Owen
Overview
Owen Mk 1/42
Original production model of the Owen with metal skeleton stock and ribbed barrel section.
Source: Unknown author -
© Copyright lies with original owner
1938 - 1939 (Owen)
Evelyn Owen
MP 752(e) (Beutewaffen index)
Description
Introduction
The Owen is a World War 2 era sub machine gun of Australian origin. It was developed as a private venture by Evelyn Owen. He started with various designs in 1931 and produced a variety of prototypes in various calibers. These did include very uncommon rounds for sub machine guns, such as .22 LR, .38 Special and .32 ACP. Final designs settled on .45 ACP as used in the Thompson and 9x19mm as used in the Sten. The latter was eventually selected.
Design
The Owen gun was a officially designated as a machine carbine and was a rather heavy design. It had a fixed stock, top feeding magazine, a pistol grip and a front vertical grip. It is a blowback operated weapon that fires from an open bolt. The top feeding magazine and two chamber receiver made the Owen more reliable than the Sten and Thompson in sand and mud testing. Throughout production changes were made, such as the barrel fluting, stock design and various efforts to reduced the weight.
Firepower
The Owen fires the 9x19mm Parabellum from a 33 round top feeding detachable box magazine. The selector allows for semi-automatic and fully automatic fire. Cyclic rate of fire is 700 rpm. Practical effective range is quoted as 135 meters and a maximum range of 200 meters. The pistol grip and forward grip were to aid in firing the Owen from the hip.
Users
The Owen was adopted by Australia when Sten guns were in short supply. Over 45.000 were produced domestically. These served in World War 2, the Korean War and Vietnam War. Although heavy, the Owen was liked for its reliability. It was a standard issue weapon in Australia until replaced in 1971 by the F1 sub machine gun. Various other nations in Asia also used smaller quantities of the Owen during and after World War 2.
Variants
Owen Mk 2
Right side view of a former New Zealand Army 1943 production model Owen Mk 2. Note the non-fluted barrel and lightening cuts in the metal of the receiver.
Source: Museum of New Zealand -
© Copyright lies with original owner
List of Owen variants
Details
Related articles
Sten
The Owen supplemented the Sten in Australian service. The Sten was the reason for the Owen to be chambered in 9x19mm.
Thompson
The Owen design was tested in .45 ACP prior to adoption since the Thompson in Australian service at that time was chambered in .45 ACP.