The Heckler & Koch VP70 (from Volkspistole,[1][2][3] "people's pistol") is a German-made semi-automatic/three-round burst capable pistol chambered for the 9×19mm Parabellum cartridge.
Overview[]
The VP70 was the first ever polymer-framed pistol (a distinction often incorrectly given to the Glock 17, which was actually introduced 12 years after the VP70). This made it far lighter than most other pistols available at the time weighing in at only 820 g (28.9 oz) when unloaded.
A unique feature of the pistol is the combination shoulder stock/holster available for the VP70M (from Militär, "military"), the military version, that, when mounted, allows selective fire, enabling the pistol to fire in three-round bursts as well as the standard semi-automatic. When not in use, the shoulder stock doubles as a holster for the weapon. The civilian model of the pistol, the VP70Z (from Zivil, "civilian"), does not feature burst-fire capability, although some can still mount the shoulder stock.
Notable Users[]
The VP70M was the standard sidearm of the Colonial Marines. Such weapons were notably wielded by Private Frost during the Hive ambush and Lieutenant Gorman during the ill-fated escape from the colony. Corporal Ferro was also armed with a VP70M, attempting to draw it when attacked by a Warrior aboard Bug Stomper, but was killed before she could do so.
Variants[]
VP70M[]
Militär variant; with slots for mounting a shoulder stock/holster to allow three-round burst capability. This was the variant that was used by the Colonial Marines throughout 2179.
VP70Z[]
Zivil variant; this variant does not have the select-fire mechanism and most models of it do not come with shoulder stock mounting point.
88 Mod 4[]
- Main article: 88 Mod 4 Combat Pistol
Weyland-Yutani modified/improved variant; made to be extremely light and durable compared to its predecessors. It can be modified with various aftermarket attachments as well as a conversion to full-auto fire.
VP70MA6[]
Improved variant; standard Colonial Marine sidearm as of 2184, it has been superseding the aging M4A3 Service Pistol in service.
Behind the Scenes[]
Armorer Simon Atherton displays a VP70 used in Aliens.[4]
The VP70 was chosen for its role in Aliens because of its futuristic appearance (particularly at the time the film was made). Furthermore, it remains a fairly obscure weapon, and its ambiguity helped to mask its real-world origins in the movie.[4] Using an unusual but existing weapon for the Marines' sidearm was also far cheaper than modifying a more common pistol to look futuristic, as with the Pulse Rifles. In reality, the pistol ceased production in 1989, some 190 years before the events of the film.
Gorman's Pistol as it appears in Aliens: Colonial Marines.
In Aliens: Colonial Marines, the VP70Z (erroneously; the pistol was a VP70M in Aliens) appears as the Legendary Weapon Gorman's Pistol. Also, the 88 Mod 4 Combat Pistol seen in the game appears to be an updated VP70Z and is visually the same, apart from the different slide markings (the 88 Mod 4 reads "MK 88 Mod 4") and the lack of "HK" (standing for Heckler & Koch) on the pistol grip.
The VP70's use in Aliens later inspired two similarly-styled weapons — the VP78 Pistol in the 2010 video game Aliens vs. Predator and the 88 Mod 4 Combat Pistol in the 2013 video game Aliens: Colonial Marines. However, while the 88 Mod 4 remains faithful to the design of the VP70, the VP78's design is not actually based on the VP70, but rather the Beretta 93R (a three-round burst variant of the Beretta 92FS).
Trivia[]
- The VP70 is one of several Heckler & Koch weapons to appear in the Alien, Predator and Alien vs. Predator franchises; the others are the HK45, the MP5, the MP7, the UMP, the G36 and the G3.
Appearances[]
- Aliens
- Aliens Online
- Aliens: Unleashed
- Aliens: Infestation
- Aliens: Colonial Marines (video game)
- Aliens: Defiance
- Alien: The Roleplaying Game — Colonial Marines Operations Manual (mentioned only)
- Alien: Enemy of My Enemy
Gallery[]
Videos[]
References[]
- ↑ Manfred Kersten and Walter Schmid. HK- Die Offizielle Geschichte der Oberndorfer Firma Heckler & Koch (1999), Weispfennig.
- ↑ David Higginbotham. "The HK VP70 The First Polymer Framed Pistol". Guns.com. Retrieved on 2013-11-10. "HK says the VP [...] means Volks Pistole or People’s Pistol [...] This is where another (erroneous) name for the pistol comes from. Vollautomatische Pistole."
- ↑ Jack Lewis. The Gun Digest Book of Assault Weapons (2007), Gun Digest Books.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Gale Anne Hurd, Sigourney Weaver, Michael Biehn, Bill Paxton, Stan Winston, John Richardson. Superior Firepower: Making Aliens (2003), 20th Century Fox [DVD].
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