Heckler & Koch HK45 - Wikipedia

Semi-automatic pistol

Heckler & Koch HK45
The Heckler & Koch HK45C Tactical with threaded barrel.
Type	Semi-automatic pistol
Place of origin	Germany
Service history
Used by	See Users
Production history
Designer	Frank Henninger, Larry Vickers, Ken Hackathorn
Manufacturer	Heckler & Koch
Produced	2006–present
Variants	HK45 HK45 Tactical HK45 Compact HK45 Compact Tactical
Specifications
Mass	770 g (27 oz) (HK45) 720 g (25 oz) (HK45 Compact)
Length	204 mm (8.0 in) (HK45) 184 mm (7.2 in) (HK45 Compact)
Barrel length	113 mm (4.4 in) (HK45) 99 mm (3.9 in) (HK45 Compact)
Width	39 mm (1.5 in) (HK45) 39 mm (1.5 in) (HK45 Compact)
Height	144 mm (5.7 in) (HK45) 129 mm (5.1 in) (HK45 Compact)
Caliber	.45 ACP
Action	Short recoil operated, Browning-type tilting barrel, locked breech
Feed system	Detachable box magazine; capacities: 10 rounds (HK45) 8 or 10 rounds (HK45C)
Sights	Drift adjustable 3-dot Super-LumiNova night sight system

The Heckler & Koch HK45 (Heckler & Koch, .45 ACP) is a semi-automatic pistol designed by the German arms manufacturer Heckler & Koch.

Overview

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The HK45 was designed to meet requirements set forth in the U.S. Military Joint Combat Pistol program[1] which had the purpose of arming the U.S. Military with a .45 ACP semi-automatic pistol instead of the 9mm M9 pistol. Heckler & Koch developed the HK45 with the help of retired SFOD-D operator Larry Vickers and firearms instructor Ken Hackathorn. The Joint Combat Pistol program was suspended in 2006 and eventually cancelled due to the price of re-arming the entire U.S. armed forces. The M9 pistol remained the standard issue handgun for the U.S. Military until the adoption of the Sig P320 by the U.S. Army in January 2017. Even though the Joint Combat Pistol program had ended, HK decided to make the HK45 available on the commercial market as well as to law enforcement and military groups.[2]

The HK45 represents an evolutionary advancement of the USP Compact chambered in .45 ACP and shares the operating principles and many internal parts of that weapon. Significant effort went towards making it more ergonomic than the HK USP Compact. These include a full-size grip eliminating the need for the older weapon's 'elephant foot' cover on the 10-round magazine, an ambidextrous slide release, a more ergonomic grip with finger grooves and interchangeable backstraps to fit differently sized hands.[1] The HK45 uses the same magazines as the USP Compact chambered in .45 ACP, but with different floor plates. All HK45 magazines will work without modification in a USP Compact chambered in .45 ACP, but magazines of the latter will require new floor plates to work in the HK45. Further improvements include serrations on the front of the slide, a standard Picatinny rail for mounting accessories, and a barrel O-ring for more consistent lock-up of the slide and barrel as found on higher-end Heckler & Koch models such as the full-size USP Match, Expert and Elite, the Mark 23 and the SFP9/VP9 OR Match.

In 2011, the United States Naval Special Warfare Command adopted a variant of the HK45 Compact Tactical under the designation MK 24 MOD 0.[3][4]

The HK45 is manufactured in Germany and at Heckler & Koch's facility in Newington, New Hampshire.[needs update]

Variants

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Heckler & Koch also manufactures the HK45 Compact (HK45C.) The HK45C features the same improvements as the full-size HK45, but has a shorter, more conventional straight grip similar to Heckler & Koch's P2000. The grip can be customized with interchangeable backstraps. The HK45C can use all magazines of the full-size HK45 and the USP Compact chambered in .45 ACP, including the flush 8-round magazines and the extended 10-round 'elephant foot' magazines.

An HK45 Tactical (HK45T) and HK45 Compact Tactical (HK45CT) are also available; these variants include an extended threaded barrel for suppressors, and tritium front and rear sights.[5] Extended threaded barrels compatible with the HK45 and HK45C are also available for purchase from Heckler & Koch USA.[6]

Users

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•  Australia: HK45 was adopted by the Tactical Response Group of the Western Australia Police in 2008.[7][dead link‍][4]
•  Malaysia: HK45 was adopted by the Naval Special Warfare Force (PASKAL) of the Royal Malaysian Navy in 2010s.[4]
•  Singapore: Unknown variant was purchased for use by the special forces.[4]
•  United States: The Heckler & Koch HK45 Compact (HK45C) is designated the Mark 24 and used by SEAL Team Six operators.[3]

See also

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• Heckler & Koch P30 - Chambered in 9×19mm Parabellum and 40S&W, it shares Heckler & Koch's current design aesthetic with the HK45.

