehr rifles

A little history

Germany is the birthplace of the very first and true Sturmgewehr, the Stg.44 assault rifle designed by Schmeisser, used by the Wehrmacht at the end of World War II. This machine gun had a significant impact on the development of post-war rifleman in the world, and therefore, when in the early 1950s Germany was allowed to restore the armed forces, the backbone of the new Bundeswehr, which consisted in no small part of Wehrmacht veterans, wanted to adopt the already well-known Sturmgewehr (well or something similar).

The Americans put an end to these wishes by imposing their 7.62x51 mm cartridge on the entire NATO bloc, which was in no way intermediate. In order to arm themselves with something, the border guards and the German Armed Forces purchased virtually the only production rifle at that time chambered for 7.62×51 NATO - the Belgian FN FAL, adopting it for service under the symbol G1. However, something went wrong with the production license. Either the Belgians harbored a grudge for the recent pogrom, or they did not agree on the price, but as a result, the Germans launched a full-fledged competition, in which out of four automatic rifles - FN FAL, SIG 510, AR-10 and CETME - they chose the last one.

The Spanish Sturmgewehr had truly Aryan roots - it was created by a group of German engineers, so it came to Germany's court.

Moreover, through the efforts of Heckler-Koch marketers, this new rifle, called the G3, significantly advanced the FN FAL in the global arms markets.

HK G3

It is interesting that when in the late 1970s the NATO bloc (at the next order of the Americans) began to switch to the 5.56 mm caliber cartridge, the Germans successfully sabotaged this process. All their hopes were directed to the future - to the project of the next Sturm-Wunder-Waffe-Gever for a caseless cartridge. Fortunately for the Germans, the process of adopting the G11 rifle was cut short by the collapse of the USSR and the unification of the two Germanys, so that in the mid-1990s the Bundeswehr was faced with the need to adopt a less radical assault rifle chambered for 5.56x45 NATO.

The Germans already had a good contender for this role - the East German Wieger Stg 940, created in the GDR in the late 1980s for export based on the Kalashnikov AK-74 assault rifle. But national pride and financial interests did not allow the Bundeswehr to adopt an assault rifle with Russian roots, which, after the failure of the G11 program, was deeply in debt. Therefore, in 1997, the German army adopted the newest and most fashionable HK G36 assault rifle, made with extensive use of polymers and featuring a fashionable “double-decker” optical sight.

Anton Zheleznyak Technical and engineering expert

This means that the miracle of German technology also has a collimator above the optical sight.

However, the attempt to save money and fix the barrel of the weapon directly in the plastic receiver backfired on the Germans. During intense firefights in Afghanistan, when the heat was high, the rifle began to spin, and it began to shoot where God would send it, and not where it was supposed to. A scandal erupted that lasted from 2012 to 2016. In the end, the Ministry of Defense lost its lawsuit against Heckler-Koch over low-quality rifles, since, as it turned out, the corresponding requirements were simply not included in the original specifications for the development of weapons.

HK G36

However, the Bundeswehr refused further purchases of the G36 and in 2017 announced a new competition for a promising Sturmgewehr.

Bundeswehr sniper rifles

Confusion and despondency

After the end of the Cold War, the issues of developing the armed forces of Germany became deeply secondary. If the topic of the army came up, it was in connection with high-profile scandals or as a reason for criticism and ridicule. The situation was not improved by the annual decrease in the defense budget and the dependent position of the Bundeswehr in relation to other NATO countries.

