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| Owen gun | |
|---|---|
| Name | Owen gun |
| Caption | Owen submachine gun |
| Type | Submachine gun |
| Designer | Evelyn Owen |
| Place of origin | Australia |
| Service | 1942–1960s |
| Wars | World War II, Korean War, Malayan Emergency, Vietnam War |
| Cartridge | .45 ACP |
| Action | Blowback, open bolt |
| Rate | 700–800 rpm |
| Feed | 10-, 20-, 30-round detachable box magazine |
| Sights | Iron |
Owen gun is an Australian-designed submachine gun notable for its robust reliability, distinctive top-mounted magazine, and extensive use in the Pacific theatre during World War II. Designed by Evelyn Owen and refined by engineers and manufacturers in Australia, it competed with contemporaries such as the Thompson submachine gun, Sten gun, and MP40 and saw service with units from the Australian Army, United States Army, and several Commonwealth forces. The weapon's service history spans major conflicts including the Battle of Milne Bay, the Kokoda Track campaign, and postwar counterinsurgency operations in Malaya and Indochina.
Development began with inventor Evelyn Owen in the late 1930s in Adelaide, inspired by operational needs observed in conflicts like the Spanish Civil War and innovations from designers such as John Browning and George Gibbs (firearm designer). Early prototypes attracted attention from the Commonwealth Small Arms Factory and private firms including Thompson's Military Vehicle contractors and the Rover Company engineering workshops. Production decisions were influenced by assessments from the Australian War Cabinet, logistical input from the Department of the Army (Australia), and tactical doctrine shaped by leaders at Port Moresby and advisors from the Imperial General Staff. Trials compared the weapon to designs like the M1928A1 Thompson, the British Sten, and the MP38, with manufacturing evaluations involving engineers from CAC (Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation) and metallurgists from BHP.
The Owen employed a simple blowback action with an open bolt and a fixed firing pin, drawing on principles used by earlier designs such as the MP18 and M1921 Thompson. Its most notable feature, the top-mounted magazine, was supplemented by a side ejection port designed to shed mud and debris, a lesson learned from jungle combat in New Guinea and operational reports from the Australian Imperial Force. Materials and heat-treatment processes referenced studies from the Royal Australian Navy metallurgy labs and manufacturing techniques from Elswick Ordnance Company. Ergonomic choices reflected input from infantry units including the 2/14th Battalion (Australia) and command elements from the I Corps (Australia). The weapon's robust receiver and simple maintenance regimen echoed philosophies advocated by officers from II Corps (United States) and trainers from the British Pacific Fleet.
The Owen saw frontline use beginning in 1942 with formations such as the 8th Division (Australia), the 9th Division (Australia), and the Australian Commando Units during engagements like the Battle of Milne Bay and the Kokoda Track campaign. Allied forces including the United States Marines, elements of the British Army, and detachments from the Royal Australian Air Force valued the gun for jungle patrols, close-quarters ambushes, and bunker assaults. After World War II, units from the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam and counterinsurgency units in the Malayan Emergency continued to use the weapon. Reports circulated among staff colleges such as the Royal Military College, Duntroon and the Staff College, Camberley comparing reliability metrics against the Sten gun and the MAT-49.
Several production and field-modified variants emerged, including short-barrel and paratrooper configurations adopted by units like the Z Special Unit and special forces attached to the Services Reconnaissance Department. Workshops at Lithgow Small Arms Factory and private firms implemented modifications for magazines, stocks, and sights following feedback from the Directorate of Ordinance (Australia) and liaison officers from the Allied Land Forces South East Asia Command. Adaptations paralleled experiments seen with the MP40/II and the Sten Mk V trials carried out by ordnance committees in Sydney and Melbourne.
Manufacture was undertaken by Australian firms including the Lithgow Small Arms Factory, with subcontracting and component supply from heavy industry players like BHP and Walkers Limited. Distribution priorities were set by the Department of Defence (Australia) and coordinated with Allied logistics networks run by the South West Pacific Area headquarters and the United States Army Services of Supply. Export and aid shipments supplied weapons to Commonwealth forces such as units from New Zealand, British India, and the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army during liberation and postwar stabilization efforts. Production figures and procurement contracts were documented in procurement reviews at the Commonwealth Government and procurement boards influenced by representatives from the Ministry of Supply (United Kingdom).
Postwar evaluations at institutions like the Australian War Memorial and analyses by historians from Monash University, Australian National University, and Flinders University underscore the Owen's reputation for reliability, particularly in the jungles of New Guinea and the islands across the South Pacific. Comparisons in ordnance studies contrast its performance with that of the Thompson submachine gun, Sten gun, and postwar designs like the Uzi and M3 "Grease Gun". Museums and collections at the Imperial War Museum, National Army Museum (United Kingdom), and the Australian War Memorial preserve examples, while military historians reference the weapon in works discussing the Pacific War, ranger and commando operations, and small arms development during the mid-20th century. The Owen’s design principles influenced later small arms research at institutions such as CSIRO and engineering programs at the University of Sydney and University of Melbourne.
Category:Submachine guns Category:Weapons of Australia