VHS (Croatian: Vi? Enamjenska Hrvatska Strojnica (English: Multifunctional Croatian Machine Gun, meaning: Croatian Multifunctional Machine Gun) is a series of unarmed assault rifles developed and produced by Croatian gun manufacturer HS Produkt, which fires 5.56× 45mm NATO caliber rifle bullets.
VHS assault rifles were first exhibited in iKA exhibition in 2007, and according to Croatian data, they are exhibited in Karlovac every year. The reason for the development is that the Croatian army needs to set up new individual rifle equipment according to NATO standards in a tender. It is expected that all kinds of AK derivatives (including ZaStavad M70 and APS-95) equipped by the Croatian army will be replaced in 20 12.
In April of 20 13, HS Produkt company introduced a brand-new and improved model, and named it VHS-2.
Ethnicity
1Croatia's war in the early 1990s made Croatia independent from the former Yugoslav Federation. During the war, the main weapons used by the Croatian army were various AK derivatives of the former Yugoslav Federation (including Zastavad M70 and APS-95). Some militia or special forces also use the Forces nouvelles FAL or SAR 80 to participate in the Silver Tour.
1992, Marco vukovic (Croatian: Marco vukovic? The design team led by is developing a new type of unsupported assault rifle. They first produced a 7.62mm Kalashnikov assault rifle without supporting derivative products. However, this rifle has many design defects, one of which is due to the limited R&D and production technology capacity of I.M. Metal Factory, and the other reason is that during the Croatian war, most manufacturing industries were affected, and quality was the biggest problem of early products. But in spite of this, it provided valuable learning experience for the company and laid the foundation for the research and development of new rifles later. Later, more prototype guns were exhibited in 1996, 1999 and 2004.
In the mid-11990s, a car with delayed rear seat was tested, but the result was still unsatisfactory. As a result, it was replaced by a design similar to M 16 rifle.
After the development cycle, the news about the current version of VHS assault rifle finally appeared around 2003. In 2005, HS Produkt announced a new prototype gun with a very similar appearance to Israel's IMI tavor TAR-2 1, and submitted it to former Croatian Defense Minister Ralph Londrofok of Belize for testing. However, the subsequent mass production model is more than 90% different from the prototype gun in 2004.
get through
On June 5438+065438+1October 19, 2007, the Croatian Ministry of Defence ordered a batch of ***50 rifles for the actual combat test of the Croatian contingent of the International Security Assistance Force currently deployed in Afghanistan. Large-scale production will begin at the end of 2008, and field testing is expected to be completed. Other countries, including Kuwait and Venezuela, have expressed interest in buying a batch of VHS assault rifles, because a very popular pistol of HS Produkt, HS2000 (sold in the United States under the name of selling Springfield and XD semi-automatic pistol), is very popular.
On June 24th, 2008, 165438+HS Produkt launched the final version of VHS assault rifle. The first batch of ***40 rifles have been delivered and used for testing. After the initial evaluation stage, the reputation party produced 1 000 rifles. In the first three months of 2009, Croatian soldiers conducted tests. After determining the excellent performance, the Croatian Army ordered another 2,000 rifles to be put into service. In 20 12, VHS rifle became the new official rifle of Croatian army. In 20 13, the Croatian army had 3,600 VHS rifles in service; At the end of 20 14, the last batch of 2,000 rifles were also delivered to the Croatian army to replace various derivatives of AK and AKM that have served for many years.
According to the regulations of the Croatian army, they need 17000 new assault rifles, but with the launch of VHS-2 rifles, the Croatian army is likely to transfer all orders to this rifle. The Croatian army has a long-standing rule that it needs 50,000 assault rifles, which can ensure the long-term production of VHS-2 rifles even if there is no export order. However, the US Department of Defense has placed an order for 500 VHS rifles, and the number of orders may increase in the future.
On May 12, 2009, Branko Vukelic, then Croatian Defence Minister, confirmed that the VHS assault rifle had successfully completed all destructive tests. 15 in may, the croatian Ministry of defence officially provided HS Produkt with an average of10,700 croatian kuna (about? Price 1, 450) one. Order the first phase 1 0,000 VHS assault rifles (including 2 derivatives).
design details
Although the initial information of VHS rifle is still a little rough, in 2005, it has been shown that at least two prototypes have been made: one is similar to the French rifle FAMAS on the surface, and the other is similar to the tavor TAR-2 1 gun family made by IMI in Israel. The handle is set in the left front of the gun body, and a small bipod can be accommodated under the grip buckle and the front grip. However, judging from the newly released VHS photos from June 5438 to February 2008, the prototype similar to FAMAS design has passed smoothly.
