THURSDAY, 1 JA N UARY 2026
Performance & Legacy: Rapid Fire: A well-trained soldier could achieve a high rate of aimed fire (up to 15 rounds per minute), surprising German forces in WWI who mistook it for machine-gun fire.
Service: Main battle rifle for British and Commonwealth armies (Australia, Canada, New Zealand) through WWI, WWII, and into the Korean War. Vindication: Its success, especially in WWI, validated the War Office's decision for a universal short rifle, silencing critics who favoured longer- ranged Mauser designs. In essence, the SMLE was a rugged, dependable, and fast-handling rifle that defined infantry small arms for the British Empire for decades.
Maggie Marriott's nom de guerre
Maggie Marriott
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