The Sten Gun

The British Army entered the Second World War without an adequate submachine gun of its own. During the battles on the
Continent in 1940, the need for one was made apparent. At the time, only US Thompsons were available. A British copy of the
German MP 28, called the Lanchester, was rushed into service, but it was complicated and not easily built in large numbers.
In early 1941, a prototype was put forth by the Royal Small Arms Factory in England, inspired by captured German MP40s. It
was named by using the initials of its its designers, Major RV Sheffield and Mister HJ Turpin, and adding them to the first two
letters of Enfield, the location of a small arms factory and arsenal. The Sten Gun was first used at Dieppe by Canadian troops.
It completely replaced the Thompson in Northwest Europe by the time of the Normandy landings in June 1944.
The Mark I Sten, which featured a flash hider, wooden furniture, and folding
hand grip, was quickly replaced by the Sten Mark II, which saw widespread
issue. Two million examples of this Mark were produced. The Sten was a
very simply built weapon, manufactured from just 47 parts, mainly stamped
from steel and welded, sweated, pressed or riveted together. The only
machined parts were the bolt and barrel. It's compact size, simplicity of
manufacture, and ease of dismantling (and hiding) made it a favourite among
Resistance groups on the Continent. As well, it could use captured German
9mm ammunition. In fact, the magazine was a very close copy of the
German MP40 magazine, which unfortunately meant that like the German
version, it was prone to jamming.
The Sten Mark II could be fitted with a silencer, becoming the very first
silenced SMG. Large numbers of the silenced version were made.
MkII Mk III Mk V
Calibre 9 mm Parabellum
Magazine 32 round detachable box
Length
762mm
30 inches
Unloaded Weight
2.95 kg
6 lb 8 oz
3.18 kg
7 lb
3.86 kg
8 lb 8 oz
Cyclic Rate of Fire 550 rpm 550 rpm 600 rpm
The Sten Mark III was an even simpler version introduced by Lines Brothers,
a firm of toy makers, and was issued out out by the time of the Normandy
landings. While possibly the best Sten version of the Sten, it was not
produced in large numbers. It's main feature was a fixed barrel and all-in-one
body and casing.
Muzzle Velocity
381 m/sec
1250 fps
The Sten Mark V was introduced for airborne troops, though no real improvements were made. Cosmetically, a wooden butt, a
pistol grip, and a fore grip were added, along with a bayonet lug (to accept the spike bayonet of the No. 4 rifle).
The Sten was issued to vehicle crews, despatch riders, and those who had no need for a long range weapon. In the main,
however, it was issued to infantry battalions, especially platoon commanders, platoon sergeants, and section leaders in infantry
platoons. Officers also carried them. On the night of 8-9 June 1944, during confused fighting in the town of Bretteville, a German
despatch rider, thinking the town had been secured by his unit, rode past the battalion headquarters of the Regina Rifles. No
less a person than the Commanding Officer personally brought the despatch rider down with his Sten gun. Another Canadian
battalion commander in Normandy is also noted to have personally hunted down a German sniper, tracked him to a barn, and
personally "gunned the bastard down" with his Sten.
Sten Gun Mark II
Sten Gun Mark II
Sten Gun Mark III
Sten Gun Mark V
Artifacts from the collection of Sergeant Dennis Russell.
Mark II Sten Guns, showing the attachment of the sling as well as alternate styles of butt stocks.
The Sten at top also shows how the magazine housing could be rotated.
The first combat use of the Sten occurred at Dieppe. In the weeks prior to the raid, Canadian soldiers found that many parts had to be filed, adjusted, and
tested in order for the Stens to work properly. A lot of time was spent getting their new weapons battle-worthy. When the raid was cancelled in July, the Sten
Guns were withdrawn. A day before the remounting of the raid, brand new Sten Guns, crated and packed in grease, were issued out to some very disgusted
soldiers.
The Sten Gun was not popular among troops, who called it the "Plumber's Nightmare" or "Plumber's Abortion" (in reference to its' ungainly appearance and
resembling to a piece of tubing). In addition to jamming, it was also very prone to accidentally discharging, especially if dropped. Many Canadians were
wounded or even killed by Sten Guns even before being committed to battle.
Sten Guns were not used by Canadians in Italy, as the British Eighth Army to which they were attached continued to use the .45 calibre Thompson SMG
instead.
Sten Gun Mark II.
Artifact courtesy C. Keith Inches, Curator, Saskatchewan Military Museum. Photo by Patrick Yeates.
Sten Gun Action
Diagram adopted from an image in Tools of War, Reader's Digest, 1969
A Trigger
B Sear
C Breach Block
D Return Spring
E Firing Pin
F Round
G Extractor
H Breach Block Bent
When the trigger is pulled, sear disengages from the breach block
and the return spring drives the firing pin against a round in the
chamber. Gas pressure from the firing of the round forces the
breach block to the rear, compressing the return spring. The
extractor, already engaged into the groove at the base of the
cartridge case, extracts the case as the breach block begins its
travel to the rear. The round is ejected out the right side of the
gun. (Later versions of the Sten had a case deflector mounted
behind the ejection port to deflect the expended brass away from
the firer). The breach block bent forces the sear down, holding
the breach block to the rear and readying the gun to fire again.
The Sten could fire automatic or single shots up to of 200 yards. The fixed aperture sight was set to 100 yards.
Thirty Rounds Later by Norm Carlson
Orignally appeared in the April 1994 issue of Legion Magazine
Our unit had moved back into the lines
Illustration by Barbara Spurll, originally appeared in Legion Magazine April 1994 issue
occupying yet another hilltop...in the area
known as the Jamestown Line...It was April
1953, early spring and the nights were still
long and black. The stress of occupying a
new position was upon the 3rd Battalion,
Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry.
