The Sten Gun

Description

The Sten submachine gun - officially the 'Carbine, Machine, Sten' - was developed to fulfill the pressing British need for large quantities of cheaply produced weapons after Dunkirk, when German invasion was a very real possibility. Over four million were built during World War II, and the Sten was widely used by airborne troops, tankers, and others who needed a compact weapon with substantial firepower. It proved especially popular with Resistance fighters as it was easy to conceal, deadly at close range, and could fire captured German ammunition - with a design so simple that Resistance fighters were able to produce them in bicycle shops. Featuring vivid first-hand accounts, specially commissioned full-colour artwork and close-up photographs, this is the fascinating story of the mass-produced submachine gun that provided Allied soldiers and Resistance fighters with devastating close-range firepower.

Leroy Thompson trained and advised military and police special operations units around the world, focusing especially on the tactical use of firearms. He has previously had more than 35 books published and more recent titles include The Hostage Rescue Manual, The Counterinsurgency Manual and Secret Techniques of the Elite Forces. He has also had various firearms books published including Great Combat Handguns, and appeared as a weapons expert on documentaries for Discovery, National Geographic and the BBC.

"In the dark days after Dunkirk, Britain required a compact weapon with substantial firepower. Quickly designed, the Sten proved cheap to make, easy to maintain and simple to master. Over four million were made, cobbled or copied. Concealable and deadly at close range, it didn't even require oiling. In short, it proved an outstanding weapon for worldwide total war -- and beyond. Leroy Thompson's The Sten Gun recaps the whole terrific tale in just 80 pages. After an informative introduction, contents course through development, deployment and impact of this legendary weapon. Sidebars and extended captions cover competitive designs and operators. Enormously informative illustrations by Alan Gilliland and Mark Stacey season this savory study. And dozens of photos with selective bibliography and index complete coverage." --David L. Veres, www.cybermodeler.com (November 2012)