H&K USP таңбалы жартылай автоматты пистолеті

The USP (Universelle Selbstladepistole or "universal self loading pistol") is a semi automatic pistol developed in Germany by Heckler & Koch GmbH (H&K) as a replacement for the P7 series of handguns.

Design work on a new family of pistols commenced in September 1989, focused primarily on the United States commercial and law enforcement markets. USP prototypes participated in rigorous testing alongside H&K's entry in the Offensive Handgun Weapon System (OHWS) program requested by the U. S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), which would later result in the Mk 23 Mod 0. The USP prototypes were then refined in 1992, based on input from the OHWS trials, and the design was finalized in December of the same year. The USP was formally introduced in January 1993 with the USP40 model (the base version) chambered for the increasingly popular .40 S&W cartridge, followed soon by the USP9 (using the 9×19mm Parabellum cartridge), and in May 1995—the USP45 (caliber .45 ACP). In contrast to the P7, P9S, and VP70Z designs, the USP uses a more conventional Browning style cam locked action, similar to that used in the Hi Power, but with a polymer frame.

The USP is a semi automatic pistol with a mechanically locked breech using the short recoil method of operation. This rather conventional lock up system has a large rectangular lug over the barrel's chamber that rides into and engages the ejection port cut out in the slide. When a cartridge is fired, pressures generated by the ignited powder drive the cartridge casing back against the breech face on the slide, driving back both the barrel and slide as they remain locked together in the manner described above. After of unrestricted rearward travel, the projectile leaves the barrel and the gas pressures drop to a safe level. A shaped lug on the underside of the barrel chamber comes into contact with a hooked locking block at the end of the steel recoil spring guide rod, lowering the rear end of the barrel and stopping the barrel's rearward movement. The recoil spring assembly is held in place by the slide stop lever's axis pin and a round cut out at the front of the slide. For enhanced reliability in high dust environments, the locking surface on the front top of the barrel's locking lug is tapered with a forward slope. This tapered surface produces a camming action which assists in positive lock up in the presence of heavy fouling and debris. One of the distinguishing features of the USP is the mechanical recoil reduction system. It consists of a short additional spring located within the main recoil spring on the breech end of the recoil spring assembly. Designed primarily to reduce wear on the pistol's components, the system also lowers the peak recoil forces felt by the shooter. The design with two springs allows the system to work with different kinds of ammunition without requiring any adjustments. Unlike similar systems employed in other guns, the USP design does not incorporate a hydraulic damper and requires no maintenance. Using a similar recoil reduction system, the H&K Mk 23 pistol fired more than 30,000 high pressure (+P) cartridges and 6,000 proof loads without damage or excessive wear to any major components. Abuse and function testing of USPs have seen more than 20,000 rounds of .40 S&W fired without a component failure. MILSPEC environmental tests were conducted in high and low temperatures, in mud, immersed in water and in salt spray. In one particular test, a bullet was deliberately lodged in the barrel and another bullet was fired to clear the obstruction. The barrel was successfully cleared with only minor structural deformation and continued to produce consistent groups when test fired for accuracy. The recoil reduction system is not present on the USP Compact models, which instead use a simple polymer bushing as a buffer to reduce slide on frame impact. Major metal components on both the USP and Special Operations Pistol are corrosion resistant. Outside metal surfaces such as the steel slide are protected by a proprietary "Hostile Environment" nitride finish. The USP is composed of a total of 54 parts and is broken down into 7 major components for maintenance and cleaning: the barrel, slide, recoil spring, recoil spring guide rod, frame, slide stop and magazine. This is done by retracting the slide back to align the slide stop axis pin with the disassembly notch on the left side of the slide and withdrawing the axis pin.

Almost identical to the standard USP, the Custom sport is aimed at target and practical shooting users. The Custom Sport has a match grade barrel, match trigger and adjustable sights.

