MCEM-1/3

mcem
mcem3
Calibre: 9x19mm
Barrel: N/A
Length: N/A
Weight: N.A
Magazine: 20 rounds
Country: United Kingdom
Years: 1942 - 47

This weapon was designed by Harold Turpin whilst he was working at Enfield. Throughout the 40's, the Enfield design teams were split by nationality. British, Polish, and Belgian teams all worked on seperate projects, with Turpin heading the British team. Reportedly there was some rivalry between the British and Polish teams. Both teams were assigned to create a submachine gun for British Army trials, and Turpin's team finished first. Their weapon was submitted to the Ordnance Board for trials, and it was dubbed the "Military Carbine, Experimental Model".

The MCEM-1 basically used the STEN's trigger mechanism with a machined steel body and a wooden stock. It was fed through two side-by-side magazines and had right-hand cocking. It failed to meet General Staff specifications for several reasons and it was rejected after trials.

Turpin improved the design in the form of the MCEM-3 (named as such because the Polish team's submachine gun had already taken the MCEM-2 name). The MCEM-3 did not have the double magazine, and instead had a singular curved magazine of 20 rounds. Bayonet fittings were added for the No.9 Bayonet. The safety catch was moved to the right side of the trigger. This model was submitted into trials in September 1946, and was considered to "show considerable promise as being both a efficient and reliable carbine, worthy of more intensive trials". Enfield saw more potential in the MCEM-3 than it did in the Polish MCEM-2 and MCEM-6, so it cancelled both of those weapons and increased the funding on the MCEM-3. Trials on the 8th - 16th of September 1947 saw the MCEM-3 competing against several other submachine guns, including the Patchett and the BSA machine-carbine, and the MCEM-3 performed relatively poorly in comparison. It overheated quickly, and was found to be heavy and fire at an excessive rate of 650 rounds per minute. The handguard got so hot during continous firing that it could not be gripped by the firer without burning them. After this, the MCEM-3 was scrapped for good.

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