Stens were widley issued in the Canadian Army. One vet told me the NCOs had Stens and the officers had Thompsons. I don't know if that's true or seemed to be a rule of thumb.
Your question got me intrigued so i went for a bit of a look about & saw this. You've probably seen it but others may find it interesting...i certainly did.
Last edited by Badger; 01-02-2011 at 12:04 PM.
Reason: Edited post to show YouTube Video in-line with thread ...
That white haired chap seems to know a bit about them !!!!!
(Bit of an odd-bod )
Mine are not the best, but they are not too bad. I can think of lots of Enfields I'd rather have but instead of constantly striving for more, sometimes it's good to be satisfied with what one has...
Thank you for the replies chaps. I do have one photograph to show that it was used I just have no idea as to what extent. Does anyone have access to scales of issue for a Brit division in Italy? Say 56th Div?
They were widely used in Italy and when I was researching the Sten book, a Wartime Armourer told me that because they were so readily available to all and sundry, they were a valuable form of 'currency' and every Armourer had a 'spare' in his tool box. In fact, his spare (a Mk3) was still in his tool box when he was demobbed in 1962)
I doubt whether Thompsons were issued to Officers and Stens issued to the OR's. Just imagine it, looking through your binos and the obvious target is the man carrying the Thompson - the Officer. No thanks, it's a death sentence. On ops, even today, most Infantry Officers didn't even wear rank slides
I know the bloke in the video. He's hoping to get into those video's for 'discerning gentlemen' soon!
Last edited by Peter Laidler; 01-02-2011 at 09:10 AM.
Reason: speeeling misteaks
We were using the .30 Browning MK1919's in the UK L3A4 format together with the tripods until the last Centurions and Ferret AFV's left service in the mid to late 90's. And after that, in order to use up the last .30" ammunition stockpiles, as overhead fire guns at Warminster in approx 2000. Magnificent beasts. Ask Doug to reprint the story/saga of us losing one once and the farce that followed......................
Just wondering where you chaps get your information about Stens being widely used, I've had a number of conflicting anedotes and would welcome some clarity.