Added to this were problems with recruiting personnel due to falling interest in military service and the popularity of the armed forces in general. Programs for the development and purchase of new weapons were regularly delayed, their deadlines were missed, and budgets went beyond established limits.

tank

BMP "Puma" during Bundeswehr Day, June 2022

Photo: flickr.com/Bundeswehr/Konstatin Kiesel

The German media regularly added fuel to the fire. On the one hand, they are really very “toothed”, and on the other hand, they go too far in their assessments and often fulfill political orders. According to the current German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, due to the influence of the press, there is an impression that “in the Bundeswehr nothing travels, nothing flies and nothing goes to sea.”

tank2

MBT "Leopard 2" during Bundeswehr Day, June 2022

Photo: flickr.com/Bundeswehr/Konstatin Kiesel

In recent years the situation has changed. The issue of national security again became relevant, and German politicians remembered the army. It turned out that restoring combat readiness after 25 years of cuts and underfunding takes a lot of time and even more money. In general, a plan was needed.

army

Multi-role helicopter NH-90 during an exercise, Eisenach

Photo: flickr.com/Bundeswehr/Jana Neumann

Bundeswehr machine guns

The Bundeswehr switches to a new machine gun

Haenel MK-556 assault rifles. Photo: www.cg-haenel.de

The Bundeswehr is rightly considered one of the largest armies in Europe. The total number of military personnel in Germany, as of June 2020, was estimated at 185 thousand people. The size of the armed forces is of great importance when the army decides to switch to new types of small arms. This is exactly the step that the German military is currently taking, having chosen a new main assault rifle for their armed forces. The upcoming rearmament is significant, since for the first time in decades the main supplier of automatic weapons for the Bundeswehr will not be Heckler & Koch, but the Haenel company from the small town of Suhl in Thuringia. This company is known to connoisseurs of the arms world primarily for its collaboration with the famous German firearms designer Hugo Schmeisser.

Bundeswehr buys 120 thousand new machine guns

According to German media, the tender for the supply of new machine guns for the Bundeswehr was won by CG Haenel.
It is worth noting that this is the first time the company has won such a large government contract. We have not monitored the financial performance of the Haenel company from the small town of Suhl, but now we can safely say that the financial position of this company will be prosperous in the near future. It is already known that the company will supply the German armed forces with 120 thousand Haenel MK-556 assault rifles and components for them. The total value of the transaction is estimated at 245 million euros. The fact that it was the Haenel company that won the tender for the supply of 120 thousand machine guns was announced by the German Ministry of Defense on September 15. It is worth noting that the Bundeswehr announced a competition for a new assault rifle in the spring of 2022. In the same year, the Haenel MK-556 assault rifle (MK is short for Maschinenkarabiner) was shown to the general public for the first time. As you can easily guess from the name, the new machine gun was created for the main NATO ammunition 5.56x45 mm. The tender itself has been held over the past few years, and the process of testing and refining the weapon has continued over the past three years.

At the same time, CG Haenel has already officially commented on the decision of the German Ministry of Defense dated September 15, 2022 to select the MK-556 assault rifle. The company emphasizes that hard work over recent years has allowed the Haenel model to defeat well-known German and international competitors who took part in the tender for the supply of a new assault rifle for the German armed forces. The company notes that the MK-556 assault rifle best meets the requirements set by the Bundeswehr Procurement Office. This model won based on the results of practical tests, overall efficiency and economic considerations. Haenel especially emphasizes the fact that the new MK-556 assault rifle is 90 percent made in Germany in the economic region of Southern Thuringia.

German soldiers. The one on the right is armed with a G36 assault rifle, photo: www.bundeswehr.de

According to media reports, the Haenel assault rifle turned out to be “slightly better” and cheaper than the upgraded versions of the G36 assault rifle from Heckler & Koch. The latter has been in service with the Bundeswehr since the mid-1990s. The German army did not have a good relationship with this particular model of automatic weapon. A wave of criticism of the machine gun arose in 2012, when publications began to appear in the media that the G36’s shooting accuracy dropped in conditions of high ambient temperatures and during intense combat. These publications were based on the experience of German soldiers who served in Afghanistan as part of the NATO mission. Heckler & Koch rejected the claims to the weapon, but in 2015 the Bundeswehr nevertheless decided to change the main machine gun.

