The action was of blowback as in the STEN and construction was primarily of steel with some plastic. The weapon fed from a 34-round magazine and fired 550 rounds-per-minute out to an effective range of 220 yards. The rear was capped by a folding skeletal metal butt which was hinged along its two connecting arms to fold under the receiver for a more compact travel form. There was an angled pistol grip with ringed trigger unit under the design, also close to center. A curved box magazine was inserted into a left-hand port along the middle of the receiver. The barrel was shrouded by a perforated sleeve to assist in heat dissipation while also serving as a heat shield for the forward hand. It utilized a tubular body containing the action and feed as well as iron sights (rear flip with front adjustable). ![]() ![]() It eventually came to be known under its more recognized generic name of "Sterling Submachine Gun" though, officially, it was listed in British nomenclature as the "Patchett Machine Carbine Mark 1".ĭespite a broad resemblance to the earlier STEN, the Sterling was its own design. A submission from the Sterling Armaments Company at Dagenham - attributed to George William Patchett, its chief designer, and recognized as the "Patchett Machine Carbine" - drew the attention of British authorities who ordered it for evaluation. The type would retain the STEN's 9mm chambering and be of similar compact form while providing enough weight to serve as an accurate platform between the required short and medium engagement ranges. With Allied forces firmly entrenched in the fighting of World War 2 by 1944, British authorities moved on a new submachine initiative. The type was clearly identified by its side-mounted 32-round straight magazine and crude metal stock. ![]() The weapon was chambered for the 9x19mm Parabellum German pistol round and fired through a blowback action using an open bolt. For the British, the cheap-yet-effective STEN proved a material hero, hurriedly pushed through development due to the desperate need of the period and pressed into service during 1941 - upwards of 4.6 million were produced according to sources and dozens of global users could attest to its simplicity and robustness. The submachine gun was developed as early as World War 1 but was not featured prominently in the battles of the industrial world until World War 2 when the British STEN, American M1 "Thompson, Italian Beretta M38, German MP38 and Soviet PPSh-41 all made their mark.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |