I have a friend, born in Iran, and was in the Iranian military around 1975.  We are trying to figure out/remeber what rifle(s) were used.  He seems to think that it had a 'K' in it, did not have a collapsable stock, had a bi-pod, could be used with belt-fed ammo, had a pistol trigger grip, and came from Israel.  Of course, both of those memories could be wrong (I mentioned an HK to him).  Can any of you guys clear this up for us?

Thanks,
Lance Jennings
Nashville, TN

Might be the HK G3.

All the pics I ever saw from around the time of the hostage taking were of Iranians with G3s.  For an MG, I am gonna guess they went with the MAG.

Your friend is lucky he got out before the war with Iraq started, what a poison gas mess that was.

Maybe it was an RPK or RPD.

I believe the shah's military used HK almost exclusively, so most of the rifles were probably G-3's or HK-33's.

I concur - HK G3s.

I recall seeing some news photos of the immediate post-Shah turbulence in Ken Follet's "On Wings of Eagles" (story of rescue of EDS employees out of Iran by team formed by Ross Perot), with AWOL soldiers waving G3s with what appears to be wooden furniture.

Bill Wiese
San Mateo, CA