Heckler & Koch UMP is a submachine gun designed as a successor to the famous Heckler & Koch MP5, designed in the mid-1990s as a lighter and cheaper successor to the MP5, though both remain in production. The weapon is chambered in three different calibers, 9×19, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP.
Introduction
The Heckler & Koch UMP (Universale Maschinenpistole, German for “Universal Machine Pistol”) was designed to be a lightweight and powerful weapon but cheaper than the MP5. While most submachine guns are infamously inexpensive, the MP5 isn’t. Heckler & Koch meant to change that and to offer UMP to the U.S. law enforcement market and make it attractive to the various agencies. Its production commenced in 1999, and it is still available.
This submachine gun (SMG) is in service in more than 20 countries. However, this weapon could not surpass its predecessor in popularity and proliferation. It is mainly because submachine guns are declining in popularity, so the MP5, with its first-mover advantage, will never be surpassed by any other SMG.
The three major things the Heckler & Koch UMP gave you over the MP5 were weight savings (2350g vs 3100g) and the UMP came in a more caliber standard (9×19,.40S&W,.45ACP vs. 9×19), and the UMP’s lower cost. As H&K is still producing the MP5, if you didn’t care about the caliber or weight and had the bucks, you could still buy an MP5 over a UMP.
Design
The Heckler & Koch UMP is a blowback-operated, selective fire weapon, fired from a closed bolt. Its first versions, the Heckler & Koch UMP45 and UMP40, were chambered for .45 ACP and .40 SW ammunition respectively. Later, a Heckler & Koch UMP9 version became available, chambered for 9×19 mm Parabellum ammunition. All versions have similar design, apart from the different chambering.
The UMP can fire in semi-auto, full-auto, 2- or 3-round burst modes. Its fire mode selector is also acts as a safety lock. This fire mode selector is fully ambidextrous. Cocking handle is located at the front of the receiver. The HK UMP is available with 25- and 30-round capacity magazines.
The UMP-45 is typically fed from 25-round capacity magazines. Other versions are fed from the 30-round one. It is worth mentioning that the .45 ACP and .40 SW versions use straight magazines, while the 9 mm version comes with curved magazines.
This SMG comes with adjustable iron sights and a Weaver-type rail on top of the receiver, which is used to mount various sights. This submachine gun has an effective range of about 100 meters. The UMP comes with a side-folding buttstock, which folds to the right side. Weapon can be fired when buttstock is in folded position. Its accessory rail on the foregrip accepts a wide variety of equipment, such as tactical flashlights, vertical grips, laser pointers and so on. A silencer can be attached to the barrel.
Variants
The UMP is interchangeable between three different calibers:
- UMP45 chambered in .45 ACP
- UMP40 chambered in .40 S&W
- UMP9 chambered in 9×19mm Parabellum
Apart from the different chambering, all versions feature the same design model, the exterior differences being the curved magazine used on the UMP9. In contrast, both the UMP40 and UMP45 each use a straight magazine. All three versions of the weapon can be cross-converted to any round chamberings via replacing the bolt, barrel, and magazine.
Heckler & Koch USC
Heckler & Koch USC is a semi-automatic carbine version intended for civilian customers. It has a longer barrel and a magazine capacity limited to 10 rounds. This version is chambered for .45 ACP ammunition.
Technical specifications
| Country of origin: | Germany |
| Manufacturer: | Heckler & Koch GmbH, Oberndorf Am Neckar, Germany |
| Entered service: | 1999 |
| Caliber: | .45 ACP, .40 S&W, 9×19 mm |
| Weight (empty): | 2.3 kg |
| Length: | 600 mm |
| Length (with folded stock): | 450 mm |
| Barrel length: | 200 mm |
| Muzzle velocity: | 285 m/s |
| Cyclic rate of fire: | 600 rpm |
| Practical rate of fire: | 30 – 80 rpm |
| Magazine capacity: | 10, 25, 30 rounds |
| Sighting range: | 25-100 m |
| Range of effective fire | 100 m |
