RIFLE NUMBER 1 MARK 3
RIFLE, SHORT MAGAZINE, LEE ENFIELD (SMLE) MARK 3
British experience in the South Africa War (Boer) of 1899-1902 showed the need for a short rifle with universal use and even before the end of the war a new trial weapon had been produced. This became the Rifle, Short Magazine Lee Enfield, Mark 1 introduced on 1 July 1903 with the intention of developing one rifle which would serve the Infantryman as a rifle and everybody else as a carbine. After troop trials the Mark 1* was introduced on 2 July 1906. (Mark 2s were Long Lee Enfield's & Lee Metfords converted to SMLEs)
A change of sights and the fitting on the body a new bridge charger guide brought about the introduction of the Mark 3 in 1907.
The SMLE Mark 3 served the British Army throughout the First World War and as the Rifle Number 1 Mark 3 through much of the Second World War.
Entered British Army service 26 January 1907
RIFLE, SHORT MAGAZINE, LEE ENFIELD (SMLE) MARK 3
British experience in the South Africa War (Boer) of 1899-1902 showed the need for a short rifle with universal use and even before the end of the war a new trial weapon had been produced. This became the Rifle, Short Magazine Lee Enfield, Mark 1 introduced on 1 July 1903 with the intention of developing one rifle which would serve the Infantryman as a rifle and everybody else as a carbine. After troop trials the Mark 1* was introduced on 2 July 1906. (Mark 2s were Long Lee Enfield's & Lee Metfords converted to SMLEs)
A change of sights and the fitting on the body a new bridge charger guide brought about the introduction of the Mark 3 in 1907.
The SMLE Mark 3 served the British Army throughout the First World War and as the Rifle Number 1 Mark 3 through much of the Second World War.
Entered British Army service 26 January 1907
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OPERATION
FEED CALIBRE SIGHTS LENGTH BARREL LENGTH WEIGHT (UNLOADED) MUZZLE VELOCITY |
BOLT
10 ROUND DETACHABLE BOX MAGAZINE .303 inch 2000 YARDS / 1829 METRES 44.57inches / 1132mm 25.19 inches / 640mm 8lb, 10.5oz / 3.94kg 2440 fps / 744 mps |
RIFLE NUMBER 4 MARK 1*
By 1928 the British Government had developed a new Service rifle, similar in appearance and capacity to the SMLE but a good deal easier to mass produce. The main difference from its predecessor being its aperture sight. It was produced from 1941 onwards mainly in Canada and the USA although some were made in England. It continued in regular army service until 1957.
Entered British Army Service 15 June 1941
By 1928 the British Government had developed a new Service rifle, similar in appearance and capacity to the SMLE but a good deal easier to mass produce. The main difference from its predecessor being its aperture sight. It was produced from 1941 onwards mainly in Canada and the USA although some were made in England. It continued in regular army service until 1957.
Entered British Army Service 15 June 1941
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OPERATION
FEED CALIBRE SIGHTS LENGTH BARREL LENGTH WEIGHT (UNLOADED) MUZZLE VELOCITY |
BOLT
10 ROUND DETACHABLE BOX MAGAZINE .303 inch 1300 YARDS / 1189 METERS 44.43 inches / 1128mm 25.19 inches / 640mm 9lb 1oz / 4.17kg 2440 fps / 743 mps |
RIFLE, NUMBER 5, MARK 1 (JUNGLE CARBINE)
During World War II, jungle fighting experience in the Pacific Theatre led the British military to the conclusion that a rifle shorter and lighter than the standard-issue, bolt-action, .303 cal. No 1 and No. 4 rifles was required. The result became the No. 5 rifle (better known unofficially as the “Jungle Carbine”), and the Rifles were made from shortened and lightened No. 4 rifles that were originally designated “No. 4 Lightened.”
The No. 5 Mark I, as finalised in March 1944 and officially adopted on September 12, 1944, had a “flash eliminator” similar to that used on the Bren Light Machine Gun, a buttpad assembly with a rubber recoil pad, a side-mounted rear sling swivel and a shortened fore-end. The bolt handle, receiver and barrel were lightened by removing metal from non-critical areas, as were several other parts. The one-piece top handguard resembled that of a sporterized gun as much of the forward portion of the barrel was exposed. A new No. 5 Mk I sword bayonet, affixed by a lug integral to the flash eliminator, was added in lieu of the spike bayonet as used with the No. 4. The No. 5’s aperture rear sight was adjustable out to a more realistic 800 yds., as opposed to 1300 yds. for the No. 4.
The No. 5 was quite popular with the troops and was even proposed to replace the No. 4 in general service, but the “Jungle Carbine” was plagued by a “wandering zero”problem that proved to be the handy little rifle’s undoing. After much investigation, the accuracy problem was found to be “inherent in the design” and the No. 5 was declared obsolete in July 1947, though some of the rifles were produced through the end of the year.
