The USP (Universale Selbstladepistole or "universal self-loading pistol") is a semi-automatic pistol developed in Germany to replace its P7 series of handguns. It is the first pistol to incorporate multiple pistol features onto one pistol.
Development and usage[]
In 1989, design works on pistols were being focused on America for law enforcement and commercial use markets. The USP prototypes were placed into rigorous training in 1991, alongside what would later become the Mk23 mod 0 that would be used for SOCOM. Based on the results of the 1991 OHSW testings, the prototypes were further improved in 1992, and then finalized on December that year. The USP was then formally introduced to the public on January 1993, with the USP40 model being chambered by .40S&W ammo, with the USP9 model (USP model using 9x19mm Parabellum ammo) being released shortly thereafter, and the USP45 model (USP model using .45ACP ammunition) being released in May 1995. It was then adopted into Germany's Bundeswehr (German armed forces), namely the P8 model. The P10 model was utilized by various German state police forces. In August 24, 2004, it was one of the major pistol contracts won by SIGARMS and Heckler & Koch/HK Defense with the United States Department of Homeland Security.
It utilized a mechanically-locked breech using a short-recoil method of operation.
The Manhattan Incident[]
- See also: Tanker Incident and the Big Shell Incident
In 2007, Olga Gurlukovich kept a USP9 concealed when she was held up at gunpoint by Solid Snake, on board the USS Discovery. She revealed it after firing the single round contained within her NRS-2 Scout Firing Knife at Snake (which he successfully evaded), and used it during the subsequent battle against him. After she was tranquilized by Snake's M9 rounds, Snake procured the USP9 for himself, although he was surprised that Olga, a Russian, would be using a gun originally designed for use by American forces.[1] The gun also came with a flashlight attachment. Snake later used this gun to shoot out the control boxes of the SEMTEX explosives and later to take out the Gurlukovich Mercenaries blocking his way into the holds.
Behind the scenes[]
In Metal Gear Acid 2, Snake and Venus use the USP during the mission.
Notes and references[]
- ^ Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (script), Konami Computer Entertainment Japan (2001).
Snake walks up to Olga and acquires the USP pistol lying by her side. There is no ammo left. Snake raises his eyebrows at the fact that Olga’s preferred sidearm is an American gun. // Snake: Hmm...