Ukrainian soldiers revive century-old periscope sight technology to reduce risk on battlefronts

A compelling video has emerged online that depicts the test of a periscope sight for a rifle from the AK family. It facilitates accurate shooting without revealing the shooter's head, an advancement eagerly awaited by sharpshooters or proficient marksmen equipped with thermal scopes who often struggle to conceal themselves.

This innovative tool is another measure aimed at reducing the fatality risk for Ukrainian soldiers, following remote-controlled turrets, which also play a significant role in the heavy losses endured by the Russians.

Australian soldiers first realized the proposition of incorporating a periscope in firearms during the Battle of Gallipoli in 1915. The invention of the periscopic rifle is accredited to Lance Corporal William Beech, who, appalled by the number of headshot casualties, devised a solution that enables shooting from behind cover.

In achieving this, he utilised a modified Lee-Enfield rifle, a wooden tripod, a pair of mirrors, and a cord. The primary technique involved strategically positioning the mirrors in a manner where the shooter could see through the mechanical sight devices on the lower mirror. The shot was taken by tugging a cord attached to the rifle trigger. Over the ensuing decades, this concept was refined, notable instances being the Krummlauf or the special sight for universal machine guns MG34 and MG42.

In the case of the Ukrainian design, the basics remain identical. However, a modern metallic tripod with adjustable height is utilized, and the weapon employed is capable of sustained fire instead of a repeating design.

This represents a simple and analog approach to risk minimization compared to modern solutions based on cameras mounted on weapons and helmet-mounted displays. Noteworthy systems in this category include, for instance, the CornerShot system, which allows precise shooting from behind covers using pistols, or the Famas rifle with added components from the French future soldier program FÉLIN.