S.M.G. POUCHES

There were three coded Magazine pouches, the second of which comes in two sizes (possibly even Marks), making four variants in all. All were constructed in the same way, all in green webbing of slightly differing shades and with Patt. ’44 type Quick Release Fasteners (QRF). As any of these can be encountered, all are described below, though only the second to fourth relate to Patt. ’58. Being “un-patterned”, they could have been used with Patt. ’44 as well.

 

Stores Ref. EXP / CN / 1569  POUCH, AMMUNITION, S.M.C.

The actual nomenclature is not known, so the second example’s has been “borrowed”. The Sterling was introduced in 1955 and was referred to as a Sub Machine Gun, alongside the Sten Machine Carbine. As contract documentation, concerning this Pouch, specifically mentions the Sten Gun, “S.M.C.” - the Sten Machine Carbine - has been appended.

All examples so far noted were made in 1955, by a company using only “M” as a marking. They are also all in mint condition, since they were never issued. The code is for Trials purposes, the EXP assumed to translate as Experimental. Two pockets were assembled on a common backing, each with a plain flap fastened with a brass QRF, there being no further attempt at weatherproofing the contents. The flap ends were square, the cut edges protected by a tape edging, with the mouth of each pocket similarly protected. A belt loop was stitched to the back of each pocket.

There was just one problem – every one had been manufactured ½-inch too short, so the Sten magazines would not fit!! From the Carl Woods Collection. Photograph © Carl Woods, 2013.

 

Stores Ref. CN 1459 POUCH, MAGAZINE, S.M.G., Mk. 1

The L1A1 Sub Machine Gun (we’d gone American and dropped “Machine Carbine”) had been introduced in 1955 and, unlike the wartime design, its magazines were now curved.

We are indebted to KWRT Carl Woods who, when asked to supply photographs of EXP / CN / 1569, retrieved all his examples of S.M.G. Pouches. He then noted that an early (date obscured) CN 1459 would not take a Sterling magazine, whereas a 1964 dated example did, albeit as a tight fight. This would seem evidence for early examples being the “Mark 1”, the QR Staple position used on EXP 1569 being altered to a higher position, to give greater accommodation. However, the 1960 edition of C.C.N. also quotes Pouch, magazine, Mk. 2, so the de facto  Mark 1 may yet be the failed EXP design above. The case is “Non Proven”, as the Scots might term it! From the Carl Woods Collection. Photographs © Carl Woods, 2013.

 

 

Stores Ref. CN 1459 POUCH, MAGAZINE, S.M.G., Mk. 2
Stores Ref. CN 8465-99-973-6261 POUCH, MAGAZINE, S.M.G., Mk. 2

If the above speculation for a Mark 1 Pouch is true, then a reason exists for a Mark 2 version of the same code. The modification for Mark 1 was plainly insufficient and this example by MECo, made in 1964 - which has to be a Mark 2 – has been made physically longer.

Its QRFs were now black anodised aluminium, again of Patt. ’44 forms, like the later S.A.S. items would use. The earliest example noted is the 1964 example illustrated, which still had a CN code, although the 1960 edition of C.C.N. listed the Pouch Mk. 2, which means it could be used with Patt. ’58 W.E.. The nomenclature should also mean that this was Sterling-specific and rusty witness marks confirm its use in this role. Under the NSN coding system, the code changed as shown above, though no example has yet been seen with this code.

It might be thought that the Sterling magazine was shorter, by virtue of its curvature. As can be seen, this is not the case. At left are Sten magazines, Sterling on the right, in this comparative shot on the right. The off-set rust marks show that this Pouch was used for Sterling magazines. From the Mark Palmer Collection. Photographs © Mark Palmer, 2013.

 

Another example, dated 1964. From the Carl Woods Collection. Photographs © Carl Woods, 2013.

 

 

 

 

 

Stores Ref. CN 8465-99-136-1905 POUCH, AMMUNITION, STIRLING (sic) MACHINE GUN (sic)

This still larger Pouch was not listed in the 1965 C.C.N. Section CN, appearing between the 1970 and 1976 C.O.S.A. editions. The spelling should be noted, as it is an exact rendition from COSAs. The Army cannot even spell their weapon names correctly, quite apart from placing it in an over-ambitious weapon grouping! It should be the Sterling, a very late war design from Mr. Patchett, which was manufactured by Sterling Engineering. The same linked double pocket Carrier was now manufactured in a still larger size, but was otherwise identical to CN 1459, with the same Patt. ’44 QRFs. This example was made by M.W.& S. in 1974. Though straight, the pockets also had increased width to allow for their curved contents. The “set” - due to prolonged use - is therefore less marked. The photo at right shows Sten magazines in a 2nd Issue CN 1459, with a -1509 on the right. Pouches from the Mark Palmer Collection. Photographs © Mark Palmer, 2013.

 

Another example, again by M.W. & S. and made in 1977, from the Carl Woods Collection. Photographs © Carl Woods 2013.

 

 

 

 

The four distinct issues are illustrated at left, EXP 1569 on the left extending to 8465-99-136-1905 on the right. The early CN 1459, 2nd from left, has its QR Staple raised slightly, but still with the same size of flap. Third from left, a late issue CN 1459 has the pocket bodies lengthened, the QR Staple is moved up again and the flaps are longer. The final issue on the right has pockets and flaps lengthened still further and the QR Staple is raised yet again. Its body is also slightly wider, so the curved Sterling magazine distorts it less than the CN 1459 third from left.

 

 

 

The same Pouch group shows variation in the position of the belt loops and their lengths. At extreme left, EXP 1569 has narrow loops, second left has wider loops, set slightly higher, but of the same belt accommodation. Third left has the loops moved up still further, whilst at extreme right, -136-1509 has loops of greater strap accommodation and which are positioned higher again.

 

 

 

 

This side view of the group, EXP 1569 at left, -1509 at right, shows the construction to good advantage. It all seems reminiscent of Goldilocks, but going one better! EXPN 1569 had been too small, early CN 1459 was still not big enough, but later CN 1459 was still not equal to the task, so -136-1509 - the fourth attempt - was just right at last! Note also the orientation of the magazines, some being shown mouth uppermost. With no side protection from the weather, it made more sense to carry magazines with their baseplates uppermost – which also made them easier to insert / extract. Pouch groups from the Carl Woods Collection. Photographs © Carl Woods, 2012.

First introduced as the Patchett Machine Carbine in 1944, it played second fiddle to the Sten Machine Carbine Mark 5, until the revised Sterling appeared in 1955. Much later, the SA 80, or L85A1, obviated the need for an SMG and the Sterling was made obsolete in 1994.