STEN, a look into the meaning

of the acronym
By Askild Antonsen

One should believe that some things as what the letters of weapons design while the other hade long experience
S, T, E and N in Sten gun means long ago was clear with draughtsman and weapons designer.
and free from discussion and uncertainty, but this is After the disaster in Dunkirk, the British were ribbed
not like it its. In a recent internet debate the temperature of their supplies. Most of the personnel were safe back
rose unnecessary when this question arose. From this at the British Isles, but the armament and equipment
debate, I found the inspiration to investigate this where left on the French beaches. Department of
question once more. supplies established a row of Royal Ordnance factories
The two first letters S and T are unquestioned. Their to resupply the armed forces.3 The British machine
meaning is S for Shepherd and T for Turpin. For the shop capacity was overstrained so the need for cheap
two last letters there is definitely uncertainty. One group simple to produce weapons was large. Shepherd and
states EN is for the Royal Small Arms Factory Enfield Turpin worked the summer 140 together to back-design
North of the city centre of London. The other group the Lanchester sub machine gun modelled on the
states EN is for England. German MP28-II. They both were of the opinion it
In the English Wikipedia on Sten gun there is would be possible to make a sub machine gun simpler
reference to both views, but Enfield is written as the and cheaper than the Lanchester, but the ministry of
main explanation in the text. It’s only in the reference supply was not interested. The army wasn’t interested
section both interpretations are listed.1 Here one can either.
find indications that EN is for England also is a valid Major Shepherd had very limited authority to commit
interpretation. I found that it’s room for research of money and procure on his own. According to himself
both sources to establish who the correct one is. The expenses exceeding 5£ had to be decided by his
question then is; is EN for Enfield, or is EN for England. superiors. So he didn’t have authority to order any new
I do believe it’s time to find the answer to this question. weapon on his own. Anyway did he and Turpin have a
conversation on the topic. So after work December 2.
But before I look through the sources, it’s timely Turpin sat down at home after working hours and
with a short repetition of events. designed the trigger mechanism for the weapon. This
Many can be named, but it’s Major Reginal Vernon was the start and Shepherd gambled and gave Turpin
Shepherd and Harold J. Turpin who are linked to the go for finishing designing the weapon.
invention of the Sten gun. Shepherd was a retired During December and January the first sketch was
professional officer recalled to active duty after war ready. Shepherd commissioned two prototypes made
broke out September 1939. He was a bureaucrat by Philco in January 1941.4 RSAF Enfield then got an
experienced with weapons design and served as order to produce the pilot series and after the prototype
second in command at the design office in the ministry guns where tested it was accepted as ST machine
of supplies with office at the Royal Arsenal in carbine to arm the reserve forces and the Home guard,
Woolwich.2 In the inter war years he was involved in infantry should still be armed with the Thompson sub
developing several weapons. Bren fun, Browning cal machine gun. In a secret report dated February 7. 1941
.303, Lee Enfield No. 4(t) and the Boys anti-tank gun states:
are but a few of the weapons he participated in ……. Production very simple 9 mm machine
developing. I was in no way a novice in weapons design carbine Schmeisser, to be known as ST machine
when he met Harold Turpin in the summer 1940. carbine commencing shortly….5 6
Harold Turpin was senior draughtsman at the Royal Om March 7. 1941 The Ordnance Board approved
Small Arms Factory Enfield. He had been working at the new weapon as «Carbine, Machine, Sten, Mk.I»
the factory sins the twenties. So one was an The entire process from Turpin’s sketch of the trigger
experienced bureaucrat and decision maker in the field mechanism form the evening December 2. 1940 to

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Mr. Turpin’s first sketch for the Sten trigger mechanism which he drew at home on his spare time December 2. 1940.

approval March 7. 1941 took no more than just three weapons were made during the war, many being in
months. I don’t believe any weapon has ever been operation long after the end of the Second World War.
designed and approved faster than this.. Major I personally remember seeing TV-pictures of Zapatista
Shepherd to a calculated risk supporting senior rebels armed with Sten guns in 1994.
draughtsman Turpin in design a much simpler sub The reason for this short summary is the fact that
machine gun than the Lanchester, and he was right! RSAF Enfield wasn’t directly involved in the process
Singer manufacturing Co. In Glasgow was of designing and development. It’s nothing in the history
contracted to produce the first 100.000 weapons. The of the development of the Sten gun certifying that EN
rest is, as one says history. More than four million in the acronym should mean Enfield.

