Ak 4 rifle

Ak 4
Ak 4 battle rifle
Type Battle rifle
Place of origin Sweden
Service history
In service 1968–present
Used by See Users
Wars War in Afghanistan
Production history
Designer Heckler & Koch
Designed 1950s
Manufacturer 1965–1970: Husqvarna
1965–1985: Carl Gustafs
Produced 1970–1985
Variants Ak 4B
Ak 4OR
Specifications
Weight 4.1 kg (9.04 lb)
Length 1,045 mm (41.1 in)
Barrel length 450 mm (17.7 in)
Width 45 mm (1.8 in)
Height 220 mm (8.7 in) with inserted magazine
Cartridge 7.62×51mm NATO
Action Roller-delayed blowback
Rate of fire 500–600 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity 800 m/s (2,625 ft/s)
Effective firing range 500 metres (547 yd)
200–500 metres (219–547 yd) sight adjustments
600 metres (656 yd) with optics
Maximum firing range 3,700 metres (4,046 yd)
Feed system 20-round detachable box 30-round detachable box and 50-round drum magazine
Sights Rear: rotary diopter; front: hooded post

The Ak 4 (Swedish: Automatkarbin 4) is a Swedish-made version of the Heckler & Koch G3A3 battle rifle, with a buttstock that is 20 mm (0.79 in) longer, the bolt carrier has a serrated thumb groove to aid in silent bolt closure and fitted with a heavy buffer for higher number of rounds fired before failure. The Ak 4 iron sights feature extended 200–500 metres (219–547 yd) sight adjustments in 100 metres (109 yd) increments. The rifles were manufactured from 1965 to 1970 by both Carl Gustafs Stads Gevärsfabrik and Husqvarna Vapenfabrik and from 1970 until the end of production in 1985 – exclusively by Gevärsfabrik in Eskilstuna. All Ak 4s are adapted to mount the M203 grenade launcher. From 1965 to 1985 the Ak 4 was the standard service rifle of the Swedish military.

History

The Ak 4 replaced the Carl Gustav m/45 in the 1960s. In order to replace the old rifle, Sweden held a new generation of standard weapons selection including: the Belgian FN FAL, the Swiss SIG SG 510, the Swedish Karl Gustav GRAM 63, the American M14 and the German Heckler & Koch G3. After several different types of testing the FN FAL and Heckler & Koch G3 passed the tests. Due to its durability and lower price due to modern production methods the Ak 4 version of the Heckler & Koch G3 was selected as the new standard rifle in 1964. Sweden and Heckler & Koch agreed a 15,000 round service/system life.[1][2]

From 1965 to 1970 Ak 4 was produced by Husqvarna and later changed to Carl Gustav in Eskilstuna in 1970 until it was replaced by the small-caliber Ak 5 (Swedish FN FNC version), but the Ak 4 is still used in the Hemvärnet-Nationella skyddsstyrkorna (Swedish Home Guard). Sweden has supplied unmodified Ak 4's to Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. In 1985 the Ak 4 was replaced by the Ak 5.

Variants

  • Ak 4: Swedish-made version of the G3A3.
  • Ak 4OR: Optiskt Riktmedel, optical sight. This model is fitted with a Hensoldt Fero Z24 4×24 telescopic sight mounted via a HK claw mount.[3] During a few years it was not issued but it is now again in use by the Hemvärnet - Nationella skyddsstyrkorna (Swedish Home Guard). The Hensoldt Fero Z24 4×24 telescopic sight for G3 rifle and STANAG claw mount assembly were developed for designated marksman use. The Fero Z24 elevation knob features Bullet Drop Compensation (BDC) settings for 100–600 metres (109–656 yd) in 100 metres (109 yd) increments.[4]
  • Ak 4B: In this updated version the iron sights have been removed and replaced with an Aimpoint CS red-dot reflex sight mounted on a Picatinny rail (MIL-STD-1913). The rail is welded onto the rifle. Used by Hemvärnet - Nationella skyddsstyrkorna (Swedish Home Guard).'[5]
  • Ak 4C: An updated version of the Ak 4B with a 6-position adjustable-length buttstock with a cheek support comb optimized for aiming optics use designed and manufactured by the Swedish company Spuhr i Dalby AB.[6][7] 5,000 Ak 4C began being fielded in 2017 by Hemvärnet - Nationella skyddsstyrkorna ("Swedish Home Guard").
  • Ak 4D: An updated version of the Ak 4B with the adjustable-length buttstock of the Ak 4C but with the addition of a modular forend (also designed and manufactured by the Swedish company Spuhr i Dalby AB), a bipod and the Hensoldt Fero Z24 4×24 telescopic sight of the Ak 4OR mounted on a Picatinny rail (MIL-STD-1913). 400 Ak 4D will be used by the Swedish Army as a stop-gap designated marksman rifle (DMR).[8]

Users

  •  Estonia - Uses the Ak4 and AG-3F2 variant.[9]
  •  Jordan[10]
  •  Latvia - Ak4 variant used by National Guard.[10]
  •  Lithuania - Ak4 variant was used by the Lithuanian Armed Forces.[11]
  •  Sweden - Made by three manufacturers, Heckler & Koch in Germany, and under license by Husqvarna Vapenfabrik (1965–70) and Carl Gustaf Gevärsfaktori (1965–80) which was later renamed to Förenade Fabriksverken (FFV) as the Ak 4 (Automatkarbin 4).[12] Two sub-variants are known to exist, one equipped with a rail and Aimpoint sight (Ak4 B) and the other with a 4× magnifying optic, the Hensoldt Fero Z24 4×24 (Ak 4OR). It has since been replaced by the Ak 5 (Automatkarbin 5; a modified version of the FN FNC) in the regular army. Ak 4B and Ak 4OR, some times in combination with the M203 grenade launcher, is still in use in Hemvärnet – Nationella skyddsstyrkorna ("Swedish Home Guard").

See also

References

  1. ↑ Swedish military assault rifles 1945 - 1990, Ak4 and Ak 5. Text and photos by O. Janson
  2. ↑ Die Geschichte des G3 (in German)
  3. ↑ Hensoldt 4×24 scopes for Heckler & Koch G3 rifles
  4. ↑ Fero Z24 4×24 telescopic sight for G3 rifle instruction manual
  5. ↑ http://www.bellum.nu/armoury/HKG3.html Archived 2006-06-21 at the Wayback Machine. Heckler & Koch G3
  6. ↑ New H&K G3 accessories from Spuhr AB
  7. ↑ The new Spuhr G3/MP5/HK33/53 Stock Assembly
  8. ↑ Information on and image of the Ak 4D
  9. ↑ "Eesti Kaitsevägi – Tehnika – Automaat AK-4" (in Estonian).
  10. 1 2 Jones, Richard D.; Ness, Leland S., eds. (January 27, 2009). Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010 (35th ed.). Coulsdon: Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5.
  11. ↑ "Lietuvos kariuomenė :: Ginkluotė ir karinė technika » Automatiniai šautuvai » Automatinis šautuvas AK-4". Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  12. ↑ https://www.forsvarsmakten.se/sv/information-och-fakta/materiel-och-teknik/vapen/automatkarbin-4/
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