Welgun

Infobox Weapon
name=Welgun


caption=
origin=flagcountry|United Kingdom
type=Submachine gun
is_ranged=yes
is_UK=yes
service=trials only
used_by=United Kingdom
wars=World War II
designer=F.T. Bridgman
design_date=1942
manufacturer=BSA
production_date=1943
number=prototypes
variants=
weight=
length=
part_length=
cartridge=9x19mm Parabellum
action=Blowback, Open bolt
rate=~500 round/min
velocity= convert| 365|m/s|0|lk=on|sp=us|abbr=on
feed=32-rd detachable box magazine
sights=

The Welgun was a prototype submachine gun developed by the British irregular warfare organisation, the Special Operations Executive. Although it performed well in tests, it was never adopted, and was produced in small numbers only.

Development

When issuing arms to resistance fighters throughout Europe, SOE favoured short-range, rapid fire weapons which required little training to use, or maintenance in the field. Initially, they favoured the crude and cheap Sten gun, but this weapon perhaps went too far in the directions of cheapness and simplicity. Early marks were notoriously unreliable and prone to accidental discharges, and some were so badly manufactured that they were issued to resistance fighters with "burrs" in the barrel or working parts which might even cause the weapon to explode when fired. [M.R.D. Foot, "SOE", British Broadcasting Corporation, 1984, ISBN 0563201932, pp.75-76]

SOE's research department, the "Inter Services Research Bureau" at Station IX in the Frythe, a former hotel outside Welwyn Garden City, sought a weapon more suited to the organisation's needs in early 1942. They had already produced the prototype Norm Gun (named after its inventor, Eric Norman [Frederick Boyce and Douglas Everett, "SOE: The Scientific Secrets", Sutton Publishing, 2003, ISBN 0750940050, p.102] ) but this was too expensive for large-scale manufacture.

A cheaper alternative was produced by F.T. Bridgman. Various other official bodies, and the Birmingham Small Arms factory also had input. In early 1943, Sir Charles Hambro, the head of the SOE, sought permission to have the weapon put into large-scale production. Six pre-production models were tested against comparative weapons, such as the Sten Mk. IV. The Welgun was less reliable in poor operating conditions such as mud or dust, ironically because the first models had been made with too close tolerances.Boyce and Everett, "SOE: The Scientific Secrets", p.103] . It was however, more accurate and easier to use. Later pre-production models had more generous tolerances and were as reliable as the Sten under conditions of deliberate abuse. Various Allied commando or Army organisations were enthusiastic about the weapon.

In the event, the Sten Mk. IV was chosen for mass production over the Welgun. (Ironically, it did not enter widespread service either.) No official reason for the Welgun's rejection has survived. [Boyce and Everett, "SOE: The Scientific Secrets", p.104]

Design and Characteristics

The weapon was a fairly conventional blowback design. It used the same 9mm Parabellum cartridge as the Sten. Since this round was also used by the Axis, resistance fighters could obtain ammunition from enemy sources. It used the same 32-round single-feed magazine as the Sten, a potential source of trouble as this design was unreliable in service. The magazine fed vertically, rather than sideways as in the Sten.

The Welgun had a folding stock. When this was folded to lie over the barrel and body of the gun, the overall length of the weapon was barely 10 inches, allowing easy carriage and concealment. The Welgun also had a wooden pistol grip, and vestigial wooden foregrip, which contributed to its accuracy and balance.

Name

The "Wel-" prefix to the weapon's name derives from Welwyn Garden City, near Station IX's location. The prefix identified several weapons and other equipment designed or produced by this establishment, such as the Welrod assassination weapon.

References

External links

* [http://www.edsombra.com/edsombra/Comandos/comandos-ayudas.asp?seccion=3&articulo=14 Link to Spanish language site, with image of weapon]