Krummlauf
Encyclopedia
The Krummlauf is a bent barrel attachment for the Sturmgewehr 44
assault rifle
developed by Germany in World War II.
The curved barrel included a periscope sighting device for shooting around corners from a safe position.
The bent barrel attachments had very short lifespans – approx. 300 rounds for the 30° version, and 160 rounds for the 45° variant. The 30° model was able to achieve a 35x35 cm grouping at 100m. One of the biggest drawbacks of the tank destroyer Elefant was that in spite of having a 88mm anti tank gun, it did not have a machine gun to handle enemy infantry. Hence, the Krummlauf was fitted with the Stg44 Gun and used by the tank crew as a machine gun.
were conducted by the Soviet Union.
This concept was recently used by CornerShot
or POF Eye
to develop a weapon platform serving a similar purpose.
Sturmgewehr 44
The StG 44 was an assault rifle developed in Nazi Germany during World War II and was the first of its kind to see major deployment, considered by many historians to be the first modern assault rifle...
assault rifle
Assault rifle
An assault rifle is a selective fire rifle that uses an intermediate cartridge and a detachable magazine. Assault rifles are the standard infantry weapons in most modern armies...
developed by Germany in World War II.
The curved barrel included a periscope sighting device for shooting around corners from a safe position.
Description
It was produced in several variants: a "I" version for infantry use, a "P" version for use in tanks (to cover the dead areas in the close range around the tank, to defend against assaulting infantry), versions with 30°, 45°, 60° and 90° bends, a version for the StG 44 and one for the MG 42. Only the 30° "I" version for the StG 44 was produced in any numbers.The bent barrel attachments had very short lifespans – approx. 300 rounds for the 30° version, and 160 rounds for the 45° variant. The 30° model was able to achieve a 35x35 cm grouping at 100m. One of the biggest drawbacks of the tank destroyer Elefant was that in spite of having a 88mm anti tank gun, it did not have a machine gun to handle enemy infantry. Hence, the Krummlauf was fitted with the Stg44 Gun and used by the tank crew as a machine gun.
Derivatives
Experiments to adapt the Krummlauf to the PPSh-41PPSh-41
The PPSh-41 was a Soviet submachine gun designed by Georgi Shpagin as an inexpensive, simplified alternative to the PPD-40. Intended for use by minimally-trained conscript soldiers, the PPSh was a magazine-fed selective-fire submachine gun using an open-bolt, blowback action...
were conducted by the Soviet Union.
This concept was recently used by CornerShot
CornerShot
CornerShot is a weapon accessory invented by Lt. Col. Amos Golan of the Israeli Defense Forces in cooperation with American investors. It was designed in the early 2000s for SWAT teams and special forces in hostile situations usually involving terrorists and hostages...
or POF Eye
POF Eye
POF Eye is a special-purpose hand-held weapon system similar in concept to the CornerShot that can fire weapons around corners. It was first revealed at the 5th International Defence Exhibition and Seminar , held at the Karachi Expo Centre in November 2008...
to develop a weapon platform serving a similar purpose.
External links
- http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Waffen/Bilderseitenneu/Krummlauf.htm