Historical Enfield Question

[barbarossa]

Kev, borrowed the book from the local library and I do not recall if it was cited. However, Hastings has a track record for accurate nonfiction and accessed many of Churchill's personal papers from the era in the writing of the book.

I'm no professional and I'm certain Laidler might have a better handle on this but will say that there is a distinct difference between rifles being repaired and hence out of service and not on issue and those which can be counted as ready for issue or on issue. Whatever, the situation in June 1940 was pretty dire with lots of lost equipment that could not be quickly replaced and wartime production had not really started to gin up just yet. Think about whatcha got going on at that moment in time--RSAF is basically out of the rifle making business, the No.4 rifle is still a pipe dream not yet in production for another year and BSA is piddling along making a few thousand rifles a month. In June 1940, the BSA plant hadn't even been bombed yet and the beginning of the Blitz was two months away.

Yeah, there was a serious small arms shortfall in summer 1940 alright. Let's not lose sight of the fact that, as the above quoted table bear out, there was equipment for 27 divisions to defend the Home Island. Not a single rifle left in war reserve to arm anyone else. Where are the requisite reserve arms or new made equipment to arm the Commonwealth forces already being raised for wartime service?

Basically, it all boils down to one thing--in June 1940, there simply was no quick way to make up for the small arms lost in France. A most untenable situation!

Regards

Jerald Stamps