This Old Gun: L2A3 Sterling SMG

[@dannysmith9217]

People have no idea what a great, great weapon the Sterling really is. Low cyclic rate of fire, super controllable, tough and utterly reliable.

[@johnadams7250]

As Tank crew in the 80s this was our personal weapon , folds up easily to stow away in the bins when crew were mounted, pretty good especially in FIBUA training.

[@andykitchen5225]

I was 5th Skins, what were you in? Intake ‘83-06

[@F4Insight-uq6nt]

@@andykitchen5225My Dad was in the Coldstream Guards 2nd Bttln when they changed from the STEN to the STERLING. About 1956-59 time. L1A1 SLR also replaced the No.4 Mk3 at this time as well. They still had the BREN back then too. GPMG not available at that time. PS: He never saw combat of course.. Nobody ever does due to wars being fake.

[@brucemacallan6831]

Mine too. I went to Bisley with this and The SLR. I loved them both.

[@brucemacallan6831]

SCOTS DG, Intake JLR RAC Sep 83'

[@alantylka3411]

​@@andykitchen5225 skins 85-06

[@tonyashton780]

Cracking weapon kept me safe on more than one occasion. A true British masterpiece, simple and reliable. Forgotten Classic

[@kingofthegarden2350]

Yeah.. I know what your saying.

[@wessexdruid5290]

I had a Irish Ranger WO2, who'd shot a guy in Aden in the back of the head with one at 25m. Only to then find the target was out cold, as the round had simply bounced off his skull. Mind, he also blamed the Indian-manufactured ammunition.

[@tingting4980]

Have question. I understand it is better that the STEN, but would you prefer STEN if only option? I ask because I plan to get my boyfriend a Sterling, but he likes his STEN. Thank you and good day^^

[@sunnex474]

A cracking weapon for a more civilised aged

[@RichardWilliams-kf5vw]

@freebeerfordworkersI question the story because the duff Indian ammo was in the 90’s.

[@kennethsmith2758]

Why do Americans always get it wrong when referring to the British army? We have not had a English army since 1701 when we had the act of union with Scotland

[@natquesenberry6368]

For the same reason some older British people call all of the Netherlands Holland. 🇳🇱

[@fjb4932]

For the same reason the English call All Americans "Yanks", a most hated and despicable term for 90 % of Americans. Especially for Southerners . . . ☆

[@lorddaver5729]

1707, actually.

[@neilturner6749]

Late to the party here, but is that really true and just a revisionist correction? According to a QI episode many years ago Great Britain was not usually referred to as “Britain” even internally, and its citizens generally known as “English “ until the early 20th Century. Even as late as WW2 official Government documentation in many countries uses the term “The English” rather than The British or The UK…

[@neilturner6749]

@@natquesenberry6368 It’s not just older people and because the national football team is still widely known internationally within the English-speaking world as “Holland”, and football is what today The Netherlands is best known for internationally,

[@keenymeeny2]

Not just "English troops" but British Troops !!!!!

[@beefsuprem0241]

Also modified for imperial stormtroopers I believe😄

[@johnt8636]

And Canadian troops. Me included.

[@samg1879]

He's referring to the English Army of the late 1600's. It's a well known fact that ground troops were equipped with the Sterling SMG, and a good old Webley revolver in place of the optional GAU-8/A Avenger

[@ulsterinfidel9897]

Not just British troops but the Sterling was used by the Royal Ulster Constabulery during the Troubles here in Northern Ireland

[@zaphodbeeblebrox9109]

Classical American lack of knowledge of the world outside

[@jamesurquhart1142]

I carried a Sterling when I served in the Royal Ulster Constabulary in the 1970s, a reliable weapon.

[@jamesurquhart1142]

Unknown2234 Unknown bloody awful job, I served three years on the border and then moved overseas. Thanks for asking👍

[@Benji66820]

It needed to be in those days and in that province, respect.

[@duanepigden1337]

I used this in Canadian military. Loved it.

