Operation CARPETBAGGER: French Resistance No4 Enfield

This "I Have This Old Gun" segment from American Rifleman Television focuses on the No. 4 Lee-Enfield rifle, the standard British service rifle of World War II. The video highlights its significant production numbers and its role in arming French Resistance groups by 1944. It also mentions overseas production in Canada and the United States. The segment provides details of these unique rifles, with Executive Editor Evan Brune discussing their history and distribution.

The L8(T) Enfield was a British attempt to convert existing No. 4 Lee Enfields to 7.62 NATO for sniper roles, primarily for territorial troops. Despite modifications like a new barrel and magazine, the rifle suffered from significant accuracy issues, achieving only around 2.5 MOA due to harmonics problems with the full-length stock and barrel bands interacting with the 7.62 NATO round. This led to its failure, with the British Army eventually adopting the L42A1, which featured a shortened forend based on civilian modifications.

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 Swift Training Rifle, Series B, developed in the UK around 1940-1941, served as a non-firing marksmanship training device. It mimicked the weight and function of Enfield rifles like the P14 and No. 4 Mk I, featuring a unique needle mechanism to poke targets. Despite its serious training intent, it was often used for pranks due to its non-firing nature and a safety feature requiring firm shoulder contact.

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.