Abstract
Underwater firearms are niche small arms, with a very specific primary purpose and only limited alternative applications. Following significant development of the concept in the 1960s and 1970s, specialised underwater firearms largely vanished from the armouries of most military diving and special operations units. But that does not mean that these weapons are not used today. As recently as 2021, Russian underwater firearms have been exported to foreign nations. The Heckler & Koch P11 underwater pistol, first adopted by the Bundeswehr in 1976, remains in service in Germany today, and is believed to be held in the arsenals of other countries as well. The research underpinning this note was compiled by the author over the last four years, and includes interviews with a number of knowledgeable confidential sources. The author hopes to present the most comprehensive insight into the capabilities of the P11 and its ammunition thus far published in English.
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Issue: Vol. VIII No. 1
Published: 31 July 2022
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52357/armax96928
Peer-reviewed?: Yes
Keywords: West Germany, Heckler & Koch, P11, underwater firearms, combat divers
Bibliographic Information
Kristóf Nagy, ‘The German Heckler & Koch P11 Underwater Pistol’, Armax: The Journal of Contemporary Arms, Vol. VIII № 1 (2022), pp. 87–100, <https://doi.org/10.52357/armax96928>.
About the Author
Kristóf Nagy is a former light infantryman who served as the head of firearms training and ballistic evaluation at the University of the German Federal Armed Forces from 2010 to 2017. He currently works in the defence sector and has been appointed a firearms expert and small arms editor for the publisher Mittler Report. Mr. Nagy’s primary research interest is the history of Eastern European firearms development in the 20th century. He has authored or contributed to a variety of magazine articles, research reports, and technical documents.