Sterling L34A1 SASR
| Factions | Weapon | Icon | Classes | Ammo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 ANZAC |
 Sterling L34A1 SASR |
 |
 Medic Engineer Radioman |
34 / 102 |
| Damage Base | Headshot × | Chest × | Stomach × | Leg × | Arm × | Reload Speed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Partial | Empty | ||||||
| 34 | ×2.4 = 81.6 | ×1.3 = 44.2 | ×1.2 = 40.8 | ×0.8 = 27.2 | ×0.75 = 25.5 | 2.33 Seconds | 3 Seconds |
| Designation | Weapon Type | Fire Modes | Fire Rate | Bullet Spread ° | Range Modifier | Muzzle Velocity | Projectile weight | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| [[]] | Suppressed SMG |
Auto+Semi | 550 RPM | 6.75° & 1.7° ADS | 0.88 | 365 m/s | 7.5 g (115.74 gr) | 4.2 kg (9.25 lbs) |
| Full name | Caliber | Place of Origin | Date | Manufacturer | Barrel Length | Total Length | Weapon Script Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FN | 9x19mm | United Kingdom | 1956 | ARM | in ( mm) | in ( mm) | weapon_sterling_sog |
The Sterling L34A1 is the integrally suppressed version of the British Sterling 9×19mm Parabellum submachine gun (Sterling-Patchett Mk 5). It is an open-bolt, blowback-operated weapon that uses the Sterling’s 34-round magazine and a permanently fitted suppressor unit around the barrel. The variant is best known for its ported barrel and large expansion chambers that reduce muzzle blast while allowing the use of standard 9mm ammunition for discreet close-range work.
HISTORY
The L34A1 was developed as a covert-operations adaptation of the Sterling, using an integral suppressor that surrounds a ported barrel so propellant gases vent into expansion chambers rather than exiting as a loud muzzle blast. The concept followed the same general approach as earlier suppressed Sten variants, and users were commonly trained to treat the weapon as primarily a semi-automatic tool, with full-auto reserved for emergencies. Commercial and military patterns often incorporated a forward handguard/foregrip to protect the shooter’s hand from the suppressor assembly heating during firing.
In service, the L34A1 was issued in limited numbers to specialist units rather than as a general infantry weapon, and it became associated with special operations use internationally. Museum collection examples document its use outside the UK as well, including issuance to Argentine forces and employment by Argentine assault commandos during the 1982 Falklands Conflict. Accounts of Vietnam-era special operations frequently discuss suppressed submachine guns in general, and the L34A1 is commonly grouped among the purpose-built integrally suppressed 9mm SMGs designed for stealth-focused missions.
Sources
- Imperial War Museums — Sterling-Patchett Sub-machine Gun 9mm Mk 5 (adopted as L34A1)
- Firearms News — The Quiet Clash of the Sound-Suppressed Submachine Gun World (L34A1 ported-barrel overview)
- Shooting Illustrated — Classics: Sterling Submachine Gun (L34A1/Mk 5 context)
- Small Arms Review — Australian Military Weapons Since 1940 (Australian service notes)