I am looking for information on different variants of assault weapons built in WWII for the SAS only. I appreciate any help on the subject thank you.:)
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I am looking for information on different variants of assault weapons built in WWII for the SAS only. I appreciate any help on the subject thank you.:)
All right, I'll stick my neck out.... what special weapons for the SAS? Vietnam yes, but WW2 not so sure.
Assault weapons? SAS WWII?
Demolition packs, Bangalore torpedo, fuses, timers, etc. Bren, Vickers K, captured MG, etc.
Is this what you have in mind? Your request is a bit vague.
apart from the obvious lack of a true "assault rifle" on the Allied side;
I don't think anything was built "just" for the SAS.
My understanding of the WW2 "special forces" the SAS were really "just" another "commando" unit. They really didn't become "the" special forces "unit" until the 50's.
The Welgun was apparently a favorite of SBS and (other?) waterborne commandos.
There were no “assault rifles” then as stated and of course many firearms enthusiasts argue that there is still no such thing, it being an anti-firearm media invented term.
The SAS did not have unique “special to them” firearms. They did have a locally made type of bomb (Lewes Bomb?) designed by one of their members in North Africa for destroying German and Italian aircraft parked on airfields. They made them up locally. A mix of explosive and incendiary material as so recall.
The Welgun was an experimental British sub-machine gun and was not used operationally as far as I know. I have handled the one in the Canadian War Museum’s firearms vault.
The Welrod was a silenced handgun that was made available to SOE and other special units. CWM has one of those on its vault as well.
I guess i am referring more a SAS team using a No4 MK1 / SMLE bolt action rifles did they use them as issued or say have them modified to suite the conditions they had to operate in? for example would they have hauled a No4 T in the box with all the gear or they were allowed to modify them to keep things light? i know that on the jeeps in Africa they mounted machine guns differently to anyone else for more fire power for example but i am after information on the hand held rifles??
Did the SAS carry out any parachute raids and would they have used the standard issue small arms or modified?
Everyone thanks so far for your comments great information, is there somewhere we can look at photos
Those jeeps used by Stilings LRDP SAS chaps looked pretty purpose built see pic also note the Sykes Fairbairn knife much favoured by the SAS on the Rt hip of the Lieutenant closest to camera, another a pic of Stirling with the jeeps.
I would classify those jeeps as an assault weapon purpose built for the task.
Mudgee, To get a better idea You really need to read up on the History of the SAS, one of there first Jumps was a near disaster......... there is always a lot of confusion between them and LRDG too.
The idea of the vehicles were a smaller version of what the LRDG used obvious the jeep was ideal small and simple, strip off everything you don't need and replace it with things you do.
The story of how Stirling fist got the idea off the ground is quite a feat in the first place.
IIRC Commandos were the first to use the De Lisle and SOE, I doubt very much the SAS used the De Lisle or if they did it would of had little use, Cinders mentions the Fairbairn which would of been easier than lumping round a De Lisle.