Sterling submachine gun
Sterling submachine gun | |
---|---|
Type | Submachine gun |
Place of origin | United Kingdom |
Service history | |
In service | 1944–present |
Used by | See Users |
Wars |
|
Production history | |
Designer | George William Patchett |
Designed | 1944 |
Manufacturer | Iron sights |
The Sterling submachine gun is a British submachine gun (SMG). It was tested by the British Army in 1944–1945, but did not start to replace the Sten until 1953. A successful and reliable design, it remained standard issue in the British Army until 1994,[18] when it began to be replaced by the L85A1, a bullpup assault rifle.
History
In 1944, the British General Staff issued a specification for a new submachine gun to replace the Sten. It stated that the new weapon should weigh no more than six pounds (2.7 kg), should fire 9×19mm Parabellum ammunition, have a rate of fire of no more than 500 rounds per minute, and be sufficiently accurate to allow five consecutive shots (fired in semi-automatic mode) to be placed inside a one-foot-square (30 cm × 30 cm) target at a distance of 100 yd (91 m).
To meet the new requirement, George William Patchett, the chief designer at the Sterling Armaments Company of Dagenham, submitted a sample weapon of new design in early 1944.[19] The first Patchett prototype gun was similar to the Sten insofar as its cocking handle (and the slot it moved back and forth in) was placed in line with the ejection port[20] though it was redesigned soon afterwards and moved up to a slightly offset position.[21] The army quickly recognised the Patchett's significantly increased accuracy and reliability compared to the Sten and ordered 120 examples for trials. Towards the end of the Second World War, some of these trial samples were used in combat by airborne troops during the battle of Arnhem[22] and by special forces at other locations in Northern Europe[23] where it was officially known as the Patchett Machine Carbine Mk 1.[24] For example, a Patchett submachine gun (serial numbered 078 and now held by the Imperial War Museum), was carried in action by Colonel Robert W.P. Dawson while he was Commanding Officer of No. 4 Commando, during the attack on Walcheren as part of Operation Infatuate in November 1944.[25] Because the Patchett/Sterling can use straight Sten magazines as well as the curved Sterling design, there were no interoperability problems.
After the war, with large numbers of Sten guns in the inventory, there was little interest in replacing them with a superior design. However, in 1947, a competitive trial between the Patchett, an Enfield design, a new
Sterling submachine guns with minor cosmetic alterations were used in the production of the
Design details
The Sterling submachine gun is constructed entirely of steel and plastic and has a
The Sterling's double-stack, double-feed box
The Sterling employs a degree of what is known as
The
The Sterling has a reputation for excellent reliability under adverse conditions and, even though it fires from an open bolt, good accuracy. With some practice, it is very accurate when fired in short bursts. While it has been reported that the weapon poses no problems for left-handed users to operate,[42] it is not recommended without the wearing of ballistic eye protection. The path of the ejected cartridge cases is slightly down and backward, so mild burns can occasionally be incurred by left-handed shooters.
A bayonet of a similar design as that for the L1A1 Self-Loading Rifle was produced and issued in British Army service, but was rarely employed except for ceremonial duties. Both bayonets were derived from the version issued with the Rifle No. 5 Mk I "Jungle Carbine", the main difference being a smaller ring on the SLR bayonet to fit the rifle's muzzle. When mounted, the Sterling bayonet was offset to the left of the weapon's vertical line, which gave a more natural balance when used for bayonet-fighting.
For a right-handed shooter, the correct position for the left hand while firing is on the ventilated barrel-casing, but not on the magazine, as the pressure from holding the magazine can increase the risk of stoppages, and a loose magazine can lead to dropping the weapon. The barrel-casing hold provides greater control of the weapon, so the right hand can intermittently be used for other tasks. A semi-circular protrusion on the right-hand side of the weapon, approximately two inches from the muzzle, serves to prevent the supporting hand from moving too far forward and over the muzzle.
