Type: Battle Rifle

Nations: Germany, Iran, Turkey, Pakistan, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Spain, Mexico, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Lebanon+

Branch: Armed Forces, Law Enforcement, Paramilitary Forces
Time Period: 1960s-present (2020)

Conflicts: Portuguese Colonial War, Nicaraguan Revolution, Rhodesian Bush War, Iran-Iraq War, Yugoslav Wars, War in Afghanistan, Syrian Conflict +

Other Names: PTR91, CETME (Spain), HK41, HK91, SAR-3, Ak 4 (Sweden)

Caliber: 7.62x51mm NATO

Facts: Originally designed in Germany by Hecker & Koch, the rifle was developed and produced in Spain with CETME during its early years since H&K needed help converting the rifle design to 7.62x51mm NATO. During this period West German forces were using the G1 rifle, a copy of the Belgian FN FAL. FN refused licensing to Germany so the Germans dropped the G1 in favor of the G3 since it could be made in county. A promise was made between Rheinmetall and H&K in that H&K would not bid on the MG3 machine gun in order to receive the rights to the G3. In 1977 the German government gave the G3 rights exclusively to H&K. The rifle uses a roller-delayed gas blowback system to operate the rifle. The rifle is select fire and is fed by and issued with 20 round box magazines but can also accept 30 and 40 round magazines as well as 50 and 100 round drum magazines.