Corner Shot significantly impacts urban combat. Combatants have long desired the ability to shoot around corners without exposing themselves to enemy fire, owing to urban combat’s brutal and short-range nature. The Corner Shot firearm accessory empowers users to see and shoot from behind the cover. This accessory represents one of many new technologies designed to benefit ground troops and give them an advantage against entrenched adversaries.
From Krummlauf to Corner Shot
Germany developed one of the earliest examples of this technology during the latter half of World War II after years of bitter house-to-house fighting. They attached the Krummlauf to the Sturmgewahr 44 assault rifle. The Krummlauf consisted of a curved barrel extension and periscope, enabling a soldier to see the direction in which the Krummlauf was firing. Germany hoped it would provide its soldiers an advantage in urban combat and enable armored vehicle crews to engage enemy soldiers without exposing themselves to enemy fire.
The Krummlauf’s failure was, in part, attributed to the rapid wear of the barrel. More fundamentally, it was unrealistic to anticipate that such a minor gimmick, even when produced in large quantities, could significantly alter the war’s course in favor of Germany. While the United States and the Soviet Union obtained various German ‘wonder weapons’ following the war, the Krummlauf was not among them, and the concept drifted into obscurity for the next fifty years.
Ironically, Israel introduced the next iteration of the cover-shooting concept. In the early 2000s, Lieutenant Colonel Amos Golan, the commander of an Israeli counter-terrorism unit, introduced the Corner Shot. It was designed to achieve the same objective as the Krummlauf, enabling troops and SWAT teams to engage targets behind cover, albeit with several notable differences.
Corner Shot distinguishes itself from Krummlauf in several key aspects. Unlike the Krummlauf, Corner Shot doesn’t endeavor to alter the bullet’s trajectory, a challenging task; instead, it rotates the entire weapon. Corner Shot essentially consists of a hinged chassis that accommodates the installation of a pistol, such as a Glock 17, Beretta 92, or other handguns. A video camera is bore-sighted to the pistol, offering a live feed to the shooter, and it features a built-in tactical light for illumination in dark spaces. Additionally, there is a separate provision for installing a visible aiming laser.
Usage
Unlike its predecessor, Corner Shot shares many of the same applications as the Krummlauf, including its utilization by vehicle crews when they engage enemy troops outside their vehicle. Its inventors envisioned its utility in counter-terrorism and urban warfare situations. SWAT teams and infantry may need to observe and engage targets inside a room or enclosed space without exposing themselves to enemy fire.
This tool is designed to be just one of the many tactical advantages available to ground forces rather than a desperate gimmick. Although highly specialized, it can be instantly reconfigured as a conventional, forward-firing weapon.
Corner Shot is an excellent example of moving beyond a failed solution to a problem and addressing it innovatively. Reports indicate that the system has been used in counter-terrorism operations in the post-9/11 era. Given the increasing urbanization of modern warfare, it is likely that Corner Shot, or something similar, will continue to serve ground forces worldwide for decades.
