Jungle Carbine Use During WWII?

[tntcan]

After doing some research, I have conflicting stories for the No5 Jungle Carbine's battle record. I have read that its production started in early 1944, but it was formally approved for use by the military until late May of 1945 ("Rifles of the World" by John Walter). Another source said it was used at the Battle of Arnhem in Holland in 1944. Another source stating its first military use in battle was the Malayan Emergency (just a 12 year slow "emergency"). So, my question, was the No5 used in WWII in Europe or not?

 

[infideleggwelder]

i have not heard that it was. phillipines-pacific-etc near end of the war, yes i have heard. was even featured in the movie "fare well to the king" starring Nick Nolte, which took place near the end on an island called Borneo. but i cannot say for sure. mine never saw action.

 

[Brutus]

Sorry. I misread the question.

 

[6167]

1 of the Brit divisions very late in the crossing the Rhine campaign with Comet tanks were photographed a number of times at a few different places with guys carrying Jungle Carbines.

They are not post war pics and they are No5's for sure...no mistaking....6th Cameronians and some Royal Marines were photographed.

 

[tntcan]

Thanks for the post 6167! So, not much of a mystery then! It seems like there is a lot of misinformation out there about the No5. Maybe it was used at the Battle of Arnhem as well, even though it was shortly after production. Considering both sides were quick to implement new technology to get a better edge in the war, it could be plausible. With the photo evidence, I don't understand why legit sources are misinformed! Got to love historical interpretation!

 

[flying pig]

I always wondered wether it was possible that my war dated carbine could have saw action, that photograph proves that it is entirely possible.

 

[6167]

There are pics of Brit Airborne troops with No5's in several locations towards the end as well.....Those guys crossing the Rhine are winter '45.

If there were No5's available for Arnhem, I am sure the Brits would have put them out....they were famous for wanting in-theatre troops to trial their new weapons in actual combat conditions wherever possible.
Cheers Paul

 

[x westie]

I have seen photo's of Brit Airborne troops in Oslo, Norway in 1945 carrying the No.5 rifle

 

[points]

It's not actually "misinformation" The conflicting info out there is partly due to the fact that much of the manufacturing records and associated files were destroyed befor these rifles became collectors pieces. The data has had to be made up from whatever sources are out there.

 

[GrantR]

I have seen photo's of Brit Airborne troops in Oslo, Norway in 1945 carrying the No.5 rifle

Yes .... while technically after the German surrender on 8 May 1945, men of the British 1st Airborne Division (which landed in Norway on May 9 and 10 as the spearhead of the Allied occupation of that country to supervise surrender and disarming of the German forces there) were armed with the No. 5 Lee-Enfield rifle, and presumably issued well before they were sent there ....

 

[enefgee]

One thing about the Lee Enfield that you learn to accept is that you can never say never - I owned a No5 that was built almost 6 months after it's production was ordered stopped.

 

[TheTooner]

1 of the Brit divisions very late in the crossing the Rhine campaign with Comet tanks were photographed a number of times at a few different places with guys carrying Jungle Carbines.

They are not post war pics and they are No5's for sure...no mistaking....6th Cameronians and some Royal Marines were photographed.

Not really. You are correct when you call them No.5 Rifles, which were a "Shortened, Lightened" variant of the No.4 Rifle for airborne operations. It was never officially called the Jungle Carbine and the nickname didn't come into use until after WWII.

 

[can14]

They don't shoot as good a no4.