Patchett Machine Carbine Mk I: Sten Becomes Sterling
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- Опубліковано 27 вер 2024
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The Patchett Machine Carbine Mk I is the predecessor to the Sterling SMG. It was developed by George William Patchett, who was an employee of the Sterling company. At the beginning of the war, Sterling was making Lanchester SMGs, and Patchett began in 1942 working on a new design that was intended to be simpler, cheaper, and lighter than the Lanchester. He used the receiver tube dimensions from the Sten and the magazine well and barrel shroud form the Lanchester. His first prototypes were ready in 1943, but it wasn't until early 1944 that the British government actually issued a requirement for a new submachine gun to replace the Stens in service.
The initial Patchett guns worked very well in early 1944 testing, which continued into 1945. It ultimately came out the winner of the trials, but they didn't conclude until World War Two was over - and nothing was adopted because of the much-reduced need for small arms. Patchett continued to work on the gun, and by the 1953 he was able to win adoption of it in the later Sterling form - which is a story for a separate video.
The Patchett was not used in any significant quantity in World War Two. At most, a few of them may have been taken on the parachute drops on Arnhem - there are specifically three trials guns which appear referenced in British documents before Arnhem, but are never mentioned afterwards (numbers 67, 70, and 72). Were they taken into the field? We really don't know.
Many thanks to the Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History in Brussels for access to this very rare piece! Check them out here:
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I took one to Gulf War 1 and my US colleagues were continually borrowing it to try it out at the range. They were remarkably complementary about it, considering it was on its last hurrah as a UK weapon. Of course, being the Star Wars generation the US guys & girls were immediately drawn to it.
Yep, I joined the QOH in 1988 as a driver/mechanic. They were getting a bit long in the tooth by then!
royal navy had them for basic training in 89
It was 1994 before our TA Field Ambulance unit gave them up. Ian missed out one thing - after folding the stock and taking out the magazine, you put it into a black sack to keep it clean until endex!
I took one too. It was perfect for the role. Despite being converted to the rifle 5.56 we chose the SMG. (I broke a LSW while on the conversion course, just saying. So had more confidence in the tried and tested. I've never seen a SMG break.)
@@gusgone4527 I’ve had the pistol grip come off an SA80 in my hand. The SMG felt reassuringly solid - even if it did jab your kidneys whatever way it was carried 😂
The irony here being that if the Imperial Stormtroopers had stocks, they would have been significantly more accurate.
With those gloves on, maybe they just couldn't unfold them
They do have the stocks. They just hardly ever unfold them. There’s some media I’ve seen where a squad calls for fix stocks
@@thestørmcrier2024really?! Do you have a source, would love to see that.
tbf Vader wanted them alive (at least the twins), so they sorta "purposefully missed".
I got my Sterling from an Ewok on Endor in trade for a candy bar. He said he took it from a dead storm trooper. I have no reason not to believe him.
This gun is featured in the Australian TV series ‘Mr. Inbetween’ (2018-2021).
(Recommended).
I was just thinking the same thing
ua-cam.com/video/Z6y4NhKwXFY/v-deo.htmlsi=6G8swOO8nomVU2me
ua-cam.com/video/WSTi-YgRO8U/v-deo.htmlsi=8Oweq5krzMUoGrfe
Best show EVER.
That was an awesome show. I was just thinking this was that gun
Patchett originally worked for both FN and Jawa as a motorcycle racer and engineer. Guns were originally a sideline.
Jawa. E-11 blaster. Coincidence? I don´t think so.😁
@@Taistelukalkkuna beat me to it lol
Copied a lot of Villiers engine over to the Jawa one, bit lIke his sub machine guns.
So, how would this thing fare against, say... Teddy bears with sharp sticks? Asking for a friend
How many bears? 🤣
Quite well actually, at least until Bigfoot steals a tank, then things start going downhill.
@@fredbloggs5902 more important, how many beers
The rifle fairs quite well.....the troopers training and armor however......😮
It should have been Wookies
I believe you mean “E-11” Blaster rifle
Glory to the Empire!
The very best. 👌🏻😎
For the Empire!
