Sten Gun in .455? (Q&A: British Small Arms of World War Two)

The Australian Owen SMG, despite its unconventional appearance, is highlighted as an exceptionally reliable submachine gun, particularly effective in harsh conditions. Its unique design features include a bottom ejection port, a top-mounted magazine with an integrated ejector, and a 'hygienic' internal mechanism protected by a firewall. The Owen SMG offers safe, semi-automatic, and full-automatic firing modes, making it a significant piece of World War II military history.

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 Schmeisser MP41 is a unique hybrid submachine gun, merging the MP40's upper receiver with the MP28's lower receiver and wooden stock. Unlike the full-auto-only MP40, the MP41 features a semi-automatic capability due to a specific disconnector track on its bolt. This design allows for more controlled fire, differentiating it from its predecessors.

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.

This comparison between the MP-40 and PPSh-41 highlights differing design philosophies. John Keene favors the MP-40 for its ergonomics and adaptations for higher magazine capacity, while Ian McCollum prefers the PPSh-41 for its high rate of fire and semi-auto selector. Both speakers acknowledge the controllability of their preferred weapon despite its characteristics.

The Hyde/Marlin M2 is a rare submachine gun positioned between the Thompson and Grease Gun. It's lighter and cheaper to produce than the Thompson, utilizing compatible magazines. Its design incorporates George Hyde's innovative use of metal sintering for complex internal parts, a process involving powdered metal molded under heat and pressure.

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.