De Lisle carbine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids De Lisle Commando Carbine |
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De Lisle Carbine. Top, with wooden stock. Bottom, with folding stock from a Patchett submachine gun
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| Type | Pistol-caliber carbine |
| Place of origin | United Kingdom |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1943–1965 |
| Used by | United Kingdom |
| Wars | |
| Production history | |
| Designer | William G. De Lisle |
| Designed | 1942 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Dagenham (17 prototypes) Sterling Armaments Company |
| Produced | 1942–1945 |
| No. built | 129 |
| Variants | Ford Dagenham Prototypes Folding stock Parachute Carbine, only one example produced |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 7 lb 8 oz (3.74 kg), unloaded |
| Length | 35.3 in |
| Barrel length | 8.25 inches (210 mm) |
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| Cartridge | .45 ACP (11.43×23mm) |
| Calibre | .45 |
| Action | Bolt action |
| Rate of fire | 15–25 rounds/minute |
| Muzzle velocity | about 830 ft/s (250 m/s) |
| Effective firing range | 200 yd (185 m) |
| Maximum firing range | 400 yd (365 m) |
| Feed system | 7 or 11-round detachable magazine |
| Sights | Ford Dagenham: Winchester rifle sight at rear, simple ramp with modified P-14 front sight protector at front. Sterling models: Lanchester Mk I rear sight (later changed to Lanchester Mk I*), windage adjustable front sight. Airborne model: Lanchester Mk I rear sight, windage adjustable front sight |
The De Lisle carbine was a special British gun used during World War II. It was designed to be super quiet, almost like a whisper! This was because it had a built-in suppressor (a device that makes a gun quieter). It also used special bullets that didn't make a loud "crack" sound. It's thought to be one of the quietest guns ever made. Only a few were built, and they were used by special military teams.
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How It Was Made and Used
The De Lisle carbine was invented by an engineer named William Godfray de Lisle. He first made a small version in .22 calibre to test it out. He even used it to hunt rabbits near his home!
In 1943, he showed his invention to Major Sir Malcolm Campbell. They tested it in a very unusual way. They shot it into the River Thames from a building in London. People on the street below couldn't hear it at all! This impressed the military leaders.
De Lisle then tried to make a 9mm version, but it didn't work well. His third try, using the .45 ACP cartridge, was much better. Tests showed this gun was accurate and made no visible flash when fired. It was also silent from about 50 yards (45 meters) away.
Quietness of the De Lisle
Official tests showed the De Lisle made very little noise when fired. It was as quiet as another British silent gun called the Welrod pistol. However, the Welrod was only good for very short distances. Its silencing parts also wore out quickly. The De Lisle could fire hundreds of shots before needing to be cleaned.
Production and Combat Use
Military leaders asked for a small number of De Lisle carbines to be made. The first 17 were built by hand at Ford Dagenham. Godfray De Lisle himself helped with this project. These first guns were immediately used in battle by the British Commandos.
In 1944, another company, Sterling Armaments Company, was asked to make 500 De Lisle carbines. But they only made about 130 in the end. The Sterling versions were a bit different from the earlier Ford models. Two special versions were also made for Airborne forces. These had folding stocks, like those on the Sterling submachine gun.
During the rest of World War II, the De Lisle carbine was mainly used by the Commandos. It was also used by the Special Operations Executive (SOE), a secret British organization. An American officer, E. Michael Burke, said his team used a De Lisle to take out two important German officers in 1944.
Some De Lisle carbines were sent to Asia and used during the Burma Campaign. The gun was also used in the Korean War and the Malayan Emergency. Some people even say it was used by the Special Air Service (SAS) during conflicts in Northern Ireland.
De Lisle's original .22 calibre prototype was given to the National Army Museum in London. Sadly, it was later lost and its location is unknown today.
How the De Lisle Was Designed
The De Lisle carbine was built using parts from other guns. It was mostly based on a Lee–Enfield Mk III* rifle. This rifle was changed to use .45 ACP bullets. The barrel was replaced with one from a Thompson submachine gun. It also used modified magazines from the M1911 pistol.
The main reason the De Lisle was so quiet was its very effective suppressor. This part was so good that the sound of pulling back the bolt (to load the next bullet) was louder than firing the gun!
Why .45 ACP Bullets Were Used
The .45 ACP bullet was chosen because it travels slower than the speed of sound. This is called "subsonic." When a bullet travels faster than sound, it creates a loud "sonic boom," like a crack. Using subsonic bullets meant the De Lisle didn't make this loud crack, which was perfect for secret missions. Most rifle bullets are supersonic, so they are not good for quiet operations.
The Thompson gun barrel was "ported," meaning it had small holes drilled in it. These holes let the high-pressure gas from firing escape into the suppressor before the bullet left the barrel. The suppressor itself was very wide (about 2 inches or 5 cm) and very long. It went all the way from the back of the barrel to past the muzzle. This large space helped to trap the gases, making the gun very quiet. Modern guns like the MP5SD use a similar design.
The Lee-Enfield's bolt was made shorter to fit the .45 ACP bullets. The original magazine system was replaced with one that held modified M1911 pistol magazines. Because it was a bolt action gun, the shooter could choose not to load the next bullet right away. This was important if absolute silence was needed after firing. A semi-automatic gun would automatically load the next bullet, which would make noise. While the De Lisle was very quiet, it was not known for being super accurate.
See also
