View source for Lanchester submachine gun

{{use dmy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox weapon
| name               = Lanchester
| image              = File:Lanchester SMG Mk.1.jpg
| image_size         = 300
| caption            = Lanchester Mk.1
| origin             = United Kingdom
| type               = [[Submachine gun]]
<!-- Type selection -->| is_ranged          = yes
| is_bladed          = 
| is_explosive       = 
| is_artillery       = 
| is_vehicle         = 
| is_UK              = yes
<!-- Service history -->| service            = 1941–1960
| used_by            = See [[#Users|Users]]
| wars               = [[World War II]]<br />[[Indonesian National Revolution]]<ref name="mcnab2002"/><br />[[Malayan Emergency]]<ref name="nationalinterest" /><br />[[Mau Mau rebellion]]<ref name="nationalinterest" /><br />[[Rhodesian Bush War]]<br />[[Suez Crisis]]<ref name="wwiiafterwwii.wordpress.com">{{cite web|title=Lanchester submachine gun: post-WWII use|date=4 October 2015|url=https://wwiiafterwwii.wordpress.com/2015/10/04/lanchester-submachine-gun-post-wwii-use/|website=wwiiafterwwii.wordpress.com}}</ref><br />[[Dominican Civil War]]<br />[[Nigerian Civil War]]<br />[[2023 Israel-Hamas war]]
<!-- Production history -->| designer           = [[George Lanchester]]
| design_date        = 1940
| manufacturer       = [[Sterling Armaments Company]]
| production_date    = 1941–1943
| number             = 
| variants           = Mk.I, Mk.I*
<!-- General specifications -->| weight             = {{convert|9.57|lb|kg|1|abbr=on}}
| length             = {{convert|33.5|in|mm|1|abbr=on}}
| part_length        = {{convert|8|in|mm|1|abbr=on}}
| width              = 
| height             = 
| crew               = <!-- Ranged weapon specifications -->
| cartridge          = [[9×19mm Parabellum]]
| caliber            = 
| action             = [[Blowback (firearms)|Blowback]], [[Open bolt]]
| rate               = 600 round/min
| velocity           = {{convert|1,245| ft/s|abbr=on}}
| range              = {{convert|150|m|abbr=on}}
| max_range          = 
| feed               = 32- or 50-round detachable [[Magazine (firearms)#Box|box magazine]]
| sights             = Front blade; rear adjustable
<!-- Artillery specifications -->| breech             = 
| recoil             = 
| carriage           = 
| elevation          = 
| traverse           = <!-- Bladed weapon specifications -->
| blade_type         = 
| hilt_type          = 
| head_type          = 
| haft_type          = <!-- Explosive specifications -->
| diameter           = 
| filling            = 
| filling_weight     = 
| detonation         = 
| yield              = 
}}

The '''Lanchester''' is a [[submachine gun]] ("machine carbine") manufactured by the [[Sterling Armaments Company]] between 1941 and 1945. It is an evolution from [[MP 18#Evolution|MP28/II]] and was manufactured in two versions, Mk.1 and Mk.1*; the latter was a simplified version of the original Mk.1, with no fire selector and simplified sights. It was primarily used by the [[Royal Navy during the Second World War]], and to a lesser extent by the [[Royal Air Force Regiment]] (for airfield protection). It was given the general designation of Lanchester after [[George Lanchester]], who was charged with producing the weapon at the Sterling Armaments Company.

==History==
Following the [[Battle of Dunkirk|Dunkirk]] evacuation in 1940, the [[Royal Air Force]] decided it required a [[submachine gun]] for [[airfield]] defence. With no time available for the usual research and development of a new weapon, it was decided to create a gun based on the German [[MP 18#Evolution|MP 28]], after looking at two examples from Ethiopia.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.forgottenweapons.com/mp-28-hugo-schmeisser-improves-the-mp18/ | title=MP-28: Hugo Schmeisser Improves the MP18 | date=22 August 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite tweet|user=Royal_Armouries|number=1460579437649539075|title=The GB military's view on submachine guns in 1939 was that they were a 'gangster' weapon. }}</ref> The [[British Admiralty]] decided to join with the RAF in adopting the new weapon, and played a key role in its design. Ultimately, it was within the Royal Navy that most of the Lanchesters that were produced went into service.<ref name="Atlas-fr">{{cite encyclopedia|title=Lanchester|language=fr | encyclopedia =Encyclopédie des armes : Les forces armées du monde|publisher=Atlas|year=1986|page=26|volume=I|number=2. Les pistolets-mitrailleurs 1939-1945}}</ref>

It was given the general designation of Lanchester after George Herbert Lanchester, who was charged with producing the weapon at the [[Sterling Armaments Company]], the same company that later produced the [[Sterling submachine gun]].<ref name="Atlas-fr"/>

The Lanchester was envisioned as a weapon used for guarding prisoners and accompanying naval landing and assault parties. It was a very solid, well-made submachine gun of high-quality materials, in many ways the complete opposite of its direct contemporary, the [[Sten gun|Sten]].<ref name="Atlas-fr"/>

The Lanchester had a heavy wooden butt and [[Stock (firearms)|stock]], which was for simplicity copied from the British [[Lee–Enfield#Short Magazine Lee–Enfield Mk I|SMLE service rifle]], a machined-steel action and breech block, a [[Magazine (firearms)|magazine]] housing made from solid [[brass]]<ref name="Atlas-fr"/> (later steel) and a mounting on the muzzle for use of a long-bladed [[Pattern 1907 bayonet|1907 bayonet]]. The rifling differed from the German original in details to accommodate various lots of 9mm ammunition then being acquired for service use.