Sten Mk.I

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 But what do the sources say about the two
letters?
It all evolves from the British Wikipedia where it says:
«STEN is an acronym from the names of the
weapon’s chief designers, Major Reginal V.
Shepherd and Harold Turpin, and EN for Enfield.»
The article points in addition in «reference» to two
sources. The creator(s) are honest enough to say
everybody doesn’t agree that EN is for Enfield. The
source to the Enfield interpretation is the book R.O.F.
The Story of the Royal Ordnance Factories by
Major General John Hay Beith. They also refer to
the book The Sten Machine Carbine by Pieter Laidler
who states EN is for England. This is in my view an
honest way to do it. The authors have seen both
sources and found the older more trustworthy than
the younger. It’s then presented in such a way it’s
possible to research this further if on feels like doing
so.
I promised my fellow debaters on Facebook to
investigate the sources to see if it’s possible to redraw
the conclusions on this question. By that the search
for the original sources started. Ladier’s book isn’t
Undated news article on the Sten stating EN for England.
hard to find. I borrowed a copy form my friend Folke
Myrvang and scrutinized the text. Hay’s book was a
little more difficult finding, but the Internet is a good
friend in such a situation. I found it at Nationaal
Militair Museum in Soest, Netherland. Conservator
Mathieu Willemsen was helpful reading the book for references.
me and sent the appropriate pages for med to read. Mr. Ray Tuthill at RSAF apprentices Association
To create a broader picture mail’s where sent to - RSA interpretation centre, who himself worked at
Enfield library & Museum service and RSAF RSAF from his apprentices years, states that the
apprentices Association - RSA interpretation centre community in Enfield where disillusioned when
in Enfield. In addition mail was also sent Richard Jones Ladier’s book came in the year 2000. It had been an
author of Jane’s Infantry weapons and former curator established fact that EN is for Enfield. In Enfield this
at M.o.D. Pattern Room Collection in Birmingham. interpretation is now abandoned and accepted EN is
The answers I got pointed to both interpretations. for England.
Tuthill follow up his considerations on EN for
Who states EN is for Enfield? Enfield like this:
It’s in fact several who does this, but few has listed I do not think you will find any specific origin to the
references showing where the found this information. misbelief that the EN in STEN = Enfield. Most people
· R.O.F., the story of the Royal Ordnance factories would not be aware of Col Shepherd’s statement and
1939-19487 (Hay:49) Does not list further references. I think it was simply a common assumption, that it was
· Pictorial History of the Sub-Machine Gun8 No the same as all the other weapons involving «EN» in
further references. their names where it does stand for Enfield. The myth
· The World’s Submachine Guns, Vol. 1 9 No was certainly current in the 1950s as I was told it by
further references. one of my apprentice masters who was normally very
· The Royal Small Arms Factory Enfield & Its well informed and had been in the factory throughout
Workers10 page 169 Point’s to Hay:49 the Second World War. EN for «Enfield» in the name
· The Sterling years: Small Arms and the Men.11 of a weapon is a widespread belief, including being
Side 9. No further references. held by most if not all the people at RSAF Enfield, and
· The Sten gun.12 Page 13. No further references. it is correct in all but one case. Many including myself
· The Orwell diaries. 13 Note 86. No further were disillusioned when whilst researching for his book

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on the definitive history of the STEN, Major Peter this is solid indications that they perceived they had
Laidler (at the Small Arms School Corps [SASC] invented the Sten gun, not the ministry of supplies or
Warminster) found authentic original evidence that in RSAF Enfield.
the case of the STEN it was» Shepherd Turpin It’s beyond doubt Major Ladiers investigations in
ENGLAND». So much for a myth, long and fondly the 1990s which unveiled the fact that EN is for England.
held! He found original documentation form Shepherd and
Through Folke Myrvang, Richard Jones says Turpin who themselves stated EN was for England.
this:14,15 This is mentioned several places.
«The RSAF lost the responsibility for the design · Popular mechanics October 1943.
of UK government SA in 1915 and did not regain · Model Engineer June 1943.6
it until circa 1960. The Sten was designed by the · Maj. Shepherd’s statement to The board of the
Armament Design Department (ADD) which was royal commission on Awards to Inventors
completely independent of the RSAF - and, at the · Shepherds minutes from the meeting with The
time, the SA Group of the ADD was not even located board of the royal commission on Awards to
on the Enfield site. There would have been very Inventors where he presented his application for
little reason, if any, for the head of the SA Group recognition for himself and Turpin as inventors of the
to allow the Sten name to reflect any association weapon.6
with the RSAF». · Newspaper article, undated.
Anette Sparrowhawk at the Enfield Library and Through Mr. Ray Tuthill I got an answer from the
museum service state EN is for Enfield and say she’s author, Major Peter Laidler. He writes:
not heard any other interpretation. Here reference is «EN in STEN relates to ENGLAND. This was
Pam:98 who point on to Hay:49. Her answer runs out given in a written report to the committee looking
into the sand. into payments to inventors after the war. He wrote
There are a lot of books stating EN is for Enfield, the report on behalf of himself and Harold Turpin
but I’ve not found any referring to sources older than (who REALLY invented it!). He did this so as to
Hay:49. The Hay-reference isn’t solid since he has a make it clear that the gun was invented NOT in
total lack of explanation to where he has this work time, as an official; project but at home, in
information. I do suspect him of re-referring the their own time.»
common factory myth and that this has been unopposed Col. Shepherd stated the following at a ceremony
until more thorough investigations where conducted in organized by the board of the royal commission
the 1990s. where he received an acknowledgement:
Based on this I’ll state EN for Enfield is incorrect. «Lord Cohen asked Col. Shepherd; why was it
I do believe this is the RSAF Enfield factory myth called the Sten? Shepherd’s answer: It was called
being repeated over and over. the Sten by the then Director General of Artillery.
The ‘S’ was from my name, ‘T’ from Mr. Turpin, who
So what speaks for EN is for England? was draughtsman and who did very large amount
Turpin was employed at RSAF, but developed the of the design, and the ‘EN’ was for England. That
weapon in his spare time. He applied for a patent for is the origin of the name, for which I accept no
his «invention» of the trigger mechanism and the responsibility.»
magazine release because he had done this work in
his off work hours. A British patent was not granted to Great Britain, not England?
him. One of my co debaters on Facebook stated that during
The primary individuals themselves claim develop- The Second World War it would have been illogical to
ment happened outside working hours without support use England as connection and therefore rejected
from their superiors. They were themselves occupied England as an explanation. At the time it was The
by showing RASAF Enfield didn’t design this weapon. British Empire which was the nation. I thought this an
When the Sten gun was a success, Shepherd and Turpin interesting statement which deserved further
needed to signalize that developed on a private initiative investigations. In the British Isles there are four British
in their spare time. They applied for an US patent for «nations» (plus Ireland of course.) it might be something
the trigger mechanism in September 1942 which was there? The question was passed on to Mr. Tuthill who
granted in august 1945. Turpin was interviewed abut answered like this:
the Sten gun in periodicals. They both applied for «Re the question of nationality, there is no
remuneration for elements in the weapon. I believe conflict between being both British and English/

