Time flies, does not it? Working example, this month marks the thirtieth anniversary of German small arms producer Heckler & Koch’s USP line of sidearms. The gun was an enormous success for HK and rapidly grew to become one thing of an icon because of the duvet of the 1998 online game Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six. To this present day, every time I hear the time period ‘operator’ in regard to particular operations forces I consider that balaclava and Oakley goggle-clad commando pointing the USP’s trapezoidal enterprise finish on the digital camera.
When translated, USP stands for Common Self-Loading Pistol — a easy however apt identify for what grew to become a extremely popular firearm, one that’s nonetheless in manufacturing at present. That in itself is notable as even with only a few adjustments and a handful of variants alongside the best way, the USP stays viable in a market awash with polymer-framed pistols packing fashionable options, new applied sciences, and ever better spherical capacities in smaller frames. They usually aren’t low cost with costs at present of over $1,000 for the fundamental mannequin and going up from there. That is solely doable as a result of the USP stays a dead-reliable, extremely useful gizmo with a lustrous — and celeb — pedigree.
The USP was something however HK’s first polymer handgun. The corporate largely pioneered the usage of polymers for such functions a long time prior. Whereas Glock will get by far essentially the most credit score for spurring the ‘plastic handgun’ revolution, HK paved the best way for that revolution with the VP70 method again in 1970. Not solely was it the primary polymer-framed manufacturing handgun — non-mass manufacturing sorts did exist prior — but it surely additionally was striker-fired, which made the very futuristic-looking handgun, effectively, fairly rattling futuristic.
Quick ahead to the late Eighties and a future the place polymer might dominate the handgun market was coming into focus. HK, at all times an innovator, had their aforementioned VP70 and likewise their P9 collection, in addition to the now legendary P7/PSP line of metal squeeze-cocker pistols that competed within the final two rounds of the Army’s XM9 competitors beneath the P7A10/ P7A13 designations and misplaced, the corporate wanted a pistol to compete with the place {the marketplace} was going, not the place it had been. And, with the assistance of a U.S. Particular Operations Command (USSOCOM) tender, the USP was born.
Round 1990, the Offensive Handgun Weapon System initiative from USSOCOM was kicked off and would see what would change into HK’s large Mk 23 .45 ACP pistol put by hell in testing. The USP, which was a extra normal-sized pistol in comparison with its SOCOM-specific cousin, was envisioned for law-enforcement, civilian, and army gross sales. The 2 have been developed in parallel and contemplating its cousin was being constructed for essentially the most demanding of consumers, the USP benefited from the difficult necessities of the OHWS initiative. Ultimately, the Mk 23 received the OHWS contest, was launched into service in 1996, and it too would change into a star.
However earlier than that occurred, the USP was formally launched by HK in January of 1993, precisely three a long time in the past. It was a blocky, stout, however modern-looking pistol that eschewed a level of ergonomics for brute performance. Performance for customers carrying heavy gloves was a should, as an example. Therefore the massive squared-off set off guard. It additionally used a Browning-type motion with a tilting barrel, which was a serious diversion from HK’s different pistols, which used a roller-delayed or blowback motion. On this method, it was immediately aggressive when it comes to familiarity with different common handguns in the marketplace on the time. The USP additionally featured polygonal rifling, which has change into a staple of HK handguns.
.40 Smith & Wesson was the sort’s launch caliber and 9mm adopted shortly after. Different variants rapidly stacked up. Chambering in .45 ACP adopted as did a compact model, which was additionally out there in .357 Sig.
In time, the USP grew to become out there in a wide range of sub-configurations, together with a long-slide goal mannequin and a tactical mannequin with threaded barrel and suppressor-height sights. Slides have been out there in a blued end with chrome steel being supplied on some fashions. The unique double/single motion setup was additionally joined by double motion solely and HK’s proprietary LEM set off. A number of configurations of those set off sorts together with the gun’s handbook security and decocking lever have been supplied, making what was a comparatively easy design remarkably customizable.
The USP rapidly grew to become common with legislation enforcement within the U.S. and overseas and army models additionally started to undertake it. Germany’s safety providers and army have been a serious prospects after all, too.
The particular operations world particularly had an curiosity within the rugged however trendy handgun. Being smaller than Mk 23 additionally made it way more engaging for many particular operations functions. HK had an unimaginable fame within the particular operations group, particularly with its MP5 collection of submachine weapons. Its G3 rifles have been additionally used across the globe by common infantry and safety models, together with quite a few its different tactical small arms choices, which span the gamut from machine weapons to sniper rifles. Pairing the ultra-reliable and correct MP5 with a USP sidearm appeared like a pure consequence for some models.
Then got here the aforementioned Rainbow Six cowl, which modified every thing for the USP’s place in common tradition. The sport was primarily based on Clancy’s novel by the identical identify and centered round a ‘rainbowed’ unit of particular operators from all over the world that labored collectively in a top-tier counter-terrorism power with international attain. Gameplay was comparatively groundbreaking and relied closely on techniques, weapons utility, and stealth over the everyday ‘run and gun’ first-person shooter. Ultimately, the title launched a complete franchise of video games beneath the identical banner.
However that packaging shot that was seen on Babbages and Recreation Cease cabinets all around the U.S., with the ninja-like operator pointing the .40 S&W USP, was a turning level. It grew to become not simply profitable advertising iconography for the sport, but it surely captured the general public’s creativeness when it got here to the thought of particular operations forces basically.
The picture is supposedly of John Meyer Jr. who was Vice President of Gross sales and Coaching at HK USA within the early Nineties. The picture was shot as a part of the launch supplies for the USP. Pink Storm Leisure, which made Rainbow Six the sport, later used the impactful picture for its stylized product artwork and promotional supplies roughly six years later. The remaining is historical past.
Rainbow Six was simply the beginning of the USP’s popular culture presence. Simply wanting on the Web Film Firearms Database makes it clear that you could just about choose your motion film or present and the USP most likely performed a job in it. Most notably, it was Jack Bauer’s sidearm in 24 which led to quite a lot of curiosity within the pistol years after Rainbow Six made it a star.
As for video video games, it’s nearly in every single place. The USP is a staple of the motion and first-person shooter style. Most likely its most high-profile starring position past Rainbow Six was as Lara Croft’s compensator-equipped weapons akimbo in a few of the Tomb Raider collection, which additionally had films primarily based on it.
The USP subsequently gave delivery to HK’s most present handgun lineup. These embody the P2000, which noticed some ergonomic enhancements over the USP after which an enormous leap in ergonomics and modernization through the P30 and HK45 (the SEALs adopted the HK45 Compact Tactical, or CT, because the Mk 24). These weapons carry over a lot from the USP and even retain a level of its blocky, trapezoidal-slide seems, however the frames, with their customizable ‘batman grips,’ modified considered one of what was for a lot of one of many USP’s greatest downsides — its slab-like deal with — into an enormous promoting level. HK’s flagship pistol went from brick to glove when it comes to ergonomics. The striker-fired VP9 — the most recent and hottest of HK’s present handgun lineup — additionally owes a lot of its lineage to the P30 and thus the USP.
The USP has served actually all over the world with all varieties of models, from top-tier counter-terror squads to native police forces and immigration companies. It continues to have an operational presence, albeit a lowering one, 30 years after it first arrived. Many personal shooters, particularly in america, have hung onto their rock-solid USPs, nonetheless having an affinity to the hardy pistol and its celeb standing.
So there you might have it, the USP turns 30 and remains to be in manufacturing. A real testomony to its design and the fame it gained by its service and with just a little assist from the leisure trade, after all.
Contact the writer: Tyler@thedrive.com