[@rtempler7]

The best pommy gun i ever owned and used. Light and accurate, Compact with amazing folding stock. I wish i still had mine.

[@Andy-qo6rq]

Lovely piece of kit very accurate loved my one when in the army. So easy to clean and strip down.

[@1946nimrod]

Good to see it being held correctly by the perforated guard over the barrel, NOT by the magazine, as so many seem to with this and the Sten!

[@MarsFKA]

I found it unwieldy if I held the magazine. Far better control holding it the proper way. Also, too much chance of accidentally detaching the magazine if it were being held - the magazine was there for one purpose and hanging on to it was not that purpose.

[@PugilistCactus]

Its probably because the magazine is placed in a really dumb spot. It gets in the way of some folks.

[@danielshawn83705]

Amen!

[@Nog311]

@@PugilistCactus the Magazine is in a great spot. You put your left hand in the barrel up to the stop and then the mag is supported by your arm...

[@mikeycraig8970]

​@@PugilistCactusI'm sure the British army knew better than you do!

[@justinholmes5614]

My old man was an RMP and talks very fondly of his old Sterling.

[@brushdustshake3557]

Me three. Big fan of the Small Metal Gun, once set fire to some grass with one by firing off a 30 round mag of 9mm blank on automatic, then laying the hot SMG down in some dry bracken & it caught alight. Cue lots of dancing to put the fire out.........😁

[@snowflakemelter1172]

RMP have one range day a year 😂

[@bharatkumarjoshi1596]

Manufactured in India since 1963 till late 1989 and nearly 600,000 were Manufactured by Ordnance factory in Kanpur, India.

[@johnfeliciano585]

Seen in Star Wars in the hands of Imperial Stormtroopers

[@MarsFKA]

Very inaccurate, though. Most of them couldn't hit a barn, even if they were standing inside it.

[@user-si9fx4xb6v]

Also seen in many of the original James Bond movies used by many characters including 007 himself in On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969) and The Spy Who Loved Me (1977).

[@GravesRWFiA]

@@MarsFKA look at those blast points, only imperial storm troopers are that acutate.

[@troublewithweebles]

@@MarsFKA "They let us go. It's the only explanation for the ease of our escape."

[@piobmhor8529]

I used the Canadian version of the Stirling for years which we referred to simply as the SMG or “smig”. Although a decent close distance weapon, I was never really keen on firing with an open bolt. Safeties malfunction and the open port allowed debris to get into the action if you weren’t careful. It did fill a niche requirement in it’s day, and it was quite enjoyable to shoot.

[@sandersson2813]

Did the Canadian version spell Sterling differently too?😂

[@peteturner3928]

My first weapon in the British army, as a tank soldier it was either this or Browning 9mm as your side arm depending on your crew position in the tank, as our battle rifles (SLR's the Brit's FN FAL) would not fit in the turret! We disparagingly said that instead of submachine gun, SMG stood for Small Metal Gun, spray and pray - the thing would struggle to go through a wet blanket at 20 paces!!!

[@johnokelly8166]

Pete Turner Another individual who never really knew or understood the SMG. You are talking nonsense!

[@skeleboi8507]

Sten: who are you? Sterling: you but improved

[@Oct14cya]

I had an opportunity to shoot one. A real joy!

[@leninlamabam4884]

In India we called it SMG carbine, very accurate weapon.

[@chrishewitt4220]

Loved my SMG as Coy Signaller in my infantry company! Light and easy to use. Plus, no cleaning because I never fired it that often! LOL

[@christophermarshall5015]

yes remf's loved it [lol] also good if you had the 84 mm to stagger around with but other wise no good at all

[@brushdustshake3557]

Never fired mine for 18 months in BAOR because there was no 9mm training ammo available! APWT classification pass certificates used to be regularly forged.......

[@MarsFKA]

I did National Service in 1968 and wound up as platoon signaller. My sergeant was an understanding sort of guy and allowed me to carry a Sterling in the field, rather than my heavier SLR.

