SMLE No.5 Jungle Carbine

Never.
The Rifle No.5 Mk1was made in the late '40s. Production began in March 1944, and finished in December 1947.

Have a look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jungle_Carbine
google is our friend.

cheers

looks like they had a knife style bayonet instead of the spike like on the SMLE, do you know if anyones tried an airsoft version?

Tom.

cheers

looks like they had a knife style bayonet instead of the spike like on the SMLE, do you know if anyones tried an airsoft version?

Tom.

I think you're getting your Lee Enfield's mixed up a little there.

The SMLE was primarily a WW1/early war weapon (though it saw service throughout the war, particularly in the Far East) that generally came with a sword style 1907 pattern bayonet.

The Lee Enfield No. 4 Mk I was the 'iconic' ww2 British rifle, and Iusually) came with a spike bayonet. (though knife variants were made)

The Lee Enfield No 5. Mk I was a jungle carbine which only saw limited use and ceased production not long after the war due to problems.

There are obviously plenty of airsoft Enfield No. 4's, I've got an Airsoft SMLE (and i think possibly one of the only ones). I dopn't think anyone's made a No.5 yet, purely as there's not been a game where it's ever likely to be usable.

Wikipedia can give you better details on different Lee Enfield models: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMLE#Short ... ield_Mk_II

of course, i keep thinking that the SMLE was the no4, what a numpty. cheers guys
im going to have a good read up on them

Tom.

The Wiki stuff isnt bad. There are some serious anorak books on the enfield series but unless you want to know the name of the chap who fitted the front sight cover the wiki will do you fine.

And I was informed by a reliable source on British kit at Husky that these never saw action in NWE despite being sure I had seen pictures of them in use.

fred, i,v got the book mate grate pic and what a grate bit of family history there, just grate

grate book and i think i only got it because of that one pic ,

Good stuff Fred but what do you mean by 'Ranger jacket'?
The Rangers wore standard infantry issue kit, sometimes adding a bit of Gucci kit like jump boots. Ranger jacket and Ranger trousers could mean M41 jacket or HBT trousers, HBT jacket and wool pants. It's just standard kit.
I think the FSSF sometines wore the Mountain issue kit, could it be that?

Sorry for any confusion, my point was more that rules often don't apply and that American, and for that matter German, uniform and kit was used by British forces.

Usually out of the line.

You'd be a right chopper to wear enemy uniform on the front line.

German winter parkas were worn by REMF and other troops in the rear in the winter of 44.

Also that pic of a brit sniper in the ss smock is often believed to be on manouvres in the UK (possibly playing opfor), the other rational is that if hes captured he's dead anyway and he'd be nowhere near his own men so it was less of a worry.

I've not heard of No5's being used in the UK but im sure there are some exceptional cases.. by and large it was a pretty unpopular weapon (short range, massive muzzle flash and hefty recoil) so I cant see why anyone woudl swap their no4 for it... if you wanted to save weight then the usual route was to aquire an m1 carbine or sten.