Sten.

This is coolbert:

Here is a favorite of mine. The Sten gun.

A British development during World War Two [WW2].

Designed from the start as a cheap and dirty way to provide a lot of firepower to small units. Almost an expedient weapon, but became much more than that.

NOT an elegant weapon. But lethal.

[the Sten falls under the category of "crude but effective".]

And cheap too. It was calculated that such a sub-machine gun could be [and was] built for $8.

That is $8. Total. Amazing.

"They were notable for their simple design and comparatively low cost of production."

Also was designed to be manufactured by almost any machine shop. Simple, sloppy, but deadly.

"The Sten required a minimum amount of machining and manufacturing effort by using simple pressed metal components and minor welding. Much of the production could be performed by small workshops and the guns assembled at the Enfield site. Over the period of manufacture the Sten was further simplified, the most basic model, the Mark III, could be produced from five man-hours work."

Morphed into a number of variants. Each variant more sophisticated than the original. To be used by British Special Operations Executive [SOE] and the airborne forces [Red Devils].

The British paratroopers, even in a losing cause, used the Sten gun with great effectiveness at Arnhem. Gave them extraordinary firepower that they put to good use.

This is the type of weapon all soldiers seem to want to carry into combat. The problem is with the ammunition expenditure. Too much ammo is fired off too fast. The troops cannot carry enough or be resupplied fast enough. Everybody wants one, but almost nobody gets one. Unless you are a "Red Devil".

coolbert.