[@lefunnyN1]

beautiful little smg, magwell reminds me of the fg42

[@K777John]

My uncle used to work for the Phoenix Timber Company which was next door to the Stirling Armaments Company-he told me a lot about the Stirling-small, light, and very effective.

[@danielshawn83705]

Two minor corrections: (1) The cyclic rate of the Sterling is not slower than the Sten, but faster. (2) "Double mainspring system"; actually a double recoil spring system (mainsprings drive hammers; not bolts). Only complaint about the Sterling is that the stock is a bit long (even by American standards!) causing the rear sight to be situated further from the firing eye than I like, and both arms really have to "reach out" when firing. However, it is one of the smoothest firing subguns out there - very controllable.

[@lastdayonearth8381]

Just Love Both The E-11 As A Blaster And The L2A3 As An Smg. I Was Surprised To Learn That The Sterling Was In Service During The Production Of The Original Trilogy Because I Thought It Was A Retired Rifle As Many Of The Weapons Used In A New Hope Were.

[@gusgone4527]

I carried one of them as my personal weapon for many years. With a 9mm Browning from time to time. Found it very good for what it was. Used it in competitions too. Reliable as hell.

[@vbtktr]

Still serving some Police Departments in India.

[@dillonsaari5566]

vbtktr Really???

[@AICW]

@@dillonsaari5566 Yep. Indian arms factories were still producing brand-new Sterlings until 2010 when production was finally halted (if Wikipedia is correct on that). There's been a lot of talk recently about India phasing out the Sterling with something new in recent years. I just read an article on Business Insider that said the Sterling is going to be replaced with the Caracal CAR 816 5.56mm assault rifle close-quarter combat version, which probably means the version with the 10.5" or 14.5" barrel length.

[@drewben1841]

He's right.

[@Critic224]

@@dillonsaari5566 yes, this was standard weapon for Indian Military Officers and used extensively by commandos and various special forces, for a very very long time. Hence it is not a surprise that some are still around ...

[@theiandicollection2749]

I was scrolling to see when someone mentions this 😂

[@flatmoon6359]

It armed English troops,!!!,what were the Welsh,Scottish,and Irish troops using ,Uzi,H&K,or what.It was the British Army.Learn some geography America.

[@Nooziterp1]

I'm afraid this is a regular thing with Americans. Referring to Britain as 'England'.

[@flatmoon6359]

Not just America,england manages to do it quite well,speaking to family on London tube,in Welsh,was asked when I was going HOME,took great pleasure in giving geography lesson to english,no capital "E" intended.

[@greeny202ab]

Cmon now, England does actually make up 85% of the population of the UK, its not an intentional slight at the Scottish, Welsh or Irish.

[@ulsterinfidel9897]

NORTHERN IRISH you need a bit of a geography lesson yourself, the Irish is across the borderline south.

[@andrewrice4513]

@Blu Runner1 Really? You're entitled to your own opinion, but not entitled to your own facts. You were late to *both* wars. The Blitz lasted until approximately May 1941, when your crowd were still wallowing in "America First". It would be at least another year before you showed up in any meaningful numbers.

[@briankinnear1314]

Never had one stoppage ..excellent weapon.and perfect for close quarter combat.

[@NickfromNLondon]

Brian Kinnear By the end the sears wore, resulting in unintended double taps and the magazine feed lips also knackered so misfeeds were common, Drew mob stocks for EX LIONHEART 84 instead of Pool weapons and no misfeeds or any other problems.

[@roybennett6330]

I remember in the old Dr who episodes the u.n.i.t troops taking on darleks with these

[@PsilocybinCocktail]

Please! "Daleks" and the bastard pepperpots were bulletproof, you must be thinking of their apelike servants the Ogrons, who were refreshingly permeable by 7.62 NATO. Also, the UN are a bit cross about "United Nations Intelligence Taskforce" which is why it was changed for the recent version.

[@realPromotememedia]

Ha ha yea brilliant memories eh brigadier ?

