Jungle Carbine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rifle No 5 Mk I "Jungle Carbine" |
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Rifle No 5 on display at the Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces Museum
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| Type | Bolt-action carbine |
| Place of origin | United Kingdom |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1944–1960 (UK) |
| Used by | United Kingdom Commonwealth of Nations Indonesia |
| Wars | World War II Indonesian National Revolution Korean War Malayan Emergency Vietnam War Bangladesh Liberation War Bougainville conflict |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Royal Ordnance Factory Fazakerley, Birmingham Small Arms Company |
| Designed | 1944 |
| Produced | 1944–1947 |
| No. built | 251,368 total; 81,329 (BSA Shirley), 169,807 (ROF Fazakerley) |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 7 lb 1 oz (3.20 kg), unloaded |
| Length | 39.5 in (1,000 mm) |
| Barrel length | 18.75 in (476 mm) |
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| Cartridge | .303 Mk VII SAA Ball |
| Calibre | .303 British |
| Action | Bolt action |
| Rate of fire | 20–30 rounds/minute |
| Muzzle velocity | 2,250 ft/s (690 m/s) |
| Effective firing range | 500 yd (460 m) |
| Maximum firing range | 200–800 yd (180–730 m) sight adjustments |
| Feed system | 10-round detachable magazine, loaded with 5-round charger clips |
| Sights | Flip-up rear aperture sights, fixed-post front sights |
The Rifle No. 5 Mk I was a special type of bolt action rifle. It was nicknamed the "Jungle Carbine" because it was used a lot in jungle warfare. This rifle was a smaller, lighter version of the British Lee–Enfield No. 4 Mk I rifle.
It was created during World War II after soldiers found that a shorter, lighter rifle was needed for fighting in jungles. This made it easier for soldiers to move around. The Jungle Carbine was made between 1944 and 1947. It was used in many conflicts after World War II, like the Indonesian National Revolution and the Malayan Emergency. It was even used in some wars later in the 20th century.
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How the Jungle Carbine Was Developed
During jungle fighting in 1943, soldiers realized that being able to move quickly was very important. To do this, they needed to carry less heavy equipment. The army decided they needed a "light, easy-to-handle weapon" that could shoot accurately up to 400 yards (about 365 meters).
The first tests of these new rifles happened in 1944. A special part called a flash hider was added to the rifle during these tests. The rifle officially started being used in September 1944. By the end of that year, 50,000 of these rifles were ready for service.
Design of the Jungle Carbine
The No. 5 rifle was about 100 millimeters (4 inches) shorter than the No. 4 rifle. It was also almost a kilogram (2.2 pounds) lighter. To make it lighter, parts of the rifle's body and barrel were cut down. The bolt handle was drilled out, and the wooden parts were made smaller.
The rifle also had new features. It had a flash suppressor at the end of the barrel. This part helps to hide the bright flash when the gun is fired. It also had a rubber buttpad on the end of the stock. This pad helped to absorb some of the rifle's kick, or recoil, when it was fired. It also stopped the rifle from slipping on a soldier's clothes. However, this buttpad actually made the recoil feel stronger because it reduced the area touching the shoulder.
The No. 5 rifle had iron sights similar to the No. 4. It had a main sight for shooting at 300 yards (about 274 meters). It also had a flip-up sight that could be adjusted for distances from 200 to 800 yards (about 180 to 730 meters).
Soldiers liked the No. 5 rifle because it was light and easy to use. This was especially true compared to the heavier rifles they had before. However, some soldiers were concerned about the stronger recoil due to its lighter weight.
Because of its large flash suppressor, the No. 5 Mk I could only use a special No. 5 blade bayonet. This bayonet was also designed to be used as a combat knife if needed.
The "Wandering Zero" Problem
One common complaint about the No. 5 Mk I rifle was something called a "wandering zero." This meant that even if a soldier carefully aimed and adjusted the rifle, it might not shoot to the same spot later on. It was hard to get the rifle to shoot consistently.
Tests done in the 1940s seemed to confirm that the rifle had some accuracy problems. These issues were likely caused by the parts that were cut to make the rifle lighter. The flash suppressor might have also played a role. Because of these problems, the British Government officially said that the rifle's faults were "part of its design." They stopped making the Jungle Carbine at the end of 1947.
However, people who collect and shoot these rifles today say they haven't found a confirmed "wandering zero" problem. This has led some to believe that the rifle might have been stopped for other reasons. For example, many armies were starting to use semi-automatic rifles like the M1 Garand instead of bolt-action rifles.
Still, historians point out that the No. 5 Mk I must have had some real fault. This is because the British military kept making the No. 4 Lee–Enfield rifle until 1957. They only switched to the L1A1 SLR after that.
Where the Jungle Carbine Was Used
The Rifle No. 5 Mk I was first given to British airborne forces in Norway near the end of World War II. These soldiers were likely preparing for a possible invasion of Japan.
The name "Jungle Carbine" was not an official name given by the British military. It was a nickname that British and Commonwealth soldiers used for the Rifle No. 5 Mk I during the Malayan Emergency.
Civilian Versions After the War
After the war, some companies started using the "Jungle Carbine" name for their own modified rifles. For example, the Golden State Arms Corporation in the U.S. imported many old Lee–Enfield rifles. They changed these rifles to look like the No. 5 Mk I or made them into hunting rifles. They sold them as "Santa Fe Jungle Carbine" rifles.
This has caused some confusion. It can be hard to tell a real military No. 5 Mk I "Jungle Carbine" from one of these civilian versions. The easiest way to check is to look at the left side of the rifle's body. A real No. 5 will have "Rifle No 5 Mk I" written there. Civilian versions usually have no markings or markings from different manufacturers.
Other companies, like Gibbs Rifle Company, have also made their own versions of "Jungle Carbines" from old military rifles.
