| Automatkarbin 4 | |
| Origin: | Sweden West Germany |
| Type: | Battle rifle |
| Is Ranged: | Yes |
| Service: | 1964–present |
| Used By: | See Users |
| Wars: | War in Afghanistan |
| Designer: | Heckler & Koch |
| Design Date: | 1950s |
| Production Date: | 1965–1985 |
| Variants: | See Variants |
| Weight: | 4.12NaN2 |
| Length: | 1045mm |
| Part Length: | 450mm |
| Width: | 45mm |
| Height: | 220mm with inserted magazine |
| Cartridge: | 7.62×51mm NATO |
| Action: | Roller-delayed blowback |
| Rate: | 500–600 rounds/min |
| Velocity: | 800m/s |
| Range: | 500m (1,600feet) 200- sight adjustments 100- with optics |
| Max Range: | 3700m (12,100feet) |
| Feed: | 20-round detachable box magazine. |
| Sights: | Rear: rotary diopter; front: hooded post |
The Ak 4 (Swedish: Automatkarbin 4 {{Audio|Sv-Automatkarbin 4.ogg| |help=no, English: Automatic Carbine 4) is a license-built Swedish version of the West German Heckler & Koch G3 battle rifle. It was adopted as the service rifle of the Swedish Armed Forces in 1965, replacing the bolt-action m/96 Mauser, the self-loading automatgevär m/42 and the automatic rifles Kulsprutegevär m/21, Kulsprutegevär m/40.
The initial Ak 4 incorporated some minor modifications compared to the original G3 design, including a 20mm longer buttstock, a serrated thumb groove on the bolt carrier to aid in silent bolt closure, a heavier recoil buffer for increased reliability and a 200-500m rotary diopter rear sight.[1]
The Ak 4 was manufactured from 1965 to 1985 by both Carl Gustafs stads gevärsfaktori in Eskilstuna and Husqvarna Vapenfabrik in Huskvarna.
It was replaced as the standard-issue service rifle in 1985 by the Ak 5, a license-built version of the FN FNC, but remains in use with the Home Guard and in specialist marksman roles within the regular armed forces.
In the late 1950s, it was concluded that a plethora of older weapons needed to be replaced and that it would be advantageous to adopt the upcoming NATO cartridge to both lower the cost and allow import from abroad in crisis. Sweden held a trial of new weapons including: the Belgian FN FAL, the Swiss SIG SG 510, the Swedish Carl Gustaf GRAM 63, the American M14 and the German Heckler & Koch G3. After several different types of testing the FN FAL and Heckler & Koch G3 passed the tests. Due to its durability and lower price due to modern production methods the Ak 4 version of the Heckler & Koch G3 was selected as the new standard rifle in 1964, relegating the Carl Gustaf m/45 to second- and rear line service. Sweden and Heckler & Koch agreed a 15,000 round service life.[2] [3]
From 1965 to 1970 the Ak 4 was produced by Husqvarna and later changed to Carl Gustaf in Eskilstuna in 1970 until it was replaced by the 5.56×45mm NATO chambered Ak 5 (a version of the Belgian FN FNC), but the Ak 4 is still used in the Hemvärnet-Nationella skyddsstyrkorna (Swedish Home Guard). Sweden has supplied unmodified Ak 4s to Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. In 1985 the Ak 4 was replaced by the Ak 5.
Estonia - Some parts of the Estonian Defence League use the Ak4 variant.[10] [11]
Jordan[12]
Latvia - Ak4 variant used by National Guard.[12]
Lithuania - Ak4 variant was used by the Lithuanian Armed Forces,[13] Lithuanian National Defence Volunteer Forces and is currently used in Lithuanian Riflemen's Union.[14]
Sweden - Made by three manufacturers, Heckler & Koch in Germany, and under license by Husqvarna Vapenfabrik (1965–70) and Carl Gustaf Gevärsfaktori (1965–80) which was later renamed to Förenade Fabriksverken (FFV) as the Ak 4 (Automatkarbin 4).[15] Two sub-variants are known to exist, one equipped with a rail and Aimpoint sight (Ak4 B) and the other with a 4× magnifying optic, the Hensoldt Fero Z24 4×24 (Ak 4OR). It has since been replaced by the Ak 5 (Automatkarbin 5; a modified version of the FN FNC) in the regular army. Ak 4B and Ak 4OR, some times in combination with the M203 grenade launcher, is still in use in Hemvärnet – Nationella skyddsstyrkorna, the Swedish Home Guard. About 5,000 units received a new adjustable stock from 2016. An additional 5,000 units were ordered in 2019. In December 2020, the in-house review, Tidningen Hemvärnet, announced that 1,000 extra units had been ordered, meaning every soldier in the Home Guard would receive the new adjustable stock AK4C variant before the end of 2022.[16]