Manufacture
A total of over 400,000 Sterlings was manufactured between 1953 and 1988. Sterling built them at their factory in Dagenham for the British armed forces and for overseas sales, while Liverpool's Royal Ordnance Factory Fazakerley constructed them exclusively for the British military. Production ceased in 1988 with the closing of Sterling Armaments[43] by British Aerospace/Royal Ordnance. Fazakerley no longer makes full weapons, but still manufactures spare parts for certified end users.[citation needed]
Sterling produced its own magazines, with those intended for British military use being marked "L1A1". L1A2 magazines were variously manufactured by Fazakerley, Royal Laboratories Woolwich, Rolls Razor, and Mettoy; out of the 1,723,623 magazines contracted for, Mettoy was to produce 227,262, Rolls Razor was to produce 309,800, and the remaining 1.2 million were produced by Fazakerley and Woolwich.[37]
A Chilean variant was made by FAMAE as the PAF submachine gun but was different externally as it had a shorter receiver lacking the barrel shroud.[44]
Canada also manufactured a variant under licence, called the Submachine Gun 9 mm C1 made by Canadian Arsenals Limited.[45] It is made from stamped metal instead of cast metal and is capable of handling a C1 bayonet, which is only used during public exhibition events and not for combat operations.[46]
A similar weapon, the Sub-Machine Gun Carbine 9 mm 1A1, was manufactured under licence by the
Variants
- British Armed Forces
- Unassigned: Patchett Machine Carbine Mark 1 (trials commenced in 1944)
- Unassigned: Patchett Machine Carbine Mark 1 & Folding Bayonet (same as above but with folding bayonet, never accepted)
- L2A1: (Patchett Machine Carbine Mark 2) Adopted in 1953.
- L2A2: (Sterling Mark 3) Adopted in 1955.
- L2A3: (Sterling Mark 4) Adopted in 1956. Last regular version in service with the British Army, Royal Marines and RAF Regiment.
- L34A1: Suppressedversion (Sterling-Patchett Mark 5).
- Unassigned: Various unofficial drill purpose conversions of unserviceable weapons prior to 1973.[49]
- L49A1: Official drill purpose version introduced in 1973 and converted from unserviceable L2A3s.[50][51]
- Sterling Mark 6 "Police": a semi-automatic-only closed-bolt version for
- Sterling Mark 7 "Para-pistol": Special machine pistol variant issued to commando and plainclothes intelligence units. It had a barrel shortened to 4 in (100 mm), fixed vertical foregrip, and weighed 4.84 lb (2.20 kg). If used with a short 10- or 15-round magazine, it could be stowed in a special holster. It also could be used as a Close Quarters Battleweapon with the addition of an optional solid stock.
- Canadian Army
- C1 Submachine Gun: Adopted in 1958, replacing the STEN gun in general service.[46] It was different from the British L2 in that it made extensive use of stamped metal parts rather the more expensive castings used by British production SMGs.[46] It also had a removable trigger guard for use with gloves in arctic operations as a standard option, and used a different 30-round magazine with a stamped metal follower. A 10-round magazine was also available for crews of armoured vehicles.
- Indian Army
- SAF Carbine 1A: Indian made Sterling L2A1.
- SAF Carbine 2A1: Sterling Mark V silenced carbine.
7.62 NATO variant
A prototype rifle in the
Users
- Argentina: Mk 4 variant and L34A1 suppressed variant.[54][55]
- Australia: Mk 4 (trials) and L34A1 suppressed variant.[56]
- Austria: L34A1 suppressed variant, used by Jagdkommando special forces only.[57]
- Bahrain: Mk 3 (trials)[58] and Mk 4 variants.[54]
- Bangladesh: Mk 4 variant.[54]
- Barbados[54]
- Belize: Mk 4 variant.[54]
- Botswana[54]
- Brazil: Mk 3 variant, trials only[58]
- Brunei: Mk 4 variant.[54]
- Canada: Produced as the C1.[59]
- Cuba: Mk 3 variant, trials only[58]
- Cyprus[54]
- Egypt: Mk 3 variant[4]
- Eswatini[54]
- France: Mk 3 variant, trials only[58]
- Gabon[54]
- Gambia[54]
- Ghana[54]
- Guyana[54]
- Hong Kong: L2A variant. Used by the Royal Hong Kong Regiment.[60]
- Joint Venture Protective Carbine.[63]
- MP5 Submachine Gun
- Iraq: Mk 4 variant.[54] Around 13,241 Mk 4s made and sold to Iraq.[64]
- Jamaica: Used by the Jamaica Defence Force as a personal defence weapon for auxiliary units.[65]
- Kenya[54]
- Kuwait: L2A3 variant[14][66]
- Lebanon[54]
- Lesotho[54]
- Libya: Mk 2[67] and L34 variants[54] and Indian-made 1A1[17]
- Malawi[54]
- Malaysia:[54] at least 18,500 Mk 4 bought[12]
- Malta[54]
- Morocco[68]
- Myanmar[54]
- Nepal[54]
- New Zealand[66]
- Nigeria[54]
- North Korea[69]
- Oman[54]
- Papua New Guinea[54]
- Philippines: L34A1s used by Naval Special Warfare Group.[70]
- Portugal[54]
- Qatar[54]
- Rhodesia[71][72]
- Sierra Leone[54]
- Singapore: Mk 3 variant ordered for trials.[58] Mk 4 variant used by Singapore Police Force's paramilitary units—Gurkha Contingent, Police Coast Guard and Police Special Operations Command; replaced by the Heckler & Koch MP5 since 1999.