Produced in two versions, Mk.1 and Mk.1*. The Mk.1* was a simplified version of the original Mk.1, which omitted the fire mode selector (full automatic only) and used simplified sights.<ref name="Atlas-fr"/>

==Production==
[[File:Fighting in the Dark. 2 January 1943, Liverpool, the Navy's Lanchester Gun Fitted With Illumination Attachment For Night Operation. A13831.jpg|thumb|A Lanchester gun fitted with an early version of a [[tactical light]] in a Royal Navy experiment from 1943.]]

The first contract of 13 June 1941 produced an initial 50,000 Lanchesters that were nearly all for the Royal Navy use. The British Army by now had supplies of the relatively expensive US-produced [[Thompson submachine gun|Thompson SMG]], whereas the RAF had chosen to instead test the [[Smith & Wesson Model 1940 Light Rifle|S&W Model 1940 Light Rifle]] (also US-produced, chambered in 9mm), whose use was not adopted and was mostly discarded.

The final contract was issued on 9 October 1943. Production averaged 3,410 units per month over 28 months. According to contract records, Sterling was to have made guns serially numbered from 1 to 9999, then (S) A1 to about A64580. Certain numbers of Mk.1 were modified later in the war and designated Mk.1*, the key differences being the removal of the fire-selector switch and addition of simplified rear sights. This modification makes it difficult to ascertain exactly the production runs for each model.

There were four Lanchester assembly plants, though Lanchester assembly contracts were actually awarded to only three firms. Sterling assembly of the Lanchester was split between the Sterling Engineering Company Ltd in [[Dagenham]] (code S109), and the Sterling Armaments Company in [[Northampton]] (code M619).

Quantities produced:
*Sterling (two factories; codes S109 and M619): approx. 74,579.
*[[W. W. Greener|Greener]] (code M94): approx. 16,990.
*Boss (code S156): approx. 3,900.

Some early version do not appear to be code marked at all except by the serial number prefix of "S", "A", or "SA". Pieces marked with the "A" prefix lacked perfect interchangeability and often required hand fitting of components.

==Markings==
The year of manufacture of any particular Lanchester can be found stamped in small almost indistinguishable numbers next to the crossed flags military proof mark on the top of the rearmost magazine housing flange.

Sterling-made MK.1 Lanchester guns are marked on top of the magazine housing as follows:
*LANCHESTER
*MK.I
*SA.
*XXXX

("S" indicates Sterling manufacture and "A" indicates serial number prefix)

==Operation==
The Lanchester is an open-bolt, self-loading [[Blowback (firearms)|blowback]]-operated weapon with a [[Selective fire|selective-fire]] option (located in front of the [[Trigger (firearms)|trigger]]) on early versions. A tubular receiver was attached to the front of the wooden stock, which could be pivoted [[Gun barrel|barrel]] down for maintenance and disassembly. The wooden stock was patterned after that of the [[Lee–Enfield|Lee–Enfield rifle]], and a bayonet lug centred below the [[Muzzle (firearms)|muzzle]] accepted the [[Pattern 1907 bayonet|Pattern 1907 sword-bayonet]] as used on the Lee–Enfield No. 1 Mk. III* (previously called the S.M.L.E.)

It used a straight 50-round magazine containing [[9×19mm Parabellum]] cartridges (special pouches were produced to hold three magazines each) which fit into the magazine housing from the left, with spent cartridges ejected on the right. It was interchangeable with the shorter 32-round Sten magazine. A magazine loading tool was needed to load both 32- and 50-round magazines more easily. One of the two magazine pouches had a special pocket on the front for this loader.

Mk.1s featured a front blade sight with adjustable rifle-type sights, marked between 100 and 600 yards. Mk.1* featured a much simplified flip-up sight marked 100 or 200 yards.

Manual safety is made in the form of locking cut, made in the receiver, which engages the bolt handle to lock bolt in [[Open bolt|open (cocked) position]]. It proved notoriously susceptible to accidental discharge if the weapon were dropped.<ref name="Atlas-fr"/> For cleaning, the weapon had a brass oiler bottle and pull through held inside the butt stock (similar to the Lee–Enfield rifle).

==Service==
[[File:Militair in stelling met een Lanchester machinepistool, Bestanddeelnr 10816.jpg|thumb|right|Dutch soldier deployed to Indonesia with Lanchester SMG, 1947.]]
The Lanchester was in service with the Royal Navy, [[Royal Canadian Navy]] and other Empire navies throughout the war and for some decades after. The last examples left Royal Naval service in the 1970s and are now collector's items.

