CornerShot

CornerShot
A standard CornerShot fitted with a Glock pistol.
Type	Weapon accessory
Place of origin	United States  Israel
Service history
In service	2003–present
Used by	See Users
Production history
Designer	Amos Golan
Manufacturer	Corner Shot Holdings, LLC USA
Produced	2003–present
Variants	4 (including Standard)
Specifications
Weight	3.86 kilograms (8.5 lb)
Length	820 millimetres (32.7 in)

CornerShot is a weapon accessory invented by Lt. Col. Amos Golan of the Israeli Defense Forces in cooperation with American investors.^[1] It was designed in the early 2000s for SWAT teams and special forces in hostile situations usually involving terrorists and hostages. Its purpose is similar to that of the wartime periscope rifle; it allows its operator to both see and attack an armed target, without exposing the operator to counterattack.

Overview

The concept was first developed by Nazi Germany in WWII in the form of the StG-44's Krummlauf, a curved barrel with a mounted mirror developed for urban warfare; However, a similar concept was developed by Australian troops in the trenches of WW1's Western front. This early idea was simply a specialised 'second' stock and trigger mechanism combined with a periscope to allow the user to remain within the trench while the rifle was layed over the top of the trench.

The CornerShot variations developed so far are the Standard, the 40 mm grenade launcher, the APR, and a derived anti-tank version.^[2] It works because its many parts are either on the muzzle or the butt end, which are connected by a steel hinge. It is manufactured by Corner Shot Holdings, LLC, a company headed in Miami with an office in Israel. There is another separate manufacturer for the cornershot in France called OMEGA-Cornershot [1]. Units have been sold in 15 countries.^[3] The CornerShot was recently evaluated by the UK Ministry of Defence.^[4]

Forms and variations

The Corner shot's shooting range is claimed to be accurate and effective to 100 meters in 9x19mm, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP pistols, and is claimed to be effective to 200 meters with a 5.7x28mm pistol. The device is available in several variations, including the Beretta 92F, a model widely used by US security forces, the Glock, SIG SAUER and CZ, the mechanism can also mount various accessories such as detachable cameras, audio/video transmission kits, visible and IR lasers and tactical flashlights, suppressors and rubber bullets A standard pistol version is available, along with a 40 mm grenade launcher. Because they are fitted with high-resolution digital cameras, any variant can also be used as a surveillance tool. All the models come with the same stock camera and 2.5 in. color LCD monitor, providing a video observation and sighting system with transmission capability. The flashlight and camera lets it operate in either day or night. A variety of optional interchangeable cameras, as well as a folding stock, are available, and a universal accessory rail is standard.^[5]

Future versions will be mountable on the US M-16 and a European joint assault weapon. The system can also be remotely emplaced and operated from behind camouflage, with a wire video - out connection sending images to a commander at a distance or saved to a 2-hour 'flash memory' chip attached to the gunstock.

Standard

The standard CornerShot mounts a normal semi-automatic pistol in the front part of the weapon, with a remote linkage to the trigger mechanism in the rear part, it has a trigger pull of 21 newtons (4.7 lbf). It is 820 millimetres (32.67 in) long, with a weight of 3.86 kilograms (8.5 lb).^{[citation needed]}

40 mm grenade launcher

The 40 mm Grenade Launcher is a breech-loading, single shot grenade launcher. Manually operated, it fires all 40 mm grenades, less-lethal and non-lethal ammunition, and tear/irritant gas projectiles; spent cartridges are ejected for easier reloading. The same system is available in 37 mm size for law enforcement agencies The 40 mm model has a rifling of 1:1.224, is 900 mm long, and weighs 4.4 kg (9.5 lb). The muzzle velocity is 74.7 m/s (M-406 grenade).^[2] Its range for precision fire, single target is 150 meters; and for area coverage, with fragmentation munitions, is 350 meters.

Assault Pistol Rifle (or APR)

The Assault Pistol Rifle mounts a custom pistol in the front part of the weapon to allow the use of rifle cartridges. It fires 5.56 mm ammunition The APR pistol can be removed from the CornerShot frame.^[2]

CornerShot Panzerfaust (or CSP)

Debuted at the Eurosatory 2004 military trade show in Paris, a derivative of the system for use against armored vehicles is designed to fire Panzerfaust anti-tank rockets.^[6] It can turn 90 degrees instead of the standard 60 degrees The Panzerfaust-has a little info about the CornerShot Panzerfaust (and tells the name of the CornerShot Panzerfaust)

How it works

In the standard version a pistol is mounted in the front end of the weapon, which bends horizontally at a mid-gun sixty-degree hinge There is a digital camera and a flashlight attached to the barrel in the bayonet position. On the butt side of the hinge are the trigger, camera screen (which is on a horizontal hinge just like the mid-gun hinge but it is off of the left side of the gun), and controls for the camera and light.