- Solomon Islands[73]
- Somalia[54]
- South Africa: Mk 3 variant, trials only[58]
- Spain: UOE special group of the Spanish Navy.[74]
- Sri Lanka[54]
- Sudan[54]
- Sweden: Mk 3 variant, trials only[58]
- Tanzania[54]
- Tunisia[66]
- Trinidad and Tobago[54]
- Uganda[54]
- United Kingdom: L2A1 variant was accepted by the British Army in 1953.[59] L34A1 variant entered service in 1966.[59] Mk 3 variant used by the Royal Ulster Constabulary from 1971 to 1992 when replaced by the Heckler & Koch MP5.[75]
- West Germany: Mk 3 and Mk 4 variants, trials only[58]
- Vanuatu[73]
- Zambia[54]
- Zimbabwe[54]
Non-state users
- FNLA[76]
- Various Loyalist groups (Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), the Ulster Protestant Volunteers (UPV) and the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) using Sterlings made from captured submachine guns and spare parts.[77]
See also
- CETME C2 submachine gun
- F1 submachine gun
- Lanchester submachine gun
- E-11 blaster rifle, a prop from the Star Warsfilm universe based on the Sterling frame.
References
Citations
- ^ Moss 2018, pp. 41–44.
- ^ Moss 2018, pp. 38–41.
- ^ "Contre les Mau Mau". Encyclopédie des armes: Les forces armées du monde (in French). Vol. XII. Atlas. 1986. pp. 2764–2766.
- ^ a b Moss 2018, p. 46.
- ^ Perez, Jean-Claude (March 1992). "Les armes de l'O.A.S." Gazette des Armes (in French). No. 220. pp. 28–30. Archived from the original on 8 October 2018. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
- ^ Moss 2018, pp. 49–51.
- ^ Moss 2018, p. 47.
- ^ a b Suciu, Peter. "Best Guns of the Vietnam War—Beyond the AK-47 and M16". National Interest. Archived from the original on 31 January 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
- ^ "Arms for freedom". The Daily Star. 29 December 2017. Archived from the original on 3 January 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
- ^ a b c Moss 2018, p. 73.
- ISBN 978-1-47281-609-2.
- ^ a b c Moss 2018, p. 65.
- ^ Moss 2018, pp. 51–52.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-85532-277-6.
- ^ Alpeyrie, Jonathan. "English: Three Maoist rebels are waiting on top of a hill in the Rolpa district to get orders to relocate to another location".
- ISBN 978-0-521-19714-4. Archived from the original(PDF) on 31 August 2018. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
- ^ ISBN 978-2-940548-35-4. Archived from the original(PDF) on 9 October 2018. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
- ^ Moss 2018, p. 77.
- ^ "Patchett 9 mm Mk I experimental sub machine gun, 1944". National Army Museum, London. Archived from the original on 28 January 2017. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
- ^ "Patchett". firearms.96.lt. Archived from the original on 17 July 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
- ^ "Patchett machine-carbine". Firearms Curiosa. Archived from the original on 13 July 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
- ^ According to Matthew Moss (Moss 2018, p. 38), "Despite much research, however, there is currently no documentary evidence to suggest that trials Patchetts found their way to the legendary battle that consumed Arnhem."
- ^ "Patchett guns". Haulerwijk.com. 19 April 2015. Archived from the original on 15 February 2017. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
- ^ "Patchett Machine Carbine Mk1 (FIR 6232)". Imperial War Museum. 22 February 1999. Archived from the original on 29 July 2017. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
- ^ "Patchett Machine Carbine Mk1 (FIR 6365)". Imperial War Museum. 22 February 1999. Archived from the original on 3 April 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
- ^ "Patchett 9mm Machine Carbine, Experimental (FIR 6160)". Imperial War Museum. 1 June 2005. Archived from the original on 29 July 2017. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
- ISBN 978-0-345-54286-1.