If you're going to try to correct somebody, at least get it right, that's the E-13R, a modified E-12, given to dark troopers, and special units.
@@austinslaughter319 then why were Stormtroopers carrying them, then, huh? 🧐
Of the dozens of SMGs I've fired. My favorite is the Sterling. Thanks for the history Ian.
Why?
@nomad_boreal thank you for the response
@@User1-o6f Controllability and ergonomics. Just a great compact SMG
@@chlebowg thank you@
The Sterling is very controllable in full auto due to the heavy bolt, stock, and pistol grip placement. The barrel length and ergonomics also made it reasonably accurate at longer ranges in semi-auto. Not as compact as a lot of subguns, but eminently reliable and nigh indestructible.
Oh wow haven't seen any of those since i was stuck for a night on Endor
I was in the Canadian army in the 1980's. The SMG (Sterling) was standard issue until we adopted the C8 (M16 A2 Carbine) to replace it. It was super compact, reliable and easy to maintain. The range was not there but it was issued mostly to vehicle crew and drivers.
The SMG was more widely distributed. When I arrived in an infantry battalion, they were carried by platoon signallers, GPMG gunners, much of Recce Platoon etc. The C8 was originally intended for armoured crews only. I worked for a bit in the weapons company at the Infantry School when they were sorting out final handling drills and writing the pams etc for the new family of small arms in 1984. I had a specific discussion with one of the WOs there about the C8. He said, "it's only for tank crews. No doubt some infantry Maj will desperately try to get his hands on one in order to boost his cool factor... but... they're designed for the Armoured Corps". I was in Germany when we received the new rifles in 1988 - not a C8 to be found anywhere. In fact, I never saw a C8 in an infantryman's hands until Afghanistan cranked up.
@@lib556 It's not obvious until you take off the handguards but the barrels on the C8's are pretty thin. It's not an issue as a back up weapon for armored or recce and it does make it much lighter but those things can overheat severely in a sustained firefight. The savings in weight and size aren't justified for dismounts.
@@silverjohn6037 That was the thought at the time. Proper infantry get a proper rifle. Z*pperheads' primary weapon is their tank so... Similar concept as was the M1 Carbine. Not a battle rifle but much better to give someone than say a pistol. However, as history will show, the M1 Carbine became very popular, despite its limitations, with many in the infantry. It was Audie Murphy's preferred personal weapon.
I'm no gunsmith expert - just a user, not a builder. However, there has been much discussion in US circles about the necessity (or lack thereof) for heavier and longer barrels. It would appear that the best balance between velocity and length-saving is between 15 and 16 inches. Many argue that the 'pencil' barrel is all that is needed. Again, I'm no expert.
@@lib556 Lt Murphy was also fond of .50 cal Brownings but only when they were on burning tank destroyers for some reason;).
@@silverjohn6037 Use whatcha got... 😁
As far as I’m aware there is only one photograph from W.W.II that shows a Patchett being carried, this is of what is claimed to be a Free French unit of the SAS in late ‘44 or early ‘45 somewhere around the Belgian border.
Think I’ve seen that. Can confirm.
_Qui ose gange_
saw it too recently.
I've seen pictures of it being carried in training and/or for testing.
There's one beside the bloke on the ground too.
Whenever I hear the words "depress the button" I imagine someone saying "You're not a very good button, are you?"
Always appreciate your videos. In an era of copy-paste youtube drivel it's nice to see someone so dedicated to quality research they're making videos with the help of actual museums. Just goes to show how much effort Ian puts into getting it all right and sticking to his vision of documenting interesting firearms without the fluff. Great stuff as always, Ian.
Always good to see a little history on the Sterling, being an infantry signaler in the British army in the 80’s this was my personal weapon. Great little gun, mine would fire a 3 round burst when set on semi auto if you just squeezed the trigger right.
I was told many times to get it fixed by the armourer, but never did as I liked the “feature” !!