We had moved in during the night, the relief
had gone off without too many hitches, and
the day had been spent...trying to figure out
where the heck we were.
Just prior to dark, the company commander called his first O - for orders - group. ...we were all briefed on each platoon's
position, special weapons, and other concerns - such as a big gap between our left flank and...our neighbouring company.
This unoccupied ground was part of a wide valley with a shallow creek running down the middle; anyone could use it for a
walkway. The remainder of the valley was covered with last year's tall rice grass, giving cover to a possible enemy approach.
I was to make a recce of the near end of the valley and establish a gun-pit that could be used as a listening post, as well as a
fire-pit should we intercept any enemy...Upon establishing the position, I was to report to the commanding officer...We met at
the cook's bunker at the rear of the hill...
We told the corporal of our intentions, then the four of us set out - hoping to find a spot of ground high enough to observe from,
yet low enough to keep out of sight. The night was black as pitch...With the help of some far-off flares we found a suitable
position and after a half-hour of digging had a hole to get down into - just in case. I left a phone at the position and, on my way
back to the company position, unwound a roll of phone wire.
I got back to (the) cook's bunker to be met by the corporal, who had...organized a relief party which he had standing by. We
were talking just outside a marquee tent being used as a kitchen...Suddenly we were interrupted by a short swishing sound,
followed by a sharp bang from the kitchen area. We hit the dirt, sure the enemy hordes had overrun our new position and
followed me in...
It had sounded like a rifle shot, the corporal and I agreed. Probably it was a lone sharpshooter firing out of the creek bed.
Anyway, he had to be stopped - and the sooner the better. I told the corporal to follow me and we headed out, I with my rifle
and he with his Sten gun. We moved to the creek bank and peered over the edge. Naturally we couldn't see a thing so we
moved off, following the top of the bank. About this time, some of my high-quality training started to kick in, reminding me not
to skyline myself. I stopped abruptly, intending to pass this tidbit on to the corporal and suggest we change our tactics. But, in
the darkness, he bumped into me and momentarily lost his footing. While jostling about, there was a heck of a bang as his
Sten gun fired...
The shock of having his weapon fire without warning probably caused my comrade's next problem. He dropped his gun. After
the initial shot the weapon must have re-cocked itself, because when it hit the ground it recommenced firing. We could see by
the muzzle flashes which way the weapon was pointing. Each time it fired, the recoil would spin the gun in a circle, faster and
faster. It seemed that each round was headed directly at my feet; no doubt my partner thought the same.
At first we did some shy polka steps to avoid getting hit, but as the rotation speed increased so did our dance. With about 10
rounds to go the muzzle of the weapon started flipping up, as if looking for a larger target. It was then that the first primitive
steps of what would later become known as break-dancing came into being...
The firing stopped as abruptly as it had started, leaving us both gasping for air. The corporal picked up his weapon and ripped
off the magazine, no doubt to ensure that it couldn't start firing again. We confirmed that the magazine was indeed empty; all
30 rounds had fired without a stoppage.
With great relief we found that neither of us had been
hit. Just at that moment, one of the other kitchen
helpers arrived to tell us the big bang we'd heard
earlier had been caused by an artillery round. A
fragment had fallen off in its way north and had torn
through the tent, slamming into the steel flour barrel....
We both must have felt like the prisoner who had just
been reprieved from the gallows...We started to
snicker and, before we knew it, were both rolling on
the ground and howling with laughter. I tried to stop;
this wasn't normal procedure. Nowhere in the book
does it say a patrol can take time out for hilarity, let
alone make unnecessary sounds in the night. But the
harder we tried to stop, the more we carried on -
much to the bewilderment of the others...
Our gaiety was brought to a halt when the company
runner appeared, stating: "The OC wants to know
what the hell is going on down there. Report to him at
once."
...Just as I was moving off, I heard my partner...
distinctly say "This stupid weapon is a hazard and I'll
never carry it again."
I've heard the same sentiments about the Sten gun
many times since - but usually in reference to its nasty
habit of jamming.
Illustration by Barbara Spurll, originally appeared in Legion Magazine April 1994
issue
Sten Gun magazines were originally carried in the basic infantryman's pouch on the 1937 Pattern webbing. The pouches could not be fastened, however, and
a longer pouch was eventually designed, though few seem to have been issued before the end of the Second World War. A special Sten Gun bandolier was
also issued to Airborne troops.
Sten gun sling. The curved hook at the leading end
passed through one of the cooling holes on the barrel
jacket.
And finally, courtesy Terry Hunter of PEI, a copy of a poem written during World War Two and published in "The Maple Leaf Scrapbook", a souvenir book
printed in Belgium at cost price to forces overseas by No. 3 Cdn. P.R. Group in 1945.
Ode to a Sten Gun
By Gunner. S.N. Teed
You wicked piece of vicious tin!
Call you a gun? Don't make me grin.
You're just a bloated piece of pipe.
You couldn't hit a hunk of tripe.
But when you're with me in the night,
I'll tell you pal, you're just alright!
Each day I wipe you free of dirt.
Your dratted corners tear my shirt.
many times since - but usually in reference to its nasty
habit of jamming.
Illustration by Barbara Spurll, originally appeared in Legion Magazine April 1994
issue
Sten Gun magazines were originally carried in the basic infantryman's pouch on the 1937 Pattern webbing. The pouches could not be fastened, however, and
a longer pouch was eventually designed, though few seem to have been issued before the end of the Second World War. A special Sten Gun bandolier was
also issued to Airborne troops.