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Small arms1961–present
General-purpose machine gun (HK21) Light machine gun (HK23) Heavy machine gun (HK25)
Heckler & Koch HK21 is a general-purpose machine gun (HK21) Light machine gun (HK23) Heavy machine gun (HK25) originating in West Germany. It was built by Heckler & Koch Fábrica de Braço de Prata SEDENA. Reported operators include Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Bolivia, Brunei, Cameroon, Croatia, Cyprus, Ecuador, El Salvador, Germany, Greece, Jordan, Kenya, Latvia, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Niger, Nigeria, Paraguay, Peru, Qatar, Senegal, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Sudan, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United States.
Heckler & Koch HK21
Armémuseum (The Swedish Army Museum) · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source ↗ · ModifiedTechnical data
General-purpose machine gun (HK21) Light machine gun (HK23) Heavy machine gun (HK25)
West Germany
1961–present
See Users
Vietnam War Football War Lebanese Civil War Portuguese Colonial War Shaba II South African Border War Kurdish–Turkish conflict Salvadoran Civil War Operation Eagle Claw Sri Lankan Civil War Armed conflict for control of the favelas Boko Haram insurgency
Heckler & Koch
1961
Heckler & Koch Fábrica de Braço de Prata SEDENA
1961–1990
See Variants
HK21: 7.92 kg (17.46 lb) HK21A1: 8.30 kg (18.3 lb) HK11A1: 7.70 kg (17.0 lb) HK21E: 9.30 kg (20.5 lb) HK11E: 8.15 kg (18.0 lb) HK23E: 8.75 kg (19.3 lb) HK13E: 8 kg (18 lb) HK25: 16.30 kg (35.9 lb)
HK21: 1,021 mm (40.2 in) HK21A1, HK11A1, HK11E, HK23E, HK13E: 1,030 mm (40.6 in) HK21E: 1,140 mm (44.9 in) HK25: 1,400 mm (55.1 in)
HK21, HK21A1, HK11A1, HK11E, HK23E, HK13E: 450 mm (17.7 in) HK21E: 560 mm (22.0 in) HK25: 900 mm (35.4 in)
True scale
Sourced dimensions beside a 1.75 m human reference.
Points represent sourced observations, including revisions. Revisions on the same effective date are not separate inventory events. Ranges appear in the table and are not plotted as exact points.
| Observation / report period | Value | Source | Claim state |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Sept 2026 | 1.021 m | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
| 28 Sept 2026 | 1.021 m | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
HK21, HK21A1, HK11A1, HK21E, HK11E: 7.62×51mm NATO HK23E, HK13E: 5.56×45mm NATO HK25: 12.7×99mm NATO
Roller-delayed blowback , closed bolt
HK21, HK21A1: 900 rounds/min HK11A1, HK21E, HK11E: 800 rounds/min HK23E, HK13E: 750 rounds/min HK25: 450 rounds/min
HK21, HK21A1, HK11A1, HK11E: 800 m/s (2,625 ft/s) HK21E: 840 m/s (2,756 ft/s) HK23E, HK13E: 910 m/s (2,986 ft/s) (using the SS109 cartridge) HK25: 915 m/s (3,002 ft/s)
100–1,200 m (109–1,312 yd) sight adjustments
M13, DM6, DM1 ammunition belt, 20-round detachable box or 50-round drum magazine (from the G3 ). An 80-round drum magazine or even a 100-round drum magazine was also available (No longer manufactured)
Rear rotary diopter drum; hooded front post
Argentina
Bangladesh
Brazil
Bolivia
Brunei
Cameroon
Croatia
Cyprus
Ecuador
El Salvador
Germany
Greece
Jordan
Kenya
Latvia
Malaysia
Mauritius
Mexico
Niger
Nigeria
Paraguay
Peru
Qatar
Senegal
Sri Lanka
South Africa
Sudan
Sweden
Thailand
Turkey
Uganda
United Arab Emirates
United States
Reference text from Wikipedia contributors, used under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Heckler & Koch HK21 equipment records. Variants, orders and quantities are shown as reported in each inventory source; coverage is incomplete.
Argentina
Bangladesh
Bolivia
Brazil
Brunei
Cameroon
Chile
Croatia
Cyprus
Ecuador
El Salvador
Germany
Greece
Jordan
Kenya
Latvia
Malaysia
Mauritius
Mexico
Niger
Nigeria
Paraguay
Peru
Portugal
Qatar
Senegal
South Africa
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Sweden
Thailand
Türkiye
Uganda
United Arab Emirates
United StatesArgentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Bolivia, Brunei, Cameroon, Croatia, Cyprus, Ecuador, El Salvador, Germany, Greece, Jordan, Kenya, Latvia, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Niger, Nigeria, Paraguay, Peru, Qatar, Senegal, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Sudan, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United States
Equipment reference ↗