Haenel won the battle of David and Goliath

The contract for the supply of 120 thousand MK-556 assault rifles for modern European realities looks very large.
It is not for nothing that experts compare the story unfolding before our eyes with the biblical story in which David defeated Goliath. The comparison suggests itself, given that in recent decades the main supplier of automatic weapons for the Bundeswehr has been the Heckler & Koch company from Baden-Württemberg. Heckler & Koch is now not only a legendary company, but also a very successful one. Products under the HK brand are widely represented in all countries of the world, while the company has its own branches and divisions in the USA, Great Britain and France. The company from Baden-Württemberg has been supplying automatic weapons to the Bundeswehr since 1959. Against this background, the victory of a small, little-known company, Haenel, in a very large competition looks even more interesting. In fact, for a long time, CG Haenel's main asset was its past. The company's revenue is at least 30 times less than that of Heckler & Koch. At the same time, Haenel is a company with a richer history. If Heckler & Koch was founded in the first post-war years, in 1949, then the Haenel company traces its history back to the mid-19th century. The founding date of the Haenel company, which first specialized in the production of not only small arms, but also bicycles, is considered to be 1840.

The specialists of this company from Southern Thuringia have been working on the creation of firearms for 180 years, having accumulated a wealth of experience during this time. Today the company produces both civilian weapons and works with government customers represented by law enforcement agencies. In addition to automatic weapons, the company produces hunting rifles and sniper rifles. At the same time, it was the models of automatic weapons that brought the greatest fame to the company. Haenel will forever go down in history as the company that created and produced the Sturmgewehr 44 assault rifle (known as the StG 44 and MP44) during World War II. The creator of this weapon, which proved itself well on the battlefield, was the famous German gunsmith designer Hugo Schmeisser.

Assault rifle Haenel MK-556, photo: www.cg-haenel.de

True, this was the last truly great success of Haenel. After the war, most of the company’s equipment was exported to the USSR, where designer Hugo Schmeisser, who worked in Izhevsk until 1952, also went. As you might guess, the company ended up on the territory of the GDR and for a long time was engaged in the production of only pneumatic and hunting weapons.

The second life for the company began in the 21st century, when it was recreated under its historical name in 2008. CG Haenel is currently part of the Merkel group of companies, which has been owned by Caracal LLC from the United Arab Emirates since 2007. It was significant Arab investments that raised the Haenel company to its feet, essentially restarting its production. Russian experts have already expressed the view that it was their Arab owners who were ready to dump and reduce the price of the machine gun in order to enter the German market that could help Haenel win the tender for the supply of new machine guns to the Bundeswehr. Good modern relations between Germany and the UAE are also noted. So there may be some geopolitical context to the deal. The fact that the Bundeswehr will to some extent depend on a state-owned company from the Persian Gulf is called in Germany, if not a sensation, then a truly unprecedented event.

With the arrival of Arab capital, the CG Haenel company again launched full-fledged production of sports, hunting and military small arms. Before the success with the new MK-556 assault rifle, the company had already managed to conclude several contracts with the security forces of Germany and the Bundeswehr. In particular, Haenel limitedly supplied police units with the CR 223 semi-automatic rifle, and for the army the Haenel G29 sniper rifle chambered for the fairly powerful .338 Lapua Magnum cartridge (8.6x70 mm). The G29 sniper rifle was put into service back in 2016. These were not mass deliveries. The company's staff in Suhl is very small: according to the company's official website, there are only 120 employees. In this regard, the German publication Deutsche Welle believes that in order to fulfill the contract for the supply of 120 thousand assault rifles to the Bundeswehr, the assistance of the parent holding from the UAE and its production facilities may be needed.

What is known about MK-556?

The new Haenel MK-556 assault rifle is built on the ergonomic and well-proven AR-15 architecture, well known in the arms world, which is unmistakably visible in the appearance of the weapon. This model uses gas-operated automatics with a short piston stroke, and also has an adjustable gas chamber. A distinctive feature of the model is that it is initially available with a different set of barrels: 16, 14.5, 12.5 and 10.5 inches. On the same basis of the AR-15, the semi-automatic model Haenel CR 223 was built, which was already used to a limited extent by German police. In this regard, the MK-556 is a fully automatic and updated version of the CR-223.