- ^ "Submachine gun - Star Wars Imperial Stormtrooper E-11 blaster (1976)". Royal Armouries. Archived from the original on 24 May 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
- ^ "Submachine gun - Star Wars DH-17 rebel trooper blaster (1976)". Royal Armouries. Archived from the original on 24 May 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
- ^ "Lot #754 - STAR WARS: RETURN OF THE JEDI (1983) - Stormtrooper Blaster". Propstore Auction. Archived from the original on 1 April 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
- ^ "ROGUE ONE E-11 BLASTER REFERENCE". 1st Imperial Stormtrooper Detachment. 7 April 2017. Archived from the original on 20 April 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
- ISBN 978-1-84603-372-8.
- ^ Laidler, Edmiston & Howroyd 2020, pp. 290–297.
- ^ Laidler, Edmiston & Howroyd 2020, p. 293.
- ^ Laidler, Edmiston & Howroyd 2020, pp. 299–300.
- ^ Moss, Matthew (9 November 2020). "The Sterling Submachine Gun Magazine: The Best Magazine Ever Designed?". The Firearm Blog. Archived from the original on 9 March 2023.
- ^ a b Laidler, Edmiston & Howroyd 2020, pp. 297–299.
- ^ Laidler, Edmiston & Howroyd 2020, pp. 294–295.
- ]
- ISBN 978-1-84176-702-4.
- ^ Moss 2018, p. 57.
- ^ L2A3 SMG / Sterling Mk.4: mechanics and basic potted history, Bloke on the Range – via YouTube
- ^ Moss 2018, p. 5.
- ^ "FAMAE PAF". Modern Firearms. 17 November 2018.
- ^ "Canadian Military Police Weapons/Submachineguns". Canadian Military Police Museum. Archived from the original on 21 April 2023.
- ^ a b c "C1 Submachine Gun". Canadiansoldiers.com. Archived from the original on 25 May 2009. Retrieved 23 May 2009.
- ^ a b "Product Development History". Small Arms Factory, Kanpur. Archived from the original on 1 August 2019.
- ^ "Manufacturing of Small Weapons". Press Information Bureau. 21 May 2012. Archived from the original on 16 March 2023.
- ^ Laidler, Edmiston & Howroyd 2020, p. 282.
- ^ Moss 2018, p. 40.
- ^ Laidler, Edmiston & Howroyd 2020, pp. 282–284.
- ^ "Sterling Patchett". WLA Warehouse.com. Archived from the original on 15 October 2014. Retrieved 3 April 2018.[dead link]
- ^ "British .308 Sterling prototype". Forgotten Weapons. 24 October 2013. Archived from the original on 31 January 2017. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5.
- ISBN 978-1-85532-227-1.
- ISBN 1-86508647-9.
- ^ "Bundesheer on the road". Bundesheer Fotoarchiv. 11 September 2006. Archived from the original on 24 May 2023. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Moss 2018, p. 64.
- ^ ISBN 1-84065-245-4.
- ^ "RHKR Equipment - Weapons". The Royal Hong Kong Regiment (The Volunteers) Association. Archived from the original on 16 June 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
- ^ "Sub Machine Gun Carbine 9 mm 1A1". Ordnance Factory Board. Archived from the original on 3 June 2013. Retrieved 23 May 2009.
- ^ "Ordnance Factory Board". Archived from the original on 28 September 2010.
- ^ "Successful trials of JVPC". Press Information Bureau. 12 February 2019. Archived from the original on 21 May 2022. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
- ^ "Guest Post: Iraqi Contract Sterling MK 4 in Syria". Silah Report. 12 March 2018. Archived from the original on 31 March 2022.
- ^ "Equipment: Weapons". Jamaica Defence Force. 2009. Archived from the original on 19 April 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-78096-125-5. Archivedfrom the original on 6 September 2018. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
- ^ "World Infantry Weapons: Libya". World Inventory. Archived from the original on 5 October 2016.
- ISBN 978-0-85368-977-5.
- ^ "SALW Guide Global Distribution and Visual Identification North Korea Country Report" (PDF). SALW Guide. Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies (BICC). Retrieved 27 May 2023.
- ^ "M3 Grease Guns Re-issued". Timawa.net. 22 February 2005. Archived from the original on 26 September 2008. Retrieved 24 February 2009.
- ISBN 978-0-47302-413-0.