[@mikebutler6308]

"Jenkins, five rounds rapid!"

[@tallthinkev]

@@mikebutler6308 Do you not mean, Benton?

[@davewoodward4002]

I served in the Falkland's war and carried a Sterling SMG and although it could be effective in some situations, it was basically not effective for the terrain in general terms due to engagement distances. However, was it good for CQB, yep, no probs!

[@byteme9718]

Did you expect it to perform outside your training? FFS!

[@davidmetcalfe1076]

As a army truck driver 1956 ,we used the sten gun.later we began to use the sterling.

[@jeroendesterke5917]

The final photograph of the two ladies firing Sterlings is from "The Guns of Dagenham" by Peter Laidler - a fantastic book all about the Sterling SMG and its history.

[@peterchamberlain4448]

Loved the Stirling

[@narabdela]

It's a 'Sterling' dude. 'Stirling' is either a Scottish city, or A WW2 British Heavy Bomber.

[@skylongskylong1982]

Once visited theDagenham Sterling Factory, and what I found interesting is that they made every part of the weapon,right down to every screw, and nut. They had a special secured cage with dozens of gold plated Stirling’s for sale to Middle East countries. The purpose was arm bodyguards of rich tribal leaders with.

[@tattoophil2933]

Thats legit interesting thanks for that 👍

[@robertarthurs328]

They're cheaply built there shouldn't be a need to outsource for anything. Most everything WW2 is , sten , M3 and some shortly after.

[@danielw5850]

Lt Col H Jones: the award of a VC for this action is a grey area, in terms of the criteria; he paid with his life though.

[@johnrandall125]

I have found myself in conversation with a few people with military backgrounds and the subject of Col H Jones and his VC came up. The picture that emerged is not quite what the newspapers and official sources would have you believe.

[@roybennett6330]

A very deserved member of the v.c,pity he died

[@RABIDJOCK]

@@johnrandall125 there is some fairly accurate accounts of the events. He was brave but that dosent make you a good commander. Consensus is he gave his life up cheaply. He did not direct his troops as he should have . That was his job... Not charging up a gully at machine gun positions...

[@mrzipperface8262]

That is my understanding of it too, he should have used the beach to outflank the argie positions instead of a frontal assault.

[@blazer666del]

@@johnrandall125 I too had a similar conversation with some RM's and a Para who said similar things about Col Jones.. quite sad but he "achieved" his objective....

[@vibertwhattley207]

I fired it during my train soldier course back in 2000 its very reliable simply to operate accurate light weight a master piece

[@brucemacallan6831]

This is a great little weapon for snap shooting on 'R' single shot. Just brace the mag against your left forearm - Grip the stock as close to the muzzle as possible - And just whip it up in to the aim when needed.

[@johnlammergeier2890]

I fired it a few times in service, and it was pretty cool. was accurate at 50 meters. I liked it.

[@medic7698]

This weapon was also notable for getting caught up in scrim nets and anything else it got near.

[@stephensmith4480]

I read a book that told of an incident in Northern Ireland. A lad was De-Bussing from the back of a vehicle. When he jumped down, the cocking lever got caught in some netting and was pulled to the rear, but not far enough to lock. The result was, it flew forward and picked up a round causing it to discharge and a lad lost his life as a result.

[@medic7698]

@@stephensmith4480 terrible although the question has to be asked, why was the safety not engaged?

[@chaz725]

And the buttons on your DPM suit.

[@notlikely4468]

Ever slung one over your shoulder then bent over to lift a stretcher? Butt stroke your patient every time

[@philldavies7940]

@@stephensmith4480 it killed a different bloke. its mentioned in the book "A long long war: voices from the British army in Northern Ireland" by Ken Wharton. The incident happened in 1971, two soldiers from the light infantry debussed from a land rover, the second one's SMG caught on scrim, he didn't have his safety applied, it discharged and shot the first guy in the back, killing him.

