New Weapon for Covert Maritime Operations

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For the first time, British special forces have been equipped with a pistol that can kill enemy divers ­underwater from more than 30m.

UK’s Special Boat Service frogmen have been issued with the virtually-silent Heckler and Koch P11 pistol that can also be used to take out hostile forces above water.

During one counter-terrorist reconnaissance mission in Syria, a four-man SBS team fired the weapon, right, after stealthily emerging from the water, according to dailystar.co.uk.

The pistol was originally designed for the German special forces but has been redeveloped for use in covert ­maritime operations.

The rounds are fired using an ­electric power pack in the pistol, ­making the weapon silent and flashless – perfect for the special forces.

The pistol has five barrels and each fires a 7.62mm tungsten dart, as bullets would slow down too quickly underwater and would be useless over any distance of more than a couple of meters.

A military source said: “Frogmen need a close-protection weapon, something more than a knife – and the P11 is ideal. Its main limitation is that it takes ages to reload so once the five rounds have been fired, it is effectively useless.” UK Defense sources said the weapon has been used on several operations.