In British service from 1944 until the mid-1960s, replaced by the Sterling Sub-Machine Gun
Calibre - 9mm
Magazine Capacity - 32
Rate of Fire - 540 rounds per minute
The Mk. 5 was first issued in February 1944 and had a finish that was far better than the Mk. 3 or even the Mk. 2. Changes included a wooden pistol grip, a vertical wooden foregrip (deleted on later models), a fitment for a small bayonet, and a No. 4 Lee Enfield foresight. While production standards had improved quickly after the weapon had entered production, the Mk. 5 was easily the best of the series with a high quality of manufacture and finish. In use by most combat arms, the bandolier issued (especially to paratroopers) carried seven magazines. The Mk. 5 became the standard British Army sub-machinegun after World War II and in the 1950s when the British Army went over to the 'L' designation system, the Sten Guns were known as the L50 (Mk. 2), L51 (Mk. 3) and L52 (Mk. 5).