The first USP Compact models appeared in 1996. These are scaled down USPs, and are available in all the same cartridges as the full size version, and additionally the .357 SIG. Due to the smaller size of the frame, magazines for the Compact variant may have a handgrip extension to better accommodate the shooter's hand. Standard flat floorplates are also available for the USP Compact magazines. The USP Compact comes standard with a bobbed hammer equipped with a flat rubber external thumb grip. This reduces possible snag from the hammer on a holster or clothing while the pistol is being drawn, but still allows the USP Compact to be cocked from a decocked position even in the absence of a spurred hammer. This can be done since decocking the weapon does not fully drop the hammer, leaving it in a somewhat "half cocked" state. The USP Compact cannot be cocked from a dry fired position as the hammer will be flush to the back of the slide. However, the operator could pull the trigger approximately halfway back in a dry fired position to put the hammer in a half cocked state, allowing the hammer to be fully cocked with the thumb. The P10, designed for German military and police units, is a USP Compact with the addition of a spurred hammer. This hammer can also be installed onto a normal USP Compact. In addition to the variants previously described for the full size USP, an ambidextrous safety is available from the manufacturer as a separate part. After installation, the USP Compact effectively becomes a right or left handed firearm with respect to the decocker and manual safety functions. Heckler & Koch do not produce caliber conversions, but barrels for .357 SIG and .40 S&W are available from HK and from third party manufacturers.

The USP Tactical (9mm Parabellum, .40 S&W, .45 ACP) incorporates fully adjustable suppressor height sights, an extended, threaded barrel with O ring, and a match grade trigger with adjustable trigger stop. Prior to 2015, there was no USP Tactical model in 9mm. Instead, HK offered the regular "USP9" variant with an extended, threaded barrel and suppressor height sights as the "USP9SD" model. Sound suppressors designed for the USP Tactical are available from Brügger & Thomet and Knight's Armament. A unique characteristic of the USP Tactical is that the barrel is left hand threaded (counter clockwise to tighten), which makes the pistol incompatible with suppressors designed for the MK23 Mod 0. The KSK of the German Army and the German Navy Kampfschwimmer use the USP Tactical under the designation "P12".

The USP45CT Compact Tactical is a .45 caliber handgun developed for U. S. special operations. It incorporates features of the full size USP45 Tactical pistol, but is more concealable. Features include an extended, threaded O ring barrel with polygonal bore profile and suppressor height sights, which may limit the use of holsters designed for standard USP Compact pistols. The USP CT is available in .45 ACP only.

The USP Expert (9 mm Parabellum, .40 S&W, .45 ACP) was introduced in 1998, and includes all the features of the Tactical, but instead of the extended barrel being threaded and protruding from the slide, the Expert uses a longer slide to accommodate the extended barrel. The larger slide adds weight to help reduce muzzle flip and felt recoil. The Expert has adjustable target sights similar to the USP Match, Elite and Tactical, but as on the Elite, the dovetail of the rear sight is lowered into the frame. The bobbed hammer was a factory option for the Expert if it was to be used in IPSC for the Standard Division because the original version "in its ready condition" did not fit the box for Standard division in IPSC.

The USP Match (9 mm Parabellum, .40 S&W, .45 ACP) has the same features offered on the Expert, except for a barrel weight that replaces the elongated slide found on the Expert. This weight is said to provide a recoil counterbalance to aid in target tracking. It was discontinued in 1999.

The USP Elite (9 mm Parabellum, .45 ACP) combines the characteristics of the Expert with a 6.02 in (153 mm) barrel and a hand fitted 9.25 in (235 mm) extended slide. The model was designed as a target pistol and has not been adopted by any law enforcement agency or military organization.

The USP has an accessory rail at the front of the frame for attachments of aftermarket equipment such as laser sights and weapon lights. The rail is a proprietary design, and the number of accessories available is extremely limited. Aftermarket adapters providing a standard Picatinny rail are available for both USP and USP Compact models.

