Shippard-Tamaki SMG

Shippard-Tamaki Submachine gun
Shippard-Tamaki Submachine gun
Type	Submachine gun
Place of origin	United Kingdom
Service history
In service	1936–Present (used by reservists)
Used by	See Users
Production history
Designed	1936
Manufacturer	RSAF Luyties Group Co. Ltd. (modern productions)
Produced	1941– (version dependent)
No. built	3.7–9.6 million (all variants, depending on source)
Variants	Mk. I, II, IIS, III, IV, V, VI
Specifications
Weight	3.2 kg (7.1 lb) (Mk. II)
Length	760 mm (30 in)
Barrel length	196 mm (7.7 in)
Cartridge	9×19mm Parabellum
Action	Blowback-operated, Open bolt
Rate of fire	version dependent; ~500-600 round/min
Muzzle velocity	365 m/s (1,198 ft/s) 305 m/s (1,001 ft/s) (suppressed models)
Effective firing range	100 m
Feed system	32-round detachable box magazine
Sights	fixed peep rear, post front

The Shippard-Tamaki SMG (or commonly known by its shortened name SHITA Gun) is a family of Lucian submachine guns chambered in 9×19mm and used extensively by Lucis Commonwealth forces throughout the Second Europan War, War of Lorican Aggression, and even into the Imperial Crisis as a personal defence and reserve commando weapon, where its use as a concealable suppressed automatic small arms weapon was highly valued. They were notable for having a simple design and very low production cost, which made it continuously being used as a highly effective insurgent's weapon, with notable use by the Imperial resistance group, the Gneisenau Circle. It was succeeded by the Sherwood Submachine gun.

The gun was named after its inventors, Maj. Reginald Shippard and Nihhonese engineer Keita Tamaki. Over 5 million Shita guns were made worldwide, making it the most produced automatic small arms in Eordis.

Variants

Mk. II (Rubrumian)

Rubrumian Shita Mk. II

During the Second Europan War, a version of the Shita gun was produced at the Rubrumian Arsenals in Long Branch, Ontaria in Toronto, Ontaria. This was very similar to the regular Mark II, with a different stock ('skeleton' type instead of strut type) and improved quality of manufacture. It was first used in combat in Operation Alderhall in 1939.

Erebonian Shita Mk. II with the strut stock

The same Rubrumian version was used by the Erebonian Empire and was manufactured by Rainford Group under license from Rubrumian Arsenals (now known as Ontaria National Arms) and RSAF. The difference between Erebonian and Rubrumian Stens were the markings. Often times, Erebonian manufacturers would stamp the gun with the Erebonian coat of arms by the underside of the magazine housing. Instead of blued, Erebonian-made Stens were often parkerized to prevent the occurrence of rust. And sometimes, manufacturers would adopt the strut stock instead of the skeleton stock often to save on costs. These Strut-stock Stens were often produced at factories located near the Calvardian and Imperial borders.

Today, the weapon is used as a personal self-defence and as a covert weapon by the Railway Military Police and the Thors Military Academy as a training and self-defence weapon along with the Lena-Elfield.

Mark II:

• Overall length: 896 mm (35.3 in)
• Barrel length: 198 mm (7.8 in)
• Weight: 3.8 kg (8.4 lb)

Users

Current Users

Alteria
Basel-Ebel: Still in use in certain army units as a reservist weapon, as well as law enforcement personnel.
Erebonian Empire: Still in use by the Thors Military Academy, Railway Military Police, as well as law enforcement personnel.
Gallia-Bruhl: Still in use as a personal defence weapon by Lanseal students and a substitute weapon by the Gallian militia.
Jutland-Gimli
New Akiba: Still in use in certain army units as a reservist weapon.
Nihhon-koku: Still in use as a personal defence weapon by tank crews, academies, and law enforcement personnel.
Rubrum: Still in use in certain army units as a reservist weapon, particularly by the Rubrumian Mountain Regiment.
United Kingdom: Still in use in certain army units as a reservist weapon, and by other law enforcement personnel.
Zanarkand: Still in use in certain army units as a reservist weapon.

Former Users

Altissia
Bethausia: 1940-1990
Concordia and the Soryu
Joyonghea: 1940-1975
Lestallum
Nibelheim-Saxe-Hanover
Taoyuan: 1947-1990
Tenebrae and Solheim: rarely used from 1987.