Series
Maritime Handgun Systems
Maritime handgun systems for military and law enforcement: requirements, manufacturers and models from 1990 onwards, with a European manufacturer or user connection.
Articles in this series
This series examines handgun systems for military and law-enforcement tasks in maritime environments: from salt spray and shipboard duty to underwater carriage, OTB and purpose-built underwater weapons. It focuses on use from 1990 onwards, European manufacturers or documented European users.
- Part 1 Requirements and Models From salt spray on deck to submerged carriage: the users, requirements and evidence behind maritime handgun systems, with a comparative model matrix.
- Part 2 HK Mk23 Mod 0 OHWS A specialist sidearm built around accuracy, suppression and endurance. The HK Mk23 dossier examines the OHWS requirement, published trials, maritime employment and the civilian HK Mark 23.
- Part 3 The HK SFP9 M in maritime service Corrosion protection, Over the Beach capability and documented users: the HK SFP9 M in maritime service, assessed against the available public evidence.
Looking ahead
Next in the series are the HK SFP9 M, SIG Sauer P226 Mk25 and GLOCK pistols with maritime adaptations. Further coverage will examine the AREX Delta 4AMP and Walther P14 from the new Bundeswehr special-forces pistol system. Walther says this system will also equip the Kommando Spezialkräfte der Marine (KSM), Germany’s naval special forces. A historical look at the HK P11 adds a purpose-built underwater system to the comparison.
The maritime focus will also extend to diving equipment and delivery systems. Planned from Q1 2027, the Maritime Units series will examine the units that field this equipment and the tasks they perform.