The USP was developed at the same time as the SOCOM MK23; the pistol underwent much of the same testing. The barrel is cold forged from chromium steel for increased service life. USP barrels after November 1994 use a polygonal profile; 1994 and earlier models use traditional 'land and grooves' rifling. During testing, a bullet was deliberately lodged in a USP barrel. Another cartridge was then fired into the obstructing bullet. The second bullet cleared the barrel, resulting in a barely noticeable bulge. The pistol was then fired for accuracy, and the resulting group measured less than 4 inches at 25 meters. Temperature testing required the USP be frozen to −42 °C and fired, frozen again, then be heated to 67 °C and fired. These temperature tests were continually repeated with no adverse effects on the USP. The P8 has minor differences from the standard USP model: translucent magazines, a reversed safety/decocker lever (on the P8, down indicates 'safe', and up indicates 'fire' — the opposite of the standard USP), and the 'S' and 'F' letters are printed onto the frame instead of onto the lever. The P8 has a traditional lands and grooves barrel instead of a polygonal barrel. The P10, adopted by many German State Police forces, is a USP Compact with the addition of a spurred hammer. Both the P8 and P10 are chambered in 9×19mm Parabellum (9mm NATO) only. On August 24, 2004, SIG Sauer and Heckler & Koch/HK Defense won major pistol contracts with the United States Department of Homeland Security. The contract was valued at $26.2 million. The HK pistol models chosen were the HK P2000 US, HK P2000 SK Subcompact, and the USP Compact/LEM (Law Enforcement Modification). The LEM trigger is HK's version of SIG's DAK trigger, and vice versa. According to the company, the LEM trigger allows for faster follow up shots (repeat shots) on target than a standard double action only system. This is due to a lighter trigger pull (7.3–8.5 lbf) and shorter trigger reset than standard DAO trigger systems. The LEM trigger uses a two piece "pre cocked hammer" composed of a cocking piece and an external hammer. The hammer is pre cocked as a round is chambered (slide is cycled). The LEM system supposedly also provides reliable primer ignition, since it uses a stronger hammer spring. The LEM trigger can be installed on existing USP Compact pistols acquired before the LEM trigger came on the market—either by a certified gunsmith or by sending the pistol to Heckler & Koch. In addition, the USP Compact pistol can retain its external safety with the LEM trigger—making it the only modified double action pistol with an external safety.

Country Organization name Model Caliber ReferenceAustralian Federal Police Air Security Officers USP Tactical 9mmWestern Australia Police Tactical Response Group USP Tactical .45 ACPAustralian Army Special Operations Command USP Tactical 9mmQueensland Police Special Emergency Response Team USP Tactical .45 ACPDanish Police USP Compact 9 mmCentral Security Forces Sa'ka Forces
Unit 777 French Navy (PA HK Marine) USP Compact Recherche Aéroportée et Actions Spécialisées (RAPAS) USP Tactical Bundeswehr P8USP Tactical (P12) 9mm (P8), .45 ACP (P12)Georgian Armed Forces USP 9 mmHellenic Army Hellenic Police USP 9mm Defence Forces USP family 9mmJapanese Special Forces Group .40 S&W.45 ACPLithuanian Armed Forces 9mmUnité Spéciale de la Police of the Grand Ducal Police Pasukan Gerakan Khas (PGK) of the Royal Malaysia Police USP CompactUSP Tactical SD 9mmForsvarets SpesialkommandoGrupa Reagowania Operacyjno Manewrowego (GROM) of the Polish Special Forces USP family Portuguese Air Force USP family 9mmBrigada Specială de Intervenție a Jandarmeriei (BSIJ) USP Compact Tactical 9mmDetașamentul Special de Protecție și Intervenție (DSPI) USP Special Brigade USP 9mmSpecial Operations Command of the Singapore Police Force USP Compact South African Police Service Special Task Force USPUSP Compact 9mmSpanish Armed Forces Guardia Civil USP Compact ▶ ErtzaintzaUSP Compact 9 mm Special Group "Alpha" of the Security Service of Ukraine USP 9 mmFederal Flight Deck Officer (FFDO's) USP40c/LEM .40S&WMaine State Police USP45 .45 ACPSanta Monica Police Department in California USP45USP9 .45 ACP9mm