Sten smg in north Africa.

Does anyone have a reliable information about the use of the Sten in the north African front? From what I know it started the production in 1941 and war on Africa stoped in 1943, but I don't see any picture or information about the Sten on Africa!

 

Hello Adreilcz! Welcome to the Forums! I unfortunately am not aware of extensive use of the Sten in Africa. I'm sure there might have been some use, but the Desert Rats used Thompson Sub-machine guns because they were readily available in large numbers and were good firearms (Not for the long range firefights of Africa's desert though I would assume).

 

Deployment in North Africa occurred, but was limited to British airborne units.

As far as I know, the first deployment of the Sten outside of Home Guard issue and commando operations (first use was on the Bruneval raid, under the leadership of John Frost) was by 3rd Parachute Battalion on November 12 1942 in a drop on Bone Airfield in northeastern Tunisia. This was followed 4 days later by a drop on Beja in northern Tunisia by the 1st Parachute Battalion. Both drops were unopposed. 2nd Parachute Battalion staged a drop 2 days later on Depienne/Oudna airfields in northeastern Tunisia and suffered heavy casualties. All units continued to fight in the theatre as regular infantry through to mid April 1943.

It appears Stens did not become common issue in the MTO until mid to late 1943.

 

Thanks for the information guys!

 

Had a look through IWM collection & found a photo of an RAF Regt chap with a Sten in Libya but there is no date, sorry.

A corporal of an RAF Regiment anti-aircraft flight sits on an ammunition box outside his tent to clean his Sten gun at an airfield in Libya.

ROYAL AIR FORCE: OPERATIONS IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA, 1939-1943.. © IWM (CM 4296)IWM Non Commercial Licence