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Weapons System

Heckler & Koch G3

Small Arms And Sidearms

The Heckler & Koch G3 is a select-fire battle rifle chambered in 7.62x51mm NATO, developed jointly by the Spanish state manufacturer CETME and the West German firm Heckler & Koch and formally adopted by the West German Bundeswehr in January 1959. The rifle uses a roller-delayed blowback operating system and a modular design that allowed customized components across variants. More than 7.8 million G3s have been produced across multiple manufacturers, and the rifle has been exported to more than 70 countries and built under license in at least 15 nations. It served as West Germany's primary infantry rifle from 1959 until it was replaced by the Heckler & Koch G36 in the 1990s following German reunification.

Facts
Classification
Caliber
7.62x51mm NATO 1
Service Status
In Service 1
Weapon Class
Battle rifle 1
Introduced Year
1959 2
Weapon Class
Weapon Class (category)
Rifle 1
FAQs

How does the G3 rifle's roller-delayed blowback action work?

Two sliding rollers lock the bolt to the barrel extension.

The G3 is a selective-fire automatic weapon that employs a roller-delayed blowback operating system. Its two-piece bolt assembly consists of a breech (bolt head) and a bolt carrier. The bolt is held in battery by two sliding cylindrical rollers that engage locking recesses in the barrel extension.
Connections

Associated With

Bundeswehr, Armed Forces and Units

The Heckler and Koch G3 was the Bundeswehr's standard battle rifle from 1959 into the 1990s

Operated By

Bundeswehr, Armed Forces and Units
Source Wikipedia: Heckler & Koch G3

Used In

Iraq War, Wars
Source Military Factory: Heckler & Koch HK G3 Assault Rifle / Battle Rifle
In the Other Atlases

Manufactured By

Heckler & Koch

Also in Business Atlas: the manufacturer of this subject.

Source Wikidata: Heckler & Koch G3
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Heckler & Koch G3
Wikipedia
  • Lead section, Heckler & Koch G3 Wikipedia article
    The Heckler & Koch G3 (German: Gewehr 3) is a select-fire battle rifle
  • History section, Heckler & Koch G3 Wikipedia article, Bundeswehr adoption
    In January 1959, the Bundeswehr officially adopted the technically improved CETME proposal.
  • Article text
    In January 1959, the Bundeswehr officially adopted the technically improved CETME proposal.
  • Infobox: cartridge
    7.62×51mm NATO
  • Infobox: service
    1959-present
  • Lead section
    The Heckler & Koch G3 (German: Gewehr 3) is a select-fire battle rifle chambered in 7.62×51mm NATO developed in the 1950s by the West German firearms manufacturer Heckler & Koch, in collaboration with the Spanish state-owned firearms manufacturer CETME.
  • Operated By: Bundeswehr, Wikipedia article text
    The G3 was the service rifle of the West German Bundeswehr until it was replaced by the Heckler & Koch G36 in the 1990s after German reunification, and was adopted into service with numerous other countries.
View the Source
2. Wikidata: Heckler & Koch G3
Wikidata Q211791, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source
Military Factory: Heckler & Koch HK G3 Assault Rifle / Battle Rifle
Military FactoryUsed In: Iraq War, Collections list
Quote, Used In: Iraq War, Collections list
IRAQI FREEDOM ARMS
View the Source
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