Overview[]
The MC 51 is a joint
British-American battle carbine converted from the HK G3 platform.
The MC 51 is often called HK 51, however it is not produced nor endorsed by HK. The name fits the HK system for naming firearms at the time, with the 5 standing for a compact firearm, and the 1 standing for the 7.62x51mm cartridge.
Development[]
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, British special operations teams such as the SAS and SBS were openly looking for a replacement of their aging weaponry. Both groups were utilizing ~35 year old L34A1 submachine guns at the time.
Bill Fleming, an American arms designer, was contacted by British-based firearms company, FR Ordnance, to produce various samples of his already known HK G3-platform conversion, which he named the "HK 51" after the HK naming scheme. Prior to use with special operations, original models were available for retail sales within the United States.
The models that saw usage with British special operations teams would be imported by FR Ordnance, and renamed MC 51, which is a shortened term for "machine carbine". Various other models of the MC 51 would also be designed by Bill Fleming with guidance from FR Ordnance, such as the MC 51 SD, and the MC 51 K.
Whilst boasting factors over other in-service firearms at the time, such as superior accuracy and a larger cartridge, the MC 51 design was never fully integrated into service with any military or special operations unit for extended amounts of time. This was considered due to the compact nature of the firearm, resulting in high-recoil, noise, and concussion, especially within close-quarters situations. The fully-automatic fire mode reportedly made it hard for users to keep track of their targets.
Design[]
Essentially, the MC 51's design is a cut-down G3A3, close in dimensions to the HK MP5A3. The handguard is also borrowed from the MP5, however, other similar parts such as the stock and pistol grip are taken from various G3 models. Iron-sights are also standard to the G3 platform.
Usage of the roller-delayed blowback action is also utilized, much like most other HK products at the time.
Variants[]
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| Flag of the United Kingdom Weapons of the United Kingdom Warflag of the United Kingdom After the Second World War |
|---|
| Infantry Weapons | ||
|---|---|---|
| Melee Weapons | Bayonet | [[]] |
| Survival Weapon | [[]] | |
| Sidearms | Pistol | L9A1 • L18A1 • L47A1 • L66A1 • L102A1 • L105A1 (A2) • L106A1 (A2) • L107A1 • L109A1 • L117A1 • L131A1 • L132A1 • L137A1 |
| Revolver | [[]] | |
| Machine Pistol | [[]] | |
| Close Quarters | Personal Defense Weapon | [[]] |
| Submachine Gun | L2A1 (A2 • A3 • A4) • L34A1 • L49A1 • L50A1 • L51A1 • L52A1 • L80A1 • L90A1 • L91A1 • L92A1 | |
| Shotgun (semi-automatic) | L128A1 | |
| Shotgun (manual-action) | L74A1 (A2) | |
| Primary Weapons | AR | L85A1 (A2 • A3) • L119A1 • (A2) • XL70 • XL73 • XL78 • XL85 • XL86 |
| AC | L22A1 (A2) • L101A1 (A2) • L119A1 (A2) | |
| BR | L1A1 | |
| BC | L100A1 (A2) | |
| Automatic Support Weapons | Light Support Weapon | L86A1 (A2) |
| Light Machine Gun | L4A1 (L4A2 • L4A3 • L4A4 • L4A5 • L4A6 • L4A7 • L4A8 • L4A9) • L108A1 • L110A1 (A2 • A3) • L130A1 | |
| General Purpose Machine Gun | L7A1 (A2) • L19A1 | |
| Heavy Machine Gun | L1A1 (A2) • L111A1 • L114A1 | |
| Long Range | Anti-Materiel Rifle | L121A1 • L135A1 |