Sterling was standard issue sub machine gun of the Canadian Forces during most of the Cold War. Was issued one during my time as an aircraft tech in Germany. Only carried them during Tac exercises, no ammunition. Much handier than a battle rifle when climbing around on fighter jets. Fun to shoot at the range for annual qualification though. ;)
Hi, when I first started soldiering In 1956, I trained on the Patchett SMG and was very grateful as the Sten at that time had a bad reputation for firing when dropped on the ground. The early SLR’s also came out at the same time but they were the automatics with the bipods. In the sixties when. I joined the Paras it was an easy swap to the Sterlings and the Brit SLR’s. With the bayonet lug attached we started to learn SMG Arms Drill and the changeover from the Enfield rifle to the FN was that much easier because of the earlier introduction in Africa. Many years later coming home I did a spot check on our Auckland armoury and was amazed to see a dozen old Stens and watched an armourer getting first aid as he cut himself on the charge handle cut out that got so sharp over the many years of usage! Those old SMG’s just kept on going and the SLR’s sure came in useful in Nam. Cheers mate. Harera
My dad was issued a Sterling while serving as an officer in the Canadian Airborne in the late 70s. He would bring it home before going on exercise for cleaning, etc. I seem to recall it having that odd "truck-bed" finish that Ian mentions, like a heavy crinkled paint, although I could be remembering this incorrectly. Can anyone else confirm this? I loved the look of the thing. My father didn't seem to think his was very good (I think it was getting pretty worn out) but he did say something like it "beat jumping out of a plane with an FN", referring to the cumbersome FN C1 FAL that the riflemen carried on jumps, along with skis or snowshoes in the winter!
Matt Moss's Sterling book is great for the history on these. Also books by James Edmonton ( owner of Sterling) The Sterling Years.
Imagine if top racing legend Stirling Moss had written a book about the MAT-49. Bookshops would stock Matt Moss' Sterling book and Stirling Moss' MAT book. I'll get my coat.
Ray Shoesmith approves
I came looking for this reference.
Carried Stirlings for years in the Royal Ulster Constabulary, eventually replaced by the MP5 about 1990. Both were excellent.
In the excellent Australian TV series Mr Inbetween, the protagonist is gifted a Sterling by one of his fellow criminals. Oddly enough, though he recognizes it as a Sterling, he is told that it's a Patchett, which is better. It's definitely a Sterling, with the curved magazines.
Mr. Inbetween was a great show.
I remembered that episode and always thought he was wrong.
I miss that show. Loved the little conversations they had inbetween the story and action. Almost like the random conversations in BFBC2.
I remember his face lighting up when he found out the 2 passengers in his taxi were plotting to kill him,
One of the best shows ever, so underrated
Saw the thumbnail, came to check the comments before watching the video, wasn't disappointed.
Loved using the C1 SMG in my reserve days in CAF...using SOB count to walk rounds up a target is just FUN!
Bloke's breathing quickens...
His comparison is online.
Shows which magazine can go where.
@@myparceltape1169 I saw the YT short.
My grandfather William Joy worked for Sterling as a toolmaker during ww2 and worked on SMG. I have always assumed it was on the Patchett.
I love the obvious cuts when Ian can't get them back together again.... "there you go, fits just fine" 😂
I carried a Sterling very briefly when I joined the Canadian Army in the mid-1980s. Fantastic little firearm. It's great to see the intermediate step in its evolution. I also got a chance to visit the Brussels museum several times during a posting there 2000-2002. It's a great experience, I highly recommend it.
The grinder and the paint-makes me the welder I ain't.
Ditto
AVE fan?
@@Ijusthopeitsquick SV Seeker.
I really enjoy your museum tours. Thanks for this video.
Pachett did not work in Brno, he worked in Prague at the Janeček/Jawa motorcycle factory, which came under Zbrojovka Brno only in 1945, they adapted and manufactured Schwazlose machine guns and a special type of grenade vz 21, which unlocked itself by rotating when thrown. He either threw prototypes of anti-Ank rifles over the wall of the British Embassy in 1939, or drove them to France in 1940 by car covered in bed.
@@LaCokaNostra_ What no?
@@DOMINIK99013you are missing the point, he worked in Brno the place, not specifically the armament company
@@jediknight1294 He didn't work LOL, Janeček/JAWA had nothing to do with Brno until 1945, he worked in Prague in the 1930s, he also took a number of photos and videos there, the best private shots of the arrival of the occupiers and Hitler at Prague Castle are also from him.
