British infantry all re equipped with a US M1 Carbine. Who is going to pay for it? Britain had little in the way of dollars by then and Lend Lease means the British Army has it's rifles taken away given back to the USA by the end of 1945. Just like all those Shermans, and US aeroplanes etc. It all had to be given back or paid for in dollars.
The MaxiSten is entirely British so remains in service just like Cromwells and Comets, Tempests and Lancasters. It requires no tool room machining like an M1 and uses existing resources. Ammunition production switches fast once when you have the factories already in place. They quickly put all sorts of ammunition into production for things like Italian rifles with no problem. The 9x25 (or 7.62x25) is a known item not some new design. Staying with the blowback system is intrinsic to the cheap (resources and cost) fast production which is the whole point of the Sten itself. Rifle factories have the machines and staff ideal for swapping to extra Bren or Besal production and none of this impacts upon scarce shipping. Whatever new you bring from the USA means something else is not shipped.
The Maxisten fills exactly the same function as the M1 Carbine in this post. It gives automatic or semi automatic fire for the 0-200 yard distance to replace the inevitably cumbersome bolt action rifle. It does so in a different way of course.
The M1 entered production after the OTL Sten and took time to satisfy US needs, M1911 pistols and 1903 Springfields were still being seen in second line troop hands in 1944 in the US Army. The OTL Sten was getting into troops hands in 1941. By th MkIII the man hours to make one had got down to just 5 hours and subcontracted outside arms factories. I have no man hours figures for the M1 but I have to assume it was many more and needed production in a proper arms factory which could be doing other things.
The M1 has much to commend it but in the middle of the war the MaxiSten is a better strategic choice for the British Army. It should have been made in India too for the Burma front. India had all that was needed to do so.
BTW I notice that the Chinese converted some of their Stens to 7.62x25 Tokarev.
The MaxiSten is entirely British so remains in service just like Cromwells and Comets, Tempests and Lancasters. It requires no tool room machining like an M1 and uses existing resources. Ammunition production switches fast once when you have the factories already in place. They quickly put all sorts of ammunition into production for things like Italian rifles with no problem. The 9x25 (or 7.62x25) is a known item not some new design. Staying with the blowback system is intrinsic to the cheap (resources and cost) fast production which is the whole point of the Sten itself. Rifle factories have the machines and staff ideal for swapping to extra Bren or Besal production and none of this impacts upon scarce shipping. Whatever new you bring from the USA means something else is not shipped.
The Maxisten fills exactly the same function as the M1 Carbine in this post. It gives automatic or semi automatic fire for the 0-200 yard distance to replace the inevitably cumbersome bolt action rifle. It does so in a different way of course.
The M1 entered production after the OTL Sten and took time to satisfy US needs, M1911 pistols and 1903 Springfields were still being seen in second line troop hands in 1944 in the US Army. The OTL Sten was getting into troops hands in 1941. By th MkIII the man hours to make one had got down to just 5 hours and subcontracted outside arms factories. I have no man hours figures for the M1 but I have to assume it was many more and needed production in a proper arms factory which could be doing other things.
The M1 has much to commend it but in the middle of the war the MaxiSten is a better strategic choice for the British Army. It should have been made in India too for the Burma front. India had all that was needed to do so.
BTW I notice that the Chinese converted some of their Stens to 7.62x25 Tokarev.