VHS and South Africa CR-2 1, French FAMAS, Belgian FN F2000 and FN P90, Israeli IMI tavor TAR-2 1, Iranian KH2002, Russian OTs- 14, China QBZ-95 and QBBBB-95, British SA80, Singapore. When its saddle-less gun design was first used in 1940, EM- 1 and EM-2 assault rifles developed in Britain. The design of the saddle-less gun is the bolt and other main components. Behind the pistol grip, thus shortening the overall length without shortening the barrel length. VHS has the length of carbine and the muzzle kinetic energy of rifle, and the unsupported design also minimizes the outline of soldiers and increases the flexibility of soldiers in street fighting.
VHS-D rifle has a total length of 765 mm, a barrel of 500 mm and a bayonet mount, and can fire 22 mm rifle grenades. VHS-K carbine has a total length of 665 mm, a barrel of 4 10 mm, and the bayonet seat is cancelled. This rifle also uses a large number of parts made of new polymers, which makes various reports point out that the overall weight of this rifle is between 2.3 kg and 3 kg (calculated by empty gun).
VHS rifle adopts long-stroke piston pneumatic operating system and rotary bolt locking mechanism. The reducer is arranged inside the trigger guard ring. When the reducer lever is set to the left, it is in full-automatic mode, when it is set to the right, it is in semi-automatic mode, and when it is set to the middle, it is in safe mode.
Just like the unsupported design of VHS rifle, the magazine socket is rectangular behind the pistol grip, and the magazine button/release button is arranged at the back. The winch handle of VHS is stored under the handle, and the design is ready-made. It can be rotated left and right like HK G36 to pull the bolt left and right. Connected shell-throwing baffles are arranged around the shell-throwing opening, which are respectively arranged in the up, down and back directions to prevent the shell-throwing direction from being unstable. The chin plate is a penetrating design from the bottom of the stock to the back of the handle.
The early project won the innovation award iKA because of a creative and interesting special function and a specially designed direct air guiding operating system.
Using another main air hole next to the main air hole to obtain the high-pressure gas generated by partial shooting and push the gap behind the bolt, the bolt itself will produce an "inflatable buffer effect", and the high-pressure gas will be used to slow down the recoil speed of the bolt until the bolt stops due to the gas buffer effect, thus preventing the bolt from colliding with the tail of the shell or the mechanical buffer device, greatly reducing the recoil force and making it easier to control the gun, even with one hand or two points (hands and shoulders). However, the VHS rifle in the production stage is an old-fashioned but sturdy long-stroke piston pneumatic operating system, and will not be equipped with a direct air guide system.
Moreover, the system has not been tested, so it is impossible to determine whether there is any problem in the system design (if the quality of the bullet charge is poor, it will easily cause serious carbon deposition in the air duct and the bolt machine, leading to the same failure as the M 16 rifle). However, according to the project saved by the European Patent Office, it seems that this stems from the misunderstanding of relevant data, that is, it combines two different functions: one is a forced air cooling system similar to Pecheneg, and the other is similar to the concept of Ultimax 100 mechanical buffer system, which was used by Croatia during the Croatian War of Independence. But in fact, its mechanical buffer system is only similar in concept, and it is not completely equivalent to the latter, although there is still Ultimax 100 in the Croatian armory.
In some countries with patent systems, there may be some "Vehesica" works, which are neither direct air guide nor short-stroke piston and long-stroke piston transmission, but they look like FN SCAR's "tappet" air lock system (in fact, FN SCAR's air lock system is also similar to the early M 1 carbine). There, there is another precedent, there are some functions mentioned in the design work, but they were rejected after the first real test, so it is also possible to think that "inflatable cushioning effect" is a function to replace the previous model.
In the process of development, the operating system types used by VHS have also changed a lot, which is easy to be confused. The first model used Kalashnikov-style long-stroke piston pneumatic type, but in 1999 it was changed to Famas lever delay recoil system. In the second year, it was modified into a direct air guide buffer system with forced air cooling system, which formed an air cushion function in the interval behind the anchor rod. Since this form of VHS was patented in 2000, it gives people an impression of inflatable cushioning function. This model was not known until 2005. Until 2004, the last and current VHS operating system was changed to short-stroke piston pneumatic system.
