Sterling Meets Owen: The Australian F1 Submachine Gun

This review of the Sterling SMG highlights its compact and portable design, featuring a reliable 34-round magazine designed by George Patchett. While the light weight can cause muzzle climb, the aperture sights and semi-automatic mode aid accuracy. The video demonstrates traditional hip-shooting techniques and praises the gun's overall handling and historical significance.

The CETME C2 (CB-64) is a Spanish submachine gun inspired by the Sterling SMG but with significant internal improvements. It features a unique bolt-lock charging handle and an internal safety wedge to prevent slam fires. While visually similar to the Sterling, parts are not interchangeable, and it uses a straight 30-round magazine. The C2 was chambered in 9mm Parabellum and 9mm Largo, replacing older Star submachine guns.

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.

This review details the evolution of British submachine guns, starting with the Lanchester as a MP28 copy and progressing to the mass-producible Sten series. It highlights the Sten's cost-effectiveness and reliability issues, contrasting it with the more refined Mark V. The video also covers experimental designs and concludes with the Sterling L2A3, praised for its innovative magazine design and long service life.

The ZX-7 is a rare .45 ACP adaptation of the Sterling submachine gun by PAWS, utilizing modified M3 Grease Gun magazines. It exhibits a faster rate of fire than standard 9mm Sterlings due to its caliber and bolt design. The firearm's ergonomics are affected by the weight of a fully loaded .45 ACP magazine, and shooting requires active recoil control to manage the forward pressure.

The PAWS ZX-7 is an American-made .45 ACP clone of the British Sterling SMG, designed by Bob Imel after foreign machine gun import bans. Imel modified the Sterling design for easier domestic production, including a simplified stock and grip assembly, and used modified M3 Grease Gun magazines. Production shifted to semi-automatic variants after 1986, with around 400 transferable machine guns made.

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.