Austen Mk II
Diecasters Ltd / W. T. Carmichael Ltd · Submachine Gun · Discontinued · 1943
Also known as: Austen submachine gun, Austen Machine Carbine
Overview
The Austen Mk II is an Australian open-bolt, blowback submachine gun chambered in 9x19mm Parabellum, produced during the Second World War. A refined and more extensively die-cast development of the Mk I, the Austen blended the receiver and barrel layout of the British Sten with the folding stock and telescoping-spring bolt of the German MP38/MP40. Only around 200 Mk II examples were built before the war's end, and the design was never adopted in quantity, with Australian troops generally preferring the locally made Owen gun.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3980 g (140.4 oz) |
| Overall Length | 845 mm (33.27") |
| Folded Length | 552 mm (21.73") |
| Barrel Length | 198 mm (7.80") |
| Action Type | Blowback |
| Firing Mechanism | Open Bolt |
| Trigger Type | Select Fire |
| Magazine Capacity | 28 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 366 m/s (1201 fps) |
| Effective Range | 100 m (109 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 500 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Steel |
| Finish | Phosphate |
Calibers
- 9x19mm Parabellum · primary · 9mm NATO — also known as 9mm Luger, 9mm NATO, 9x19mm
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic, Full Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Bolt Safety Slot
- Features: Folding Stock, Side Mounted Magazine, Forward Pistol Grip, Die Cast Construction
Service history
Operators
- Australian Army · adopted 1942 · as Austen
- Royal Netherlands East Indies Army · adopted 1945
Conflicts
- World War II (1942-1945)
Production
Estimated total produced: 200 · Production years: 1943-1945
Approximately 200 Mk II units built, compared with 19,914 Mk I; total Austen production around 20,000
Origin
Country of origin: Australia
Discontinued: 1945
Notes
The Mk II replaced much of the Mk I's tubular construction with die-cast aluminium-alloy housings around the pistol grips and magazine, intended to simplify mass production. It was not adopted for general service.
Background
The Austen's name is a portmanteau of 'Australian Sten', reflecting its Sten ancestry. Despite combining Sten and MP40 features into a more refined package, it lost out to the cheaper, simpler, and more soldier-trusted Owen gun and was largely sidelined by the end of the war.