Depending on the length of the barrel, the maximum length of the machine gun, as well as the weight of the weapon, will change.
For example, a model with a 16-inch barrel (408 mm) will have a maximum length of 923 mm, and the weight of the machine gun without cartridges will be 3.6 kg. At the same time, an assault rifle with a 10.5-inch (226 mm) barrel will be noticeably more compact. Its maximum length will be 781 mm, and its weight will be 3.35 kg. All MK-556 models will be equipped with box magazines capable of holding 30 rounds. If necessary, other NATO STANAG standard magazines, including drum ones, can be used. Like all models of modern small arms, the new German machine gun is compatible with Picatinny rails and allows the installation of a wide variety of sighting devices. The MK-556 is also equipped with a 6-position telescopic buttstock, which can be easily adjusted in length. In general, this is a standard unremarkable model of automatic small arms chambered for a 5.56 mm cartridge, built on the basis of the AR-15. There are a sufficient number of such models in the world today. A good weapon that does not claim any innovative laurels or breakthrough solutions.

Bundeswehr pistols

Bundeswehr submachine guns

People, money and guns

Nuclear "Typhoon"

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On November 7, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer (popularly and in the German press AKK) spoke to students at the Bundeswehr University in Munich. In her speech, she called for increased military spending, as well as the creation of an organization similar to the US National Security Council, with the goal of pursuing a more independent and assertive defense policy.

Desires to spend more money on defense are heard quite regularly, but statements about greater independence in military matters coming from high-ranking officials and the military are a relatively new phenomenon. It should be noted that Kramp-Karrenbauer’s speech sounds in unison with the opinion of the Inspector General of the Bundeswehr Eberhard Zorn, expressed earlier. In particular, he stated the need for structural reform of army management, and also said that the Bundeswehr is “optimized for use abroad,” but there are still “no specific rules” governing the use of the army for national defense or as part of an alliance.

The ACC concluded its appeal by stating that “Germany must strive to ensure “the ability to act globally in accordance with the country's status as one of the driving forces of Europe.” No more and no less.

Germany

Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer spoke to students at the Bundeswehr University in Munich

Photo: Global Look Press/Sven Hoppe

Apparently, there is something in the Munich air that makes speeches delivered there acquire a special status. Given the nature of the statements, the German press has already called this speech “fundamental.”

New aircraft for the Luftwaffe

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Critics, however, complain about the speech's vagueness and populism. However, one must understand that in certain political circles and publications the attitude towards Kramp-Karrenbauer is rather biased. For example, due to her inattention to the problems of refugees and support for the idea of ​​​​closing borders from migrants. Perhaps, in this case too, she is criticized “not on the merits.”

Money

Finance remains the most important issue and at the same time the biggest source of uncertainty. The current defense budget is €43.2 billion. By 2024, they want to increase it to 1.5% of GDP, which will be approximately €60 billion.

Due to the strong resistance of the Bundestag, the set goal of 1.5% of GDP and even more so of 2% of GDP by the early 2030s causes skepticism, although it is not considered completely unrealistic. It should be noted that if the €60 billion level is reached, Germany will spend more on defense than Russia. Many Western experts consider this inappropriate.

army

Photo: TASS/DPA/Monika Skolimowska

On the other hand, in 2017–2018, military spending increased annually by €3.5–5.3 billion. In addition, they want to allocate at least €130 billion for the purchase of weapons in the period from 2022 to 2030, with the possibility of increasing.

Armaments

One of the most important elements in terms of army renewal is the timely and financially efficient delivery of new weapons, as well as the modernization of existing ones. Considering the numerous scandals associated with inflated prices and supply disruptions, it was logical to “change something at the conservatory.”

Gun bills

In Stockholm they determined who spends on the war and how much

In September, Kramp-Karrenbauer visited the Bundeswehr's Federal Office for Equipment, Information Technology and Technical Support, the organization responsible for the development, evaluation and production of weapons. There, in a conversation with department employees, the German Defense Minister announced her intention to gradually reform the institution so that “weapons arrive faster, easier and directly to our men and women.” She stressed that changes will not happen overnight, but through “many small steps” so as not to affect ongoing work.

