British Submachine Gun Overview: Lanchester, Sten, Sterling, and More!

The Gerät Potsdam was a German copy of the British Sten Mark II submachine gun, produced by Mauser to meet the demand for a cheap, fast-to-manufacture firearm. Exactly 9,972 units were accepted by the Wehrmacht. Key visual differences include spot-welded barrel shrouds and magazine wells, and a lack of typical manufacturer markings.

The Lanchester MkI was Britain's first emergency submachine gun, developed by reverse-engineering the German MP28. Initially adopted by the Royal Navy and RAF, it featured a distinctive brass magazine well and utilized SMLE rifle stocks. The MkI* variant simplified production by removing the semi-auto selector. Despite its weight and parts non-interchangeability, it served until the 1970s.

The Sten Mk5, dubbed the 'Cadillac' of the Sten family, was a significant upgrade featuring wood furniture and adopting components from the No. 4 Mk1 Enfield rifle. Despite early issues with a vertical front grip, it offered improved ergonomics and a push-through bolt safety. Produced in over 500,000 units, it served as the standard British SMG until the Sterling's adoption.

The Patchett Machine Carbine Mk I, predecessor to the Sterling SMG, was designed by George William Patchett to improve upon existing models like the Sten and Lanchester. It met most 1944 British War Office requirements for a 9mm machine carbine, though its rate of fire was around 600 rpm. Key differences from the later Sterling include a 90-degree magazine well for Sten/Lanchester magazines, aluminum grips, and a distinct folding stock mechanism. Despite successful trials, it wasn't adopted until refined into the Sterling SMG.

The Gerat Potsdam, a Mauser-produced German copy of the British Sten Mark II, was developed in late 1944. It featured a folded metal construction for its magazine well and barrel shroud, differing from the seamless British design. While functionally identical, these manufacturing differences were intended to speed up production for units like Skorzeny's commandos and the Volkssturm.

This video showcases a rare, fully functional miniature Sten gun produced in Taiwan in 1954 by the 44th Arsenal. It highlights unique design differences from standard Stens, such as a flat fire control housing and full-auto-only operation. The historical context of the 44th Arsenal's relocation to Taiwan and the gun's provenance through a US Army officer are detailed. Technical specifications and a full field strip demonstrate its functionality and rarity as a transferable miniature machine gun.

This video details the unique 'French Finger Trap' issue with the MAS-36 rifle's bayonet, where two rifles can become unintentionally locked together. A 1951 French arsenal memorandum identified this problem, proposing a simple modification to the bayonet handle. Drilling a small hole allows a tool, like a firing pin, to depress the internal spring, enabling the separation of locked rifles.

The M134 Minigun is a scaled-down 7.62 NATO rotary cannon, requiring 24V DC power and consuming 1.5 kW. Its high rate of fire (3,000+ RPM) is essential for aircraft engagement windows. The complex delinker mechanism is critical for feeding ammunition, and practical hand-held use is impossible due to weight and recoil. Live fire demonstrates rapid ammunition consumption and the need for indirect aiming.

The H&K G11 is a revolutionary prototype assault rifle designed in the late 20th century, notable for its caseless ammunition and unique rotating drum bolt mechanism. Despite advanced features like a 2000 RPM burst fire rate and integrated optics, its development was ultimately halted by geopolitical shifts and cost concerns.

This video demonstrates the assembly and live-fire of the German 1936 pattern light mortar (L.Gr.W.36). It highlights the mortar's leveling mechanism for accuracy and the difficulty in visually tracking its 50mm projectiles after firing. The content showcases historical military hardware and its operational use.