The Heckler & Koch HK45 (Heckler & Koch, .45 ACP) is a German-made semi-automatic pistol chambered for the .45 ACP cartridge.
Overview[]
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. The Joint Combat Pistol program was suspended indefinitely in 2006, and the M9 pistol remains the standard issue handgun for the U.S. Military. Even though the Joint Combat Pistol program had ended, Heckler & Koch decided to make the HK45 available on the commercial market as well as to law enforcement and military groups. Heckler & Koch, along with Larry Vickers, an ex-Delta Force operator, and Ken Hackathorn led the development of the HK45 to meet Joint Combat Pistol program requirements which was canceled due to the price of re-arming the entire military.[2]
The HK45 represents an evolutionary advancement of the Heckler & Koch USP,[3] and shares the same operating principles of that weapon. It is available in the same ten variants as the USP. The HK45 is a full size model pistol, but significant effort went towards making it more ergonomic than the HK USP full-size chambered in .45 ACP by incorporating features found on the Heckler & Koch P2000. These include an extended ambidextrous slide release, a textured ergonomic grip with finger grooves, and interchangeable backstraps to fit differently sized hands.[1] The newer grip and backstraps allow the pistol to sit lower into the web of the hand, contributing to greater control of the weapon and recoil management. In order to accommodate the smaller, more ergonomic grip, the HK45 has a magazine capacity of 10 rounds versus 12 rounds for the USP45. The HK45 also added grip serrations on the front end of the slide, a Picatinny rail in front of the trigger guard for mounting accessories, and an O-ring polygonal barrel similar to the USP Expert and Match models and the Mark 23 for more consistent lock-up of the slide and barrel during cycling and increased accuracy.[4]
Notable Users[]
Isabelle carried a Heckler & Koch HK45 with a custom compensator as her sidearm on the Game Preserve Planet, keeping it in a custom holster. She most notably used it during the Hell-Hounds' attack, where she contemplated committing suicide with it.
Trivia[]
- The HK45 is one of several Heckler & Koch weapons to appear in the Alien, Predator and Alien vs. Predator franchises; the others are the VP70, the MP5, the MP7, the UMP, the G36 and the G3.
- In reality, the HK45 weapon is not issued by the IDF. Realistically, Isabelle should be carrying a Jericho 941, a Glock 17/19 or SIG Sauer P226/P228, all of which are issued to Israeli Special Forces.[5]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "HK45 - Heckler & Koch - USA". Hk-usa.com. Retrieved on 2009-12-16.
- ↑ "Birth Of The HK". Gunsandammomag.com (2007-03-30). Retrieved on 2010-08-24.
- ↑ Title: Military Power Author Fred J. Pushies Edition illustrated Publisher MBI Publishing Company, 2007 ISBN 0-7603-2947-8, ISBN 978-0-7603-2947-4 page 99
- ↑ "Modern Firearms - Handguns - Heckler Koch HK 45 pistol". World.guns.ru. Retrieved on 2009-12-16.
- ↑ [1]Weapons of the Israeli Special Forces