Smith & Wesson 9 mm model 1940 light rifle in British & Dominion service
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Transcript of Smith & Wesson 9 mm model 1940 light rifle in British & Dominion service
The Smith & Wesson 9 mm Model 1940 Light Rifle
in British & Dominion Service
A work in progress narrative
General Arrangement
Did We Commission It?
S&W Patent Application
Filed: 28 Jun 39 – Patented: 24 Sep 40
Contracts LedgerGuns & Ammunition
Contract Details:
Initial Order for:• 20,000 ‘Machine Carbines’ and 100,000,000 • 9 mm rounds on 27 Jun 40
Supplementary Order (for Admiralty) 2,000 ‘Machine Carbines’ and 10,000,000 9 mm rounds on 27 Jul 40
Grand Total: 22,000 ‘Machine Carbines’ 110, 000, 000 ‘9 mm rounds’
Delivery Rates!
• Aug 31st 1940 - 2,000 guns• Sep 4,000 guns • Oct 4,000 guns• Nov 6,000 guns• Dec 4,000 guns
Total: 22,000 by Dec 31st?
Additional orders included:
210 sets Spare Parts Kits @ £137.15.0d/set
420, 000 magazines @ 10/- shillings each
Meeting Customer Needs
• Urgent Requirement to fill ‘capability gap’ in infantry small arms – self-inflicted!
• Thus far, no evidence that intended purchase was ‘stop-gap’ in the first instance pending introduction of Lanchester/STEN into tri-service use.
• Initial (enthusiastic) customer was:-
Central Landing Establishment (CLE)
OB Proc – 9,634 of 27.11.40
Superintendent Experimental Establishment (Pendine)
Cases Wood Packing (CWP)
Making a Point!
Butt -MK IICarbine, Smith & Wesson 9m/m
DD(E) 2594/2
Fabrication of MK II Butt
Butt MK II Components
Ali???
Breakages of S&W Butt Stocks
Butt – MK IIICarbine, Smith & Wesson
DD(E) 3323
Rod, Cleaning CarbineDD(E) 2621
Wasteful Extravagance!
Rod, Cleaning, Machine Carbine, 9m/m MK IDD(E) 2621
British Safety Concerns
Retro’ safety device?
Enter the Senior Service
Admiralty Handbook
Issue - 1942
Handbook Issue - Detail
Scale of Issue
Admiralty - Advisory
Service Use
Carrier Magazine – airborne forces for the use of
End of the Road
South African Defence Forces• Circa 6 Sep 40 - Ordered 2,200 S&W Model 1940 MKI
Light Rifles and 50, 000 magazines (on back of British order for 20,000).
• First 100/200 guns to be delivered by 15 Oct 40, balance by 15 Jan 41!
• Circa 2 Oct 40 Two examples ordered direct (S/No’s 16 & 17) and delivered.. Unit cost US$80.00
• Circa 29 Jan 41 - Negotiations under way with BPC to cancel all orders – ‘No Probs’ - British will take all they can get!!
In Passing… the MK II
‘On'
‘Off’
s/n 2127
Markings
Summary
• 1. Unknown number of carbines actually arrived in the UK. Serial numbers known all below ‘950’ (Range 110 – 950)
• 2. Possibly +/- 1,000 entered service with the Royal Navy as secondary arms from an initial requirement of 2,000?
• 3. Post War disposal remains unknown, deep sea dumping is unlikely!
• 4. Last identified disposal – RNAD Upnor in 1958.
• 5. South African order cancelled.
• 6. Canadian involvement TBC.
Questions
Points of Contact
Alan David [email protected] Richard Jones
[email protected] Patrick
Tel: 001 44 (0)1420 543 871