Portal:World War II/Equipment/9
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The Sten (or Sten gun) was a family of British, 9 mm submachine guns used extensively by the British Empire and Commonwealth forces throughout World War II and the Korean War. They were notable for their simple design and comparatively low cost of production. The name STEN is an acronym, deriving from the names of the weapon's chief designers, Major Reginald Shepherd and Harold Turpin, and ENfield, the location of the Royal Small Arms Factory (RSAF) at Enfield Lock in London. Over 4 million Stens in various versions were made in the 1940s.
The official designation Carbine, Machine, Sten should not be confused with the common understanding of carbine; the Sten was a typical, almost stereotypical submachine gun while the term carbine is used to refer to short, light rifles.
