Here is a pic of the exact configuration of MP5SD that I carried into Grenada. Full auto and suppressed.
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/pics.gunbroker.com\/GB\/727912000\/727912994\/pix930558646.jpg"}[/IMG2]
It's for sale here:
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/727912994
While it is an interesting footnote in history, I was not wanting to be one to have to pack this little beast. My nickname for it was the "nine pound BB-gun". As a CQB weapon, it's proven itself well over time. In fact, it's still a highly preferred weapon of both SWAT and Special Operations soldiers for that type mission. My problem with it, most notable when we got there, was that there was too much range between us and the Cubans/rebel Grenadians to be effective. The ranges we encountered were actually more to the outer limits of what even the M16 fared. By the time we had gotten to where we thought we were going to use it, most of the opposition had surrendered. The real range killing thing it had was we had to use heavy slow bullets made to function in the gun. Not all that hard, but they were a lot different than what the sights were made for using high velocity light bullets.
The internal workings are just like an HK91/R3 and HK93. A delayed roller blowback system. The receiver is precision stamped (a truly remarkable manufacturing breakthrough if you ask me), the sights welded on top. The buttstock collapses on two rails or bars. Extended and in the right shooting position, this is actually a quite accurate rifle. I found this out AFTER we got back from Grenada. I had only trained on the weapon a few times and all that was CQB, not extended ranges.
Just like it's bigger brothers, the trigger group is modular and is removed by pressing out two captive pins. Breakdown is pretty easy as is assembly....once you know how to set the bolt so it goes in correctly. I was surprised at how short the barrel actually was, and how much space the suppressor took up. That was a very quiet suppressor. Especially in comparison to the ones we used on our M16's. Those it seemed, didn't suppress any noise at all. But their combat accuracy was stellar.
In '85 when we went to Germany and trained with German Paratroops, we had an across the board accuracy evaluation and the M16 won hands down against the R3's. We both loved shooting each others weapons, but they shot better with ours and we shot better with ours. We brought a few of these with us and surprisingly, they did not get to use them as para's. to them it was a toy version of the R3.
Anyhow, when it was all said and done, with CQB training intensifying after Grenada, I still preferred a 1911 with a 10 rd. mag for building clearing as opposed to these. Turning a hand to get on point is better any day than turning your body. It is a lot easier to miss with a pistol though, than with one of these. A split second of not focusing and the wrist will turn much easier than a body in correct shooting position. We also took a bunch of these to Honduras for the side-by-side training that was going on with the M249. I needed to shut my mouth, but didn't, when I saw these getting pulled out and said, "What the fuck are we gonna do with these here?" "A total waste of our time" A few sidelong glances from the XO and S3 officers, and the ops Sgt telling me to hold my opinions to myself (mil-speak for STFU) so we could get on with the training, and I was once again my happy quiet self.
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/pics.gunbroker.com\/GB\/727912000\/727912994\/pix930558646.jpg"}[/IMG2]
It's for sale here:
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/727912994
While it is an interesting footnote in history, I was not wanting to be one to have to pack this little beast. My nickname for it was the "nine pound BB-gun". As a CQB weapon, it's proven itself well over time. In fact, it's still a highly preferred weapon of both SWAT and Special Operations soldiers for that type mission. My problem with it, most notable when we got there, was that there was too much range between us and the Cubans/rebel Grenadians to be effective. The ranges we encountered were actually more to the outer limits of what even the M16 fared. By the time we had gotten to where we thought we were going to use it, most of the opposition had surrendered. The real range killing thing it had was we had to use heavy slow bullets made to function in the gun. Not all that hard, but they were a lot different than what the sights were made for using high velocity light bullets.
The internal workings are just like an HK91/R3 and HK93. A delayed roller blowback system. The receiver is precision stamped (a truly remarkable manufacturing breakthrough if you ask me), the sights welded on top. The buttstock collapses on two rails or bars. Extended and in the right shooting position, this is actually a quite accurate rifle. I found this out AFTER we got back from Grenada. I had only trained on the weapon a few times and all that was CQB, not extended ranges.
Just like it's bigger brothers, the trigger group is modular and is removed by pressing out two captive pins. Breakdown is pretty easy as is assembly....once you know how to set the bolt so it goes in correctly. I was surprised at how short the barrel actually was, and how much space the suppressor took up. That was a very quiet suppressor. Especially in comparison to the ones we used on our M16's. Those it seemed, didn't suppress any noise at all. But their combat accuracy was stellar.
In '85 when we went to Germany and trained with German Paratroops, we had an across the board accuracy evaluation and the M16 won hands down against the R3's. We both loved shooting each others weapons, but they shot better with ours and we shot better with ours. We brought a few of these with us and surprisingly, they did not get to use them as para's. to them it was a toy version of the R3.
Anyhow, when it was all said and done, with CQB training intensifying after Grenada, I still preferred a 1911 with a 10 rd. mag for building clearing as opposed to these. Turning a hand to get on point is better any day than turning your body. It is a lot easier to miss with a pistol though, than with one of these. A split second of not focusing and the wrist will turn much easier than a body in correct shooting position. We also took a bunch of these to Honduras for the side-by-side training that was going on with the M249. I needed to shut my mouth, but didn't, when I saw these getting pulled out and said, "What the fuck are we gonna do with these here?" "A total waste of our time" A few sidelong glances from the XO and S3 officers, and the ops Sgt telling me to hold my opinions to myself (mil-speak for STFU) so we could get on with the training, and I was once again my happy quiet self.
Last edited:
