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The HK P11 is a Heckler & Koch pistol designed as an underwater firearm that was developed in 1976. It has five barrels and each fires a 7.62 X 36mm dart electrically. Loading is by means of a five-round case. The design resembles that of a pepper-box firearm.

Design

Since ordinary-shaped rounds are inaccurate and have a very short range when used underwater, this pistol fires steel darts.^[1] 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.^[2]

After firing all five cartridges, the barrel unit must be sent back to its manufacturer for reloading.^[3] It is very similar to its predecessor, the Mk 1 Underwater Defense Gun. In the past, Heckler & Koch has denied knowledge of its existence.^[4]

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

Denmark^[5]
France^[5]
Germany: German commando frogmen.^[6]
Israel^[5]
Italy: Italian Navy COMSUBIN.^[5]
Malaysia: Pasukan Khas Laut (PASKAL) of the Royal Malaysian Navy^[7]
Netherlands^[5]
Norway^[5]
United Kingdom: Special Boat Service of the British Royal Navy.^[8]

Notes

^ Cawthorne, Nigel (1 March 2012). The Mammoth Book of Inside the Elite Forces. Little, Brown Book Group. p. 220. ISBN 978-1-78033-731-9.
^ Neville, Leigh (31 March 2016). Guns of Special Forces 2001 – 2015. Pen and Sword. pp. 40–41. ISBN 978-1-4738-8102-0.
^ Walter, John (2005). Guns Of The Elite Forces. Frontline Books. p. 115. ISBN 978-1-85367-637-6.
^ 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 27 March 2008. Retrieved 28 March 2008.
^ Dan, Alex (9 February 2016). "PASKAL Malaysian Special Forces Weapons". Military Factory (Small Arms). Archived from the original on 14 February 2016. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
^ "SBS Weapons - HK P11 Underwater Pistol". Elite UK Forces. Retrieved 28 March 2008.

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.

External links

[Cawthorne2012-1] Cawthorne, Nigel (1 March 2012). The Mammoth Book of Inside the Elite Forces. Little, Brown Book Group. p. 220. ISBN 978-1-78033-731-9.

[Neville2016-2] Neville, Leigh (31 March 2016). Guns of Special Forces 2001 – 2015. Pen and Sword. pp. 40–41. ISBN 978-1-4738-8102-0.

[Walter2005-3] Walter, John (2005). Guns Of The Elite Forces. Frontline Books. p. 115. ISBN 978-1-85367-637-6.

[4] Dockery, Kevin (2004). Weapons of the Navy SEALs. New York: Berkley. p. 68. ISBN 0-425-19834-0.

[ewen2005-5] ^ ^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.

[6] "Straight Dope Staff Report: How far can bullets go when fired into water?". The Straight Dope. Archived from the original on 27 March 2008. Retrieved 28 March 2008.

[7] Dan, Alex (9 February 2016). "PASKAL Malaysian Special Forces Weapons". Military Factory (Small Arms). Archived from the original on 14 February 2016. Retrieved 10 February 2016.

[8] "SBS Weapons - HK P11 Underwater Pistol". Elite UK Forces. Retrieved 28 March 2008.

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