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This is a presentation delivered to a monthly meeting of the Historical Breechloading Smallarms Association (HBSA) of Great Britain in London, UK. Website: www.hbsa-uk.org by Richard Jones The Smith & Wesson 9 mm Model 1940 Light Rifle in British & Dominion Service, general arrangement, did we commission it?, S&W patent application, contracts, deliveries, Central Landing Establishment (CLE), Superintendent Experimental Estabblishment, Butt Mk II, Butt Mk III, Admiralty adoption, South African Defence Forces, by Richard Jones with Alan David and Ian Patrick
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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
