72-CW-2510 INFANTRY WEAPONS GREAT BRITAIN COLD WAR

The STEN or Sten is a British 9mm submachine gun from the Second World War and the Cold War. The first prototypes of this weapon were created in 1941, and serial production began in the same year and continued until 1946. In its course, more than 4 million pieces of this weapon were created. The weight of the weapon with a full magazine is about 4.3 kg, and the total length with the stock is about 86 centimeters. The initial velocity of the bullet fired from this submachine gun is up to 365 m / s, and the theoretical rate of fire - up to 575 rounds per minute. The range of the so-called effective shot did not exceed 180-200 meters. The Sten submachine gun was developed for the needs of the British Army in connection with the experience of the French campaign of 1940, and especially under the influence of the successful use of the MP40 submachine guns on the battlefield by the German army. Sten was developed by Reginald Sheperd and Harold Turpin, and its production was primarily the responsibility of the Royal Small Arms Factory. The first mass-produced model of the Sten was the Mark I, but already in 1942 the Mark II model was introduced with a decidedly simplified structure and a new barrel cover. A T-shaped tubular stock was also used. It is worth adding that there were also Mark III and Mark V variants. The latter was dedicated to airborne troops. It is worth adding that this simple and relatively effective weapon was used by the British Army during the Suez Crisis in 1956!