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 Shepherd and Turpin’s private American patent for the
Sten trigger mechanism.

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Scottish etc. Though some take more strongly England. It’s in writing and they have said it’s the correct
nationalistic views, most people living in the UK interpretation in interviews. They both say EN is for
have no difficulty in regarding themselves as both England. There can’t be any doubt. EN is for Enfield
and feel some allegiance to their local origins be is a tenacious myth, England is the answer.
they English or whatever but also see themselves
as British when it matters. I am old enough to have NOTES:
lived through the Second World War and it certainly 1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sten reading date 25/2-2015
mattered then when we were fighting Hitler and 2
Maj. Reginald V. Shepherd, Inspector Armaments in the Ministry
the Nazis, but everyone thought of Britain. I have of Supply Design department at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich.
no personal knowledge of either Shepherd or
3
Royal Ordnance Factory = R.O.F.
4
The first two prototype guns were numbered T-40/1 and T-40/2
Turpin’s views but would be very surprised if they 5
Laidler, Peter: The Sten Machine Carbine.
were any different to the rest of the population and Collector grade publications, 2000.
guess they would have regarded themselves as both 6
The interpretation of this abbreviation is unknown.
British and English. Indeed they would probably 7
Hay, Ian. R.O.F., the story of the Royal Ordnance factories
have been very offended, as would most people, if 1939-1948. H.M. Stationary office. 1949
anyone had dared to suggest they did not see 8
Hobart, Frank W. A. Pictorial History of the Submachine
themselves as British.» Gun. Littlehampton book Services Ltd. 1973
I myself do believe this explains England as a logical 9
Nelson, Thomas B. The Worlds Submachine Guns, Vol. 1.
connection when the weapon was to be baptized. Ironside Intl. Pub. 1986
10
Pam, David. The Royal Small Arms Factory Enfield & Its
Workers. Eget forlag 1998
And then? 11
Edminston, James. The Sterling Years: Small Arms and the
After having looked through some of the available
Men. Pen and Sword 2011
material for a Norwegian, I believe there can’t be any 12
Thompson, Leroy. The Sten Gun. Osprey Publishing 2012
doubt about the interpretation of the STEN acronym. 13
Davidson, Peter. Georg Orwel diaries. Liveright 2012
EN for Enfield can’t be documented in any way. I 14
Folke Myrvang, writer of books on MG34, MG42,
believe it’s a tenacious myth from RSAF Enfield who Hotchkiss M1898 and Madsen M1914/22
believed EN meant Enfield as it does for other firearm 15
Richard Jones is siting Ian Patric at the RSAF Enfield
developed at the Enfield locks. We now have in his mail
documentation from both inventors stating EN is for

Sten Mk.5 was the last Sten to be made in a large quantity. It shows Shepherd and Turpin’s
construction being developed further during WW2.

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Se også omtalen av STEN i «Model Engineer» fra 1957.

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