Lee-Enfield No. 5 Jungle Carbine
Royal Small Arms Factory · Carbine · Discontinued · 1944
Also known as: Rifle No. 5 Mk I, Jungle Carbine, Lee-Enfield No. 5 Mk I
Overview
The Lee-Enfield No. 5 Jungle Carbine is a bolt-action repeating service carbine, a shortened and lightened development of the .303 British Rifle No. 4 introduced in 1944 for jungle and airborne use. It featured a 477 mm barrel fitted with a distinctive conical flash eliminator, a cut-down fore-end, a lightened receiver, and a rubber recoil pad to soften the increased felt recoil. Produced at ROF Fazakerley and the BSA Shirley plant, it served late in the Second World War, the Malayan Emergency, and the Korean War before being declared obsolete in 1947 due to an inherent 'wandering zero' accuracy defect.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3200 g (112.9 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1003 mm (39.49") |
| Barrel Length | 477 mm (18.78") |
| Action Type | Bolt Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Striker Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 10 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 744 m/s (2441 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 3120 J (2301 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 500 m (547 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 1300 m (1422 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 25 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Left Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 254 mm (10.00") |
| Number of Grooves | 5 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .303 British · primary — also known as .303 Mk VII, 7.7x56mmR, .303 Enfield
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine, Stripper Clip
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety Lever
- Features: Conical Flash Eliminator, Rubber Recoil Pad, Lightened Receiver, Shortened Fore End, Charger Loading, Blade Bayonet Lug
Base model
Service history
Operators
- British Armed Forces · adopted 1944 · as Rifle No. 5 Mk I
- Australian Army
Conflicts
- World War II (1944-1945)
- Malayan Emergency (1948-1960)
- Korean War (1950-1953)
Production
Estimated total produced: 251,136 · Production years: 1944-1947
Approximately 169,807 produced at ROF Fazakerley and 81,329 at the BSA Shirley plant.
Origin
Country of origin: United Kingdom
Designer: Royal Small Arms Factory
Discontinued: 1947
Notes
The No. 5's reputation suffered from a so-called 'wandering zero' in which the point of impact shifted unpredictably; the defect was judged inherent in the design, and the rifle was declared obsolete in July 1947. The sharp recoil and muzzle blast also made it less popular than the full-length No. 4.
Background
Nicknamed the 'Jungle Carbine,' the No. 5 was developed for the close-quarters fighting and airborne operations of the late Pacific and European campaigns, where the full-length No. 4 was unwieldy. Despite its handy size and iconic flash eliminator, the rifle's persistent 'wandering zero' ended its career within three years of introduction.