This move was approved by the military, who had been demanding such a reform for a long time, and some even accused the Bundeswehr command of excessive formalism and a penchant for paperwork. The Bundeswehr's current inspector general, Eberhard Zorn, once described it as "a huge, overly bureaucratic organization."

Taking into account the fact that since the end of last year significant orders for the development, supply and modernization of weapons began to arrive, this step is more than the right one.

army

Inspector General Eberhart Zorn during a visit to the training site in Münster

Photo: flickr.com/Bundeswehr/photothek.net/Thomas Imo

Media: Germany does not have enough tanks to participate in NATO operations

People

After the minimum number of the country's armed forces was reached in 2016 - 176 thousand people - gradual annual growth began and currently there are a little more than 182 thousand military personnel "under arms". By 2024, it is planned to increase to 198 thousand, and by 2026 - to 203 thousand (of which 4,500 are reservists). That is, in the foreseeable future, the military department will have to attract about 20 thousand new soldiers.

As strange as it may sound, in previous years the military suffered from economic growth in the country, which led to rising wages and made it extremely difficult to compete with civilian companies and other law enforcement agencies, such as the police.

army

Photo: flickr.com/Bundeswehr/Torsten Kraatz

Now the military department has begun to implement a number of measures to increase the attractiveness of the army as an employer - this is how the Germans perceive military service. These include a gradual increase in wages from 2022, pensions, as well as new social benefits and bonuses.

And it seems that the efforts are not in vain. According to a survey of students, the Bundeswehr is in third place in the list of most popular employers, just after the police and Adidas.

“The Bundeswehr has nothing to do abroad”

The head of the Bundestag Defense Committee, Alexander Neu, talks about Germany's presence in the Middle East, increasing defense spending and the resignation of the head of German counterintelligence

Anti-aircraft and anti-tank weapons of the Bundeswehr

Der Plan

The modernization plan is structurally composed of three main components: the White Paper (Weißbuch der Bundesregierung), published in 2016, the Concept of the Bundeswehr (Konzeption der Bundeswehr), published in the summer of 2022, and the Capability Profile of the Bundeswehr (Fähigkeitsprofil der Bundeswehr). .

The German machine: how Germany is changing the global arms market

2018 was a very successful year for German special exporters

“Weisbukh” is responsible for setting global political goals, “Concept” considers the strategic goals and tasks that must be solved to renew the army. In turn, the Opportunity Profile outlines specific tasks and sets deadlines for their implementation. Access to the first two documents is open to everyone, but the Opportunity Profile can only be viewed in general terms.

The Germans took into account that the implementation of such a large-scale and long-term plan may require adjustments, so it provides for some kind of control points in 2023, 2027 and 2031. Former German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen explained that the points “will show where the modernization process is moving” and will allow timely response and changes.

Modernization will affect all branches of the armed forces, branches of service and support services. The changes will affect personnel, weapons, infrastructure, organizational structure, management and the training process. Two areas received increased priority - personal equipment of soldiers and digitalization of the army.

The plan also establishes the so-called Basic List - a list of tasks that the army must be able to perform at any time and simultaneously. It includes:

Author of the quote

► National defense and security within NATO and in accordance with EU requirements;

► Cyber ​​defense and cyber security;

► National security risk and crisis management;

► Defense of Germany and support for countries on whose territory NATO troops are stationed;

► Ensuring the activities and basing of the army on the territory of Germany.

fhvbz

The main battle tank Leopard 2A5 of the combat training center (GÜZ) of the Bundeswehr moves along the tankodrome

Photo: flickr.com/Bundeswehr/Andrea Bienert

Edged weapons and pocket knives of the Bundeswehr

* Melee weapons are partially considered weapons and must be stored in the armory or cannot be removed from service and must be kept under lock and key in the barracks by a soldier who is not serving.

Ambition in numbers

The goals outlined at the moment look rather “raw”. However, even these are enough to evaluate how the Germans see the “new Bundeswehr.”