References

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1. ^ a b "HK45 - Heckler & Koch - USA". Hk-usa.com. Retrieved 2009-12-16.
2. ^ "Birth Of The HK". Gunsandammomag.com. 2007-03-30. Archived from the original on 2012-03-24. Retrieved 2010-08-24.
3. ^ a b "HK45C: U.S. NAVY SEAL". September 2011.
4. ^ a b c d Dan, Alex (23 November 2020). "Heckler & Koch HK 45". Military Factory (Infantry / Small Arms). Retrieved 24 November 2020.
5. ^ HK45 operator's manual (PDF)[permanent dead link‍]
6. ^ HK USA Forums - HK45 and HK45C Tactical Barrels Archived July 11, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
7. ^ "Police Greenscreen Portraits". eyeinthesky.com.au Retrieved 21-01-2016. Archived from the original on 2017-04-20. Retrieved 2016-01-21.

External links

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• Heckler & Koch HK45 at the Internet Movie Firearms Database
• Official HK45 page from Heckler & Koch USA
• Official HK45C page from Heckler & Koch USA
• 2008 Heckler & Koch Military and LE brochure
• Report on the 2007 Shot Show, featuring photos of the HK45 and HK45C
• HK45 video review on YouTube
• Reports on a Heckler & Koch P45 .45 ACP endurance test over 50,000 rounds conducted by pistol-training.com Archived 2016-03-24 at the Wayback Machine

Wikimedia Commons has media related to HK 45C.

v t e Heckler & Koch
Pistols	HK4 VP70 P9 P7 MK23 USP P2000 P30 HK45 VP9
Service rifles	G3 HK33 G41 G36 HK416 HK417 HK433 M27 IAR G28
Sniper rifles	HK G3 SG1 HK 33 SG1 PSG1 MSG90 SL9SD
Civilian rifles	HK41 HK43 MR223 MR308 SL6 SL7 SL8 SR9 USC
Shotguns	HK 512 FABARM FP6
Submachine guns	MP5 UMP MP7
Machine guns	HK21 MG4 MG5
Grenade launchers	HK69A1 AG-C/EGLM AG36 M320 GMG XM25 CDTE
Prototypes	Handguns P46 Rifles HK32 HK36 G11 XM29 OICW XM8 Shotguns HK CAWS
Miscellaneous	P2A1 P11 4.6×30mm 4.6×36mm L98A2

v t e Current U.S. infantry service weapons and cartridges
Handguns	M1911 M9 M11 P229R DAK M17 – M18 MHS MK 23 MK 24 MK 25 MK 26 MK 27
Rifles	Assault, battle M16 M4 XM7 MK 18 CQBR XM177 GAU-5/A M231 FPW M27 IAR HK416 MK 16 MK 17 MK 14 EBR M14 Designated marksman Mk 14 EBR M39 EMR M14 M21 SWS M25 SWS M38 DMR M110A1 SDMR SDM-R MK 12 SPR SEAL Recon Rifle Sniper, anti-materiel M110 SASS MK 11 M110A1 CSASS MK 20 SSR M107 M40 M2010 ESR M24 SWS MK 21 PSR MK 22 ASR – PSR MK 13 MK 15
Shotguns	M870 M590 M26 MASS M1014
Submachine guns	MP5 MP7 Colt 9mm SMG MPX SCW
Machine guns	M2 M249 SAW (MK 46) XM250 M27 IAR M240 MK 48 M60 (MK 43)
Ordnance	Grenade launchers M203 M320 GLM MK 13 EGLM M79 M32 MGL MK 19 MK 47 Mortars M224 LWCMS M252 M120 Recoilless rifle M3A1 MAAWS M136 AT4 Rockets M72 LAW MK 153 SMAW M141 BDM M202 FLASH Missiles BGM-71 TOW FGM-148 Javelin FIM-92 Stinger
Cartridges	12 Gauge 9×19mm NATO .45 ACP 5.56×45mm NATO 6.5mm Creedmoor 6.8×51mm 7.62×51mm NATO .300 Norma Magnum .300 Winchester Magnum .338 Norma Magnum .50 BMG 40×46mm–40x51mm–40x53mm