Gordon Close-Support Weapon System

Gordon Close-Support Weapon System
Type Close Support Weapon System
Place of origin  Australia
Production history
Designer Duncan Gordon
Designed 1970–72
Manufacturer BSP Planning and Design Pty. Ltd.
Variants See Variants
Specifications
Cartridge 12 gauge (shotgun)
7.62×51mm NATO (Battle rifle/LMG)
5.56×45mm NATO (Assault rifle)
9×19mm Parabellum / .45 ACP? (SMG)
Barrels 1 (Rifle/Shotgun)
2 (SMG)
Feed system Belt (Shotgun)
Magazine (Battle Rifle/Assault Rifle/Shotgun?/SMG)
Sights Iron

The Gordon Close-Support Weapon System (Gordon CSWS) was an exotic firearm project of Australian origin.

Overview

A very unusual weapon system was proposed at one time by Australian Duncan Gordon. It was assumed that the basis of this family of automatic weapons constitute a belt-fed machine gun, automatic shotgun with box magazine and the double-barreled submachine gun with overhead inserted magazines (a la the Villar-Perosa SMG) in a very unusual configuration. Gordon has developed its weapons, based on personal combat experience gained in Vietnam, where he served in the forces of SEATO. Design drawings and the general conception of his ideas involved in the Australian company BSP Planning and Design Pty. Ltd. in Norwood. Led the team of engineers, Peter Chant. Work began in early 1970.

The system was developed by 1972, and drawings were accomplished by engineer Dale Evans. This system was a quick-barrel weapons, while the overall configuration has a mixture of ideas of the British EM-2, as well as WW2 platforms such as the German FG-42 and the US M1941 Johnson machine gun. Any type of weapon could be adapted to fire conventional rifle cartridges and 12 Gauge shotgun rounds. Automation system, applied in the arms of an identical pattern of patent 1.834.021 J. Destree, and used to solve problems by firing rifle bullets and shot with the same weapons sites.

Variants

Combat shotgun

A combat shotgun variant was fed from a magazine.

Belt fed shotgun

Fed from a belt feed.

Assault rifle

An Assault rifle variant was fed from a 30-round magazine inserted in the side.

Battle rifle/squad automatic weapon

A battle rifle/squad automatic weapon variant fed from a 30-round magazine.

Submachine gun

A twin-barrel submachine gun variant fed from overhead 32-round magazines with unusual side mounted grips and folding stock.

References