A large number of Lanchesters were subsequently sold off to foreign nations. These are often marked with two [[broad arrow]]s, point-to-point (appearing as a six-pointed star), stamped just before the serial number. This symbol is sometimes accompanied by the letter "S" and denotes "Sold out of Service".

During the resistance war against France, Vietnam used a number of Lanchester submachine guns, probably from captured war booty or purchased through secret channels from Thailand and Malaysia.<ref>{{Cite web |last=VCCorp.vn |date=2013-05-06 |title=“Kho” súng tiểu liên đa dạng của Việt Nam |url=https://soha.vn/quan-su/kho-sung-tieu-lien-da-dang-cua-viet-nam-20130506193046012.htm |access-date=2025-06-06 |website=Soha |language=vi}}</ref>

A number were acquired by Chile, Egypt and Argentina after purchasing former Royal Navy warships; those were often sold as “complete package” with everything aboard including the weapons locker.<ref name="wwiiafterwwii.wordpress.com" />

[[File:Gaza envelope after coordinated surprise offensive on Israel, October 2023 (KBG GPO01).jpg|thumb|Lanchester SMG caught after the Be'eri massacre]]
During the [[Gaza war]], a Lanchester was spotted in a weapons cache seized from slain Hamas fighters by the Israel Defense Forces.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-MhtPqv-iw | title=Large Hamas weapons cache seized by IDF showcases firepower | website=[[YouTube]] | date=15 October 2023 }}</ref> It was used during the [[Be'eri massacre]] as well.

==Users==
*{{flag|Argentina}}<ref name="wwiiafterwwii.wordpress.com"/>
*{{flag|Australia}}<ref name="wwiiafterwwii.wordpress.com"/>
*{{flag|Biafra}}<ref>{{cite book|last=Jowett|first=Philip|title=Modern African Wars (5): The Nigerian-Biafran War 1967-70|date=2016|publisher=[[Osprey Publishing]]|page=46|location=Oxford|isbn=978-1472816092}}</ref>
*{{flag|Chile}}:In service until the 1970s<ref name="wwiiafterwwii.wordpress.com"/>
*{{flag|Canada}}:In service with the [[Royal Canadian Navy]] until the 1960s<ref name="nationalinterest">{{Cite web |last=Suciu |first=Peter |date=2020-06-29 |title=During World War II the British Copied an Old German Machine Gun Design |url=https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/during-world-war-ii-british-copied-old-german-machine-gun-design-163662 |access-date=2022-12-29 |website=The National Interest |language=en}}</ref>
*{{flag|Cyprus}}
*{{flag|Dominican Republic}}: Bought by the Dominican Army in the 1950s; used by the Constitutionalists in the [[Dominican Civil War]] of 1965.<ref name="wwiiafterwwii.wordpress.com" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dale |first=Ashley |date=2011-07-07 |title=Arms of the Dominican Republic |url=https://www.firearmsnews.com/editorial/arms-of-the-dominican-republic/78572 |access-date=2022-09-14 |website=Firearms News |language=en}}</ref>
*{{flag|Egypt}}:Inherited from British forces after independence; more were purchased between 1946 and 1947. Used by frontline military units until 1967. In 1969 remaining Lanchesters were transferred to the [[Central Security Forces]]; they remained in service with police until the 1980s.<ref name="wwiiafterwwii.wordpress.com"/>
*{{flag|Greece}} [[Hellenic Navy]]
*{{flag|Indonesia}} (captured from Dutch Forces)
*{{flag|Myanmar}}:Retired.<ref>{{cite book|isbn=978-981-230-848-1 |title=Building the Tatmadaw: Myanmar Armed Forces Since 1948|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/272092747|last=Maung|first= Aung Myoe|year=2009|publisher=Institute of Southeast Asian Studies }}</ref>
*{{flag|Netherlands}}<ref name="mcnab2002"/>
**{{flag|Dutch East Indies}}<ref name="mcnab2002">{{cite book |last=McNab |first=Chris|title=20th Century Military Uniforms |date=2002 |edition=2nd |publisher=Grange Books |location=Kent |isbn=978-1-84013-476-6|page=178}}</ref>
*{{flag|New Zealand}}<ref name="wwiiafterwwii.wordpress.com"/>
*{{flag|United Kingdom}}<ref name="mcnab2002"/>
*{{flag|Hamas}}

==See also==
* [[Sten]]
* [[PPSh-41]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.securityarms.com/20010315/galleryfiles/1100/1112.htm Lanchester Mark 1 SMG (British)] image at Security Arms
* [http://world.guns.ru/smg/smg84-e.htm Lanchester Mk.1] at Modern Firearms
* {{YouTube|id=9Ns2lv3b_p4|title=Lanchester MkI: Britain's First Emergency SMG}}

{{Sterling Armaments Company Ltd}}
{{WW2_Brit_Comm_Infantry Guns}}
{{BritishEmpireWeapons}}

[[Category:Submachine guns of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:World War II infantry weapons of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:World War II submachine guns]]
[[Category:Infantry weapons of the Cold War]]
[[Category:9mm Parabellum submachine guns]]
[[Category:Weapons and ammunition introduced in 1941]]