Similar weapons

The Krummlauf was a bent barrel designed for the Sturmgewehr 44, which was used by the Germans in World War II. It allowed for looking^{[clarification needed]} and firing around corners with its 30 degree barrel and a periscope-style sight.^{[citation needed]}

China

China has made two Cornershot-like weapons to date. One of them, based on the Cornershot, is the HD-66.^[7] Another is the CF-06.^[8] Both was first unveiled at the 4th China Police Expo (CPEX) and developed by the Chongqing Changfeng Machinery Co Ltd and Shanghai Sea Shield Technologies Company.^[8] According to Qing Shanseng, chief designer of the HD-66 and CF-06, both systems are indigenous and were not done based on the CornerShot.^[8]

The two systems use the QSZ-92 as the main pistol.^[8]

Pakistan

POF Eye is a special-purpose hand-held weapon system similar in concept to the Corner Shot that can fire weapons around corners. It was first revealed at the 5th International Defense Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS 2008), held at the Karachi Expo Center in November 2008. It is designed for SWAT and special forces teams in hostile situations, particularly counter-terrorism and hostage rescue operations. It allows its operator to both see and attack an armed target without exposing the operator to counter-attack.

Iran

Iran has demonstrated a weapon that is very similar to CornerShot.^[9]

South Korea

South Korea had publicly unveiled their own version of the CornerShot on March 23, 2010, created and developed by the Agency for Defense Development.^[10] The ADD had ₩350 million invested for research and development of their own CornerShot in September 2008.^[10] Its functions are similar to the original version, with the exception of a laser target designator and a pixel sensor included to assist in locating hostile targets.^[11][12]

Users

•  China: Beijing SWAT.^[13]
•  India: National Security Guards.^[14]
•  South Korea: South Korean special forces. (Israeli model)^[11]

See also

• Periscope rifle

Notes

1. ^ Gibson, Kevin (2004). "Bad news for the bad guys: the next best thing to being there!". Guns Magazine. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQY/is_7_50/ai_n6038095/. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} CornerShot.us - manufacturer's website
3. ^ CornerShot on New Scientist.com-a brief article on CornerShot
4. ^ New technology gives clues to the Army's possible future equipment - MOD
5. ^ "CornerShot" on Military.com — an article
6. ^ "The CornerShot" on Defense Update — short profile with additional photos
7. ^ "India launches search for cornershot guns". http://www.spacewar.com/reports/India_launches_search_for_cornershot_guns_999.html. Retrieved 2010-03-25. 
8. ^ ^{a b c d} "China’s newest nonlinear of sight weapon system". 2008-11-23. http://www.china-defense-mashup.com/?p=18. Retrieved 2010-03-25. 
9. ^ "Iran Clones Israeli Cornershot". 2008-01-31. http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2008/01/31/iran-clones-israeli-cornershot/. Retrieved 2008-12-10. 
10. ^ ^{a b} Jung Sung-Ki (2010-03-23). "South Korea Develops Corner Shot". Defense News. http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=4550658. Retrieved 2010-04-01. 
11. ^ ^{a b} "S. Korea develops 'corner shot'rifle". Yonhap News Agency. 2010-03-23. http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/news/2010/03/23/90/0200000000AEN20100323003000315F.HTML. Retrieved 2010-04-01. 
12. ^ "South Korea Discovers The Corner Shot". 2010-04-01. http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htweap/articles/20100401.aspx. Retrieved 2010-04-01. 
13. ^ "北京民警节后将装备以色列12万元高级拐弯枪(图)" (in Chinese). Netease. 2006-01-19. http://news.163.com/06/0119/01/27PSP21P0001124T.html. Retrieved 2010-03-11. 
14. ^ Shishir Gupta (2009-11-06). "Post 26/11, NSG aims for corner shot weapons, ‘through-the-wall’ radars". Indian Express. http://www.indianexpress.com/news/post-26-11-nsg-aims-for-corner-shot-weapons-throughthewall-radars/537983/. Retrieved 2010-10-13.