@@DOMINIK99013 my point was Ian didn't state anything other than he works in the city of Brno.
If he was naming the arms manufacturer he'd have used their name not simply the city as he's done in the past.
Also fun fact, Brno had a couple of companies working on small engine Mopeds I the 30s that later became influential in the Jawa labeled PS built products like the Manet and the Babette
@@jediknight1294 The fact that he lived in Prague is mentioned in both the Czech article on the wiki and articles elsewhere. The fact that Ian says something doesn't mean anything, he himself admitted in one of his QA videos that a mistake could be found in all his videos, this is doubly true in the Czech ones.
Sterling firing pin is machined into the bolt.
Ref the Patchett in Arnhem, I realize this is not proof of anything, but in the Osprey book about the Parachute Regt, there's a colour plate showing a soldier (glider pilot?) with a Patchett with a description about it being a trial gun. Usually the Osprey books are very good on details and often the colour plates are based on actual photographs...
I'm sure the Bovington Tank Museum has one. I saw it back in the 80s during my RAC training. We on the other hand had the Sterling SMG. And I still have a bayonet.
Love the Sterling & nice to see the prototype in detail. Grew up in the Cold War & it was always reassuring to see very professional chaps cradling one of these. It & the Lanchester are my favourite "old school" SMG's.
Finally I've been waiting for this since forever.
fascinating to see the evolution from the Sten to the Patchett Machine Carbine Mk I
The idea of "we have a ton of STENs, we don't need a new SMG". Eurgh.
As Ian stated, it was the end of the war in Europe. The UK was pretty broke and had a Labour government in power who were more interested in available funds going to social projects like the NHS, than replacing an SMG which was something the UK had loads of the previous incarnation already, (which were bought and paid for and were "good enough"), with the 'latest, greatest, thing' that would need money to buy.
Thanks again, Ian, for a great video on one of my personal favourites (historically speaking). Never fired a Patchett - but the Sterling was a beautifully balanced little weapon. Ergonomic perfection for the infantryman.
Raise your hand if you knew about the Patchett before this video came out XD
I have 10 of the sterlingl2a3
This gun featured in ozzie TV show "Mr inbetween", where it's referred to specifically as a Patchett. Cue howls of rage from people saying it was in fact a Sterling... Well now you know. A proper machine gun, that is. I love the sound it makes!
I'm halfway through this series at the moment, I had never heard of the Patchett before then. Awesome show hey
Rays Birthday present. 🤣🤣🤣
A note out of context: At start of Video a man was noted, who was a motorcycle inerested person. Due to , Administration Reform ' in german state Baden-Württemberg, the Gemeinde ( Village) Fachsenfeld became a district of the town Aalen. ( May be the town has its name because in time of Roman Empire a cavallryunit ,Ala' was there.) . Inside the village there is a small , Schloß ', in this case ,Palace'. The last noble owner , a Freiherr von König - Fachsenfeld died in 1994, being not married and no children. This last nobleman of his family was a rather excentric , rural nobleman '.. In his younger Years he wanted to become a famous motorcycle race driver, but after an accident He switched to a theorethic. How to drive faster with a vehicle which has a weak engine? So in the cellar of his small palace he did aerodynamical experiments and wrote a book. In 1933 to 1945 He didn't support Hitler and refused to work for aircraft companies. After WW ll, he was involed in supporting Refugees from areas , Germany lost, and he supported local school and Kindergarten, when Money and Support was necessary. When He died , all His employees got Money for annother year. This man was really a noble man.
Random comment here…I have been watching the tv show Spade on AMC. Takes place in southern France and is a sequel to the classic movie the Maltese Falcon. Long story short, many interesting firearms show up in each episode. MAS-36, MAT 49, M1C garand sniper, Walther p38 just to name a few. Seems like the show hired a firearms enthusiast and it might peak your interest.
I had this up on my secondary monitor and glanced over at 10:50 to see what looked exactly like Ian hitting a live cartridge with a hammer.
