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Weapons System

De Lisle Carbine

Small Arms And Sidearms

The De Lisle carbine is a British pistol-caliber carbine designed by William G. De Lisle during the Second World War around an integrated suppressor and subsonic .45 ACP ammunition, described by writers on the weapon as one of the quietest firearms ever built. Only 129 were manufactured in total, seventeen prototypes built by Ford at Dagenham and the remainder by the Sterling Armaments Company, and the weapon was issued only to specialist units engaged in clandestine operations. Produced between 1942 and 1945, examples remained in limited service into the 1960s. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

Facts
Classification
Caliber
.45 ACP 1
Service Status
Retired 1
Weapon Class
Suppressed rifle (carbine) 2
Introduced YearSourced to the subject's own account
1943 3
Weapon Class
Weapon Class (category)
Rifle 2
FAQs

Why was the De Lisle carbine so quiet?

Its integral spiral-baffle silencer and subsonic .45 ACP ammunition made it almost inaudible at 50 yards.

Two features worked together. The carbine had an integral silencer whose baffles were shaped as spiral segments to guide powder gases away from the bore axis, and it was chambered for the .45 ACP, a round with subsonic muzzle velocity, so it made no supersonic crack. The rear of the weapon was a Short Magazine Lee-Enfield action and stock, with the bolt shortened and its breech face recessed to take the rimless pistol cartridge. Modern Firearms reports that the carbines gave no visible flash and were almost inaudible at 50 yards, and that several were issued to Commando units operating against German forces in France.
Connections

Operated By

United States Army, Armed Forces and Units
Source Wikipedia: De Lisle carbine

Used In

Korean War, Wars
Source Wikipedia: De Lisle carbine
World War II, Wars
Source Wikipedia: De Lisle carbine
In the Other Atlases

Manufactured By

Sterling Armaments Company

Also in Business Atlas: the manufacturer of this subject.

Source Wikidata: De Lisle Carbine
Sources
1. Wikipedia: De Lisle carbine
  • service status
    The De Lisle carbine or De Lisle commando carbine was a British firearm used during World War II that was designed with an integrated suppressor
  • Infobox: cartridge
    .45 ACP (11.43×23mm)
  • Infobox: service
    1943-1965
  • Lead section
    The De Lisle carbine or De Lisle commando carbine was a British firearm used during World War II that was designed with an integrated suppressor.
  • Used In: World War II, infobox wars field: 'World War II'
  • Used In: Korean War, infobox wars field: 'Korean War'
  • Operated By: United States Army, Wikipedia article text
    US Army Special Forces - MACV-SOG used the weapon for many years in the Vietnam War, according to MSG Reinald "Magnet Ass" Pope in a 2024 interview.
View the Source
2. Wikipedia: De Lisle carbine
Lead paragraph
Quote, Lead paragraph
British World War II suppressed rifle
View the Source
3. De Lisle Carbine (Wikidata)
WikidataWikidata Q580680 (P729 service entry): 1943
Quote, Wikidata Q580680 (P729 service entry): 1943
Service entry (Wikidata property P729): 1943.
View the Source
Wikidata: De Lisle Carbine
Wikidata Q580680, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source
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