Considering that the patent was issued in 2007, it is uncertain how many mass-produced rifles have different designs, but HS Produkt has also developed and produced the best-selling HS2000 pistol, which is an innovative pistol with strong adaptability and combined with existing functions.
Like all kinds of popular machine guns, rifles and submachine guns, VHS rifles can also use the pre-drilled holes reserved on the left and right sides and bottom of the guard wood and the left and right sides and top of the handle for installing tactical guides, so that users can install MIL-STD- 19 13 tactical guides (with tactical guide seats at the top) by installing two screws. So as to install tactical accessories, such as tactical lights, laser sights, vertical front grips, bipeds, 40mm Grenade launchers (such as M203, which also has its special VHS-BG), day/night optical sights, red dot mirrors/reflecting sights, holographic sights, night vision devices or thermal imagers. The universal handle can also be modified into a full-size tactical guide rail handle, and the optical sight can be installed in series. The configuration mode of front and rear series installation can expand the application mode of sight accessories.
In addition, the actual combat experience gained by the Croatian army in the Croatian War of Independence also influenced the research and development plan of the rifle: VHS assault rifle may be the only modern assault rifle, and its standard integral sight is suitable for both Grenade launchers and rifle grenades.
In the service life test of VHS, after launching 50,000 rounds, none of the main components broke. There is a birdcage flame arrester at the muzzle, which can be used to fire grenades at rifles. Just like FAMAS, it has a sliding Grenade hanger guide rod and a side Grenade aiming scale. When the Grenade is fired at a high angle, it can aim at 45 degrees or 75 degrees from the inside to the side, but the scale is installed at the bottom of the VHS handle, not below. Rifles and carbines have different gas regulators, and both have three settings, which can be rotated 120 degrees after being pressed: normal, high (with a large opening for firing low-pressure ammunition) and off (for firing grenades from rifles).
One of the disadvantages of VHS is poor ergonomics. The speed machine has three positions, namely, safe, semi-automatic and automatic shooting, but there is no option of three shots. The reducer for producing rifles is installed in the trigger guard ring. For VHS, it is very difficult to change the transmission mode, because the crank must rotate a long distance before choosing a transmission mode. It can only be used by the right hand; The shell can only be thrown from the right side, and then it drops sharply after being thrown to the back side. There is even an example, according to the positioning of the shooter's elbow, the shell casing may hit the shooter's arm. The last unusual feature is that the non-reciprocating handle at the bottom center of the handle is very flexible and can be stretched from both sides.
In addition, regardless of the design similar to FAMAS or TAR-2 1, VHS rifles only have a shell ejection port on the right side, but not on the left side, which forces people who are used to using their left hands to switch to their right hands (SA80 in Britain also has the same design idea). However, it is also a correct design on the premise of forcing soldier shooting positions to operate with his right hand, eliminating the weight brought by redundant parts and achieving the purpose of lightweight. In fact, the handle, magazine release button and gun belt ring can all be used left and right, while the reducer is arranged on the left side of the pistol grip and can be easily operated with the thumb of the right hand.
The model launched in 2008 shows that VHS is compatible with STANAG magazine. But not long after, it was changed to 30 rounds of transparent plastic magazines with HK G36. The reason for changing to HK G36 magazine is that Croatian army has more HK G36 series rifles (VHS will replace them) than M 16 rifles.
The first display of rifles
On May 28th, 2009, VHS assault rifle was first displayed in the city where HS Produkt factory is located, and Karlovac was officially displayed in the Croatian army and the Croatian army's open day. Officials attending the open day said that it was Marco vukovic who introduced the VHS rifle himself. Any ordinary people present, Croatian military police and Croatian soldiers can also consult the relevant information of this rifle and its basic components. During the exhibition, the wonderful introduction of this VHS rifle and the propagandist's briefing on the VHS rifle left a good impression on the people, military police and soldiers present, which was conducive to the appreciation of the VHS rifle.
20 13 In April, at the Adriatic Defense and Aviation Exhibition (ASDA) held in Split, Croatia, HS Produkt first showed the improved VHS-2 to the public. HS Produkt VHS-2 means "the second generation VHS assault rifle". The new weapon is an improved version of VHS rifle, which retains its unsupported design, caliber, barrel length and internal mechanism, but at the same time introduces new designs, including a more traditional shooting mode selector, a redesigned handle, a four-section telescopic butt with adjustable length and a dexterous shell throwing system, which can be configured as left or right shell throwing in less than one minute, making ergonomics better than the original gun.