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CETME/Heckler & Koch G3

Initially developed at the Centro des Estudios Tecnicos y Materiales Especiales (CETME), the Spanish Modelo A would later evolve into the Heckler & Koch G3. Designed by Ludwig Vorgrimler, the early CETME rifles chambered the proprietary 7.92x40mm CETME round and used a roller-delayed blowback action. This action would be used in rifles chambered in various calibres and form the basis for a whole family of Heckler & Koch designs.

The West German Bundesgrenzschutz first tested a CETME rifle in 1954, with further testing following. The West German’s were extremely interested in the Spanish rifle and when the Bundeswehr was formed in late 1955, the interest in the CETME continued during the eventual West German Army rifle trials. During the Bundeswehr trials the CETME Modelo A, designated the G3, faced off against the FN FAL (G1), SIG 510 (G2) and the Armalite AR-10 (G4). In April 1956, the German defence ministry ordered 400 CETME rifles chambered in the new NATO round for exhaustive testing. In June 1957, in an effort to spread development costs the Spanish licensed the design to Nederland Waapen & Munitiefabrik (NWM) for production and sale in the Netherlands and its territories - some sources suggest they claimed a worldwide license. A month later CETME began negotiations with the West German government to license production in Germany - these negotiations continued until January 1959. In 1961, CETME ended their relationship with NWM and agreed a worldwide manufacture and sales agreement with West Germany.

General Assembly drawing of the CETME G3 (source)

Heckler & Koch partnered with CETME to rechamber the rifle in the newly developed 7.62x51mm round but when this led to cracked receivers a less powerful round with identical dimensions to the new NATO round, the 7.62×51mm CETME, was developed for Spanish service. In the meantime the FN FAL was tentatively selected as the G1. However, when FN refused Germany the rights to manufacture the FAL, the trials resumed.

The trials resulted in a number of changes requested, these included a combination flash hider and grenade launcher, a diopter rather than leaf rear sight, the addition of a spent case deflector, a simpler pistol grip and changes to the selector positioning, buffer system and a more ergonomic charging handle. Most importantly Heckler & Koch refined CETME’s design making it slightly lighter and using better high carbon steel for the receiver, bolt and bolt carrier - this allowed the rifle to fire the hotter NATO round, and the chamber was fluted to aid case extraction.

Later improvements included weight reductions, tweaks to the rifle’s bipod, lighter magazines and a last round hold open device. The improved Heckler & Koch G3 was eventually selected in 1958. The Spanish adopted the Modelo B as the Modelo 58, chambered in 7.62x51mm CETME, the same year. The new G3 and the Modelo B both differed from the Modelo A in that they were lighter and fired solely from a closed bolt. They both retained the earlier rifle’s bipod integrated into the hand guard.

Bundeswehr troops with an MG1 and a G3, c.1960 (source)

Following the Bundeswehr’s selection of the H&K-improved G3 complex negotiations were held involving CETME, the Spanish and German governments and H&K and Rheinmetall. Eventually a manufacturing agreement was signed in February 1959. Massive numbers of rifles were needed, as the Bundeswehr grew to nearly 300,000 men by the late 1960s,and production was assigned to both Rheinmetall and Heckler & Koch to ensure a steady supply of G3s. Each company were given an initial order for 65,000 rifles. The Spanish Army adopted the Modelo C, chambered in NATO’s 7.62x51mm round, in 1965. In 1969 Rheinmetall moved their focus to the MG3 and H&K became the sole German manufacturer of the G3. The G3 continued in German service into the mid 1990s when it was replaced as the Bundeswehr‘s primary service rifle by the G36. The Modelo C was replaced in Spanish service by the 5.56x45mm CETME Modelo L in the late 1980s.

Sources:

Images: 1 2 3 4 5

The World’s Assault Rifles, G.P.Johnston & T.B. Nelson, (2016) Rifles of the World, J. Walter (1993)

My thanks to the ever helpful Dan Watters for providing some detail from Blake Stevens’ Full Circle, which I don’t currently have a copy off.

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CETME Modelo A Prototype

One of three rifle prototype developed at Centro des Estudios Tecnicos y Materiales Especiales (CETME), the Modelo A would later evolve into the Heckler & Koch G3.

During World War Two, while working for Mauser, Ludwig Vorgrimler had worked on various designs using the roller-delayed and roller-locked actions. After the war Vorgrimler continued to develop these ideas in France at the Centre d'Etudes et d'Armament de Mulhouse (CEAM). Following the cancellation of France’s rifle program he left CEAM in September 1950 and moved to Spain to work at CETME.

Vorgrimler brought the ideas he had developed at CEAM to CETME and joined a team developing new rifles for Spain’s military. Vogrimler was responsible for the Modelo 2, chambered in 7.92x40mm a round with a long, lightweight spitzer projectile, which later evolved into the Fusil d'Asalto CETME modelo A. The Modelo 2 was first tested in December 1950 and was well received. A rival design, the Modelo 1, by another German engineer called Manneking, which used a roller-locked action was also extensively tested but was abandoned in 1952 and efforts were focused on Vorgrimler’s design.

The Modelo 2 drew heavily on the Gerät 06H/StG-45(M)’s roller-delayed blowback action. The original Spanish 7.92x40mm round was later dropped in favour of the new NATO 7.62x51mm round and the Modelo 2′s bolt was redesigned. The first production prototypes were designated the Modelo A.The rifle fired from an open bolt in fully-automatic mode and from a closed bolt in semi-automatic.

Modelo 2 chambered in 7.92x40mm CETME, note the differing magazine well shape to the 7.62mm Modelo A (source)

The profile of the Modelo A looks very similar to the later Heckler & Koch rifles, however, it’s handguard is made up of a pair of folded bipod legs and its rear sight is a more traditional tangent rather than drum sight. Vorgrimler’s rifle made extensive use of cost-effective stamped metal manufacturing techniques and weighed around 11.8lbs (5.4kg). CETME attempted to adapt the Modelo A to fire the powerful new NATO round but this led to cracked receivers and instead a less powerful round with identical dimensions to the NATO round, the 7.62×51mm CETME cartridge, was developed.

In 1958, an improved version of Vorgrimler’s rifle, the Modelo B, with an additional steel hand guard was adopted by the Spanish Army as the Modelo 58, chambered in 7.62x51mm CETME. The following year the Bundeswehr selected the CETME G3 and production was assigned to Rheinmetall and Heckler & Koch. H&K had long standing links with CETME and worked to chamber the new rifle in the more powerful 7.62x51mm NATO. The Modelo B and the refined design by H&K differed from the Modelo A in that they were lighter and fired solely from a closed bolt. The Spanish Army finally switched to the standard NATO round in 1965, and adopted the strengthened Modelo C.

Sources:

Images: Many thanks to Peter Hokana for kindly allowing the use of his photographs.

The World's Assault Rifles, G.P.Johnston & T.B. Nelson, (2016)

Rifles of the World, J. Walter (1993)

If you enjoy the content please consider supporting Historical Firearms through Patreon!