HK CAWS
Encyclopedia
The Heckler & Koch HK CAWS (H&K CAWS) is a prototype automatic shotgun
—designed as a combat shotgun
—co-produced by Heckler & Koch
and Winchester
/Olin
during the 1980s. It was Heckler & Koch
's entry in to the U.S military's Close Assault Weapon System program.
It is a 10-round, 12-gauge, bullpup
shotgun with three firing modes: safe, semi-auto, and full-auto, and is fully ambidextrous.
, capable of firing high-impulse, multiple projectile
s with effective range of 100–150 meters. Using multiple projectiles should increase the chances of hitting the target in combat. One of the teams entered in the CAWS race was Heckler & Koch Germany
, coupled with Winchester Corp. USA
. Heckler & Koch was responsible for developing a weapon, while Winchester was responsible for the development of new types of ammunition. Although tested by the U.S. military
, the CAWS was canceled, and production, both military and civilian, has halted.
Automatic shotgun
An automatic shotgun is a form of shotgun that is able to fire cartridges continuously while the trigger is pressed, unlike semi-automatic weapons which require the user to depress the trigger for each projectile fired.- Design :...
—designed as a combat shotgun
Combat shotgun
A combat shotgun is a shotgun that is intended for use in an offensive role, typically by a military force. The earliest shotguns specifically designed for combat were the trench guns or trench shotguns issued in World War I...
—co-produced by Heckler & Koch
Heckler & Koch
Heckler & Koch GmbH is a German defense manufacturing company that produces various small arms. Some of their products include the SA80, MP5 submachine gun, G3 automatic rifle, the G36 assault rifle, the HK 416, the MP7 personal defense weapon, the USP series of handguns, and the high-precision...
and Winchester
Winchester Repeating Arms Company
The Winchester Repeating Arms Company was a prominent American maker of repeating firearms, located in New Haven, Connecticut. The Winchester brand is today used under license by two subsidiaries of the Herstal Group, Fabrique Nationale of Belgium and the Browning Arms Company of Morgan, Utah.-...
/Olin
Olin
-Organizations:* OLIN, a landscape architecture and urban design firm in Philadelphia and Los Angeles* Olin Corporation, a chemical corporation with a history of producing chemicals and ammunition* F. W. Olin Foundation, a foundation endowed by Franklin W. Olin...
during the 1980s. It was Heckler & Koch
Heckler & Koch
Heckler & Koch GmbH is a German defense manufacturing company that produces various small arms. Some of their products include the SA80, MP5 submachine gun, G3 automatic rifle, the G36 assault rifle, the HK 416, the MP7 personal defense weapon, the USP series of handguns, and the high-precision...
's entry in to the U.S military's Close Assault Weapon System program.
It is a 10-round, 12-gauge, bullpup
Bullpup
Bullpups are firearm configurations in which the action is located behind the trigger group and alongside the shooter's face, so there is no wasted space for the buttstock as in conventional designs. This permits a shorter firearm length for the same barrel length for improved maneuverability, and...
shotgun with three firing modes: safe, semi-auto, and full-auto, and is fully ambidextrous.
Development
The CAWS program started in the early 1980s in the United States. The main goal of this program was to develop a new generation personal firearmFirearm
A firearm is a weapon that launches one, or many, projectile at high velocity through confined burning of a propellant. This subsonic burning process is technically known as deflagration, as opposed to supersonic combustion known as a detonation. In older firearms, the propellant was typically...
, capable of firing high-impulse, multiple projectile
Projectile
A projectile is any object projected into space by the exertion of a force. Although a thrown baseball is technically a projectile too, the term more commonly refers to a weapon....
s with effective range of 100–150 meters. Using multiple projectiles should increase the chances of hitting the target in combat. One of the teams entered in the CAWS race was Heckler & Koch Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, coupled with Winchester Corp. USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Heckler & Koch was responsible for developing a weapon, while Winchester was responsible for the development of new types of ammunition. Although tested by the U.S. military
Military of the United States
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.The United States has a strong tradition of civilian control of the military...
, the CAWS was canceled, and production, both military and civilian, has halted.
Statistics
- Type: select-fire, recoil operated.
- Gauge: 12 (special ammunition with belted case, 18.5×76 mm)
- Length: 762–988 mm
- Barrel length: 457–685 mm
- Weight: 3.7–3.86 kg
- Magazine: 10 rounds detachable box magazine