Thanks for another well presented and interesting vid. Jim Bell (Australia)
That was so interesting. I am not a gun owner but I take an interest in guns and their history and development. It seems to me that the Patchett guns are excellent, in their simplicity and thoughtful design.
There's a couple South African SMG's Ian has covered that have a similar elegance.
Whenever I see a Sterling, can't help thinking of "The Spy Who Loved Me", when Bond frees the imprisoned sub crews, and despite the nearest armoury to the US Navy prisoners holding M16s exclusively, the British and Russian crews find only racks of Sterlings.
Best of the Roger Moore Bond films, IMO. 👍
When I was a kid crackle paint was on everything metal!
I had a ‘72 MG BGT, it was on the dash
I cant lot look at this fun and not think "its the E-11!", since the infamus storm trooper blaster is basically one of this with a ton of random stuff on top
There's a photo of a British Paratrooper with one, in a group apparently at Arnhem.
Looks like a stormtrooper blaster
Nice Blas tech E11 prototype
I was in the Army and as a Sergeant, my personal weapon was a Sterling SMG.
Any museum that display a weapon that Ian have made a video on should put a qr-code link at the display information.
When converted to laser ammo this gun has been proven very innacurate. Maybe a gun issue or operator malfunction.
No one ever blames the helmets.....
Donald Sinden can be seen carrying one in 1955's Simba, co-starring Virginia McKenna (who played real-life SOE operative Violette Szabo in Carve Her Name With Pride) and Dirk Bogarde (who played real life SOE operative Major Patrick Leigh Fermor in Ill Met by Moonlight).
Thank you again for another great video.
I do miss the days of your longer more detailed videos.
So funny how many Star Wars blasters are based on real guns and they are more known. 😂
Either this channel or the Royal Armouries channel had a vid about the company that supplied the props- Star Wars blasters are the guns they had available!
Put an optic on it and it would be an E-11
“Only Imperial Stormtroopers are so precise.”
The optic on the E-11 did wonders.
@@dspserpico I'm sure the scope they used actually being on backwards didn't help.
Interesting video, thanks, always nice to find a video so I can have coffee with Ian.
Thank you for providing us with the earlier prototype of the E-11 blaster rifle Ian. I'm sure that the British soldiers used it far better than stormtroopers especially in woods that crawl with carnivorous teddy bears. (Stormtroopers were far more effective in Rogue One and Andor and you Ian are the perfect representative of the Blastech Industries earth branch).
I have fired most of the British Army small arms that were around in the 50s/60s, the SMLE, the SLR, the Bren gun, but I cannot remember if I ever managed to fire the Sterling. I think I may have ! I have also handled the EM-2, which Ian did a lovely video on some time back. I do remember that the EM-2 was passed to the warrant officers of the Brigade of Guards to work out the rifle drill, and they were rather non-plussed at being handed a gun that bore no resemblance to a normal rifle. I suspect there were no rifle drills for the Sterling either ! Interestingly, the SA-80 is carried at the slope just like the old SMLW I carried when in our school cadets.
Nah… I know an E-11 when I see one.
The Magician’s weapon of choice.
A grinder and paint make you the welder you ain't.
Used to ride my bike to the Brussels army museum
I have a Century arms Sterling semi auto type ll manufactured by Masterpiece Arms and does not have crinkle paint on it have a few patchett mags with sterling mags also - Absolutely a fun gun to shoot, even with the 16 inch shrouded barrel.
The Sterling was called the "L1A2" in NZ. My first use of a submachine gun in 1973 was one of these. Used at 25, 50, and 100 metres, both single and auto, from both the shoulder and the hip, it was an easy gun to use and control. Best results were firing from the shoulder in 3 to 5 round bursts. Stayed on target at all ranges. Very easy to field strip and clean. Light and easily carried or slung. Navy used them for boarding parties. After I left Navy, they reluctantly traded them for HK MP5s.😊😊😊
The Galactic Empire called. They want their blaster back.
Another great video, thanks.
They were a weapon of their time. Gerzillions made in workshops in Britain during WW2 and dropped too various resistance groups. But they can be very dangerous, had one demonstrated by a Royal Marine Colour Sargent, had a magazine with a couple of rounds, hit the button on the ground and away it went and emptied the magazine
Thanks Ian! I always appreciate the fact that I can learn something new and really interesting from your channel!
