BSA Welgun facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Welgun |
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BSA Welgun submachine gun.
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| Type | Submachine gun |
| Place of origin | United Kingdom |
| Service history | |
| In service | trials only |
| Used by | United Kingdom |
| Wars | World War II |
| Production history | |
| Designer | F.T. Bridgman |
| Designed | 1942 |
| Manufacturer | BSA |
| Produced | 1943 |
| Specifications | |
| Cartridge | 9×19mm Parabellum |
| Action | Blowback, Open bolt |
| Rate of fire | ~500 round/min |
| Muzzle velocity | 365 m/s (1,198 ft/s) |
| Feed system | 32-rd detachable box magazine |
| Sights | Iron |
The Welgun was a special type of submachine gun. It was a test model made during World War II. The British group called the Special Operations Executive (SOE) developed it. Even though it worked well in tests, it was never mass-produced. Only a few Welguns were ever made.
Contents
How the Welgun Was Developed
During World War II, the SOE needed weapons for resistance fighters. These fighters were secretly working against enemy forces in Europe. The SOE wanted guns that were easy to use and cheap to make. They also needed weapons that didn't need much training or repair.
Why a New Gun Was Needed
At first, the SOE used the Sten submachine gun. This gun was very simple and cheap. But early Sten models often had problems. They were not always reliable. Sometimes, they would even fire by accident. Some were made so poorly they could be dangerous to use.
So, in 1942, one of the SOE's research teams started looking for a better weapon. This team was at a secret place called Station IX. It was located near Welwyn Garden City. They first made a gun called the Norm Gun. But this gun was too expensive to make many of them.
Designing the Welgun
A designer named F.T. Bridgman then created a cheaper option. Other groups and the BSA factory also helped. In early 1943, the head of the SOE, Sir Charles Hambro, asked for the Welgun to be made in large numbers.
Six test models of the Welgun were compared to other guns. One of these was the Sten Mk. IV. The first Welgun models had parts that fit too tightly. This made them less reliable in mud or dust. But the Welgun was more accurate and easier to handle.
Later Welgun models were made with slightly looser parts. This made them as reliable as the Sten gun. Many Allied military groups liked the Welgun.
Why the Welgun Was Not Chosen
In the end, the Sten Mk. IV was chosen for mass production. However, it also did not become widely used. No clear reason was ever given for why the Welgun was not chosen.
One SOE agent, Peter Kemp, used a Welgun in Albania. During its first use in battle, the gun jammed. Kemp thought this happened because someone had accidentally damaged it earlier.
Welgun Design and Features
The Welgun was a fairly normal blowback gun. This means it used the force of the bullet firing to reload. It used the same 9mm Parabellum bullets as the Sten. This was helpful because resistance fighters could get ammunition from enemy sources.
Magazine and Concealment
The Welgun used the same 32-round magazine as the Sten. This type of magazine could sometimes be unreliable. The magazine went into the gun from the bottom. This was different from the Sten, where it went in from the side.
The Welgun had a stock that could fold. When folded, the gun was only about 16 inches long. This made it easy to carry and hide. The Welgun also had a wooden pistol grip. It had a small wooden front grip too. These parts helped make the gun more accurate and balanced.
What "Welgun" Means
The "Wel-" part of the gun's name comes from Welwyn Garden City. This is the town near where Station IX was located. Many weapons and tools designed there had "Wel-" in their names. An example is the Welrod, a special silent pistol.
See also
- BSA experimental model 1949