During World War II, jungle fighting experience in the Pacific Theatre led the British military to the conclusion that a rifle shorter and lighter than the standard-issue, bolt-action, .303 cal. No 1 and No. 4 rifles was required. The result became the No. 5 rifle (better known unofficially as the “Jungle Carbine”), and the Rifles were made from shortened and lightened No. 4 rifles that were originally designated “No. 4 Lightened.”
The No. 5 Mark I, as finalised in March 1944 and officially adopted on September 12, 1944, had a “flash eliminator” similar to that used on the Bren Light Machine Gun, a buttpad assembly with a rubber recoil pad, a side-mounted rear sling swivel and a shortened fore-end. The bolt handle, receiver and barrel were lightened by removing metal from non-critical areas, as were several other parts. The one-piece top handguard resembled that of a sporterized gun as much of the forward portion of the barrel was exposed. A new No. 5 Mk I sword bayonet, affixed by a lug integral to the flash eliminator, was added in lieu of the spike bayonet as used with the No. 4. The No. 5’s aperture rear sight was adjustable out to a more realistic 800 yds., as opposed to 1300 yds. for the No. 4.
The No. 5 was quite popular with the troops and was even proposed to replace the No. 4 in general service, but the “Jungle Carbine” was plagued by a “wandering zero”problem that proved to be the handy little rifle’s undoing. After much investigation, the accuracy problem was found to be “inherent in the design” and the No. 5 was declared obsolete in July 1947, though some of the rifles were produced through the end of the year.
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OPERATION
FEED CALIBRE SIGHTS LENGTH BARREL LENGTH WEIGHT (UNLOADED) MUZZLE VELOCITY |
BOLT
10 ROUND DETACHABLE BOX MAGAZINE .303 inch 800 YARDS 39.5 inches / 1000mm 18.7 inches / 478mm 7lb 2.5oz / 3.24kg 2000 fps / 609 mps |
RIFLE, NUMBER 3, MARK 1 (PATTERN 1914 (P14))
The Rifle, .303 Pattern 1914(or P14) was a British service rifle of the First World War period. A bolt action weapon with an integral 5-round magazine, it was principally contract manufactured by companies in the United States. It served as a sniper rifle and as second line and reserve issue until being declared obsolete in 1947. The P14 was the successor to the P13 Enfield and the predecessor of the U.S. Rifle M1917 Enfield.
The action was essentially a Mauser design with some Lee features and optimised for rapid fire. The P14 was an advanced design for the time, and was said to be the most advanced service rifle of World War I. The P14 featured a superbly designed aperture rear sight adjustable to 1600 yards and a 300yd battle setting protected by integral and prominent 'ears' on the receiver bridge. The bolt had a Mauser type claw extractor and two forward lugs; there was also a rear safety lug formed by the base of the bolt handle sitting in a recess in the receiver.
Prior to and during World War II, the P14 was used in Britain as a rearguard rifle, primarily to equip the World War II Home Guard. Additionally, the US also sent some M1917 rifles to the UK under Lend-Lease, though the different cartridge limited use and necessitated clearly marking the rifles with a red band around the stock. It was declared obsolete in British service in 1947.
The Rifle, .303 Pattern 1914(or P14) was a British service rifle of the First World War period. A bolt action weapon with an integral 5-round magazine, it was principally contract manufactured by companies in the United States. It served as a sniper rifle and as second line and reserve issue until being declared obsolete in 1947. The P14 was the successor to the P13 Enfield and the predecessor of the U.S. Rifle M1917 Enfield.
The action was essentially a Mauser design with some Lee features and optimised for rapid fire. The P14 was an advanced design for the time, and was said to be the most advanced service rifle of World War I. The P14 featured a superbly designed aperture rear sight adjustable to 1600 yards and a 300yd battle setting protected by integral and prominent 'ears' on the receiver bridge. The bolt had a Mauser type claw extractor and two forward lugs; there was also a rear safety lug formed by the base of the bolt handle sitting in a recess in the receiver.
Prior to and during World War II, the P14 was used in Britain as a rearguard rifle, primarily to equip the World War II Home Guard. Additionally, the US also sent some M1917 rifles to the UK under Lend-Lease, though the different cartridge limited use and necessitated clearly marking the rifles with a red band around the stock. It was declared obsolete in British service in 1947.
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OPERATION
FEED CALIBRE SIGHTS LENGTH BARREL LENGTH WEIGHT (UNLOADED) MUZZLE VELOCITY |
BOLT
5 ROUND INTEGRAL BOX MAGAZINE .303 inch 1600 YARDS 46.25 inches / 1175mm 24 inches / 660mm 9lb 6oz / 4.25kg 2,380 fps / 725 mps |
REFERENCES
1. MILITARY SMALL ARMS OF THE 20TH CENTURY 4TH EDITION
By Ian Hogg & John Weeks 1981 DBI BOOKS ISBN 0-910676-28-3
2. MODERN SMALL ARMS
By Major Frederick Myatt MC 1979 SALAMANDER BOOKS ISBN 0-86101-024-8