How common were Sten bandoliers? Looking in my new book The World War II Tommy (or whatever it is), I see a picture of a para with MK II pouches and with a Sten bandolier over the top. Is that typical?
You've got nothing to ein, zwei, drei, vier
I'm not sure, but I don't think they were actually that common to be honest.
I see a picture of a para with MK II pouches and with a Sten bandoleer over the top.
How can you tell they are MkII pouches? 1/2" is not easy to spot. 
The MkIII was designed with that extra height to take the sten mag.
Dont fall into the trap that 'the MkIII was the one with the QR fastening'. Eventually it was but the initial MkIII production was with press stud.
The use of basic pouches, whatever the Mk, is, for combat troops/infantry, almost universal. Bandoleers, be they sten or the more common .303 type, were worn over the basic equipment to supplement the ammo carried.
The use of the Sten bandoleer outside of airborne troops is, as the others have said, a very rare thing. I've not seen an example of it being worn by non Airborne.
So to answer your question....
For a Sten armed member of the Airborne forces it is typical to see them with basic pouches and a bandoleer.
aka Stigroadie
AFRA
better by design
"Truth is a shining goddess, always veiled, always distant, never wholly approachable, but worthy of all the devotion of which the human spirit is capable. "
How can you tell they are MkII pouches? 1/2" is not easy to spot.
You're right there - despite extensive searching / matching at Sabre yesterday, I somehow managed to come back with one of each. 
Some of the Mk IIIs looked a lot bigger, but this one didn't. 
Maybe if I walk diagonally, the perspective will make them look the same size.
Anyway, back to bandoliers - thanks. I'll not bother with one.
You've got nothing to ein, zwei, drei, vier
How common were Sten bandoliers? Looking in my new book The World War II Tommy (or whatever it is), I see a picture of a para with MK II pouches and with a Sten bandolier over the top. Is that typical?
The only person I know with one of those is "deathcoreairsoft". I have never actually seen a british troop wearing one
GUNS: (ww2)
AGM sten mkII
Classic Army Colt 1911A1 GBB pistol
ARES PPSh-41
Deact Mosin M38
You've got nothing to ein, zwei, drei, vier
You'll also find Sten bandoliers only really prevalent in 6th Airborne Div. Nearly every pic i've seen of them in use is either Normandy o Varsity. I'm pretty sure I've not actually ever seen an Arnhem pic of them in use with 1st Div.
"I think we are in rats' alley - Where the dead men lost their bones."
