HK MP5N
- Category
- Submachine Gun
- Barrel
- 225 mm
- Weight, empty
- 2.50 kg
- Introduced
- 1983
About
What it is, and why it matters
The HK MP5N is the U.S. Navy variant of the Heckler & Koch MP5 submachine gun, chambered in 9x19mm Parabellum and introduced in 1983 for the U.S. Navy SEALs. Built on the MP5A3 with its retractable shoulder stock, the MP5N adds a purpose-built 'Navy' trigger group offering safe, semi-automatic, two-round burst, and full-automatic fire, plus a threaded three-lug barrel for mounting a stainless-steel suppressor and fixed tritium-illuminated front sights for low-light engagements. Its roller-delayed blowback action fires from a closed bolt at roughly 800 rounds per minute, delivering the accuracy and controllability that made the MP5 family a benchmark for special operations and counter-terrorist forces. The corrosion-resistant build and suppressor-ready muzzle make this submachine gun well suited to the maritime and clandestine missions for which it was developed.
Adopted by the U.S. Navy SEALs in the early 1980s, the MP5N became closely associated with American special operations and was carried by maritime counter-terrorist teams who valued its suppressor compatibility and reliability after immersion in water.
The 'N' designates the Navy model. The MP5N's three-lug muzzle device was developed alongside a stainless-steel suppressor produced by Knight's Armament Company for SEAL use. It retains the MP5A3's collapsing stock and 8.9-inch barrel.
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- Heckler & Koch
- Category
- Submachine Gun
- Country
- Germany
- Status
- In production
- Produced
- 1983
- Variant of
- Navy trigger group
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 225 mm
- Overall length
- 680 mm
- Height
- 133 mm
- Width
- 32 mm
- Weight, empty
- 2.50 kg
- Weight, loaded
- 3.00 kg
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Action
- Roller delayed blowback
- Firing mechanism
- Hammer fired
- Trigger
- Single stage
- Trigger pull
- 37.5 N
- Capacity
- 30
- Magazine
- Detachable box
MaterialsEach swatch is the material itself, not a colour chosen to stand for it.
- Frame
- Steel
- Barrel
- Steel
- Stock
- Polymer
- Finish
- Black
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Muzzle velocity
- 400 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 650 J
- Effective range
- 200 m
- Rate of fire
- 800 rpm
Trajectory
What the round does downrange
Solved from the muzzle figures and the bullet. The dashed rule is the effective range on the record, and the crosses are the steps the solver returned.
Features
What it has
What the record lists as fitted, drawn from the catalogue.
Retractable stock
Threaded barrel
Three lug muzzle
Navy trigger group- Two round burst
- Full auto
- Semi auto
Tritium sights
Roller delayed blowback
Suppressor ready
Standing
How it compares
Each figure against the firearms of the same type and cartridge that record it, or of the same type where that cartridge has too few. Positions are read to the nearest tenth.
| Measurement | This firearm | Median | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty weightAmong 201 9x19mm Parabellum submachine guns | 2.50 kg | 3.18 kg | Lighter than about 80% |
| Overall lengthAmong 200 9x19mm Parabellum submachine guns | 680 mm | 723 mm | Shorter than about 60% |
| Barrel lengthAmong 202 9x19mm Parabellum submachine guns | 225 mm | 213 mm | Longer than about 60% |
| Magazine capacityAmong 204 9x19mm Parabellum submachine guns | 30 | 32 | Holds fewer rounds than about 70% |
Answers
Questions about the HK MP5N
How much does the HK MP5N weigh?
The HK MP5N weighs 2.50 kg (5.51 lb) empty and 3.00 kg (6.61 lb) loaded.
What caliber is the HK MP5N?
The HK MP5N is chambered in 9x19mm Parabellum.
How many rounds does the HK MP5N hold?
The HK MP5N holds 30 rounds, fed from a detachable box magazine.
How long is the HK MP5N?
The HK MP5N is 680 mm (26.8 in) long overall, with a 225 mm (8.86 in) barrel.
Who makes the HK MP5N?
The HK MP5N is made by Heckler & Koch (Germany). It was designed by Tilo Moller.
When was the HK MP5N introduced?
The HK MP5N was introduced in 1983.
How does the HK MP5N operate?
The HK MP5N uses a roller delayed blowback action, and its firing mechanism is hammer fired.
Compatibility
Which parts fit this firearm
Studio
Every part that mounts on this, resolved
Not a list the maker typed out: the answer comes from the mounts this firearm exposes and the interface each part needs, so it stays right when either one changes.
- Every part that mounts on any firearm in the catalogue
- Interface standards, platforms and fit overrides
- The same answers through the API and the MCP server
Requires a signed-in GunSpec account on the Studio plan. The answer is computed per part, so it is not part of the public record.
Provenance
What the record holds
Every figure above was taken from one of these pages. The confidence reflects how much of the record came from a page a claim can be checked against.
In service
- United States Navy SEALs
- 1983
- United States Federal Bureau of Investigation
- United States
- French Armed Forces
- France
- South Korean Armed Forces
- South Korea
Provenance
Confidence in this record
85%
Stockists
Where to buy
Offers link straight to the shop. GunSpec never takes the order.
No shop has listed this firearm yet
Stock and prices come from the shops themselves. If you sell this firearm, you can list it and it appears here.
List a firearmMCP
Ask an assistant about it
The same record, reached the way a person asks for it rather than the way a program does.
Ask GunSpec
Works with
Point an MCP client at GunSpec and it answers from the catalogue rather than from memory. A free key covers the read tools.
API
The call that returns this record
The same fields, in the same units, from the same endpoint the page reads.
curl --request GET \ --url 'https://api.gunspec.io/v1/firearms/hk-mp5n' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "hk-mp5n", "name": "HK MP5N", "manufacturer": { "id": "heckler-koch", "name": "Heckler & Koch", "countryCode": "DE", "foundedYear": 1949, "website": "https://www.heckler-koch.com", "logoUrl": null, "description": null, "status": null, "defunctYear": null, "stateOwned": null, "makesFirearms": null, "parentId": null, "predecessorId": null, "createdAt": "2026-04-05 22:24:37", "updatedAt": "2026-04-05 22:24:37", "version": "ae60994f5b45d604da21fcd14b728cfa9d2e62000c92e596de4c48c4be768979" }, "category": { "id": "submachine-gun", "name": "Submachine Gun", "description": "Automatic firearms chambered in pistol calibers" }, "country_of_origin": "DE", "year_introduced": 1983, "barrel_length_mm": 225, "weight_empty_g": 2500, "action_type": "roller_delayed_blowback"}