Heckler & Koch P11

{{short description|Five-barreled underwater rocket dart pistol }} {{Infobox weapon | name = HK P11 | image = HK P11 mit pruefgeraet.jpg | image_size = 250 | caption = OS P11 | origin = Germany | type = Underwater Pistol | is_ranged = yes | service = 1977–present | used_by = see Users | wars =  | designer = | design_date = 1970s | manufacturer = Heckler & Koch | production_date = 1976 | number = | variants =  | weight = {{convert|1200|g}} loaded<br>Battery pack {{convert|700|g}} | length = {{convert|200|mm}} | part_length = | width = {{convert|60|mm}} | height = | crew =  | cartridge = 7.62×36mm, about {{convert|100|mm}} long, miniature solid-fuelled rocket with fins | caliber = 7.62 mm | action = Electric actuated | rate = | velocity = | range = {{convert|30|m}} in air,<br> {{convert|10|to|15|m}} underwater | max_range = | feed = 5 rounds, each in a barrel | sights = {{convert|14.6|cm}} between sights }}

The '''Heckler & Koch P11''' is an underwater firearm developed in 1976 by Heckler & Koch. It is loaded using a pepper-box-like assembly, containing five sealed barrels each containing an electrically-fired projectile. Two styles of barrel assembly can be used: one containing five 7.62×36mm flechette darts for use underwater, or five 133-grain bullets for use above water.<ref name="McCollum2023">{{cite web |last1=McCollum|first1=Ian |author1-link=Ian McCollum |title=HK P11: NATO's Secret Underwater Pistol |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZ_yAn2vQHw |website=youtube.com |publisher=Forgotten Weapons |language=en |format=video |date=November 1, 2023}}</ref>

==Design== Since ordinary-shaped rounds are inaccurate and have a very short range when used underwater, this pistol fires steel darts underwater or traditional bullets above water.<ref name="Cawthorne2012">{{cite book|last=Cawthorne|first=Nigel|title=The Mammoth Book of Inside the Elite Forces|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5N3ABAAAQBAJ&pg=PT220|date=1 March 2012|publisher=Little, Brown Book Group|isbn=978-1-78033-731-9|page=220}}</ref><ref name="McCollum2023"/> 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.<ref name="Neville2016">{{cite book|last=Neville|first=Leigh|title=Guns of Special Forces 2001 – 2015|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v1yqCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA40|date=31 March 2016|publisher=Pen and Sword|isbn=978-1-4738-8102-0|pages=40–41}}</ref>

Both the underwater dart and above-water bullet barrel assemblies use a sabot to hold the projectile. Each barrel is rifled in two portions: an initial large diameter designed to spin the sabot and projectile, and a second, narrower section to halt the sabot and spin the projectile.<ref name="McCollum2023"/> This has two principal benefits: first, it reduces the noise produced when the weapon is fired and second it reduces exhaust gas released by the weapon that would otherwise cause bubbles.

After firing all five cartridges, the barrel unit must be sent back to its manufacturer for reloading.<ref name="Walter2005">{{cite book|last=Walter|first=John|title=Guns Of The Elite Forces|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wE2aBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA115|year=2005|publisher=Frontline Books|isbn=978-1-85367-637-6|page=115}}</ref> It is very similar to its predecessor, the Mk 1 Underwater Defense Gun. In the past, Heckler & Koch has denied knowledge of its existence.<ref>{{cite book |title= Weapons of the Navy SEALs|last= Dockery|first= Kevin|author-link= Kevin Dockery (author)|year= 2004|publisher= Berkley|location= New York|isbn= 0-425-19834-0|page=68}}</ref><ref name="McCollum2023"/>

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 which has four. However, the SPP-1 does not need to be sent back to the manufacturer to be reloaded.

==Users==

*{{flag|Denmark}}<ref name="ewen2005">{{cite book |title= Jane's Special Forces Recognition Guide|last= Southby-Tailyour|first= Ewen|author-link= Ewen Southby-Tailyour|year= 2005|publisher= Collins|location= New York|isbn= 0-00-718329-1|page= 366}}</ref> *{{flag|France}}<ref name="ewen2005"/> *{{flag|Germany}}: German commando frogmen.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mgununderwater.htm |title=Straight Dope Staff Report: How far can bullets go when fired into water? |access-date=2008-03-28 |work=The Straight Dope |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080327052050/http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mgununderwater.htm |archive-date=2008-03-27 |url-status=dead }}</ref> *{{flag|Israel}}<ref name="ewen2005"/> *{{flag|Italy}}: Italian Navy COMSUBIN.<ref name="ewen2005"/> *{{MAS}}: ''Pasukan Khas Laut'' (PASKAL) of the Royal Malaysian Navy<ref>{{cite journal|last=Dan|first=Alex|date=9 February 2016|title=PASKAL Malaysian Special Forces Weapons|journal=Military Factory|issue=Small Arms|url=http://www.militaryfactory.com/smallarms/paskal-special-forces-weapons.asp|access-date=10 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160214230914/http://www.militaryfactory.com/smallarms/paskal-special-forces-weapons.asp|archive-date=14 February 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> *{{flag|Netherlands}}<ref name="ewen2005"/> *{{flag|Norway}}<ref name="ewen2005"/> *{{flag|United Kingdom}}: Special Boat Service of the British Royal Navy.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.eliteukforces.info/special-boat-service/weapons/p11/|title= SBS Weapons - HK P11 Underwater Pistol|access-date=2008-03-28 |work= Elite UK Forces}}</ref>

==Notes== {{reflist}}

==References== {{refbegin}} * {{cite book |title= Weapons of the Navy SEALs|last= Dockery|first= Kevin|author-link= Kevin Dockery (author)|year= 2004|publisher= Berkley|location= New York|isbn= 0-425-19834-0}} * {{cite book |title= Jane's Special Forces Recognition Guide|last= Southby-Tailyour|first= Ewen|author-link= Ewen Southby-Tailyour|year= 2005|publisher= Collins|location= New York|isbn= 0-00-718329-1}} {{refend}}

==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20140716070643/http://www.hkpro.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31:the-p11-underwater-pistol&catid=20:all-other-weapons&Itemid=5 HKPRO: The HK P11] * [http://www.securityarms.com/20010315/galleryfiles/0900/940.htm Securityarms: Heckler & Koch P11 Underwater Pistol] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20080406130156/http://www.world.guns.ru/handguns/hg209-e.htm Modern Firearms: Heckler Koch HK P11 underwater pistol] * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZ_yAn2vQHw HK P11: NATO's Secret Underwater Pistol] {{Multiple Barrel Firearms}} {{HK firearms}} {{Underwater diving|prodiv}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Heckler and Koch P11}} Category:Multiple-barrel firearms Category:Flechette firearms Category:Underwater pistols P11 Category:Cold War weapons of Germany Category:Pistols of Germany Category:Military equipment introduced in the 1970s