- ISBN 978-1-91029-405-5.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-86473-453-2.
- ISBN 84-8463-013-7.
- PSNI. Archived(PDF) from the original on 3 August 2019. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
- ISBN 978-1-10702-691-9.
The Cuban-MPLA force possessed far greater quantities and a somewhat better quality of anti-infantry weapons than the mercenaries. The mercenaries were, however, not devoid of adequate weapons to equip their tiny force. For instance, they possessed enough rifles for each soldier. Most were American-made M1 and M2 carbines, though some mercenaries were issued Belgian FN riles, AK-47s, Uzi sub-machine guns, Sten guns, or Sterling [submachine guns]. In addition, Charlie Christodoulou fought with a sawed-off Spanish-made double-barrelled shotgun. Moreover, the force fielded at least four M76 grenade launchers and a handful of general-purpose machine guns
- ^ "Northern Ireland Sterling Clone". The Armourer's Bench. 18 July 2021. Archived from the original on 9 June 2023.
Bibliography
- Hogg, Ian V.; Batchelor, John H. (1979). The Complete Machine-Gun, 1885 to the Present. London, UK: Phoebus. ISBN 0-7026-0052-0.
- Paulson, A.C. (1990). "The Sterling Mk4 submachine gun". Machine Gun News. 4 (3): 14–17.
- Edmiston, James (1992). The Sterling Years. London, UK: Leo Cooper Books. ISBN 085052-343-5.
- Rottman, Gordon (1993). Armies of the Gulf War. London UK: Osprey Military. p. 31. ISBN 1-85532-277-3.
- Laidler, P.; Howroyd, D. (1995). The Guns of Dagenham. Cobourg, Ontario: Collector Grade Publications. ISBN 0-88935-204-6.
- Laidler, Peter; Edmiston, James; Howroyd, David (7 August 2020). A History of the Small Arms made by the Sterling Armament Company. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Military. ISBN 9781526773302.
- Paulson, A.C. (1996). "Required reading: The Sterling Years". Fighting Firearms. 4 (1): 24, 72–75.
- Paulson, A.C. (1996). "Mystique, mystery and misinformation: suppressed Sterling Patchett Mark 5". Fighting Firearms. 4 (1): 50–56, 75–76.
- Paulson, A.C. (1996). "Best of the Breed; Evolution of the Mark 4 SMG". Fighting Firearms. 4 (3): 22–27, 77–78.
- Paulson, A.C. (1997). "Required reading: The Guns of Dagenham: Lanchester, Patchett, Sterling". Fighting Firearms. 5 (1): 47, 81–82.
- Paulson, A.C.; Parker, N.R. & Kokalis, P.G. (2002). Silencer History and Performance, Volume 2: CQB, Assault Rifle, and Sniper Technology. Boulder, Colorado: Paladin Press. ISBN 1-58160-323-1.
- Paulson, A.C. (2005). "Saddam's SMG: Up close and personal with the 9mm Sterling Mark 4!". Special Weapons for Military and Police (33): 76–81.
- Moss, Matthew (29 November 2018). The Sterling Submachine Gun. Weapon 65. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-47282-808-8.
Further reading
- "User Handbook - Sterling Sub-machine Gun 9-mm. MK4 (SMG 9mm L2 A3)" (PDF). Sterling Armaments Company. 1973. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 April 2023 – via Nazarian.no.
- "Army Code No. 12042, User Handbook for the Gun, Sub.Machine, 9mm L2A3 and Gun, Sub.Machine, 9mm L34A1". Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom). 1977. Retrieved 27 July 2023 – via The Historical Breechloading Smallarms Association (Flickr).
- "Army Code No. 71028, Infantry Training Volume II, Pamphlet No. 9 Sub Machine Gun (All Arms)". Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom). July 1975. Retrieved 27 July 2023 – via The Historical Breechloading Smallarms Association (Flickr).
External links
- "Sterling L2". Security Arms. Archived from the original on 2 May 2023.
- "MK7 (Para Pistol)". Archived from the original on 27 October 2009.
- "Sterling 9mm". Chaostheoryfilm. Archived from the original on 16 April 2016. Retrieved 28 November 2016 – via Youtube.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - "Sterling Mk5 Suppressor (L34A1)" (in Japanese). Kafkanishian. Archived from the original on 18 April 2016. Retrieved 28 November 2016 – via YouTube.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - "Markings and Spares". Sterlingl2a3.com.