Defense of Berlin: Germany increases military spending

Their build-up is not related to the “Russian threat,” the Bundestag said

The ground forces will double the number of divisions. By 2027 they will receive one new, and by 2031 three fully equipped mechanized divisions (8–10 brigades). The number of “Division 2027” will be approximately 20 thousand military personnel. It will include one tank and two panzergrenadier (motorized infantry) brigades and its own helicopter unit. Additionally, the division is expected to include an artillery battalion, a radiation and chemical-biological defense unit, and engineers. In essence, both the structure and strength are close to the German motorized infantry division of the 1990s.

A serious advantage will be its own command and control, communications and electronic intelligence units, as well as logistics support and support. The latter is a sore spot in the modern German army. The head of the Bundeswehr Union, Andre Wüstner, explained with an example: “When a commander wants to conduct an exercise with his brigade, he must search and bring together medical services, IT, housing and food supplies in all parallel universes. In a sense, he controls "a body with arms and legs, but no heart or lungs."

Other priorities include ensuring cybersecurity, the ability to conduct joint cyber operations, new mobile command posts, as well as means of reconnaissance, communications and data exchange, etc.

army

Photo: flickr.com/Bundeswehr/Sönke Dwenger

Much attention is paid to the automation of logistics and logistics support, which will reduce the number of support personnel and increase combat strength. It is possible that logistics battalions will be equipped with robotic vehicles and unmanned special equipment.

By the first intermediate stage in 2023, it is planned to complete the formation of the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF). The result should be a fully modernized and equipped unit, equivalent in size and capabilities to a brigade.

One tank and one plane for two

France and Germany are getting closer to joint production of major weapons

The role of the German armed forces in the collective security system will increase significantly. The Bundeswehr is expected to provide the basis for the multinational corps headquarters and critical elements for two more similar headquarters.

The structure of each division will include a high degree of interaction with allied forces and the ability to integrate up to two brigades of partner countries.

Each national brigade will include three mechanized and one infantry battalion, its own artillery, a mixed reconnaissance battalion and improved air defense systems. In the latter case, the emphasis is on “new threats” such as UAVs.

Plans for the renewal of aviation forces are outlined most clearly. By 2031, the Air Force should lead a multinational task force capable of carrying out up to 350 combat and reconnaissance missions, 3/4 of which will be carried out by the Luftwaffe. The force must ensure air superiority in operational areas, including against so-called anti-access and anti-maneuver (A2/AD) capabilities, secure the country's airspace and contribute to the collective security of NATO countries. The Air Force must also maintain a fleet of aircraft capable of carrying nuclear weapons.

fleet

Frigate F 262 Erfurt during missile firing, May 2022

Photo: flickr.com/Bundeswehr/Marcel Kroencke

Bypassing the fifth generation

France and Germany will create a new fighter

The Navy, in addition to purchasing new frigates, corvettes and submarines, will completely renew its fleet of minesweepers. There are also plans to restore naval aviation.

The ability to simultaneously deploy at least 15 combat and auxiliary ships of the ocean class was named as one of the key ones. Not Hochseeflotte, of course, but the very fact of such claims and plans to increase the German presence in the World Ocean are already attracting attention.

However, no matter how ideal the plans may look on paper, their viability is confirmed only by real actions. At this point, it is already possible to evaluate some intermediate results.

Further armament of the Bundeswehr

literature

• Hans-Joachim Drost: Olive yellow - Furniture from the construction period 1956–1958.
  Military publishing house Drost, 2008
• Wollert / Liedschun / Copenhagen: Rifles Today, Volume 1 2.
  , Brandenburg Publishing House, 1993.
• Rolf Abresch, Ralf Wilhelm: Modern hand weapons of the Bundeswehr.
  Report, Bonn, 1999.
• Lothar Schuster: Equipment required for members of the German Armed Forces 1955–2010.
  Armory Chamber, 2011
• Weisswange, Jan-Philipp: Pistols and anti-tank pistols of the Bundeswehr.
  History - technology - tactics. , ES Mittler & Sohn, Hamburg, 2011