Top 10 Things You Didn't Know About The STEN Gun

Published on March 23, 2018
Duration: 4:57

This video explores the Sten gun, a World War II-era submachine gun known for its simplicity and low cost. It details the gun's origins, design evolution, and notable historical uses, including its role in resistance movements and even assassinations. The video also touches upon later variants and attempts to circumvent firearm regulations.

Quick Summary

The Sten gun, a World War II submachine gun, was named after its designers Shepard and Turpin and the Enfield company. Developed for simplicity and low cost, it fired 9mm rounds and was crucial for British forces and resistance fighters. Despite its effectiveness, early models had reliability issues, earning it nicknames like 'The Plumber's Nightmare'.

Chapters

  1. 00:15Introduction to the Sten Gun
  2. 00:35Fact 1: Post-Dunkirk Necessity
  3. 01:11Fact 2: The Name's Origin
  4. 01:32Fact 3: Simplicity and Nicknames
  5. 01:51Fact 4: Assassination Attempt Failure
  6. 02:25Fact 5: Air Drops and Field Production
  7. 02:53Fact 6: Numerous Variants
  8. 03:03Fact 7: Global Usage
  9. 03:19Fact 8: Indira Gandhi Assassination
  10. 03:30Fact 9: IRA Campaign Use
  11. 03:40Fact 10: The Spider Gun

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the origin of the Sten gun's name?

The Sten gun's name is derived from its designers, Major Reginald Shepard and Harold Turpin, and the Enfield company. The 'St' comes from Shepard and Turpin, while 'En' represents Enfield, creating the name 'Sten'.

Why was the Sten gun developed?

The Sten gun was developed in response to significant British weapons losses after the Battle of Dunkirk and to meet the high demand for submachine guns during World War II, a demand that even the US Thompson couldn't fully satisfy.

What made the Sten gun design unique?

The Sten gun was renowned for its extreme simplicity, utilizing stamped metal, minimal welding, and very few parts. The Mark 3 variant, for example, could be assembled in just five hours with only 47 components.

How did the Sten gun's design lead to nicknames?

Its crude construction and simple assembly, while effective for mass production, led to nicknames like 'The Plumber's Nightmare' or 'The Stench Gun' among users and observers.

What was the 'Spider Gun' and why was it created?

The 'Spider Gun' was a 1980 US invention designed to circumvent ATF machine gun laws by lacking a traditional trigger. It fired automatically upon bolt release, but the ATF quickly redefined regulations to ban it.

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