Ak 4 | |
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![]() Ak 4 battle rifle. Notice the windage table on the butt stock for correctly adjusting a telescopic sight. | |
Type | Battle rifle |
Place of origin | Sweden |
Service history | |
In service | 1964–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 | |
Mass | 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 100–600 metres (109–656 yd) with optics |
Maximum firing range | 3,700 metres (4,046 yd) |
Feed system | 20-round detachable box 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. It has been produced in several versions, with minor changes and upgrades.
The original Ak 4 model (Ak 4A) featured a buttstock that is 20 mm (0.79 in) longer. The bolt carrier had a serrated thumb groove to aid in silent bolt closure and was 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. All Ak 4s are adapted to mount the M203 grenade launcher. Later versions have featured various new optics and adjustable stocks.
The Ak 4 rifles were manufactured from 1965 to 1970 by both Carl Gustafs Stads Gevärsfaktori in Eskilstuna and Husqvarna Vapenfabrik in Huskvarna. From 1970 until the end of production in 1985, they were exclusively produced in Eskilstuna. From 1965 to 1985 the Ak 4 was the standard service rifle of the Swedish military. It continues to be in use by the Swedish Home Guard and in specialist marksman roles in the regular armed forces.
History[]
The Ak 4 replaced the Automatgevär m/42 rifle and Carl Gustaf m/45 submachine gun in the 1960s. In order to replace the old weapons, Sweden held a trial of new weapons including: the Belgian FN FAL, the Swiss SIG SG 510, the Swedish Carl Gustaf 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 life.[1][2]
From 1965 to 1970 the Ak 4 was produced by Husqvarna and later changed to Carl Gustaf in Eskilstuna in 1970 until it was replaced by the 5.56×45mm NATO chambered Ak 5 (a version of the Belgian FN FNC), 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. Many Ak 4 rifles have a windage table on the right side of the butt stock for correctly adjusting a telescopic sight for 1 metre per second (2.2 mph) and 5 metres per second (11.2 mph) crosswinds from 100–600 metres (109–656 yd) in 100 metres (109 yd) increments.
- 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 fore-end (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 variant.[9]
Jordan[10]
Latvia - Ak4 variant used by National Guard.[10]
Lithuania - Ak4 variant was used by the Lithuanian Armed Forces.[11] and Lithuanian National Defence Volunteer Forces.
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"). About 5,000 units received a new adjustable stock from 2016. In 2019 5,000 additional units were ordered. In December 2020, Tidningen Hemvärnet announced that 10,00 extra units were ordered, meaning every soldier in the Home Guard will receive the new adjustable stock AK4C variant before the end of 2022.[13]
Gallery[]
See also[]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Category:Ak 4. |
References[]
- ↑ Janson, Olof (6 November 2017). "Swedish military assault rifles 1945-1990, Ak 4 and Ak 5". http://www.gotavapen.se/gota/ak/ak4_5/ak5_history.htm.
- ↑ "Die Geschichte des G3" (in de). http://www.rk-marburg.com/Schiessen/HW_BW/Geschichte_G3/body_geschichte_g3.html.
- ↑ "Hensoldt 4×24 scopes for Heckler & Koch G3 rifles". http://mg-42.net/G3_hensoldt.htm.
- ↑ "Telescope Sight 4×24 for G3 Rifle: Instruction Manual". http://www.drzero.org/cetme/pdf/g3sm.pdf.
- ↑ "Heckler & Koch G3". http://www.bellum.nu/armoury/HKG3.html.
- ↑ "New H&K G3 accessories from Spuhr AB". March 3, 2016. https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016/03/03/new-hk-g3-accessories-spuhr-ab/.
- ↑ "The new Spuhr G3/MP5/HK33/53 Stock Assembly". March 2, 2017. https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2017/03/02/spuhr-g3mp5hk3353-stock-assembly/.
- ↑ "New assault rifle for sharpshooters". http://www.imgrum.org/media/1388998665129710679_591887280.
- ↑ "Tehnika – Automaat AK-4" (in et). http://www.mil.ee/?menu=tehnika1&sisu=ak4.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 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.
- ↑ "Automatinis šautuvas AK-4" (in lt). http://kariuomene.kam.lt/lt/ginkluote_ir_karine_technika/automatiniai_sautuvai/automatinis_sautuvas_ak-4.html. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
- ↑ "Automatkarbin 4" (in sv). https://www.forsvarsmakten.se/sv/information-och-fakta/materiel-och-teknik/vapen/automatkarbin-4/.
- ↑ "AK4C till alla hemvärnssoldater" (in sv). 21 December 2020. https://tidningenhemvarnet.se/ak4c/.
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