#Sten mk ii buttstock series#

The basic function remained the same, but the Sten MkII featured an easily detachable barrel and buttstock, making the weapon both compact and concealable-two features that would make the Sten suitable for paratroopers and for air-dropping to various resistance groups. The Design and Development Department RSAF Enfield was engaged to simplify the MkI* design to further to reduce the time required to produce them. British Small Arms School Weapons Collection, Warminster, England

Production MkI and MkI* Stens were manufactured by the Singer Manufacturing Company in Scotland.ДЇrom the top: T/40 number 1 prototype with folding pistol grip and flash hider made by the Philco Radio Works in England production MkI and the MkI* simplified the Sten design by elimination of the foregrip and flash hider. The Sten prototypes were made by the Philco Radio Works in England. However, even the MkI* still required too much time to make an even simpler weapon was needed. The MkI had a few features, like the handguard, folding foregrip and a flash eliminator that were considered unnecessary.

The first prototypes were designated as the T-40, quickly followed by the Carbine, Machine and Sten MkI. Enter Reginald Shepard and Harold Turpin, credited with designing the Sten gun. The country was quickly running out of cash and needed cheap indigenous submachine guns and lots of them. The Lanchester proved to be far too labor intensive to make a less complicated design was needed. The first British submachine gun was the Lanchester, which was copied from a captured German MP28 II. Unfortunately, many ships crossing the Atlantic Ocean, transporting the Thompsons and ammunition, became victims of German U-boat attacks. Desperate, England began purchasing expensive Thompson submachine guns from the U.S. England was next on HitlerвЂ™s agenda.Д®ngland, first shunning the concept of the submachine gun, but facing an imminent cross-channel invasion by the Germans, soon changed her mind. The well-prepared German army was rolling over countries in weeks. On, Germany launched an offensive against France and attacked the neutral nations of Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. Denmark capitulated after a few hours Norway was conquered within two months. In April 1940, Germany invaded Denmark and Norway. By 6 October the last pockets of Polish defenders were silenced. On 17 September Russia joined Germany and invaded Poland from the east. World War II started when Germany invaded Poland on 1 September 1939. The humble Sten gun was borne of desperation in a troubled time, as England was standing alone against the unrelenting German Army.

#Sten mk ii buttstock series#

Part 1 in a Series About the British Submachine Gun

The integral design proved inferior when tested against an MkII, and production was terminated after a brief production run. ABOVE: The MkIII Sten was designed to speed production and reduce cost.