Quartermasters Stores - Your kit queries here.

You are probably right.

In most Commando pics you see Toms. Stens were in use however, it's not incorrect to have one. Loadouts also depend a lot on the Commando unit and nation. Australian Commando was likely to have the Owen gun which may be a bit hard to get for ASG

Nice example of a blanched sten bandolier.

Hmmm, this can't be blanching as in growing asparagus/celery as this makes them whiter. Perhaps it is blanching as in fierce boiling for 30 seconds then plunging in cold water? No, that's post-ww2 berets. Damn, I need to find time for more research...

IIRC the only Stens that were on the official scales of issue to Commando units (1944) were the silenced versions, and then only one per troop or thereabouts.

Edit: Found it! Looks like it was two per troop.

Assault Troop - here's where things become clouded. There are two distinct versions of Troop organisation varying between 60 and 66 men. The smaller unit is generally ascribed to the Royal Marine Commando, particularly to the Normandy landings of 1944. The larger Troop is detailed for the Army Commando during the Mediterranean campaign of 1943. It may be that the Royal Marines adopted a different organisation, while the Army Commando continued with the previous one. Equally it is just, if not more likely, that the officially sanctioned organisation was heavily amended by both types of units for the D-Day operations. Both options are therefore detailed below.

HQ comprised of the Troop Commander, a Captain, and Sergeant Major. The officer's batman acted as a runner, and there was also a stretcher bearer and attached RAMC nursing orderly. Two men were detailed to act as gunners for the two 2-inch mortars, and no less than three men served the single PIAT.

The two Sections each comprised of a Subaltern and Sergeant at HQ, with two Sub-Sections, each with a Lance Sergeant, Corporal and eleven men. The Troop also had four Bren guns, undoubtedly one per Sub-Section, plus two sniper rifles and two rifles fitted with grenade discharger cups. There is no indication from the official tables of personal weapons, but nine Thompson submachine guns were authorised, meaning the majority of the Troop would have carried rifles. Two silenced Sten guns were also allocated.

http://www.bayonetstrength.150m.com/Bri ... mmando.htm

Going for normandy and after with this. Suppose I could also get a No 4 also.

Nice example of a blanched sten bandolier.

Hmmm, this can't be blanching as in growing asparagus/celery as this makes them whiter. Perhaps it is blanching as in fierce boiling for 30 seconds then plunging in cold water? No, that's post-ww2 berets. Damn, I need to find time for more research...

Just predictive text on the phone. Painful at times.

Phew, had me worried there.

Hi Lads,
Well as I reach the point of having a complete brit load out, I've been thinking, well the devil is in the detail. I'm not necessarily just using it for airsofting but for use in 40's weekends too.

So I have a couple questions,

I've seen a couple of photos were the men have field dressings under there helmet nets, how common was this, I know its been discussed as regarding to the tanks but I wasn't too sure about us.

Also enfield No4 Breech covers, seen them on sof but never on any photos, were they used? Thought this would be a good way of covering the rather obvious silver cylinder and make it look a bit more usable.

Finally, where is the helmet kept while on the move, seen a few people with their mkII strapped to their small pack, hanging at the side, while wearing large pack, and then some strapped just to the large pack, is it the case that both was done or is one more right than the other?

Thanks in advance, been a great help thus far everyone

I've seen a couple of photos were the men have field dressings under there helmet nets, how common was this, I know its been discussed as regarding to the tanks but I wasn't too sure about us. Not as common as re-enactors would have you think. It was done but mostly from what I can see with the MkIII turtle helmet. That might be because post Overlord operations are my main thing.

Also enfield No4 Breech covers, seen them on sof but never on any photos, were they used? Thought this would be a good way of covering the rather obvious silver cylinder and make it look a bit more usable. Not really a combat accessory, you cant work the bolt when it fitted.

Finally, where is the helmet kept while on the move, seen a few people with their mkII strapped to their small pack, hanging at the side, while wearing large pack, and then some strapped just to the large pack, is it the case that both was done or is one more right than the other? Large pack was the normal site for the helmet if not being worn in marching order.

I've seen a couple of photos were the men have field dressings under there helmet nets, how common was this, I know its been discussed as regarding to the tanks but I wasn't too sure about us. Not as common as re-enactors would have you think. It was done but mostly from what I can see with the MkIII turtle helmet. That might be because post Overlord operations are my main thing.

Also enfield No4 Breech covers, seen them on sof but never on any photos, were they used? Thought this would be a good way of covering the rather obvious silver cylinder and make it look a bit more usable. Not really a combat accessory, you cant work the bolt when it fitted.

Finally, where is the helmet kept while on the move, seen a few people with their mkII strapped to their small pack, hanging at the side, while wearing large pack, and then some strapped just to the large pack, is it the case that both was done or is one more right than the other? Large pack was the normal site for the helmet if not being worn in marching order.

Thanks for that Poacher, I expected it would be large pack, and as regard to the breech cover I was thinking of using it for themed weekends, like North Thoresby. Just so I can use my airsoft rifle as a plausible prop.
Cheers

Poacher is right breech cover is not for when you need instant access to your rifle. They are seen when troops are in marching order and the troops including commando's are commonly seen with them fitted when embarking for Normandy.

I will be in marching order when I was thinking of using it, questions answered, cheers Lads!

wrt the helmet and large pack, it sort of slides between those external thin straps although if there is space I suppose you could put it inside too.

Cheers
Martin

We've use the airsoft No4s (and Garands, and Carbines, and Thompsons, and 30. Cal MGs) at re-enactment stuff without any problem at all.

and as regard to the breech cover I was thinking of using it for themed weekends, like North Thoresby. Just so I can use my airsoft rifle as a plausible prop.

When I had a No4 I tried this. It didn't work as the position and size of the cocking handle meant that the cover was too small. You may have the same problem, you may not.

I had a teflon cylinder in my No4, it wasn't as shiney as the standard one and looked better for use as a prop at public events. Teflon cylinders are expensive mind...

hey guys,

iv had a incomplete sten gun from shootnscoot for a few years now i believe the brand is agm...and alot of the bits for it are missing..cocking handle mag realise...even the mag just wondering if you know .....

a. if i can get any of the parts after market?

b. and if the sten mk 5s all had a front grip (seeing as it would b easier too semi with more room in the rear stock i think this version wud b the best option) i google searched sten mk5 and a few pictures dont seem too have the front grip....

b. warime sten MkVs had the front forgrip. Post war it was removed.

may i ask why out of curiosity ? i thought it was there so they wouldnt get their pinkies nipped off by the breech?

according to the 'bible', Weapons of the WWII Tommy by D B Gordon, there were a variety of problems; it could unscrew the barrel nut causing misfires, the grip would work loose and could make the weapon harder to control and over-tightening of the retaining bolt to try and cure these would result in the wood splitting, according to Gordon the front grip was declared obsolete in June 1945.

With regard to spare parts, is your sten an early S&S using an AK gearbox if so the best place to ask is S&S.

interesting stuff thanks! nah afraid its the later version

i thought it was there so they wouldnt get their pinkies nipped off by the breech?

I have been fortunate enough to fire a real Sten and the approved grip seems to be to hold the magazine braced against the muzzle rising (which surprised me, I thought you'd hold the magwell). So on a foregripless Mark V, fingers would be well out of the way.

Cheers
Martin