Airborne Weapons
The rifle was supplemented at the squad level by the Sten gun, a 9mm select-fire machine carbine. The Sten was a cheap, poorly made weapon which was not popular with its users. Several versions were produced, the Mk. 5, with wood stock and pistol grip, was issued to airborne troops in quantity. Click here to see our page on the sten machine carbine.
The magazines for this weapon could be carried in a sten bandoleer, as shown below. Also shown is one of two version of magazine loaders used as an aid in loading sten magazines. The other version resembles a box which slides over the top of the magazine.
 Sten Bandoleer |
 Mag Loader |
The Bren gun was the tactical heart of the airborne unit. This light machine gun fired a .303 bullet fed by large detachable magazines. Its good rate of fire and portablility made it perhaps the best light machine gun of the war. Click here to see our page on the Bren.
Bren Gun
Officers, NCOs, and support personnel carried one of a number of sidearms. Official issue was the .38 caliber Enfield or Webley, but more popular alternatives included the the Colt .45 automatic pistol or the Inglis 9mm. The Airborne troops were particularly fond of the Colt with its increased stopping power. The Canadian government appears to have issued its limited number of Colts to its Airborne troops, prior to the Inglis being manufactured in quantity.
 Colt |
 Enfield |
 Webley |
 Inglis |
Three types of holsters were used with these sidearms. Below on the left is the regular holster, with a snap-over closure. It was made in large and small sizes for the .38 and .45 holsters. The second type of holster, shown below in the center, was called the tanker holster. It had an open top and strapped to the thigh. It was called a tanker holster as it was used by vehicle crewmen, being easier to access in the confines of a vehicle. It was also a favored weapon among the Airborne, especially the Reconnaisance units. The Canadian Inglis (Hi-Power) automatic had its own holster, shown below on the right.
 Holster |
 Tanker |
 Hi-Power |
The PIAT, or Projector, Infantry, Anti-Tank, was a hollow-charge weapon. Extremely heavy, difficult to use, and of alarmingly short range, the PIAT was the first line defense against enemy armor and other hard targets. Click here to see our page on the PIAT.
PIAT
The Vickers was the heavy machinegun used by support platoons for the Paras as well as in regular infantry battalions. The Vickers fired a belt-fed .303 cartidge. It had a water-cooled barrel, which accounts for the large barrel jacket and hose leading to a water can. This family of machineguns was a venerable part of the British military, and was an extremely reliable and effective weapon.
Vickers
With the adoption of the No.4 Mk I rifle the British army also adopted a new bayonet. The previous sword-type bayonet was replaced by a short, conical spike bayonet, know by soldiers as the 'screwdriver'. Although almost constanty kept on the rifle, it was more suited as a can-opener than a close-fighting weapon. Airborne troops and commandos often carried the FS fighting knife. Paratroopers modified their battle dress trousers to hold their FS knives by making a side pocket or adding straps.
 Spike Bayonet |
 FS Knife |
The standard grenade carried by British and Canadian troops was the Mills bomb. Paratroopers often modified their uniform in order to carry more grenades and access them faster. The grenade pockets on the oversmock were often removed and attached to the sleeves or pockets of the denison smock. The battle dress trousers were also modified by changing the normal front thigh pocket into a large chamois-lined billows pocket. This could be used to carry extra mills bombs or ammunition.Related Links
- Uniforms of the Paras.
- Equipment of the Paras.
- Canuck, Canadian WW2 History site with pages on equipment and uniforms.
- Equipment of the Paras.