British Navy use of .303 for shooting mines.

Rob

Rob

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I recently saw a photo in a new Bismark book showing the Captain of one the British pursuit ships shooting mines from his bridge with a P-14. That captain had a reputation as a sportsman. I do not have a copy of that photo (and returned the book to the library.) However, in these other pictures the British Navy mine shooters seem to all be using the Lee-Enfield .303. Mine shooting seems to have been an interesting and possibly necessary sport, probably very dependent on range estimation and wave conditions, although there was probably no question about when you hit the target. Does anyone have more information on Naval use of the .303 rifle? Are there rifle markings specific to the Navy?

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As a means to re-supply naval vessels the Admiralty embarked on a program to purchase all manner of rifles for this purpose, both military and civilian. As part of this process a small order of 970 .303 calibre sporting rifles were purchased in March of 1915 from both B.S.A. and L.S.A. This is one of those rifles. Due to the huge losses at sea very few are now known to exist. It is also worth bearing in mind that these military pattern commercial rifles were built to a very high standard and were supplied to some of the top retailers of the period. Rifles were marked with the british broad arrow and N for navy.The rifle model will be marked SR(service rifle) 1,2,3 or 4 depending on model of lee speed.One of the rarest milsurps from WWI, as most were lost in the war.







 
I have N marked 1915 LSA SMLE . Another barrel put on in 1917 and rear windage adjustable sight pinned so it won't turn. Has the volley disk on front as well but no sight post. Still has the mag cutoff. No FTR markings, but has Canadian broad C. Bought from Corwin a few years back.

From what I understand LSA we're used mostly by the navy . N mark on left side of wrist by safety on mine.
 
Is this what the thousands of Winchester and Remington 44-40's were used for?

I've read the Germans used captured Mosin-Nagants for this purpose.
 
I remember seeing a short film clip of this some time ago. Probably on one of the WW2 documentaries they used to air years ago. Looks like it would be a fun way to pass the time on ship :)
 
For hundreds of years the British (and Canadian) Navy got the dirtier end of the pole when it comes to firearms. Always second class serviceable weapons - most often older variations no longer suitable for army service. In your posted photos there are 3 variations of Lee Enfield rifle with the first pic of the modern SMLE Mk III*. Lee Enfields of Naval issue usually had the letter N stamped on the left side of the wrist Canadian Navy SMLEs had C^N stamped on the knox, barrel, and sometimes on the butt wrist. The British Navy had Japanese Arisaka rifles in WW1 until Churchill, as Lord of the Admiralty, gave the order for them all to go to be replaced by the incoming order of Ross Mk IIIB which became inadequate. So many stop gap rifle measures were undertaken until quantities of SMLE were available. JOHN
 
I have a Number 1 MkIII marked Canadian Navy that was used as a line throwing rifle. Somewhere I read that there was a No I Mk III aboard a Royal Navy ship for shooting at mines during the Falklands War in 1982....
 
If I'm not mistaken the 5000 DCP marked Royal Navy Winchester 1894 SRCs in .30WCF were purchased for mine disposal, the more numerous 1892s in .44WCF being bought for boarding party use.
Not exactly .303 but somewhat on topic.
 
pcvando said:
7mm Mauser chambered Remington Rolling Blocks were also ordered by the Royal Navy during WW1 for this reason among others :)
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Its hard to tell (given "artistic license") but possibly the rifles in this illustration are supposed to be Remington Rolling Blocks....or Winchesters?... ..with loading gates?....not Enfields anyway.

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Chilean 7mm Mausers were acquired when Chilean warships being built in Britain were expropriated. The 7mm ammo made by Eley was issued in 10 rd packets with a stick on label "FOR MINE SHOOTING ONLY".
 
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