[@LegatusLucius1994]

Not just British troops but Imperial troops the preferred weapon of every Stormtrooper the design for the Sterling submachine gun was taken and used to create the E11 Blaster rifle used by Stormtroopers

[@jamesneveaux4892]

As a trucker in the Cdn military in the early eighties it was a sweet personal weapon.

[@timmytwodogs]

Canadian forces used the SMG extensively during my service time from '75 to '82.

[@BigLisaFan]

Agreed. First fired one in 1972 but can't recall the last time though. Handy little weapon!

[@briggsquantum]

And from '71-75 when I was in. Three PPCLI trained me on the SMG. I seem to recall a command "Adopt The Aggressive Stance!" at which point you'd crouch and hold the SMG as tight as you could. Then the instructor would come down the line and grab the muzzle and attempt to take the weapon from you or flip you on your ass. We all learned right quick!

[@MrTerrylomax]

Really enjoyed firing the Sterling, very accurate on single shot, useful in auto if you know how to hold it and stop the "swing".

[@toldyouso5588]

It has such a sterling reputation.

[@rayne2714]

my dad had the L2A3 as his back up weapon when he was humping the Carl Gustav back in the 70's he even carried it for 2 of his 3 tours in N.I.

[@andyb6866]

I fired it at the range at Mill Hill Barracks in the early 1980s. One of our searjants said he'd once witnessed a stray shot from the SMG hit a guy at 200 metres. The round embedded itself in the guy's webbing and went no further.

[@zamagnette]

I used the Canadian version. A great weapon. We signed them out whenever possible as they were well suited for use in heavy brush and close quarters.

[@carldowd406]

I have some experience of this weapon, but not much. I watched a firepower demo by 1 Para in Sennelager in 1976 and this particular bit of kit proved pretty awesome tbh. Even for a 9mm it had amazing stopping power. I was tempted to buy one from the boot of a car in Samawa some years back, very tempted😅😅😅

[@MyLateralThawts]

My personal weapon during my time with the LdSH. Got a holster made by the Regimental canvas maker specifically designed for the Sterling, which actually looked pretty cool. Got rated as a marksman with the SMG too. Only drawback was, after having it on my person for weeks at a time, every time we went on exercise, then going back into garrison or the civilian world without it, just felt strange.

[@snowflakemelter1172]

" the regimental canvas maker" eh.

[@arkthefennecfox2366]

i feel quite sad that these are no longer produced, i'd rather have like to purchase one

[@shanecrawford6023]

Christ, English troops. I carried this from when I joined as a officer cadet in 1977 while serving the the Canadian Army. We used it right up to the purchase of the C7, M16 in late 90s.

[@johnwishart2653]

Hes a bit of an ignoramus saying English troops as he should actually be saying British troops including Scottish Welsh and Northern Irish. Also, Canadian etc

[@zillsburyy1]

first used in OPERATION MARKET GARDEN. it was also very popular in the falklands wars

[@RichardWilliams-kf5vw]

It was used in the Falklands, I wouldn’t say it was ‘very popular’ the vast majority of troops used the L1A1 SLR

[@marksellers4875]

Quite a handsome piece! Always liked them.

[@David-ek4fh]

It was a fun gun. At the end of service in Canada, you put the safety on, it fired. You put it on the ground, it fired. You looked at it funny, it emptied the mag.

[@fortnex9972]

Argentinian commandos had Sterlings with supresors in 1982

[@jamesconerly1039]

That would be the MK5.

[@cityofporiruacadetunit6082]

Did the last Sterling shoot at Bisley in 1990 before they got rid of them for good.

[@f-xdemers2825]

I accidently discharged a few rounds of my SMG on auto during a night patrol in training. They luckily were blanks. I still feel the embarassement 50 years later.

[@alrobinson9540]

I always hated the SMG. I don't remember being told not to fire it left handed, but it was a pain to do it. I don't know if it was the crappy ammunition or the blowback action, but I always ended up with a faceful of crap. Some of the burns scarred permanently. Some of the black bits stayed embedded for years. For a while there, it seemed like I was pretty much the only sargeant in the CF still carrying a C1. I was glad to say goodbye.

