Data Quality88%
MASS(Military Archive Scoring System)
ⓘ Regardless of era, the same scoring system applies to all units in the machine pistols category.
01 / Overview
Sterling submachine gun
Category
Country
Production
1953–1988
Quantity
400,000
Operators
Conflicts
💰 PERFORMANCE / PRICE ASSESSMENT Methodology ↗
MACHINE PISTOLS · EARLY COLD WAR
5
PERFORMANCE/PRICE
78
UNIT COST (2025 USD)
—
ⓘ Performance/Price and MASS score are computed across all units in the machine pistols category, regardless of era.
02 / Specs & Design
◎General6MOD.6
- First Production Year1944
- Service Entry Year1953
- DesignerGeorge William Patchett
- Weight (Empty)2.7 kg
- Currently In ServiceYes
- Notable UsersSee Users section in source
◈Cartridge & Calibre7MOD.7
- Cartridge9×19mm Parabellum; 7.62×51mm NATO; <small>(Prototype only)</small>; .30 Carbine; .357 (proposal); .40 S&W; .45 ACP<small
- Calibre9 mm
- Case Length19 mm
- Calibre Class9mm
- Bullet Weight8 g
- RimfireNo
- Caseless AmmunitionNo
▣Operation8MOD.8
- Action TypeBlowback
- Fire Modesselective fire
- Select FireYes
- Feed SystemDetachable Magazine
- Magazine Capacity34
- Cyclic Rate of Fire550
- Trigger Typesingle-stage
- Safety Typelever safety
◇Ballistics3MOD.3
- Muzzle Velocity390 m/s
- Muzzle Energy550
- Effective Range (point)100 m
◆Barrel & Sights7MOD.7
- Barrel Length196 mm
- Rifling Twist1:10 (right-hand)
- Rifling Grooves6
- Sight TypeIron sights
- Optic RailNo
- Iron SightsYes
- Threaded BarrelNo
▤Construction7MOD.7
- Length (stock folded)481 mm
- Receiver Materialsteel
- Furniture Materialwood or plastic
- Folding / Collapsing StockYes
- Bullpup LayoutNo
- Ambidextrous ControlsNo
- Modularitylimited (stock, magazine variants)
⬢Features5MOD.5
▲Production & Cost3MOD.3
- Total Production400,000
- Production Start1953
- Production End1988
03 / History
SERVICE LIFESPANStill in Service
- 1939First deployment: World War II
- 1953Production started
- 1988Production ended
73
years in service
35
years in production
400,000
units produced
51
countries operating
ⓘ The producing country still actively operates it. 11 countries retired it.
04 / Conflicts
STERLING SUBMACHINE GUN · CONFLICTS SERVED IN23% win·8% ongoing·8% loss
Total Conflicts
13
Victories
3
Ongoing
1
Losses
1
2003–2011Iraq WarDecisive victory→1989–insurgency in Jammu and KashmirOngoing→1975–2002Angolan Civil War—→1975–1990Lebanese Civil War—→1971Bangladesh Liberation War—→1968–1989Communist insurgency in Malaysia—→1963–1967Aden Emergency—→1959–1975Laotian Civil WarDecisive victory→19581958 Lebanon crisis—→1956Suez CrisisTactical victory→1955–1975Vietnam WarDecisive victory→1950–1953Korean War—→1948–1960Malayan Emergency—→
ⓘ Shown only from conflicts recorded in our database.
05 / Variants
▚ WEAPON FAMILY
06 / Operators
Operator Inventory3country · 64,277units
64,277active
07 / MASS Score
MACHINE PISTOLS RANKING Machine Pistols · Early Cold War
MASS RANKINGSMASS ↗
41MACHINE PISTOLS5EARLY COLD WAR · MACHINE PISTOLS203UNITED KINGDOM · ALL WEAPONS34PERFORMANCE/PRICE · MACHINE PISTOLS
ⓘ Rankings are within theMachine Pistolscategory.
📖 TERMS ON THIS PAGE7terms
A bayonet lug is a metal fitting on the barrel or muzzle of a firearm that provides a mounting point for a bayonet.
A type of firearm action where the breech is not locked and the cartridge case expands to seal the breech, using case expansion and pressure to retain gases.
A firearm feed system where ammunition is stored in a separate container (magazine) that can be removed and replaced, enabling rapid reloading.
A firearm stock that can be folded or collapsed to reduce overall length for storage or transport.
Adjustable metal aiming devices on firearms, consisting of a front post and rear notch, used without magnification.
Select fire is a fire selector mechanism on a firearm that lets the shooter choose the firing mode, such as semi‑automatic, burst, or fully automatic.
These terms are listed automatically because they appear on this page.full encyclopedia →
📚 Sources