Overview[]
The Gewehr 4 (abbreviated as G 4) is an American-Dutch-German battle rifle developed in the late 1950s. G 4 is the designation for the ArmaLite AR-10 in German service.
Development[]
The AR-10 was procured by the Bundeswehr in the late 1950s for a competition for a new service rifle. Four weapons entered trials:
All four weapons entered trials in 1957, with the Gewehr 1 winning. The Gewehr 1 was to enter domestic production but due to licensing issues with FNH, the Gewehr 3 was chosen instead.
Procurement[]
In late 1957, five samples were procured for testing purposes. These weapons would be manufactured by Artillerie Inrichtingen, located in Hembrug-Zaandam, Holland, and built under licence from ArmaLite.
Serial number 1010 and 1013 were used for adverse conditions testing in Bourges, France, from December 17 to 19, 1957. Serial number 1011 and 1012 remained in Germany and were used for a 10,000-round full-auto test fire in Meppen. Both 1011 and 1012 successfully completed the fire tests, with only a few minor parts in need of replacing.
During the tests, an order for 400 rifles for troop trials was placed, but cancelled. A demonstration was carried out on the 26th of February 1958 before Bundesgrenzshutz officials. SIDEM International ordered 135 rifles for troop testing on the 22nd of March 1958, but this was delayed until the 1st of July 1958. Of the 135 rifles, 100 were standard models and 35 were fitted with bipods. The weapons were delivered to various military schools for trials in late August through early September 1958.
| School | Location | Standard Model | Bipod Model | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erprobungsstelle | Meppen | 10 | 5 | 15 |
| Feldzeugtruppenschule | Sonthofen | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Gebirgs- und Winterkampfschule | Mittenwald | 10 | 4 | 14 |
| Infanterieschule | Hammelburg | 34 | 11 | 45 |
| Luftlandeschule | Schongau | 11 | 3 | 14 |
| Panzertruppenschule | Munster-Lager | 34 | 11 | 45 |
On September 1, 1958, while the troop trials were underway, two alternate versions were being demonstrated to the Truppenamt - a sniper version, and a light machine gun version.
The AR-10 (G 4) was succeeding at trials, and the Bundeswehr approved of its light-weight and capabilities shown through trials, but the production firm in the Netherlands was not able to handle the requested modifications, let alone mass production beyond that. The G 4 would not be adopted, but SIDEM International would attempt to sell a compact model to the German police, unsuccessfully.
Variants[]
Prototypes
Production Models
Export
Civilian Models
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 GermanyWeapons Cold War Period (1946 — 1990) |
|---|
| Infantry Weapons | ||
|---|---|---|
| Melee Weapons | Bayonet | [[]] |
| Survival Weapon | [[]] | |
| Sidearms | Pistol | CRWP • HK4 • P 80 |
| Revolver | [[]] | |
| Machine Pistol | [[]] | |
| Close Quarters | Personal Defense Weapon | CRWP • MP7 (A1 • A2) |
| Submachine Gun | HK54 • MP5 (A1 • A2 • A3 • A4 • A5) • MP 60 • MP 61 • MP 64 | |
| Shotgun (automatic) | [[]] | |
| Shotgun (semi-automatic) | HK 512 • HK CAWS | |
| Shotgun (manual-action) | [[]] | |
| Primary Weapons | Assault Rifle (5.45/5.56) | HK33 (A2 • A3) • G41 (A1 • A2 • A3) |
| Assault Rifle (other) | HK36 • HK G11 • IWK G11 | |
| Assault Carbine (5.45/5.56) | HK53 • G 41 K | |
| Assault Carbine (other) | [[]] | |
| Battle Rifles | HK41 • HK G3 (A1 • A2 • A3 • NA3 • A4 • A5 • A6 • A7 • A7A1) • G 1 • G 2 • G 3 (A1 • A2 • A3 • N A3 • A4 • A5 • A6 • A7 • A7 A1) • G 4 | |
| Battle Carbine | G 3 K (A4 • A4 A1) | |
| Automatic Support Weapons | Light Support Weapon | HK11 • HK13 • G8 (A1) |
| Light Machine Gun | [[]] | |
| General Purpose Machine Gun | HK21 (A1 • E) • HK23 • MG 1 • MG 2 • MG 3 (A1) | |
| Heavy Machine Gun | HK25 | |
| Long Range | Anti-Materiel Rifle | [[]] |
| Bolt-Action Rifle | [[]] | |
| Designated Marksman Rifle | HK33SG1 | |
| Launchers | Grenade Launcher (Attachment) | [[]] |
| Grenade Launcher (Standalone) | [[]] | |
| Disposable Rocket Launcher | [[]] | |
| Rocket Launcher | [[]] | |
| MANPADS | [[]] | |
| Non-Lethal Weapons | Pistol | [[]] |
| Underwater Weapons | Sidearm | P11 |
| Rifle | [[]] | |
| Explosives | Anti-Personnel Mines | [[]] |
| Anti-Tank Mines | [[]] | |
| Offensive Grenades | [[]] | |
| Smoke Grenades | [[]] | |
| Firearm Accessories | ||
|---|---|---|
| Weapon Sights | Collimator | [[]] |
| Holographic | [[]] | |
| Iron | [[]] | |
| Night | BiV • DM 3 | |
| Reflector | [[]] | |
| Telescopic | FERO-Z 24 • ZF 4x • ZF G3 | |
| Attachments | Flashlights & Lasers | [[]] |
| Foregrips & Bipods | [[]] | |
| 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 | [[]] |
| Howitzers | [[]] |
| Mortars | [[]] |
| Railroad Artillery | [[]] |
| Recoilless Guns | [[]] |
| Rocket Artillery | [[]] |
| Siege Artillery | [[]] |
| Land Vehicle Weapons | |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Machine Guns | HK MG 5A1 |
| 40mm Tank Guns | [[]] |
| 75mm Tank Guns | [[]] |
| 76.2mm Tank Guns | [[]] |
| 84mm Tank Guns | [[]] |
| 94mm Tank Guns | [[]] |
| 105mm Tank Guns | [[]] |
| 120mm Tank Guns | [[]] |
| Howitzers | [[]] |
| Vehicle Autocannon | [[]] |
| ATGMs | [[]] |
| Aircraft Weapons & Munitions | |
|---|---|
| 7.62mm Machine Guns | [[]] |
| 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 |
| • Forgotten Weapons • The German Assault Rifle 1935-1945, Peter R. Senich (ISBN 0-87364-400-X) |
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