Just as requested, Star Wars weapons up front. Thanks!
That's the Stormtrooper Blaster! 😅
If Patchet had thought of adding a couple of small offset metal tubes welded on each side of the receiver behind the pistol grip he could've made a stupid simple collapsing stock over a folding one.
Nowadays a simple pistol grip with a quasi extended "beaver tail" with the collapsing stock passthrough ports made out of polymer is a possibility.
ah yes... the infamous BlasTech E-11
Getting the land speed record on a motorcycle implies there's a category for air speed on a motorcycle
I recall reading a memoir of a british soldier who foight the Mau Mau in Kenya; and they were desperately trying to cut down on weight to get to their extraction point: "we were ordered to smash our Patchetts with rocks; or to jam the barrels between crevices and tree forks and bend them.."
Kenya was the first place i heard about the Patchett, i was reading Manhunt in Kenya.
I do love the Sterling, myself, so it's cool to see a developmental model like this!
In 1977 I joined my country's Child Army, and was introduced to the Sterling SMG. I didn't fire one until some years later. Three months later Star Wars was released, and I saw it in the first week. The Star Wars blaster, being based on the Sterling could not hit shit. It is the sole reason the Storm Troopers were an ineffective fighting force.
And I was the youngest person in the world who understood why.
Thank you Ian. You drag me back to the equipment of my youth better and more often that anyone on the toobs.
The 100 trial guns went to the 2nd, Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment, in the summer of 1944, for testing. This glider battalion then went on to fight at Arnhem in September, 1944, and it is speculated, but not proven, that some Patchetts went with them.
Open the Blast Doors, open the Blast Doors.
Designing a gun that almost perfectly fits a future government requirement, an exception that prove the rule. Okay it wasn’t a secret that the sten would be replaced.
There is, or used to be, a nice one also in UK in IWM's collection that saw service in WW2.
"The Stirling is very easy to shoot well"
*Storm troopers the galaxy over raise their eyebrows*
:P
TY Ian. I like firearms without the needless gas system.
Even at this stage, it seems to be a fantastically modern weapon for 1944.
For me any go to sub machine gun…….would have to be the Sterling…… although the Italian beretta sub gun would be up there with it😎👍🏼
Hey, Ian, do a "What would Stange do?" build :)
Imagine that tall order of a gun, with modern manufacturing, materials and technology!
I saw somewhere that these might have been field-tested at Scarif, but any evidence has been destroyed shortly after.
Jeremy Clarkson has posted a video describing weaponry from the earliest to the current day. Well worth watching.
Back in my youth I was a friend of his, I'm not sure, grandson? Great grandson? Good dude. I'd heard about the 'Patchett gun' he came up with but never knew what it actually was until today.
Mr inbetween loved it
The Elbonian Ministry of Offence has noticed that there is a handguard with holes in it, and wants 10,000 of these immediately.
In the Cheshire Regiment museum at Chester Castle there is a Sterling on display in a cabinet that is labelled a Stirling....... after the city.... in Scotland......
Mr Inbetween 🇦🇺
You and The Chieftain in Belgium recently? Lovely country. Interesting history, great chips, awesome beer🇧🇪😋🍟🍻😋🇧🇪
What a cool design! Had no clue this gun even existed
Star Wars was so popular, the British Army made a gun based off the blaster
Thought it was the other way around
@@davidwilson4161wooooooosh
@davidwilson4161 Nope
@@letsplay2bros679star wars came out in the late 70ʻs hard to say the brits were inspired by a movie 25 years before it came out
He said in the vid they used the sterlings in star wars as their stand in guns
He didn’t work as a firearms designer for FN… he raced motorcycles for them.
Patchett... The standard issue SMG of the DiscWorld army...
Vimes has something to say about that I think.
Sponsored by the State military budget, 9mm surplus and your local plumbing store
In AMCW GRC Gonne Response Carts
If Patchett did saw use in WW2 then it would be Britain's best SMG (qualitatively) at the time.