[@johnokelly8166]

al robinson You must have been doing a enormous amount wrong during the handling and firing of this weapon! You clearly had no idea how to handle or fire the SMG safely to achieve the results you say you got during firing! You should not have been allowed on a firing range!

[@caseyjonessnr1200]

My favourite weapon whilst serving with the RMP.

[@sharifkhan3589]

It's a awesome weapon

[@martingardener90]

After the L4 LMG this was my favorite!

[@jacnah63]

Yep - I loved that LMG

[@Charles-k9g5y]

Used the sten in the army reserves and the sterling in the CAF.

[@Charles-k9g5y]

Loved this gun.

[@BashingBambi]

I was the section 84 man and carried the small metal gun for years

[@MachineElf]

Proud to say I fired both the Sten and the Sterling smg while in the RAF in the 70s and 80s.

[@wasp6594]

i also used the Stirling and loved it. If memory serves me correctly, they should be fired at about four rounds at a time because they all pulled up and to the right. So if used in that way they stitched a 45 degree pattern across the target very accurately.

[@Robin6512]

I shot that thing multiple times when in the army and on the range with the brits. I really liked it. lighter than my uzi.

[@FishKepr]

Anyone else associate the L2A3 with Imperial Stormtroopers?

[@censorduck]

Wait, that isn't a Blastech E-11 blaster?

[@someduckwithanultimax6549]

That's not just an association, Imperial Stormtroppers literally carry Sterlings with short magazines - the props were real SMGs.

[@Jim-gk4so]

Shot this when I was 10. My first machine gun

[@charlieyerrell9146]

A close quarter weapeon for street fighting and jungle fighting. Used in Borneo by the gurkas..issued to tank crews , I had one in lybya 1960.

[@dobs862]

They also made a long barrelled version of this gun .

[@myspark3486]

I love this sterling submachine L2a3 which my dad have

[@timmytwatcop8764]

Carried this as a tanker, only wish the magazine was vertical. Left -sided magazine was a pain in the ass when shooting with a wall/ tree,etc. on your left.

[@sublicense18a13]

It replaced the .38 Webley or S&W as the personal weapon of AFV crews. As a Weapon Training instructor I always wince when I see it being fired on automatic from the shoulder, that was a no-no. As well as holding the magazine with the left hand. It was accurate on single shot up to 200yds. When firing bursts at close quarters, with the butt extended or folded you placed the butt against your diaphragm area and aimed by centring your body at the target, changing aim by short two footed jumps to left or right. You were taught to always fire automatic in short bursts. I was told that the British came to use 9mm ammo in that it enabled them to use the large quantities of captured German/Italian 9mm. It also helped the numerous resistance groups given Stens to replenish from the same source.

[@maco8799]

@@sublicense18a13 where did they capture it from,Dunkirk?!

[@jackaubrey8614]

@@sublicense18a13 Yep, that's the way I was tought to use it - I had a good laugh when the instructor first demoed this method but it was very effective... :)

[@jackaubrey8614]

@@maco8799 Nope, early war campaigns against the Italians in the middle east.

[@NickfromNLondon]

ma co Italian stocks in East Africa.

[@TreyaTheKobold]

These guns became the stormtrooper blasters in Star Wars, if I recall.

[@rodbowes5309]

It was my personal weapon for most of my 22 years service - was never allowed to fire it full auto though!

[@julitzgaming3172]

Why?

[@norwich93CMP]

I carried one in Iraq 2003-4. Smooth firing!!!

[@dulls8475]

Good little gun. My PW for 2 years.

[@simonyip5978]

I think that they were only used by the NCO's in the Infantry Battalions and troops like RMP, signallers, dog handlers etc. The others used the L1A1 SLR I think. I also prefer the last versions of the Sten SMG with the wooden pistol grip and fixed stock to the Sterling (in terms of appearance at least, because I have never fired either of the weapons).