| Bolt-Action Rifle | L8A1 (A2 • A3 • A4 • A5) • L39A1 • L42A1 • L96A1 (A2) • L115A1 (L115A2 • L115A3 • L115A4) • L118A1 | |
| Designated Marksman Rifle | L2A1 • L129A1 (w/ L17A1) | |
| Launchers | Grenade Launcher (Attachment) | L17A1 (A2) • L123A1 (A2 • A3) |
| Grenade Launcher (Standalone) | L14A1 | |
| Disposable Rocket Launcher | L2A1 • L72A9 | |
| Rocket Launcher | [[]] | |
| MANPADS | [[]] | |
| Non-Lethal Weapons | Pistol | [[]] |
| Underwater Weapons | Sidearm | [[]] |
| Rifle | [[]] | |
| Explosives | Anti-Personnel Mines | M18 Claymore |
| Anti-Tank Mines | L3A1 • L9A1 (A2 • A3 • A4 • A5 • A6 • A7 • A8) • Mine, Anti-Tank, L14A1 • L17A1 • L18A1 • L27A1 | |
| Practice Mines | L21A1 • L28A1 • L29A1 (A2) | |
| Anti-Personnel Grenades | L1A1 (A2 • A3) • L2A1 (A2) • L13A1 (A2) • L98A1 • L109A1 (A2) • L106A1 • L107A1 • L109A1 (A2) | |
| Smoke Grenades | L35A1 (A2) • L36A1 (A2) • L37A1 (A2) • L38A1 (A2) • L50A1 • L52A1 (A2) • L53A1 (A2) • L54A1 (A2) • L55A1 (A2 • A3) • L64A1 • L65A1 • L66A1 • L67A1 • L68A1 • L69A1 • L70A1 • L71A1 • L84A1 (A2 • A3) • L100A1 • L101A1 • L132A1 (A2) • L152A1 • L153A1 • L154A1 • L155A1 • L157A1 • L158A1 | |
| Practice Grenades | L3A1 (A2 • A3) • L4A1 (L4A2) • L16A1 (L16A2) • L28A1 • L56A1 • L73A1 (A2) • L83A1 (A2) • L108A1 (A2) • L110A1 • L111A1 • L115A1 | |
| Infantry Equipment | ||
|---|---|---|
| Clothing | Backpacks | [[]] |
| Body Armour | [[]] | |
| Bomb Suit | [[]] | |
| Elbow and knee pads | [[]] | |
| Signals & IFF | [[]] | |
| Suits | [[]] | |
| Vests & Webbing | [[]] | |
| Headwear | Communication | [[]] |
| Gas Masks & Rebreathers | [[]] | |
| Goggles | [[]] | |
| Helmets | [[]] | |
| Vehicle Headwear | [[]] | |
| Optics, Detection and Surveillance | Man-Portable Radar | [[]] |
| Mine Detectors | [[]] | |
| Night Vision Goggles | [[]] | |
| Periscopes | [[]] | |
| Rangefinders | [[]] | |
| Surveillance | [[]] | |
| Artillery | |
|---|---|
| Anti-Aircraft Guns | [[]] |
| Anti-Tank Guns | [[]] |
| Anti-Tank Guided Missile Launchers | [[]] |
| Anti-Tank Guided Missiles | [[]] |
| Grenade Machine Guns | L134A1 |
| Howitzers | [[]] |
| Mortars | 51mm L9A1 • 60mm M6(H) (-640 • -895) • 81mm L16A1 (A2) |
| Railroad Artillery | [[]] |
| Recoilless Guns | [[]] |
| Rocket Artillery | [[]] |
| Siege Artillery | [[]] |
| Land Vehicle Weapons | |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Machine Guns | BESA • Bren Gun • Browning M1919 • FN MAG • L4A4 • L8A1 (A2) • L37A1 (A2) • L43A1 • L94A1 |
| 30mm Tank Guns | L21A1 |
| 40mm Tank Guns | QF 2pdr HV • CTA40 |
| 75mm Tank Guns | QF 75mm • Vickers HV 75mm |
| 76.2mm Tank Guns | L5A1 • L23A1 • QF 17pdr • Vickers HV 77mm |
| 84mm Tank Guns | QF 20pdr |
| 94mm Tank Guns | QF 32pdr |
| 105mm Tank Guns | L7A1 (A3) |
| 120mm Tank Guns | EXP-28M1 • L1A1 (A2) • L11A1 (A2 • A3 • A4 • A5 • A6) • L30A1 • XL30 |
| Howitzers | 88mm 25pdr • 105mm L13A1 • 155mm L31A1 |
| ATGMs | BAe Swingfire |
| Aircraft Weapons & Munitions | |
|---|---|
| 7.62mm Machine Guns | L112A1 |
| 12.7mm Machine Guns | [[]] |
| 23mm Cannons | [[]] |
| 30mm Cannons | [[]] |
| 37mm Cannons | [[]] |
| Rocket Pods | [[]] |
| Rockets | [[]] |
| Air-to-Air Missiles | [[]] |
| Air-to-Ship Missiles | [[]] |
| Air-to-Surface Missiles | [[]] |
| Anti-Radiation Missiles | [[]] |
| Cruise Missiles | [[]] |
| Bombs | [[]] |
| Sources | ||
|---|---|---|
| Books | Online | Documents |
| https://www.forgottenweapons.com/hk51-the-sas-full-auto-flashbang-dispenser/ | ||