[@TheNapchop]

This was my personal weapon in the late seventies, loved it.

[@D4ni3lS4nk3]

How was this gun painted?, Powder? Cerakote?

[@snowflakemelter1172]

Baked on crackle finish. Not sure exactly what it consisted of.

[@mrzipperface8262]

I was speaking to a Falklands veteran a couple of years ago and I was asking him about the SLR, I then asked him about the reliability of the Sterling as I'd heard there were problems, he said his jammed on the first round but "Unfortunately there were plenty of SLR's lying around" so he grabbed one to carry on with.

[@snowflakemelter1172]

You made that up though.

[@vickomen333]

widely used in Kenya during the Mau Mau War of Independence from 1952.

[@stevei0220]

I deployed on Op Granby as a dispatch rider in 1990 with the SMG as my personal weapon. I had one full magazine of ammo and that was it! 9mm rounds were in very short supply, supposedly because the rounds were made in Belgium and as they didn’t support the deployment of troops to the gulf they withdrew the supply of ammunition to the British government. I’m not sure if there was any truth in this story, I’m just grateful that I never had cause to fire the gun as the mage would have been empty in seconds with not even another mag as back up. I had a recurring dream after returning back to Germany that I had fired the gun but each round I fired just rolled out the end of the barrel and dropped onto the ground! The gun was not renowned for its firepower strength but in a close quarter situation it was ideal, anything over 50m and it was said that you’d be better off chucking the gun at the target in front!

[@alvindurochermtl]

If memory serves me right during the operation a sergeant dropped his SMG, it discharged accidentally, the Sgt was shot through his throat and died.

[@thomasmcclean4352]

As Mortar Platoon, this was my personal weapon.

[@Lukester132]

Imagine if Star Wars was filmed in the states, would the storm troopers still use a sterling?

[@jervisjavier]

They use Thompsons

[@Jimmie16]

The silenced version was excellent

[@Pedro8k]

A modern sten gun simple light effective and reliable

[@chrissheppard5068]

The Sterling was a REMF weapon.

[@peterogers2436]

Didnt use them much but i thought it was good simple weapon, minimal recoil and small amd light.would certainly go to war with one!

[@SNATCHYDBS]

If it aint broke dont fix it... ask any of our lads who used or carried it... ... Still is a great weapon.👍👍👍

[@unonium198]

FOR THE EMPIRE!

[@markbaldwin9878]

I've just used one to stir my tea . Cheers !

[@ersendal2466]

sterling sticks for ur tea to stirring..

[@sandersson2813]

Stens are cool

[@TheXtro101]

And was adopted by the Galactic Imperial Empire for the Stormtroopers and few changes became as the E-11 Blaster.

[@Thorpex1960]

My personal weapon as a combat driver....Never had a single problem or stoppage

[@greasyflight6609]

Preferred my FN

[@nickhanlon9331]

I knew someone who served with H Jones. Brave, but mad. Never shy. Definitely not a career officer.

[@Sebastian1018]

I served with lt.col Jones. I was the medic who recovered his body. I was with the parachute clearing troop of the RAMC field surgical team.

[@brianfreeman8290]

I hated the way the cocking lever stabbed you in the back if you jumped with it on your back.

[@Modernww2fare]

A cold war classic. It should've been in Black Ops 1

[@sjcobra84]

E 11 Blaster rifle is the best.

[@donaldwainwright]

I carried this weapon in northern Ireland good gun light but with rapid fire

[@baronvonmaximillionsnell2757]

I had stoppeges on this weapon. Mind u, it was a old weapon ect. Ok, for close up work. The folding stock was ok . The gun it's self, has to be kept very clear & looked after.

[@Mk1Male]

It was only ever intended for close up work. It needed very little looking after compared to other weapons at the time due to it's simplistic design.

[@rrshowtime3900]

Wasn't issued until 1957.

[@theant9821]

1953-1994